Acura, MSR Lock Out Front Row for Road America Enduro
Photo: Michael L. Levitt/Lumen Digital Agency/IMSA
By Dennis Krause
Backing up their performance in Friday’s practice session, Acura Meyer Shank Racing w/ Curb Agajanian locked out the front row in qualifying, Saturday, for Sunday’s Motul Sports Car Endurance Grand Prix at Elkhart Lake’s Road America.
Nick Yelloly turned in a time of 1 minute, 49.233 seconds in his Acura ARX-06 to beat teammate Tom Blomqvist by a margin of 0.157 seconds at the 4.048-mile, 14-turn circuit to earn his fourth career Grand Touring Prototype (GTP) pole in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship.
According to Yelloly, Road America happens to suit the Acura very well.
“Yeah, I think going back since the inauguration of this car, it's always tended to be pretty fast here. I remember in '23 and '24 -- not '24 with this team, but in '24 with WTR (Wayne Taylor Racing), they were very fast here as well.
“Clearly knew we would be competitive. We also tested here a few weeks ago. The car felt very good. Yeah, the track suits our car, I would say. I knew I had to put a good lap together. Obviously good in qualifying as well. Got us on the pole position. Managed to do that. Look forward to racing tomorrow.”
Even though Sunday’s race is a six-hour affair rather than a shorter sprint race, Yelloly pointed out why it’s import to start from the front.
“Yeah, I mean, it always means you hopefully stay out of the first-lap-or-two chaos. I'm happy to be at the front. It means you don't get caught up in any of the silliness on cold tires on the first few laps.
“I think it's always important to be at the front, to be honest, whether it's a two-hour race or a six-hour race.”
Photo: Michael L. Levitt/Lumen Digital Agency/IMSA
In Le Mans Prototype 2 (LMP2), Daniel Goldberg scored his third career pole, and second at Road America, in the No. 22 United Autosports USA ORECA LMP2 07 with a time of 1:54.212.
Goldburg, who scored his first career pole at Road America in 2021, said this time around left him a bit emotional.
“I've been super close many times since Daytona last year. So really been gunning for another pole. Also, this season we could use some good finishes at the end here to bring us back up the standings where we were leading a couple races ago.
“This means a lot to me and to the team.
“What made the difference? Just pushing a little harder. Turn one is a big thing here. The Carousel. Team gave me an amazing car and let me do my thing out here.”
Photo: Michael L. Levitt/Lumen Digital Agency/IMSA
In the GT ranks, AO Racing took in pole in Grand Touring Daytona PRO (GTD PRO) in what is ostensibly a home race for the team. In just his eighth race for the team headquartered in St. Charles, Illinois, Harry King claimed his first career pole in the No. 77 AO Racing Porsche 911 GT3 R (992) with a time of 2:04.182.
“Yeah, great emotion, great feeling. Came close in Canada not long ago to get into pole position. Start on the front row, but not quite the pole position. Here at Road America, home race of AO, also my home race because I don't have one back home,” said the UK driver.
“The lap was really well put together. The team worked incredibly hard leading up to this weekend. They always do, but this weekend they really put in that extra bit of effort. I could really sense that and not only see it myself. To complete the lap and be told we were on pole position was a fantastic emotion. Credit to all the people at AO Racing for this.”
While it has appeared the AO team has seemed to fly under the radar this year, King said the the team has been doing a very good job all season.
“I think that one last little bit has clicked for us this weekend. The amount of podiums we've had this year, but not a victory, probably consolidates your opinion where we've flown under the radar.
“We've been collecting the points, third in the standings currently. Certainly not missing anything. Starting on the front row tomorrow. It's a big six-hour race, which means there's a lot of points on the table. We have to collect as many as possible and get the final half of the season under a good momentum. has been doing a very good job this season.”
Photo: Michael L.Levitt/Lumen Digital Agency/IMSA
In Grand Touring Daytona (GTD), Lilou Wadoux won her first series pole position in her first appearance at Road America with a time of 2:04.688 in the No. 21 AF Corse USA Ferrari 296 GT3 EVO.
“Yeah, I'm quite happy with this pole position,” said the 25-year-old Frenchwoman, the woman to win a race in the FIA World Endurance Championship. “We had new car for here. The team did amazing job to have a good car. For sure it was not easy with the FP2 in the rain. Not really ready for the quallie. But at the end we did a pretty good job I think.
“We'll see what we can do tomorrow.”
Even though she already has three WeatherTech Series wins in twelve series starts, including at last year’s Motul Petit Le Mans at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta, and this year’s Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring, Wadoux said getting her first career pole at Road America was special.
“Yeah, it was my first time last week in test,” said the woman who’s been a Ferrari factory driver since 2023. “To be honest, it was really nice. When you come here, we know it's always a nice track. A little bit old school. To be honest, I really like this track and enjoy every moment because it's quite special.”
A starting field of 54 cars will take the green flag at 10:40 AM CDT Sunday
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.