Wickens: Ready for Racing Return

# DXDT Racing Faces Setback‍ at Long Beach Despite Promising pace

DXDT Racing’s IMSA campaign hit a frustrating snag at⁤ the Long⁤ Beach Grand Prix, despite demonstrating strong potential⁢ with drivers Robert Wickens and Bill Milner.A challenging driver ⁢change procedure‍ and subsequent contact on track ‍ultimately relegated the team to a ‍15th-place finish in class.

## Driver Change Challenges Hamper ⁣Early Race Progress

Wickens and Milner entered the ⁣April 12th race aiming to improve‍ upon their eighth-place qualifying position. However, the team was acutely aware of a potential time loss during the mandatory driver change – a common factor in the IMSA series. The unique circumstances surrounding Robert Wickens’ entry into the car presented a specific‍ hurdle.

“It just takes a little more time currently with the position we are in with Robert‍ having to be⁤ lifted out of the car,” explained Bryan ⁢Sellers, DXDT’s⁣ IMSA program manager. “We have a ‍lot of moving pieces with ‍getting Robert out, ‍with getting the next ⁤driver in.”

This ⁤anticipated delay materialized, dropping Milner from seventh to tenth position as he took over from Wickens. Despite this, Milner fought his way back⁤ up to fifth, showcasing the car’s pace.## Contact and safety Concerns⁢ Lead to Pit Stop

The race took a turn⁣ for ⁣the worse as Milner battled for position. While attempting to pass a BMW for fifth place, he ⁤received a tap to the rear, dislodging the car’s bodywork.⁣

Race control instantly mandated a pit stop for repairs,prioritizing safety. this unscheduled stop effectively ended ⁣any chance of a strong finish for‍ the DXDT ⁤Chevrolet.

“Safety is the top priority and after having some contact our rear bumper was a little bit⁤ loose, and thay gave us a black flag to⁢ pit for repairs,” Wickens explained. “Our race was more or⁤ less over at that⁤ point, so we finished whatever it was. I don’t think it tells the whole story.”

## Looking Ahead: Pace⁣ and potential Remain

Despite the disappointing result, team principal George Smart remained optimistic.He emphasized the positive ‍aspects of the weekend, particularly the ⁢performance of the ⁢car and Wickens’ driving.

“That’s racing,” Smart said. “The system we have developed gave Robert the potential and the ⁤pace was there. That was the key ⁣takeaway for us: we provided him the tool to get to that level.”

The Long Beach race highlighted both the challenges and the promise of DXDT Racing’s IMSA program. While the team faced adversity, the underlying pace and potential demonstrated a solid ⁢foundation for future success. They’ll⁣ be ⁣looking to translate that potential into results at the next round⁤ of the championship.