New for the second edition of the TireRack.com Battle on the Bricks is extension of the September 2023 race duration from 2 hours, 40 minutes to six hours on the 2.439-mile, 14-turn road course. The event, featuring 11 Grand Touring Prototype (GTP) entries in the 56-car field across four classes, is the fourth in the IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup series. The 10-hour Petit Le Mans on October 12 closes out the calendar.

Ahead of the Battle on The Bricks, eighth round of the GTP Weathertech Sportcar Championship at Indianapolis, Porsche leads Cadillac with 89 points. Both Penske Porsche Motorsport teams lead the Teams and Drivers championships ahead of both Cadillac teams with the two Acura still in contention in P5 and 6.

📷 © Luc Warnotte at Daytona 2024. Both Porsche Penske Motorsport Porsche 963 at Daytona.

Manufacturers WeatherTech Sportscars Championship standings

We are heading for the penultimate race of the GTP Weathertech Sportcar Championship at Indianapolis with Porsche leading 89 points ahead of Cadillac with 2555 points for the leader in the manufacturers standing against 2466 for the challenger. Acura is still in contention with 2416 points.

📷 © Luc Warnotte at Daytona 2024. Dane Cameron and Felipe Nasr winners of the 24 Hours of Daytona with #7 Porsche Penske Motorsport Porsche 963.

Porsche leads the manufacturers’ championship

Porsche Penske Motorsport has put at least one Porsche 963 on the podium at every round of this year’s IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship with four wins at Daytona, The Glen, Laguna Seca and Road America.

Despite counting only one win at Laguna Seca, Cadillac is second within reach of Porsche. Both Cadillac Racing and Whelen Cadillac Racing aim to score a second win for Cadillac this season which would bring Cadillac back in the lead should Porsche not score a P2.

Acura with two victories by the Wayne Taylor Racing by Andretti teams are still within reach. The championship is still very open.

WeatherTech SportsCar Championship standing Driver & Team

Both Porsche 963 lead the driver and team’s championships

Porsche Penske Motorsport returns to the venue of its maiden one-two victory with the 963 hybrid prototypes. The team and drivers are now eager to repeat this feat next weekend and place themselves in the best possible position in their bid for the manufacturers’, teams’ and drivers’ titles ahead of the season finale at Road Atlanta. Porsche Penske Motorsport is also keen to continue its impressive run of successes: so far this season, the team based in Mooresville (North Carolina) has occupied a podium step with at least one Porsche 963 in all IMSA races

In the team standings, Porsche Penske Motorsport’s #7 crew occupies the top spot with 2386 pts. Factory drivers Dane Cameron and Felipe Nasr rank first in the driver championship, with their Porsche colleagues Nick Tandy and Mathieu Jaminet in second place with 2286 pts after two wins at Laguna Seca and Road America.

Dane Cameron and Felipe Nasr winners of the 6 Hours of The Glen with #7 Porsche 963. — 📷 © Luc Warnotte at The Glen 2024. Dane Cameron and Felipe Nasr winners of the 6 Hours of The Glen with #7 Porsche Penske Motorsport Porsche 963.

Felipe Nasr (Porsche 963 #7): “I’m looking forward to finally go racing again. Indianapolis is a legendary track on the IMSA calendar. We enjoyed great success there last year however, the competitive environment has changed since then – it’s much closer. The new six-hour duration throws another challenge at us but I’m confident that we’ll be good for another top result. The team is prepared and we’re ready to do everything we can on the racetrack.”

Nick Tandy and Mathieu Jaminet with #6 Porsche 963 — 📷 © Luc Warnotte at The Glen 2024. Nick Tandy and Mathieu Jaminet won the Weathertech Raceway round (4th) and clinched a P2 at Detroit.

