Thrilling Victories at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway

The Indianapolis Motor Speedway witnessed an action-packed event as the TC America powered by Skip Barber Racing competitors took to the road course for race one on Friday afternoon. Celso Neto, Jeff Ricca, and Alex Garcia emerged victorious in their respective TCX, TC, and TCA classes, delivering impressive performances in the 40-minute showdown.

Nail-Biting Battles and Brickyard Triumph

TCX: Neto Prevails in Intense Duel

The TCX class saw a thrilling battle from the moment the green flag waved. Chris Walsh made an early move, taking the lead in his No. 104 Carrus Callas Raceteam BMW M2 CS (Cup), but Celso Neto in the No. 22 Skip Barber Racing Acura Integra Type S refused to back down. The two drivers engaged in a fierce back-and-forth, exchanging positions and rubbing wheels as they fought for the top spot.As the race progressed, Cameron Steller slotted his No. 23 Fast Track Racing BMW M2 CS (Cup) into the final podium position, overtaking Aaron Kaplan in the No. 18 Kaplan Racing Systems BMW M2 CS (Cup). The action reached a boiling point in the closing laps, with Neto momentarily running off-track, allowing Walsh to take the lead. However, Neto fought back, reclaiming the position and holding on to claim his fifth victory of the season, earning the privilege of kissing the bricks at the iconic Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

TC: Ricca Dominates with Hyundai Sweep

In the TC class, Jeff Ricca led from start to finish in the No. 78 Ricca Autosport Hyundai Elantra N1 TC, showcasing his championship-winning caliber. It was a strong day for the Ricca Autosport team, as they swept the podium with Connor Attrell finishing second in the No. 75 car and Ron Zaras rounding out the top three in the No. 77 entry.Ricca expressed his delight at the historic achievement, stating, "It's priceless to have a 1-2-3 Hyundai finish. This is incredible because it's the first time in SRO history that Hyundai has swept the podium. Coming into the weekend, we thought we'd be at a disadvantage due to the temperatures, but Mother Nature was on our side and brought the heat we needed."

TCA: Garcia Capitalizes on Groenke's Misfortune

In the TCA class, PJ Groenke built up a sizable lead in his No. 62 MINI JCW Team MINI JCW, but tragedy struck just before the halfway mark when he experienced an issue with his front left tire, grinding his charge to a halt. This allowed Alex Garcia in the No. 14 Skip Barber Racing Honda Civic Si FE1 to take the lead and claim his fifth victory of the season.Despite the setback, Groenke was able to recover and finish second, with Alain Lauziere bringing home the No. 64 MINI JCW Team MINI JCW in third place. Garcia attributed his success to the valuable seat time he's gained this weekend, competing in multiple classes, stating, "It's about keeping your head down, taking it one turn at a time, and focusing on your own race. You never know what can happen; it's not over until the checkered flag."The TC America powered by Skip Barber Racing School will return on Sunday, October 6th for race two, promising more thrilling action at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.