IPC: Daytona International Speedway

The racing world kicks off every January in Daytona Beach, FL at the famed Daytona International Speedway. However, this kick-off is not purely on the oval, but on the Road Course utilizing the infield, NASCAR oval, and Bus Stop chicane. The Rolex 24 is the title event at the end of the month, but the IMSA Prototype Challenge receives the first green flag of the year for their 3 Hour showdown during the ROAR test event.

Josh Sarchet and Dakota Dickerson returned with the team as defending IPC Champions for the first round. Starting of strong Sarchet qualified his Ligier JSP320 second on the outside of the front row next to sportscar ace and former Indycar driver Memo Gidley.

Saturday afternoon’s green flag time saw rain move through the area, soaking the track. The treacherous conditions weighed on the field as nineteen LMP3s charged towards turn one crossing the heavily painted double yellow line of the NASCAR oval and into the Road Course. Unfortunately, this combination of standing water and paint sent Sarchet spinning off and into the tire barriers.

Despite the impact and damage, Josh carried on and brought the car from last back up to fifth. The damage was severe enough that the team had to change the rear wing on the first stop losing precious time. With the repairs behind them Dakota Dickerson was installed behind the wheel and proceeded to be the fastest car on track in mixed conditions and the eventual switch to dry tires. As Dickerson set these fast laps race control eventually black flagged the car for one of the rear brake lights failing, a required item especially in wet conditions, this final unscheduled stop dropped the team out of contention. Ultimately finishing eleventh, the team showed pace to contended and managed to salvage a finish where others were a casualty of the conditions.