yesterday's race

Some editorial commentary on yesterday's race at Petit Le Mans.  As I have said, I am a huge fan of Action Express Racing, and saw the team race, at the Rolex 24 at Daytona earlier on in the season, back in January, before the pandemic.  I have followed the exploits of AXR for a while now, and we were definitely in contention for a race win at Petit Le Mans after clawing our way into the picture through the first part and then, being right at the sharp end of the grid.  Last night's kerfuffle between Ricky Taylor in the Penske Racing Acura, and our team, with Pipo Derani driving the #31 Whelen Engineering Cadillac, was egregious and unnecessary.  

We were committed to racing, making the pass, just as a racing driver is supposed to do.  Derani sent it in just as he was supposed to, and then, our two cars came together and spun out.  But, clearly, it was Mr. Taylor lunging down the inside, when we had the racing line.  Taylor made a banzai move, that was totally unnecessary.  I know both of us were going for the win, but what Mr. Taylor did, to take the win for himself, was totally uncalled for.  The net result is, both of our cars were out of contention and someone else ended up winning.  Why IMSA did not penalize the blokes at the Acura squad, I haven't the foggiest idea. 

Again, that was a banzai move, as Mr. Taylor was trying to be a hero, and he ended up taking us out of contention for the motor race, when we clearly (in terms of Pipo Derani at the wheel of the AXR Cadillac), had the right of way, and Ricky Taylor, did not.  To have the chance to take the win for himself, Mr. Taylor wrecked us at Action Express.  We were just innocent bystanders, and were doing everything right to defend our lead that was snatched from us, and the win, went to someone else.  That's racing. We will try and forget about this, but, in two weeks at Laguna Seca Raceway, we at Action Express, Expect To Win.