The downhill hairpin left-handed Flip 5 follows an extended climb from Flip 2, and it’s notoriously tough to evaluate the last word braking distance for the nook whereas on a chilly set of Firestone’s more durable major compound tyres.
Ed Carpenter Racing’s VeeKay led Arrow McLaren SP rival O’Ward for the primary two stints of the race from pole place, however his two-second benefit was closed to nearly nothing as each headed for the pits on lap 61 when the Dutchman misplaced floor in visitors.
As they departed the pits on lap 62, O’Ward was so shut that he even took a glance down the within of Flip 2, earlier than slipstreaming the ECR automotive up the hill.
VeeKay moved left to defend the within line into Flip 5, however the Arrow McLaren SP driver outbraked him on the skin, took a large radius to the nook and assumed the online lead.
Two laps later, Alex Palou (Chip Ganassi Racing) emerged from his last cease into the hole between O’Ward and VeeKay, at which level the ECR driver was unable to maintain on phrases with the main pair.
VeeKay nonetheless came home third, his greatest consequence since he completed runner-up to O’Ward in final 12 months’s first Detroit race.
“The weekend has been fairly good,” VeeKay mentioned. “We began out the primary two-thirds of the race very robust, main, saving a whole lot of gas. Very pleased with that.
“Sadly I obtained held up a bit bit earlier than entering into my second pit cease, so Pato was on me, actually on me.
Alex Palou, Chip Ganassi Racing Honda, Patricio O’Ward, Arrow McLaren SP Chevrolet, Rinus VeeKay, Ed Carpenter Racing Chevrolet, podium
Picture by: Michael L. Levitt / Motorsport Images
“I did beat him out of pit lane however coming into Flip 5 I simply took it a bit bit too conservative, and he obtained round me. He drove away mainly. I lacked a bit little bit of tempo on the final set of tyres.
“Pato and Alex have been a bit bit too quick for me to hold with, however I believe third place is fairly good nonetheless.
“Sadly I did not push sufficient on that out lap. One other lesson realized – sadly the laborious means.”
Requested why he had been cautious, VeeKay replied: “Effectively, I’ve screwed myself a number of occasions up to now braking a bit too deep, locking a tyre, mainly destroying my complete final stint.
“I didn’t know Pato was going that deep. I used to be wanting in my mirrors rather a lot – possibly that distracted me a bit bit, I do not know.
“If I may return, I’d go means deeper and keep forward of him.
“I used to be additionally struggling a bit bit extra on my final set of tyres, he was undoubtedly sooner on that final stint.
“It is a deserved win for him, luckily I nonetheless obtained a podium out of it.”
shares
feedback
