It was a perfect weekend for Justin Rothberg who ended his rookie season in GT America on a high note. His #29 Turner Motorsport BMW M4 GT3 won from the pole once again on Sunday morning at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
But while Rothberg took the victory, second-place finisher Johnny O’Connell became the SRO3 class champion in his #3 SKI Autosport Audi R8 LMS GT3, winning a championship in his fifth decade of racing.
“I really enjoy racing here,” said O’Connell, famous for his championship successes with Chevrolet and Cadillac in years past. “I’m 62 years old and I’ve got another championship A lot of guys might retire then, but I ain’t ready, so we’re going to keep digging!
“Thanks to all the fans out there that have been following me and supporting me for so long.”
The first corner of the first lap of Race 2 was a major flashpoint in the championship battle, as contact between the #14 GMG Racing Audi R8 LMS GT3 of James Sofronas and the #27 CRP Racing Mercedes-AMG GT3 of Jason Daskalos ended the latter’s hopes of winning the SRO3 crown.
Sofronas hit Daskalos from behind and sent him spinning, the GMG Racing owner/driver would later earn a drive-through penalty and retire from the race towards its conclusion.
Out of the chaos, O’Connell made a rocket start from sixth to second, doing enough to hang on to the championship point as Rothberg streaked away to his fourth win of the year – less than 12 hours after he won the GT World Challenge America Pro-Am crown.
Behind O’Connell, Mirco Schultis’ fan-favourite #70 MISHUMotors Callaway Corvette C7 GT3-R finished third.
Kyle Washington finished fourth in his #32 GMG Racing Porsche 911 GT3 R, ahead of Jason Bell in the #2 Flying Lizard Motorsports Aston Martin Vantage GT3, and Daskalos, who recovered to finish sixth at the end of a frustrating weekend where he slipped to third in the final standings, just four points behind O’Connell.
Isaac Sherman finished a dominant 2024 campaign with another weekend sweep, taking the GT4 victory in his #098 Rotek Racing Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 – his 13th win in 16 races.
Gray Newell kept it as close as possible though, finishing second in his last-gen #25 Heart of Racing Team Aston Martin Vantage GT4.
The red and silver #05 Flying Lizard Motorsports Nissan Z NISMO GT4 of Damir Hot took two podiums in two races as he finished third, while Tim Savage’s difficult weekend finished with a fourth-place run in his #007 ProSport Racing Aston Martin Vantage GT4.
Curt Swearingin did not take part in Sunday’s race but secured second in the GT4 standings ahead of Newell.
CJ Moses’ #58 Audi R8 LMS GT2 was the only car in its class after Dan Knox stood down from Race 2 – Moses finished eighth overall out of 16 starters.
This was the last race for GT America in its current single-driver, 40-minute format. Next season the races will be extended to 50 minutes with the introduction of in-race pit stops and two-driver lineups, but will retain its multi-class structure of GT3, GT2, and GT4 vehicles.
Images © Brian Cleary / SRO Motorsports America
