LONG BEACH, Calif., April 8, 2017 – The No. 67 Ford GT team defied the odds at Long Beach, using a one-pit-stop strategy to perfection that put them on the second step of the podium after qualifying last at the BUBBA Burger Sports Car Grand Prix.
Drivers Ryan Briscoe and Richard Westbrook expertly navigated through a caution-filled race, keeping the No. 67 in one piece and positioned for a podium, their sixth IMSA WeatherTech Sports Car Championship podium together since pairing up at Ford Chip Ganassi Racing last season.
“It was a good, clean race for us,” Briscoe said. “We got a bit of good fortune at the beginning. A few cars went out in front of us, so that gave us a little bit of track position. We had a very nice pit stop with a driver change, then a really long stint on our Michelin tires. I think comparing to the other cars on my strategy, we were probably the best car when it came to consistency and performance at the end of the race. It was a crazy finish, with a stack-up at the hairpin. I think this will really shake up the points nicely for us on the No. 67 car. I think this gets us back in the hunt.”
Westbrook started p8 after an aggressive pursuit of extra tenths in qualifying put the rear of the No. 67 into the tire wall. Meanwhile, Joey Hand put the No. 66 Ford GT on the front row in p2. But at the green flag, Hand was in the wrong place at the wrong time and was collected by an accident in front of him that left him no room to avoid it, and caused significant damage to the front of the car. The No. 66 finished p8.
Meanwhile, Westbrook and Briscoe steadily worked their way around the packed street circuit, in pursuit of a podium. It was as much of a victory for the No. 67 crew, who’d already performed an engine change and repairs to the car after qualifying.
“Obviously, starting at the back gave us some options on strategy,” Westbrook said. “We really set the car up for the long run and it really paid dividends today. Had there not been so many yellows at the end, the result could’ve been even better. Ryan really spent a long time working on the fuel number. Thanks to everyone on the No. 67 team for holding patient and working hard. We’re back on the podium.”
The No. 66 was caught in not one, but two on-track incidents. In the second, driver Dirk Müller was spun into the wall in the hairpin turn, causing damage to the rear of the car. The No. 66 Ford GT had finished on the podium at the first two races of the year, winning at the Rolex 24 At Daytona and finishing second at the 12 Hours of Sebring.
The events of the day were not a surprise to Ford Chip Ganassi Racing Managing Director Mike Hull.
“The results were exactly what you expect on city streets,” Hull said. “On city streets, you always wait until the end to see who’s going to blink first. We had a great car today. Both Richard and Ryan did exactly what they knew to do to finish where they did today. I think it’s great for the team, great overall for the program.”
About Ford Motor Company
Ford Motor Company is a global automotive and mobility company based in Dearborn, Michigan. With about 201,000 employees and 62 plants worldwide, the company’s core business includes designing, manufacturing, marketing and servicing a full line of Ford cars, trucks and SUVs, as well as Lincoln luxury vehicles. To expand its business model, Ford is aggressively pursuing emerging opportunities with investments in electrification, autonomy and mobility. Ford provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company. For more information regarding Ford and its products and services, please visit www.corporate.ford.com.
Ford of Europe is responsible for producing, selling and servicing Ford brand vehicles in 50 individual markets and employs approximately 52,000 employees at its wholly owned facilities and approximately 68,000 people when joint ventures and unconsolidated businesses are included. In addition to Ford Motor Credit Company, Ford Europe operations include Ford Customer Service Division and 24 manufacturing facilities (16 wholly owned or consolidated joint venture facilities and 8 unconsolidated joint venture facilities). The first Ford cars were shipped to Europe in 1903 – the same year Ford Motor Company was founded. European production started in 1911.
About Chip Ganassi Racing
Chip Ganassi has been a fixture in the auto racing industry for over 30 years and is considered one of the most successful as well as innovative owners the sport has anywhere in the world. Today his teams include four cars in the Verizon IndyCar Series, two cars in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series, two cars in the NASCAR XFINITY Series, two factory Ford GT's in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship and two factory Ford GT's in the FIA World Endurance Championship. Overall his teams have 18 championships and more than 180 victories, including four Indianapolis 500s, a Daytona 500, a Brickyard 400, seven Rolex 24 At Daytonas, the 12 Hours of Sebring and the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Ganassi boasts state-of-the-art race shop facilities in Indianapolis and Concord, N.C., with a corporate office in Pittsburgh, Pa.
Contacts: Lachelle Laney Ford Chip Ganassi Racing (IMSA WTSCC) +1 630 780 7006
Lindsay Morle Ford Chip Ganassi Racing (FIA WEC) +44 7971 481078
Kelby Krauss Chip Ganassi Racing +1 317 945 3019
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