Mathieu Jaminet (Porsche 963 #6): “The IMSA season continues at last! We’ve had a break of over six weeks since the last race at Road America – that took a bit of getting used to because the first half of the season was full-on. Now we need to get back into a good rhythm to continue our series of successes in North America. In 2023, we celebrated our first one-two victory in Indianapolis. Still, we can’t rest on our laurels: last year it was a sprint race over 2:40 hours, and now it’s more than twice the distance. I hope we can achieve another top result.” Source: Porsche

Both Cadillac V-Series.R third and fourth

Cadillac Racing is the defending and five-time IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup (IMEC) Manufacturer champion.

#01 Cadillac Racing third

Renger van der Zande and Sebastien Bourdais are second in the Grand Touring Prototype (GTP) standings with 2201 pts having earned podium finishes in four of the past six races, including runner-up at Watkins Glen International. The duo, who tested on the road course earlier this summer, have qualified in the top three in all seven races including earning the pole at Laguna Seca.

Bourdais, who co-drove to the overall victory in the inaugural NASCAR Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series race at Indianapolis in 2012 and is a 10-time INDYCAR starter on the road course, said driving in the congested field spread across the four classes is a “game of patience.”

“In a six-hour race, I guess there will be more management because it will come down to what happens at the last safety car, so it might be a bit easier to manage frustration. In a 2-hour, 40-minute race, it’s trying to get track position the whole time,” said Bourdais, the four-time Indy car champion.

Two runner up so far for Renger van der Zande and Sebastien Bourdais with #01 Cadillac Racing Cadillac V-Series.R — 📷 © Luc Warnotte at The Glen 2024. One victory at Long Beach and two runner up so far for Renger van der Zande and Sebastien Bourdais with #01 Cadillac Racing Cadillac V-Series.R at Sebring and The Glen.

Sebastien Bourdais: “Physically, it’s hard. It’s a track that doesn’t give you much rest and it’s seriously difficult in traffic. There are a lot of sections on the track where you can’t pass. Once you get into turn 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 you got to wait all the way until the backstraight and same thing when you get to 7, 8, 9, 10. If you don’t clear just before you get to the long right, the marbles build up and you can’t pass either. There are few places to clear traffic and it’s really a game of patience because if you try to force the issue it can go sour pretty fast. You have to be careful but at the same time you can’t be too careful. In a 2-hour, 40-minute race, you can’t take it that easy. In a six-hour race, I guess there will be more management because it will come down to what happens at the last safety car, so it might be a bit easier to manage frustration. In a 2-hour, 40-minute race, it’s trying to get track position the whole time. You’re fighting for a couple tenths and then you give up 5 seconds on a lap because you get stuck behind a GT or something for six corners. It’s a tough one.”

Renger van der Zande: “It’s one of those tracks where strategy and track position will play a big role. It’s a fun track on your own. It’s not a typical IMSA track either. I did the 8 hours of Indy as well; finished second. It’s not the most exciting track but it’s the home for a lot of race teams, including our team. It’s a home race for them, so it’s a home race for me. I’m looking forward to Indy. The tough part for us in this part of the season is the hard tire, which we focused on getting it better and found some setup stuff that worked.”

#31 Whelen Cadillac Racing fourth

Team and driver 2023 champion #31 Whelen Cadillac Racing run by Action Express Racing are fourth, desperate to clinch their first win this season. Pipo Derani and Jack Aitken in #31 Whelen Cadillac Racing Cadillac V-Series.R count 2144 pts

“It's nice that the championship will now finish with two endurance races in a row, which can create a lot of interesting battles and different strategies around not only the overall championship but also the endurance championships,” said Pipo Derani, the 2023 GTP champion and endurance race champion who will share driving duties in both races with Jack Aitken and Tom Blomqvist.

📷 © Luc Warnotte at The Glen 2024. Pipo Derani and Jack Aitken in #31 Whelen Cadillac Racing Cadillac V-Series.R

Pipo Derani: “Indianapolis six hours will be a new challenge as it enters the endurance rounds of the championship. It's also a very peculiar racetrack, one that can create a lot of marbles off track. It's most likely going to create a very interesting endurance event, and I am looking forward to that. I also think it's nice that the championship will now finish with two endurance races in a row, which can create a lot of interesting battles and different strategies around not only the overall championship but also the endurance championships. Last year we had a relatively strong race car apart from the Porsches who were on a league of their own and we weren't so quick in qualifying. We will be looking to unlock some speed this year and hope that we can fight the Porsches during the race.”

