The 2019 IMSA season is in the rear view mirror. Here are a number of setup shots Michelin conducted over the course of the season. These were either for race weekend coverage or as part of a “bigger picture” storyline.

Michelin North America lead motorsports photographer Rick Dole shot all of these with the exception of one. LAT’s Michael Levitt, IMSA staff photographer, shot the group of Canadian drivers at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course.

TIRE BEAUTY

“BIG PICTURE” IDEAS

Michelin created three “big picture” story lines in motorsports during the 2019 IMSA season.

At Mid-Ohio, a group of Canadian drivers gathered collectively before Canadian Tire Motorsport Park to highlight IMSA’s “Canadian Invasion.”

At Watkins Glen International, to celebrate the success of those drivers under 21 years old (or who had success before 21 and turned 21 within the last year), Michelin created the “Sparkling Cider Society.”

Then at Canadian Tire Motorsports Park, to note the significant volume of women in IMSA, more than 40 women gathered early Friday morning (story part one, part two). Michelin highlights “#WomenInDrive” as one of its three stories.

DRIVER HERO SHOTS

At the preseason ROAR Before the Rolex 24 test and throughout the year, Michelin gathered shots of some of IMSA’s stars.

A SPECIAL GATHERING AT THE ROAR

Sometimes the best shots happen by accident.

While photographing Alex Zanardi, who was making his Rolex 24 At Daytona debut, longtime friends and similar one-off drivers Fernando Alonso and Rubens Barrichello saw him in the paddock.

What followed were some of the most memorable images of the year.