Park Place Porsche Withdrawn After Heavy Crash in Qualifying

Image: IMSA

The No. 73 Park Place Motorsports Porsche 911 GT3 R has been withdrawn from Sunday’s Monterey Sports Car Championship powered by McLaren following a heavy crash in qualifying for Patrick Lindsey.

The team owner/driver escaped injury in the accident, which destroyed the GT Daytona class contender after making heavy contact with the Turn 11 wall.

“I was on a decent lap and dropped two [wheels] on the exit of [Turn] 10,” Lindsey told Sportscar365.

“If you’ve been here, you kind of know that you can get away with that a little bit and lose a tenth or two.

“But I wanted that lap in the bag so I hung with it and unfortunately it bit me. I came across the track and hit the outside wall on the entry into [Turn] 11.

“It was a big hit. Fortunately the car did its job and I was able to get out. I’ll have a sore arm tomorrow but no big deal outside of that.”

The Texas-based team quickly determined that repairs would not be able to be made in time for tomorrow’s penultimate round of the season, with damage sustained to the chassis, suspension and likely the engine and gearbox as well.

Spare cars are not allowed per IMSA rules, while the team does not have a spare chassis on-site.

“My first thought was the impact it would have on the team and Pat [Long’s] championship overall and in the Sprint Cup because he’s really right there in both,” Lindsey said.

“I’m really bummed to let him and the team down. We had an issue in practice this morning, which put a little extra pressure on me to get a lap out of the car in qualifying.

“The track is so difficult you really need to do it with the peak of the tire instead of trying to get it done later in the session.

“I definitely had the gun to my head trying to get it done and unfortunately made the mistake and paid the price.

“It just sucks because the Park Place guys have been so good all year and not giving them a chance to fight for the Sprint Cup hurts a lot.”

Lindsey said they will be exploring their options in order to be on the grid for next month’s Motul Petit Le Mans.

“We’re looking at possibly finding another option, in leasing a car, because there is a slight chance with as much as we have to work on, that may be a better near-term option,” he said.

“We’ll take stock of everything and figure out what we need to do for Petit.

“The plan is to be there and do everything we can to for Nick Boulle to be in the car for the long-distance races for us and for Pat to finish the season out for us.”

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