‘I’m not a man to complete P2. I’d do the identical once more’ – Albuquerque

Yet one more stunning final result of the dramatic three-car accident that eradicated the top-three working GTP vehicles with solely 19 minutes remaining within the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring was that anger was largely absent within the reactions afterward from the drivers concerned. As a substitute, the prevailing emotion was of disappointment at how destiny had conspired to shuffle the deck and allow the No. 31 Motion Categorical Cadillac to navigate by means of the wreck and go on to win…tinged, within the case of Wayne Taylor Racing with Andretti Autosport’s Filipe Albuquerque, with an insistence that, confronted with the identical state of affairs, he’d do the identical factor once more.

The race-defining accident concerned the three front-running vehicles. Albuquerque within the No. 10 Konica Minolta Acura ARX-06, pulled up alongside Mathieu Jaminet within the main No. 6 Porsche Penske Motorsport Porsche 963 hoping to overhaul at Flip 3 as they came across slower GT vehicles. As a substitute, Albuquerque went broad to keep away from the Porsche that was additionally making an attempt to keep away from one other automobile and the No. 10 ran off beam. When Albuquerque’s Acura got here again throughout the monitor, it hit Jaminet’s race-leading Porsche. Additionally they collected the third-place No. 7 Porsche Penske Motorsport Porsche 963 pushed by Felipe Nasr within the melee.

ABSOLUTE CHAOS! THE LEADERS ALL CRASH!#IMSA | @USANetwork and @peacock pic.twitter.com/CrGzSvUsp3

— Motorsports on NBC (@MotorsportsNBC) March 19, 2023

Whereas labeling the result “unhappy,” Albuquerque says that given the identical circumstances, he would make the identical transfer once more.

“What a tragic ending,” stated Albuquerque. “Sadly, within the final pit cease, the Porsche managed to move us. We had been P3. It was type of loopy that every one my laps had been within the lead and the final 20 minutes, I used to be behind someone, which was bizarre. We knew the No. 31 had no likelihood as a result of he had outdated tires and the struggle was with the Porsche forward of me. I feel we had a little bit little bit of an edge on them, however staying behind it was tremendous laborious to comply with, so it wanted to be carried out in visitors.

“The visitors got here and I noticed a gap — tight, however I noticed it. I feel he (Jaminet) moved, however I have to see the replay once more as a result of I don’t need to place blame on anyone. I feel I used to be there after which there was contact with the 2 of us, and the second contact threw me fully within the grass and I couldn’t cease the automobile then I used to be a bowling ball, simply knocking vehicles down.

“It was fairly brutal the place I received hit as soon as after which someone hit me. I simply felt like I used to be getting thrown from one facet to a different, however these vehicles are protected and I’m good, that’s what’s most necessary. It’s unhappy to not get the win after we had such a powerful automobile and for the WTR Andretti workforce, they put a whole lot of power into this. I’m not a man to complete P2, I give it my all and I’d do the identical once more.”

Jaminet had an analogous viewpoint, describing the incident as a lamentable inevitability of close-quarters racing. “I didn’t know he was there. After which I spotted he’s there, so I attempted to maneuver to the best,” he associated. “However he’s within the grass, after which he misplaced management, after which that brought about the accident. In order that’s actually unlucky.”

“It’s type of normal Sebring on the finish of the race,” stated Jaminet’s co-driver, Dane Cameron. “It will get fairly rowdy within the evening, the restarts at the hours of darkness and also you come up on GTs. Clearly, it’s disappointing to finish this fashion, however I have to say I’m very, very happy with Mathieu. He was flying and doing a implausible job and put us in place to win. It’s unlucky it ended the way in which that it did however I’m very happy with all of the girls and boys on the workforce. It’s been very tough and lots of, many, many hours getting ready. It’s a disgrace however I perceive what Mathieu was doing there and it’s simply unlucky.”