Mags & Garcia storm into title contention

August 31, 2013

Mags & Garcia storm into title contention

August 31, 2013

2013-08-31 at 17-13-13 (1)

Jan Magnussen and Antonio Garcia knew that getting a strong points haul this weekend would be the key to keeping them in championship contention.

So there is no better way to maximize that haul than by taking a win in one of the most bizarre races in ALMS history.

After two years of misfortune here in Baltimore, the No.3 Corvette escaped the early carnage only for Garcia to suffer radio issues which nearly caused him to miss his opportunity to pit and hand over to Magnussen after an ultra-short stint – the same strategy being employed by the No.4 ‘Vette and the BMWs.

“The main thing was, we had no communication. I started the race thinking it was a 2 hour race, then the only communication I heard was we’d be doing a driver change and pit stop. I didn’t know what was happening basically,” Garcia said.

“When I saw Oliver Gavin go in, I thought I needed to follow, I missed the entrance and did a 180 to get back in. And gave the car to Jan.”

Magnussen was third on a restart with 19 minutes remaining when he pulled off a barnstorming pass for the lead entering turn one – passing both one of the BMWs and teammate Tom Milner.

“I tried to pass one of the BMWs, he got in behind somebody, and I had to get ahead of him and in front so he couldn’t keep his position,” Magnussen said.

“I locked a brake and slid in alongside Tom – it wasn’t my plan but the car stuck and I was able to make it through.”

Magnussen and Garcia are now only two points behind Milner and Oliver Gavin in the points race with only three races remaining. That is a remarkable result considering the Danish/Spanish pairing didn’t score any points at Sebring after suffering a gearbox issue.

 

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