EDITORIAL: Will we be back at Le Mans? ...And, so long old pal

I have no idea.  The decision right now is up in the air.  I wonder about this because one of the other Cadillac teams, who shall remain nameless, has said they will do it.  I am hoping there might be room for us on the Le Mans grid for next year if the ACO selection committee chooses wisely and if the brass at Cadillac decides another three-car effort is good idea.  In other news of course, the idea of Action Express continuing on in a partnership with Hendrick Motorsports has now been put to rest.  This is because Hendrick Motorsports' star driver for so many years, Jimmie Johnson, is now aligned with Toyota in the NASCAR Cup Series and is no longer a part of the GM fold.  The last General Motors backed effort for Jimmie Johnson was at Le Mans in the Garage 56 NASCAR Cup Series exhibition Generation 7 Camaro that came as an invitational entry and did extremely well.

I believe he does have a handful of NASCAR Cup Series starts left this year.  But, next year, for his team it is so long GM and hello, Toyota.  Toyota of course, definite rivals at least on the WEC Hyper Car side of things.  So, it is sad to see the #48 Cadillac go.  So long, old pal.  We will miss you.  The DPi car with that number on it will likely end up in a museum someplace down the road.  It is logical for Action Express to continue as we have been with our current driver lineup with Pipo Derani, Alexander Sims, and Jack Aitken.  They are the drivers who have fit into our team equation extremely well with Pipo really being the old hand and Alexander and Jack both melding into the team seamlessly.  

So, as we look ahead to Watkins Glen with a respectable effort in the first Free Practice this afternoon, the idea and the ambition I am sure, of coming back to Le Mans could be there.  But that is really and truly up to the Cadillac brass, and our team management, especially Mr. Johnson himself, weighing the pros and cons and solidifying a plan for the future of our team down the road.  Fingers crossed we can perhaps come back to Le Mans.  For now, the focus will completely be on the second half of the 2023 IMSA WeatherTech Championship season.