Pombo’s Honda TCR Sets Fastest Lap Overall in Watkins Qualifying

Photo: Jake Galstad/IMSA

TCR cars set the two quickest times overall in qualifying for tomorrow’s Sahlen’s 120 at The Glen after GS qualifying ended under a red flag.

Mat Pombo not only scored his third class pole of the season but was quickest among all IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge competitors in his No. 37 LA Honda World Racing Honda Civic FL5 TCR, thanks to a 1:55.096 lap.

It was 0.732 seconds clear of second-placed Chris Miller in the No. 17 Unitronic/JDC-Miller Motorsports Audi RS 3 LMS TCR, with the GS class No. 72 Murillo Racing Mercedes-AMG GT4 of Kenny Murillo third quickest with a 1:55.934 lap.

Murillo, however, will lead the field to the green, as IMSA is expected to re-order the field according to the fastest GS cars followed by TCR entries.

The 15-minute GS qualifying session was red-flagged with nine minutes to go when the No. 59 KohR Motorsports Ford Mustang GT4 of Bob Michaelian crashed in Turn 5.

Cleanup could not be completed in time, with officials having thrown an early flag to the session.

Unlike WeatherTech SportsCar Championship qualifying, Pilot Challenge rules state there is no minimum amount of green flag run time needed for the session to be made official.

The Sahlen’s 120 at The Glen is set to get underway Saturday at 3:35 p.m. EDT with live coverage on Peacock and IMSA Radio.

RESULTS: Qualifying

John Dagys

John Dagys is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of Sportscar365. Dagys spent eight years as a motorsports correspondent for FOXSports.com and SPEED Channel and has contributed to numerous other motorsports publications worldwide. Contact John