Chip Ganassi Racing Cadillac Victorious at Detroit

Photo credit: Brian Cleary - Getty Images
Photo credit: Brian Cleary - Getty Images
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Chip Ganassi Racing's Cadillac DPi program was not supposed to take this long to start winning.

The partnership of the IndyCar giant and the dominant power of the DPi era came about quickly this offseason, a fortuitous opportunity for CGR to lock down two great sports car drivers and for Cadillac to get a look at a potential top level partner for its still-unofficial LMDh program in 2023, but they were fast immediately. The No. 01 Cadillac, finished in a light gray and adorned with no sponsorship, was comfortably the fastest of the GM group at Daytona this year, but that race turned disappointing when the car suffered a puncture in the final hour. It then led late at Sebring, but that too turned to disappointment after contact with a GTLM car with an hour to go. At Mid-Ohio, it was fuel strategy that did them in; the No. 01 was forced to stop for a splash-and-go from the lead with under ten minutes remaining.

But, on their fourth attempt, being the fastest car in the race finally paid off. CGR dominated the 100-minute race, a sprint that saw drivers Kevin Magnussen and Renger van der Zande easily fend off challenges from the No. 31 Action Express Racing Cadillac. A late restart gave the No. 31 and driver Felipe Nasr one more opportunity, but it was not enough. Finally, the CGR team that has controlled every race this season actually won one.

In GTD, the pole-sitting Peregrine Racing Audi received a boost when the No. 14 Lexus, running third at the time, was forced to make an additional stop after blowing a tire. Another issue for a strong car, this time the No. 96 BMW running in second, brought out a full course yellow with a few minutes to go, but Audi driver Jeff Westphal was able to pull away on the restart and secure a win for himself and co-driver Richard Heistand.

Though it was not officially a championship round for the class, Corvette Racing's two C8.Rs also ran as GTLM entrants in today's race. They, predictably, finished 1-2 in what has become their two-car class.

After going at least a month between every round this season, IMSA's Summer is about to get much busier. The series returns to endurance racing in two weeks, bringing back the traditional Six Hours of the Glen after missing this race last season.

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