The drama immediately hit the pole session No.01 chip Ganassi Racing Cadillac, with Sebastien Bourdais falling back right at the start and pulling into the pits at the end of the first round for a downshifting theme.
The engine cover was removed and the computer was plugged in, but no other apparent repairs were made. The crew then cut off the fuel and sent the Bourdais back before making a second call to the pits, going down in two rounds.
Pipo Derani took the lead in No.31 Action Express Racing Cadillac, followed by Ricky Taylor in No.10 Wayne Taylor Racing Acura and Tom Blomqvist in No.60 Meyer Shank Racing with Curb Agajanian Acura, but Blomqvist took the lead. ‘Position lost shortly thereafter to Alex Lynn in No.02 CGR Cadillac. Lynn later had to serve a drive-through to pass under yellow.
The number 01 was not the only favorite to hit early. The No.36 Andretti Autosport Ligier LMP3 went before the start behind the wall, re-emerged, but then came out again with an apparent cooling problem.
Gar Robinson led early on from the pole in the No.74 Riley Motorsports league, but spun in round 17 for about 15 minutes, passing the lead to Harry Gottsacker in the No.6 Muehlner Motorsports America Duqueine. Gottsacker and co-pilot Alec Udell were called late in the car due to other drivers not being able to run, and Ugo de Wilde.
GT competitors who made early calls to the pits include the No.23 Heart of Racing Aston Martin GTD Pro entry with an unknown issue, Alex Riberas stays in the pit and eventually goes behind the wall. GTD Polesitter Zacharie Robichon brought in the No.16 Wright Motorsports Porsche, the crew pulled off both left wheels, then sent the car back. It went back to the loaf, then went behind the wall so the crew could take care of the issue, which might be something entangled in the hubs.
The problem with the No.16 left Robby Foley in the No.96 Turner Motorsports BMW M4, which separated from Madison Snow in the No.1 Paul Miller Racing BMW with some GTD Pro cars.
The LMP2 and GTD Pro pole sitters were the only ones to pack the first half hour unscathed. Daniel Serra in No.62 Risi Competizione Ferrari 488 leads Mirko Bortolotti in No.63 TR3 Racing Lamborghini Huracan. Ben Keating took the lead in the No.52 PR1 Mathiasen Motorsports ORECA, followed by Henrik Hedman and the No.81 DragonSpeed ORECA.
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