Porsche, Corvette Lock Out Front Rows in Detroit

Words by Matthew Boyce

Cover Image by Josh Tons/LAT

Porsche Penske Motorsport, guided by Nick Tandy and Dane Cameron, locked out the front row for Saturday's Chevrolet Detroit Sports Car Classic. Tandy reeled off a lap of 1:05.390 in his No. 6 Porsche 963. His time was 0.124 seconds clear of teammate Dane Cameron. The pole is the first for Tandy and Porsche Penske Racing, who will start tomorrow's 100 minute race with co-driver Mathieu Jaminet.

Both times came in the final moments of the 15 minute qualifying session, which ended early due to an on track incident involving the No. 31 Action Express Racing Cadillac V-Series.R

Pipo Derani, who was behind the wheel of the No. 31 during qualifying, made contact with the wall causing him to spin with two minutes left in the session. The damage was enough for IMSA to red flag qualifying, ending the session.

Sebastien Bourdais qualified his No. 01 Chip Ganassi Racing Cadillac in third, while both Wayne Taylor Racing with Andretti Acura ARX-06s of Filipe Albuquerque and Jordan Taylor rounding out the top five. Due to his qualifying incident, Pipo Derani will start last in the GTP field and roll off in tenth.

Brett Farmer/Motorsports Images

The only other class competing these weekend in Detroit is the GTD Pro class, which was locked out by the Corvette Racing by Pratt Miller Motorsports team. Taking pole was the No. 3 Corvette Z06 GT3.R of Antonio Garcia who posted a quick lap of 1:09.092. The lap was 0.336 seconds clear of the No. 4 Corvette of Tommy Milner. This is the second consecutive pole position for the Corvette Racing by Pratt Miller Motorsports team after Nicky Catsburg claimed the pole for the teams last race at Laguna Seca.

Qualifying third was the No. 14 Vasser Sullivan Lexus RC F GT3 of Jack Hawksworth followed by the No. 77 AO Racing Porsche 911 GT3 R of Seb Priaulx, who are coming off a class win at Laguna Seca. Daniel Serra, in a one off appearance for Conquest Racing, qualified fifth in their No. 35 Ferrari 296 GT3.

The green flag for the Chevrolet Detroit Sports Car Classic drops Saturday at 3 p.m. EDT with live coverage on USA Network and Peacock.