After securing the first IMSA podium finish for the Ford Mustang GT3, just two weeks previously at VIR, Harry Tincknell and Mike Rockenfeller did it again during the IMSA “Battle on the Bricks” at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
The #64 Mustang took second place at the chequered flag, after leading for a large portion of the six-hour endurance race, held in tricky, changeable conditions, as Tincknell explains:
“Rocky had a really good start and it looked like we were capable of running up front. The rain gradually picked up and we made a good strategy call to go to wets. We were behind the safety car for a long time at that point so the team decided to box and put on new tyres. I hopped into the car and the stop sent us to the back. I had a lot of fun moving through the field. This was the second time I’ve ever driven this car in the wet, and I wasn’t sure what to expect.
“The car performed really well and sliced through the field. Once I made it back up to the podium positions, we changed back to slicks. That phase of the race brought us to the lead. Some lapped traffic kept me on my toes but I was giving it every single ounce I could but unfortunately, we came out of the final pit stop in second place. The car is really showing its strengths across all conditions. We’re getting there and I’m just so proud of everyone.”
For Joey Hand and Dirk Müller in the sister Ford Multimatic Motorsports Mustang, the luck just didn’t go their way at Indy. The #65 Mustang was hit during Qualifying and forced to start the race, right back in the pack. This part of the grid isn’t called the danger zone for nothing and Müller was t-boned on Lap 2, which broke the car’s steering rack.
Although out of the running, the team repaired the car as it was a great opportunity to get in some wet running. Joey Hand was the first to venture out in what was now a test session for the #65 Mustang.
“As much as you want to just put it in the trailer, there is some worth to running the car, especially in the rain as we haven’t done much wet running. The car was actually really good in the rain. We were one of the quicker cars when we got back out there. We made some passes, which didn’t matter at all being so many laps down but we learned what we could.
“We need to just keep going with this car. The first win is just around the corner. Our sister car ran really well, led a lot of the race and finished second so that’s another personal best for the team. As bad a year we’ve had on the #65 car, I’ve got a feeling it’s coming our way soon.”
