Corvette's Podium Finish Caps Thrilling Indianapolis Battle

Corvette factory drivers Antonio Garcia and Alexander Sims overcame a challenging race at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway to secure a third-place finish in the GTD PRO class, leading a strong contingent of Corvette Z06 GT3.Rs in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship's penultimate event of the season.

Corvette's Resilience Shines Through in Indy Showdown

Wet Weather Woes and Comeback Charge

The race at the Indianapolis road course was marked by unpredictable weather conditions, with heavy rain dominating the first half of the event. Sims and the No. 3 Corvette were quick to adapt, becoming the first GTD PRO car to switch to wet tires during the initial full-course yellow. As the rain continued to fall, Sims managed to take the lead, showcasing the Corvette's prowess in the wet.However, the team's fortunes took a turn when the No. 3 Corvette had to make two pit stops in quick succession to switch to slick tires just before the halfway mark. This cost them valuable time and track position, setting the stage for a determined comeback effort by Garcia in the final stages of the race.

Garcia's Heroic Charge to the Podium

Taking over the wheel for the final three hours, Garcia displayed his driving prowess, climbing from fifth to third in the closing laps. The Spaniard engaged in a hard-fought battle with the No. 14 Lexus and No. 23 Aston Martin, ultimately regaining the final podium position with just two laps remaining."Those last laps were tough," Garcia said. "I thought we were done when the Aston Martin passed me, but somehow I regrouped and put everything together to get back up there to them. With two or three laps left, it was time to go! I went for it, and it worked."Sims, who had earlier led the race, praised Garcia's determined effort, saying, "Antonio did a really, really good job. I was very happy that he was in the car. He kept in the fight and stayed with them, quite literally, to the end."

Setbacks for the No. 4 Corvette

While the No. 3 Corvette crew celebrated their podium finish, the day was not without its challenges for the No. 4 Corvette of Tommy Milner and Nicky Catsburg. The pole-winning car was hit with an avoidable contact penalty early in the race and later suffered further damage after being hit by a prototype, forcing the team to make a lengthy pit stop for repairs.Milner acknowledged the ups and downs of the race, saying, "There were some tricky conditions that were tough for both of us. The class interactions with the prototype cars weren't ideal for us. It's one of those days where you feel like sometimes things are going your way, but there were just too many ups and downs for us today."

AWA Corvette Secures Second Straight Akin Award

In the GTD class, the No. 13 AWA Corvette continued its strong performance, securing a sixth-place finish and winning the Bob Akin Award for the second consecutive race. The award recognizes the highest-finishing GTD entry featuring a Bronze-rated driver, with the ultimate prize being an automatic invitation to the prestigious 24 Hours of Le Mans.Driver Matt Bell praised the team's strategy and execution, saying, "The team called this race perfectly again. There's been such good teamwork all year in the pitlane. There's been so much hard work that's gone into that."With the IMSA season drawing to a close, both Corvette Racing by Pratt Miller Motorsports and AWA will look to end the year on a high note at the upcoming 10-hour Petit Le Mans event at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta.