IMSA points results Detroit: Chip Ganassi Racing swept Saturday at Belle Isle Raceway as Kevin Magnussen and Renger van der Zande took the No. 01 Cadillac to victory lane in the Chevrolet Sports Car Classic.
It’s the 60th career sports car victory for Ganassi but the team’s first at Belle Isle.
The Ganassi duo finished 0.573 seconds ahead of the No. 31 Action Express Cadillac of Felipe Nasr and Pipo Derani. Ricky Taylor and Filipe Albuquerque finished third in the No. 10 Wayne Taylor Racing Acura, which scored its third DPi podium finish through four races.
The victory for Magnussen and van der Zande came about two hours after Ganassi driver Marcus Ericsson won for the first time in the NTT IndyCar Series.
This is the first season together for Magnussen and van der Zande, who teamed up about two months before the season began when CGR decided to enter the premier division of IMSA.
Winners get in the @detroitgp fountain ⛲️ #IMSA / @CGRTeams / @CGRsportscar / @Cadillac pic.twitter.com/Cmx2zSMqls
— #IMSA (@IMSA) June 13, 2021
After Magnussen started on pole position for the first time in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, the No. 01 led 97 of 99 laps around the 14-turn, 2.3-mile road course in the 100-minute race.
“I haven’t won a race since 2013 and it feels great,” Magnussen said. “The whole season we have been fast, but just not getting it to the end. We led a lot of laps this year and finally the right laps. Chip Ganassi Racing had an impressive weekend (referring to the win in IndyCar earlier in the day). I was happy to contribute to that with a win as well.
“Coming here and knowing I was going to be able to fight for wins was a real privilege. To go racing with this awesome car at these awesome tracks with this team is a dream. I feel very fortunate and blessed to be able to do that. To come out of this weekend with the big trophy it’s pretty special. I am back in a winning situation and really enjoying it.”
RESULTS: Click here for the final overall finishing order and here for the class breakdown.
Magnussen won in his IMSA debut at Detroit, while van der Zande scored his 15th career IMSA victory and third at Belle Isle while holding off Nasr in the closing laps.
“Having a Brazilian behind you is never easy,” van der Zande said. “We controlled the race. Kevin did a mega job in qualifying to get us to the front. We just kept control of it. You have to be lucky at street tracks not having crazy yellows at the wrong time. I think IMSA did a good job giving everyone a chance controlling the yellows. The car was really nice. We had the Cadillac set-up really well. The team gives you a lot of confidence so I can do what I do and that’s drive cars fast. The win on the home soil of GM, very proud.”
The Daily Double@detroitgp
— Chip Ganassi (@GanassiChip) June 12, 2021
Said team owner Chip Ganassi: “Obviously a big day for the team. I don’t think it is any secret that this team was put together at the last minute in the fall of 2020. It is really special to have an availability of talent, like (Magnussen and van der Zande), that want to come and drive for you. I couldn’t be prouder of these two and the work they put in over the winter. They are the kind of teammates you like to have and the kind of people you want to have in your organization. I think they have a great future in the sport.”
In the GTD division, the No. 39 Peregrine Racing Audi R8 crossed the finish line first but was moved to the rear of the field when a postrace audit showed the team’s refueling was faster than the minimum listed on Balance of Performance table for the class, according to IMSA.
That handed the victory to the No. 23 Heart of Racing team of Ross Gunn and Roman De Angelis, giving Aston Martin its first victory in IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship competition.
In the exhibition GTLM division, the No. 4 C8.R Corvette finished ahead of its No. 3 Corvette Racing Counterpart.
STATS PACKAGE FOR CHEVROLET SPORTS CAR CLASSIC AT BELLE ISLE RACEWAY:
Fastest laps by driver after race (over the weekend)
Fastest laps by driver and class after race
Race distance and speed average
ROUND 1: Points and results from the Rolex 24 at Daytona
ROUND 2: Points and results from the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring
ROUND 3: Points and results from Mid-Ohio
NEXT: The IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship will resume June 24-27 at Watkins Glen International for the Sahlen’s Six Hours of the Glen.