Lexus Crash Changes Course of Long Beach Grand Prix!
Last-minute mishap prevents 1-2 Corvette finish at Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach.
Lexus, by and large, had a pretty successful go last week at the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach. The #14 RC F GT3, driven by Scott Pruett and Sage Karam, logged a sixth place class finish, the car’s best result yet. But Lexus’ other GTD car didn’t fare so well. Unless you count the fact that it played the spoiler in a tight GTLM race, last Saturday’s Bubba Burger Sports Car Grand Prix.
On the final lap in the final corner, the #15 Lexus, driven by Robert Alon, wound up misjudging the turn and instead served as a giant obstacle for oncoming traffic. At the time, the Corvette team was on its way to a 1-2 finish. As both cars entered the turn, they fanned out to prevent the #3 Ford GT from overtaking them. At first, the move seemed ingenious…but it turned out to be a grave mistake.
The #3 Corvette, driven by Jan Magnussen and Antonio Garcia, became stuck on the outside and sat there helplessly while multiple cars passed by. The #4 Corvette, driven by Oliver Gavin and Tommy Milner, was able to slip through on the inside and claim victory. It was a bittersweet moment for the Corvette team, one that had our pals at Corvette Forum rightfully fuming.
Plus, the race that gave spectators one of the most awesome and unexpected climaxes in Long Beach Grand Prix history was made even more memorable by race legend Jeff Segal. As if things couldn’t look — or likely feel — any worse for Alon, Segal, who was representing Acura, made sure to sarcastically let him know exactly how all the other drivers felt by mockingly applauding Alon’s mistake. After that, there was little else Alon could do but put his head down and quietly walk away from the wreck. But…that’s not where this tragic tale ends.
A few days later, the International Motor Sports Association placed Alon on a three-race probation. While it’s easy to just call it a stupid mistake, IMSA has a technical term for the offense: Alon reportedly took an “unjustifiable risk,” successively violating IMSA’s Rule 30.6 when he made a three-wide move into the hairpin on the final lap of the Bubba Burger Sports Car Grand Prix race. Alon now turns his focus to the upcoming Advanced Auto Parts SportsCar Showdown in Austin, TX where we imagine he will avoid any “unjustifiable risks.”
If you missed any of the Bubba Burger Sports Car Grand Prix action, you can watch the race in its entirety, below, thanks to the wonders of YouTube. Fast forward to the 1:51:00 mark to see the Lexus rob the Corvette team of its hopes and dreams.
Photos for Club Lexus by JimDonnellyPhoto.com
