First of all, it is good that SRO is back. Regarding that particular race, well I am not that happy how it went. It is a pity for Kostas to have a disconnect in the first lap. Also bad for me, because that left me without a direct slipstream and super vulnerable to the cars behind. Lost the position to Neil, but I tried to keep conact to the top two. That worked until the tyre deg got worse. I drove a different setup than in quali, with less oversteer, because that made the car more stable but also slower and probably eating the tyres more. Matej likely followed the opposite direction and had again a handful. So I was a bit lucky to get into second and stayed their until the closing stages. Neil approached fast from behind, I defended and left the outside open for turn four. You can watch what happened then Not sure about that one, the contact obviously cost Neil a run but that was neither planned nor a result of outbraking myself. Anyway, probably not the place to discuss that nor I am the right person to judge about it. As said, see you in two weeks.
Dang sorry I missed this one. My wife had a DR. appointment that I had no idea would last 2 1/2 hours! I plan to be at the final race at Portland, but I really wanted to race Mid-Ohio! As for the video replay it's best if I stay silent due to past incidents. and Oh YEAH it is great that SRO is BACK!!!!
In the last lap that was my fault. I was very concerned about trying that outside line for fear just washing wide and I didn't give you enough room. My own fault for not judging the space on the inside or the outside correctly.
It's true like Philipp said, I did have a bit too much oversteer for the race. I was quite fast, but a few mistakes cost me podium. Anyway, battles were great, close racing with respect, I enjoyed it! Philipp, thanks for the vid, allways nice to see. See you all in Portland
Stream VOD During practice and qually I would get cut tracks/invalid laps if I cut too close to the kerb so I gave it a wide berth (FORESHADOWING!) Didn't manage to get things together in qually, I was sure I could go a tiny bit faster, don't think it would have got me a better grid spot though. When the race started I knew I had to stay under the rear wing of the car in front on the green if I had any hope of keeping the draft. It worked well and I was up the inside of @Matej Dakskobler on the first straight after T1. Hoping that I didn't outbrake myself on cold tyres on the off camber T2. @Philipp Pichler seemed to be slow off the corner and I got draft, only to see @Kostas Kantzouras suddenly disappear which was a shame. I was hoping that his car wouldn't suddenly appear inside mine!! I got up the inside Phillip into T3 and set after @Ken Jagger ! Lap after lap I followed Ken with the wisps of draft. Watching as he would get close to straddling these high kerbs! With just under 29 mins to go.... T1 would bite me!! I got a little wiggle on and in order to try and avoid straddling the kerb I ran wide and span. I was so lucky not to lose any wings!! Thankfully I think the damage setting was still set for Detroit!! Down to 6th and then my team mate graciously let me by. Now the chase was on to salvage championship points!! I was trading fast sectors with Matej hoping to get on terms and watching the clock time running out. He span out before I could get close and the chase was on to get Phillip. Again watching the clock run down with gap also getting smaller. I caught him with just under 2 mins to go! I stayed as close as I could through the twisty section and onto the front straight. Through T1 he got a scary tankslapper on and stayed right. I made the decision to get draft and go left (wrong choice!). I then went the long way around and lost ground onto the long straight. Phillip staying right I had no option but to try on the left. I braked as late as I dared (roles reversed from lap 1) and I turned in and we banged wheels. As stated above after looking at the replay I didn't judge the space inside correctly. I think I would have had to have a major overspeed and a bit more grip to make it stick but I had to try. On what could have been maybe a win today (Congrats Ken!), mistakes left me fighting back. I am unsure I would have been able to pass if I did get close. Pity Kostas got disconnected as the battle would have been epic yesterday and going into the final round a bit tighter!! See you all in Portland!
