A good battle develops in GT Daytona between Madison Snow and Christopher Mies. Mies' team mate Sheldon van der Linde says there was some tire wear on the car, but the Land crew is beginning to move ahead. Sheldon van der Linde is a third generation racer. Daniel Morad is the third driver. Entering corners, the Audi will have multiple yaw moments according to what he felt driving the car. It is wicked quick, but get up on the wheel and go for it, at a certain time in the stint. Paul Miller Racing still has the points lead in GTD, and if they stay out of trouble, their margin could balloon even further. Oh wow. Ryan Dalziel has some pace, chasing Helio Castroneves. Norman Nato in his debut, did a great job in the opening stint.
Dalziel had the speed, but Castroneves outbreaks him into turn 10A. The Nissan porpoises right off the ground! You don't want that to happen, because, as we saw with the Porsche here in 1998, the Mercedes at Le Mans in 199, and the BMW at the 2000 Petit Le Mans, these cars, can go airborne over a bump, and fly like a plane. Moments ago, we saw Helio castroneves do the over under, passing Eric Curran in the #31 Cadillac. Castroneves, had his dancing shoes on for that one, mate. Jordan Taylor wants to pass Curran, and he is going for it. Oh my. Curran slams the door in Taylor's face. Jordan Taylor, truthfully, must recognize that Curran is the chap who has the chance to go for the championship title.
The incident reviewed for that earlier fracas with the BMW hitting the wall, no further action. Curran was in that scrum with the BMW and the #64 Ferrari that has Townsend Bell, Frankie Montecalvo, and Matteo Cressoni, the Italian, sharing the car. Some drivers may think their car is loose, while others experience understeer. Both of the Lexus cars are fourth and fifth in GTD. Phillip Frommenweiler in the #14, sharing with Dominik Baumann and Kyle Marcelli, and of course, the #15 machine in the hands of Jack Hawksworth, David Heinemeier Hanson, and Sean Rayhall. Big squeeze by Helio Castroneves on Ryan Dalziel, who had a head of steam! Dalziel is out to prove something. He does not have a full-time 2019 ride.
The entry speeds into these corners are unreal. This track is a rollercoaster. Curran is scrapping with his team mate, Tristan Vautier in the #5 Cadillac DPi-V.R sharing with Filipe Albuquerque and Christian Fittipaldi as Joey Hand pits the #66 Ford GT. Hand, out. Dirk Mueller, in. We are under full course yellow, as the #99 Gainsco Red Dragon, is off the road. Chris Miller, sharing with Stephen Simpson, and Misha Goikhberg. Next year, this track will become Michelin Raceway at Road Atlanta, and this will coincide with Michelin becoming the official tire supplier for IMSA. Misha Goikhberg spun, in turn 10A.
Chaz Mostert likes Road Atlanta. We are back to green flag racing. Action Express has had some great pit stops. Team strategist Tim Keane is calling the shots and doing a good job. Joao Barbosa hurt his ribs in the most recent race at Laguna Seca. With the #90 Spirit of Daytona Cadillac idle this weekend, this was Vautier's chance to race again. Joao Barbosa is here, at Road Atlanta, but is not racing. Joao Barbosa is supporting the team. Norman Nato is running his first race in the U.S. The Frenchman is very much enjoying the event. "Stormin' Norman" Nato. He is headed to a battle for the championship in the European Le Mans Series finale, next weekend.
Antonio Giovinazzi was the driver scheduled to race for ESM, but he got the deal to race for Sauber F1 next year. Meanwhile, Fred Makowiecki has a bit of a thump on the curbs, and has the radiators clogged with grass. Amazing he is still out there without the radiator overheating. Get the grass out of the radiator. Matthieu Jaminet is a GT3 veteran, but he is currently at the controls of the #912 Porsche 911 RSR. Jaminet is quick, and he burst onto the scene in Pirelli World Challenge. The #2 Nissan may have a tire down. Ryan Dalziel at the wheel of it. Did a scrap of debris come off? It could have been the wheel nut. Not just tire clag coming out of the fender.
The wheel thread is seized. It has been a great year for Meyer Shank Racing and Acura. The #2 Nissan, meanwhile had a retaining stud on the hub was bent. They took the bad stud out and put the wheel back onto the car. Eric Curran could have been struggling in the previous stint. But, he is on fresh tires and going for it. He is catching traffic in the right places, as the #2 Nissan pits another time. They splashed some fuel into the tank, and were not focused on getting the wheel fixed. Eric Curran leads Prototype overall. Dirk Mueller and Ford lead GTLM, and GTD is led by the #33 Mercedes AMG GT3, Jeroen Bleekemolen at the wheel of it, sharing with Ben Keating, the car owner, and Luca Stolz.
Helio Castroneves has been playing a cat and mouse game. He is the cat, chasing Curran, the mouse.
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