Jack Aitken: “Indianapolis may be a new track for me, but it’s one I know from the simulator and having watched quite a few races there, so I’m not too concerned about getting up to speed. Going to a six hour this year will mean a bit more strategy playing out over the race, and as always traffic management will be a huge part of the game. Competing at such a historic venue will always be a cool outing, and Indy is a bit of a home away from home at this point, thanks to the Dallara simulator being just next to the Speedway.”

Tom Blomqvist: “Racing at Indy is always a special experience, and the new six-hour format definitely changes things and adds a new challenge for everyone. The circuit is tight and technical, so traffic management will be crucial to a strong result. Overtaking can be challenging, but there are a few decent spots to make moves, particularly heading into Turn 1 and on the backstretch. You’ve got to be patient and pick your moments carefully, especially when the track gets crowded. Having raced here last year in IMSA and this year in INDYCAR, I feel confident in knowing the nuances of the track, but it’s always evolving and, with managing traffic, balancing risk and reward will be a key factor in the race. To be back working with the team, Pipo and Jack is fantastic and I’m optimistic about our chances. We're currently second in the Endurance Cup standings, so the goal for the last two rounds is to maximize every opportunity for points and try to win the title.” Source: Cadillac Racing

Both Acura are fifth and sixth

#40 DEX Imaging Acura ARX-06 fifth

For Louis Delétraz and Jordan Taylor, the #40 DEX Imaging Acura ARX-06 team looks to bounce back after a promising weekend turned challenging at Road America. Although the pair has not raced together in the Acura ARX-06 GTP at Indianapolis before, Taylor last time in a prototype car at IMS saw him starting from pole position and Delétraz earned a podium finish in LMP2 in 2023’s Battle on the Bricks. Like their No. 10 teammates, it’s all about winning and the best result possible to finish the final races this season. Louis Delétraz and Jordan Taylor in the #40 DEX Imaging Acura ARX-06 team count 2107 pts.

📷 © Luc Warnotte at Sebring 2024. Louis Delétraz and Jordan Taylor won the 12 Hours of Sebring with the #40 DEX Imaging Acura ARX-06.

Louis Delétraz, Co-Driver, No. 40 DEX Imaging Acura ARX-06: “I’m excited for the Indianapolis 6-Hour because it’s our home race and also now an endurance race. Six hours at Indy will be a new challenge, the characteristics of track make it interesting with traffic. We have tested at the track with WTRAndretti, and the Acura ARX-06 was great. We have nothing to lose, and we want to win the last two races to finish the year strong!”

Jordan Taylor, Co-Driver, No. 40 DEX Imaging Acura ARX-06: “We had a great test at Indy a few weeks ago, so I’m looking forward to getting back there and seeing how we stack up. It is our home race as a team, so it’ll be great having a lot of family and friends out there supporting us at such a legendary track. We had great speed at the last race in Road America but weren’t able to capitalize on it in the race. Hopefully this week we will be in such a strong position again to fight for the win.” Source: Wayne Taylor Racing

#10 Konica Minolta Acura ARX-06 sixth

Ricky Taylor and Filipe Albuquerque in the #10 Konica Minolta Acura ARX-06 count 1999 pts. Aiming to pick up from where they left off, Ricky Taylor and Filipe Albuquerque in the No. 10 Konica Minolta Acura ARX-06 enter Indianapolis following a pole position and podium result at Road America last month. With experience driving the Acura ARX-06 at IMS in 2023, Taylor and Albuquerque will look for the podium after earning a top five result in last year’s event. The mission remains the same for the No. 10 Konica Minolta Acura ARX-06 crew: to win the remaining two events left on the calendar.

