INDIANAPOLIS – Flying Lizard Motorsports closed the Pirelli GT4 America SprintX season in victory lane Friday at the famed Indianapolis Motor Speedway, taking the title in the process.
The final Pirelli GT4 America SprintX race of the 2020 season got underway under the early-morning sun, with Patrick Gallagher’s No. 33 NOTLAD Racing by RS1 bringing the field to the green flag.
COTA race two winner Andrew Davis and the No. 2 GMG Racing Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 slipped past Pro-Am championship contender Robby Foley’s No. 21 Flying Lizard Motorsports Aston Martin Vantage GT4 at turn one for second position overall and in class.
At the same time Jason Hart, the other Pro-Am championship contender in the No. 47 NOLASPORT Porsche 718 Cayman GT4, moved up two positions to seventh overall, making it known the title fight would go down to the final lap.
Thursday’s race one winner, Roman De Angelis and the No. 51 Panoz Racing Avezzano GT4, led the Silver class with title contender Colin Mullan and the No. 36 Andretti Autosport Window World of Michigan McLaren 570S GT4 in second.
The other Silver contender, Harry Gottsacker in the No. 28 BMW M4 GT4, sat third in class.
With 12 minutes off the clock, the No. 26 Classic BMW M4 GT4 of Toby Grahovec and No. 69 BGB Motorsports Porsche 718 Cayman of John Tecce collided at turn three, sending both cars into the sand trap and bringing out the first safety car of the day.
Gallagher remained in the overall and Pro-Am lead, De Angelis continued to lead in Silver, with the No. 46 NOLASPORT Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 of Russell Walker leading in Am and sitting 10th overall.
The race went back to green with 38 minutes remaining in the race, just before the pit window for required driver changes opened.
As the field approached turn one with 35 minutes remaining, Jan Heylen and the No. 37 RS1 Porsche Cayman CS MR, Thursday’s overall winner, dove to the inside of Robby Foley and grabbed third position overall and in class.
At the end of the lap teams began to hit pit lane.
As the pit window closed the No. 33 NOTLAD Racing by RS1 Aston Martin Vantage GT4, now with Joe Dalton driving, continued to lead overall and in Pro-Am. Jarrett Andretti, now behind the wheel of the No. 36 continued to lead in Silver, with David Walker in the No. 46 NOLASPORT entry leading in Am.
With 22 minutes remaining, the leading No. 33 machine of Dalton had a bobble at turn two, allowing Michael Dinan in the No. 21 Flying Lizard Motorsports entry to slip through to grab the overall and Pro-Am lead.
Bryan Putt, in the No. 15 Bsport Racing Aston Martin Vantage GT4, would also get past Dalton for third overall and in class.
Matt Travis was now behind the wheel of the No. 47 NOLASPORT Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 and quickly moved past the NOTLAD Racing by RS1 and Bsport Racing Aston Martins to get into second position overall and in Pro-Am, meaning the championship contenders sat one-two with only 2.8 seconds between them and 18 minutes remaining.
Jarrett Andretti would continue to lead in Silver and work his way through the slower traffic, extending his lead over the No. 28 ST Racing BMW, now with Nick Wittmer driving, to just under four seconds.
As the clock ticked under 7 minutes, Dinan slightly increased his overall and Pro-Am lead to 3.8 seconds, but Travis would not give up, making a late race charge. Silver leader Andretti kept his Silver-class lead, but Wittmer would close to within 2.4 seconds.
When the checkered flag flew, Michael Dinan and the #21 Flying Lizard Motorsports Aston Martin Vantage GT4 took the overall and Pro-Am win, also taking the championship over Matt Travis and the No. 47 NOLASPORT Porsche 718 Cayman GT4, who finished second overall and in class.
“We knew it was all going to come down to today, so I just tried to put in clean laps! There’s no better way to win the championship then coming down to the last race. I’m so happy to do this with Robby today!” said Dinan.
“It’s great. There are a lot of talented drivers in the field, so to claim the championship is awesome. It was great to be paired with Michael and thanks to the team for giving us a great car all year long,” added Foley.
Jarett Andretti and the No. 36 Andretti Autosport McLaren 570S took the Silver-class win, finishing third overall, and also brought home the class championship ahead of the No. 28 ST Racing BMW M4 GT4 of Nick Wittmer.
“I don’t know how to put this into words. Putting my dad’s scheme on the car and his name over the door, it just means a lot to me and the guys. I’m so happy right now,” said Andretti.
“This team has been through so much this year and it’s so special, it’s just incredible. I’m so happy to bring home the championship for everyone,” added Mullan.
David Walker and the No. 46 NOLASPORT Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 won in Am, their second straight of the weekend.
“You know it’s just a beautiful day in the neighborhood today, I couldn’t be more proud of Russell and the team today!” said David Walker.
“It’s a great feeling to win again with my Dad. A huge thanks to NOLASPORT for giving us a great car this weekend!” said Russell Walker.