Rules again handicap the Corvette Racing Team; # 3 lead shrinks after Road America
Bold pit strategy and luck helped Antonio Garcia come home 4 th in the # 3 Corvette.
Both Corvettes started at the back so when a full-course caution came out early in the race, the # 3 crew figured that an asymmetric strategy might help. With three yellow-flag periods in the final hour, the move paid off, despite a drive-thru penalty. They gained two spots and gained another as the # 911 Porsche went off in turn 2 in the late going.
Staying on the same pit strategy as the leaders, Tommy Milner in the # 4 Corvette kept the leaders in sight, working his way to 4th, pursued by an over-eager Alexander Sims in the # 25 BMW M6. Sims almost got by on the final lap but instead was penalized to 6th for pushing Milner off course in turn 3. Milner ended up 5th.
Per Doug Fehan, CORVETTE RACING PROGRAM MANAGER, "Qualifying seventh and eighth, two seconds off the pace, is not a good way to contend for a championship”. With 3 races to go, Garcia and Magnussen lead by just 6 points over race winners Dirk Mueller & Joey Hand in the # 66 Ford GT and by just 7 points over Bill Auberlin and Sims in the # 25 BMW.
Preparation paid off to notch another amazing finish by taking advantage of every opportunity.