Ricky Taylor, Co-Driver, No. 10 Konica Minolta Acura ARX-06: “We had a great test there last month and have certainly improved ourselves since last year, six hours will prove a different challenge, and we are up for it. Indy is a very unique circuit and whether or not the similarities in duration to the Watkins Glen six hour will translate, only time will tell. We will prepare our best and learn as much as we can to make educated decisions for the race. It was great fun last year to see all of the support from family and friends of the WTRAndretti team, it is something we don’t always get to see or share. With this event becoming one of the championship’s marquee events, it will make it even more enjoyable to share with everyone.”

Filipe Albuquerque, Co-Driver No. 10 Konica Minolta Acura ARX-06: “Indianapolis’s going to be a new type of race for us, a six-hour race. Our last endurance race would’ve been a nice one - the two WTRAndretti cars were leading the race before the last 20 minutes, so we were looking good and competitive. We were also competitive and got pole position in the last sprint race at Road America, so it seems like we are getting faster and faster. We’ve been very competitive and of course we want to be competitive at Indianapolis. Safety cars and cautions will play a huge role in strategy, but we had a good test there and we got a good feeling of the car. One thing that can play in our favor is that we are not fighting for the championship so when others will be taking care of their championship and not taking be as much risk because they have a bigger picture, we don’t. So, this can maybe play in our favor and a lot of motivation to go for the win for sure.” Source: Wayne Taylor Racing

BMW M Hybrid V8 are seventh and ninth

Not a single podium so far for BMW M Team RLL with Philipp Eng and Jesse Krohn in #24 BMW M Hybrid V8 seventh with 1866 pts, 56 pts ahead of their teammates Connor De Philippi and Nick Yelloly in #25 BMW M Hybrid V8. BMW M Team RLL aims for their first podium finish of the season. In the #24 BMW M Hybrid V8, Philipp Eng will share driving duties with Jesse Krohn (FIN), while Nick Yelloly will team up with Connor De Phillippi (USA) in the #25 car.

Gianmaria Bruni with #5 Proton Competition Porsche 969 is eighth

Last year, Christian and Michael Ried’s team celebrated its racing debut in Indianapolis. They secured a highly regarded top-10 finish in their second race with the Porsche 963. Gianmaria Bruni will share the #5 Proton Competition Mustang Sampling Porsche 969 with Bent Viscaal and Alessio Picariello.

Gianmaria Bruni and Bent Viscaal in the #5 Proton Competition Mustang Sampling Porsche 969. — 📷 © Luc Warnotte at The Glen 2024. Gianmaria Bruni will share the #5 Proton Competition Mustang Sampling Porsche 969 with Bent Viscaal.

Gianmaria Bruni (Mustang Sampling Porsche 963 #5): “The Indianapolis Motor Speedway is a race track with an incredible history. It’s an honour for our team to drive there with our Porsche 963. I like the track, even if it is a bit all over the place. I hope we can compete at the front and fight for a top position, as we did at Road America. There, we proved over long stretches that we can hold our own better and better against the works cars.”

Bent Viscaal (Mustang Sampling Porsche 963 #5): “I’ve been watching the Indy 500 on TV for as long as I can remember. Now, I’ve got my race debut on this legendary circuit to look forward to. It’ll be a challenge because, like many times this season, I have to familiarise myself with a new track in a very short timeframe. But I’m getting more and more used to the Porsche 963 and we’re boasting a strong pace. In Watkins Glen and at Road America, we saw the progress we’ve made.”

Alessio Picariello (Mustang Sampling Porsche 963 #5): “I’m thrilled to be back in the team and look forward to my first race on such a legendary track as Indianapolis. It’s a big challenge for me as I was last in the Porsche 963 at Sebring. The team put in a strong performance at Road America recently. I’m confident that we can also bring home a strong result from Indianapolis.” Source: Proton Competition

Schedule

The IMS Road Course starts with practice on Friday, September 20th, at 11:15 a.m. ET. Qualifying is set for 4:40 p.m. ET on Saturday, September 21st , live on Peacock. On Sunday, September 22nd, the TireRack.com Battle on the Bricks six-hour endurance event will see the green and clock countdown begin at 11:40 a.m. ET with coverage on USA Network and Peacock.