Whelen Cadillac Team Heartbroken, but Unbowed
Michael L. Levitt/Lumen Digital Agency/IMSA
By Dennis Krause
1.569 seconds.
That’s all that stood between the No. 31 Cadillac Whelen Cadillac V-Series.R and the No. 7 Porsche Penske Motorsport Porsche 963 at the end of 24-hours at the 64th edition of the Rolex 24 at Daytona International Speedway.
The No. 31 Cadillac came to Daytona on a two-race winning streak, having captured the final two races of the 2025 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta. It qualified on pole for the twice-around-the-clock classic, only to have its time thrown out in post-qualifying technical inspection.
Having to start from the the back of the GTP (Grand Touring Prototype) field because of that technical infraction, drivers Jack Aitken, Earl Bamber, Frederik Vesti and Connor Zilisch were fast, but endured a number of setbacks during the 24-hours.
Jake Galstad/Lumen Digital Agency/IMSA
Despite that, there was Aitken challenging eventual winner Felipe Nasr in the Porsche for the win in the final hour of the race.
“Yeah, I mean, we had a really tough 24 hours, I would say,” commented Aitken. “It was not straightforward at all. Had quite a few setbacks, and the guys all around from the team and the pit box to my teammates here did a fantastic job to get us back into race-winning position at the end of the race.
“Having said that, the Porsches were very strong all race. It was impressive. We came after them and tried to challenge as best we could. I got close a few times, but just didn't quite have enough to get the move done.
“I think both Felipe and I were struggling with tires in the heat. It was a bit of back and forth all the way. Unfortunately fell a bit short, which is really heartbreaking, but we put a great run together, and I'm proud of that.”
At one point, Aitken was able to get alongside Nasr, but not enough to make a move.
“I think I had a couple of moments where I stuck my nose in there,” said Aitken, “but it was always from a bit further back and a bit just trying to make something happen. I never got a super, super great run on him into Turn 1. It was always creeping up to his corner.
“So yeah, I was trying to find an opening here or there, and it was a fine line between making a gap open up and just causing a bit of an accident.
“I tried as best I could to get alongside, but couldn't get level, couldn't make the move stick. Yeah, I tried, but couldn't do it.”
At one point, Nasr aggressively shut the door on Aitken going into the infield portion of the track, but the Brit felt it was just hard racing.
“It was aggressive, but yeah, I think I would have probably done the same. There was a half of a gap there, so I went for it. The half of a gap turned into none of a gap, and we both did a good job to not have an accident.
“It's frustrating,” continued Aitken, “but I'm not going to sit here and say, oh, he should have jumped out of the way or whatever. I think it was just hard racing, and I was trying to make something happen.
“Yeah, nothing really safe from my point of view.”
Brandon Badraoui/Lumen Digital Agency/IMSA
Despite the disappointment of coming so close to winning yet coming up short, Vesti was proud of the effort his teammates and crew put in to get them in position to challenge for the win.
“Yeah, it was a super tough race, first of all, we had a setback in the middle of the night and kind of felt a bit lost, but then suddenly the full caution yellow put us back into the game and we had go pace in the car, which sort of gave us that opportunity back into the race, fight for top position.
“Yeah, I'm very proud of the team, the mechanics and everyone. The engineers kept us pushing and they kept us in the game.
“So yeah, it was cool.”
While both of the Penske Porsches appeared to have the measure of the Cadillac throughout the race, Bamber, a two-time winner of the 24 Hours of Le Mans for Porsche, felt the Whelen team put its best foot forward all weekend.
Jake Galstad/Lumen Digital Agency/IMSA
“Yeah, I mean, we could see already from the first stint, I think there was just three cars in the race most of the time,” said the New Zealander, “which was just the 6 (Porsche), the 7 and the 31. It was similar to what it was last year at the end of the year.
“They're a really formidable opponent, and coming here, they're always going to be strong. We put our best foot forward, and I think the team should be proud. If you can't win, then you finish second, right? I think it's an awesome job from everyone on the team, engineers and everything like that.
“We had a long drought of podiums last year without one and then we won the last two races and now we're just bitterly disappointed for the second. Just shows the standard that we always want to come here and just expect to win.”
Still, there was no disguising Aitken’s body language after the race, especially after giving it everything he had in the final stint - only to come up short.
“I mean, I felt like I gave it everything, just like pretty much anytime you're getting in these cars. I think this is the second time I've been second at this race.
“I think we all would have been over the moon to have overcome such a tough race and formidable opponents. It's just a bit bitter at the moment, but I think as a team we did everything we could have.
“I'm not really looking back at anything with regret. When I just got out of the car I was thinking maybe I should have just hit him, but that's obviously past and faded, and it was a good fair race.
“Yeah, it's just bitter right now because it's fresh, but I think we can be proud, and I'm proud, as well.”
Dennis Krause has spent decades covering all forms of motorsports, including over 40 Indianapolis 500s, with stints at WIBA Radio, PIT PASS - Radio’s Premier Motorsports Magazine and Motorsports Minute. Follow him on X @DennisKrause500 or motorsportsminute.bluesky.social or motorsportsminute on Threads or MotorsportsMinute+ on Facebook.