GENERAL MOTORS COMPANY O'Connell third, Cooper fifth
2017-06-24
Elkhart Lake, Wis. - Cadillac V-Performance driver Johnny O'Connell (Flowery Branch, Ga.) drove the No. 3 Velocity Red Cadillac ATS-V.R Coupe to a third place finish in race two of the World Challenge Championship (PWC) World Challenge Grand Prix of Road America today. Teammate Michael Cooper (Syosset, N.Y) drove his No. 8 Vector Blue Cadillac ATS-V.R Coupe to a fifth place.
Based on lap times from yesterday's race, O'Connell started third and Cooper lined-up next to him in fourth on the second row. On the first lap they were able to complete the circuit in the same positions in which they started. A full course caution flew for an incident in Turn 5. On the restart into Turn 5 Cooper was passed by the No. 31 Ferrari and another incident in the infamous Turn 5 caused a red flag stoppage to the race, just three laps into the scheduled 50-minute event. When the race restarted with less than 20 minutes allowed to race the Cadillac duo of O'Connell and Cooper finished in third and fifth respectively.
'It was a better result for us today,' O'Connell said. 'Yesterday we had a good car, but for what happened in Turn 5 when I got turned. The guys, as they always do, improved on the car overnight. I was able to get a good start and held third. The Bentley and the Porsche were just a tick better than us this weekend. I needed Patrick Long in the Porsche and Adderly Fong in the Bentley to dice it up a little so I could get to them, but that didn't happen. Heck, I am leaving Road America with a trophy, so hopefully our luck has turned.'
'It was a wild race,' Cooper said. 'I thought we were looking good to be in contention with the front guys. Then the 31 Ferrari put a crazy move on me into Turn 5 and that is where I got stuck to the checker. I mounted a few attacks on him. Every time I did he was a bit reckless, so I thought it was a good idea to take the points and move onto Mid-Ohio.'
The Pirelli World Challenge Grand Prix of Road America race from today will be broadcast this afternoon at 3 p.m. ET on the CBS Sports Network. The series will travel to the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, July 28-30 for another round of sprint events.
Cadillac Racing PWC 2017 Results
Track | Drivers | Start | Finished | Points |
St. Petersburg | Johnny O'Connell Michael Cooper | 7 6 10 9 | 4 2 7 5 | 42 (3) 31 (5) |
Long Beach | Johnny O'Connell Michael Cooper | 12 9 | 20 14 | 43(5) 38 (8) |
Virginia International Raceway SprintX | Johnny O'Connell/Ricky Taylor Michael Cooper/Jordan Taylor | 11 12 7 4 | 6 12 3 3 | 9(22)X 3(40)X |
Canadian Tire Motorsport Park SprintX | Johnny O'Connell/Ricky Taylor Michael Cooper/Jordan Taylor | 4 12 | 3 1 | 43(4) 65(1) |
Lime Rock Park | Johnny O'Connell/Ricky Taylor Michael Cooper/Jordan Taylor | 8 9 5 4 | 11 7 4 2 | 101 (8) 145 (1) |
Road America | Johnny O'Connell Michael Cooper | 2 3 6 4 | 8 3 3 5 |
Cadillac Racing, since the team's inception in 2004, has amassed 32 wins, 115 podium finishes (including wins) and 24 pole positions. The team won the World Challenge Manufacturer Championship in 2005, 2007, 2012, 2013 and 2014. Team Cadillac drivers have won the World Challenge Driver's Championship in 2005 with Andy Pilgrim and in 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015 with Johnny O'Connell.
Additional information can be viewed at Cadillac.com, GM.com, media.gm.com, world-challenge.com, johnnyoconnell.com; Twitter @MSCooper1, @JohnnyOConnell, @Jordan10Tyalor, @RickyTaylor_10, @Cadillac; Facebook, GM, Michael Cooper, Johnny O'Connell, Ricky Taylor, Jordan Taylor, Cadillac.
Cadillac has been a leading luxury auto brand since 1902. Today Cadillac is growing globally, driven by an expanding product portfolio featuring distinctive design and technology. More information on Cadillac appears at www.cadillac.com. Cadillac's media website with information, images and video can be found at media.cadillac.com.
GM - General Motors Company published this content on 24 June 2017 and is solely responsible for the information contained herein.
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