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Fittipaldi Leads Cadillac Top-Three Sweep in Opening Practice

Fittipaldi leads Corvette 1-2-3 in FP1 at Daytona…

Photo: John Dagys

Photo: John Dagys

Christian Fittipaldi’s No. 5 Action Express Racing Cadillac DPi-V.R led a Cadillac top three sweep in the first session of the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship’s new DPi era at Daytona.

The Brazilian driver was one of only two drivers to lap under the 1-minute and 40-second marker, with a 1:38.196 lap that was 1.477 seconds quicker than the Wayne Taylor Racing Cadillac driven by Ricky Taylor.

Toyota Gazoo Racing WEC driver Mike Conway completed the Cadillac top three positions in the second of the Action Express entries.

The best non-DPi entry was the No. 81 DragonSpeed Oreca 07 Gibson of Ben Hanley, 2.160 seconds off Fittipaldi’s benchmark, with the JDC-Miller Motorsports Oreca driven by Mathias Beche fifth in their first outing in the Prototype class.

The session was halted with a few moments to go when the No. 13 Rebellion Racing Oreca 07 Gibson stopped on track for a second time.

The No. 67 Ford GT of Olivier Pla led a tightly bunched GT Le Mans class pack, 0.029 seconds ahead of the No. 912 Porsche 911 RSR of Porsche debutant Laurens Vanthoor. Dirk Mueller was third quickest in the No. 66 Ford, ahead of Risi Competizione’s James Calado.

GT Daytona was equally close-fought, with three different marques in the top three positions.

Ferrari factory driver Sam Bird set the fastest time in the No. 62 Scuderia Corsa Ferrari 488 GT3, from Michele Beretta’s No. 61 Grasser Lamborghini Huracan GT3 and the No. 29 Land Motorsport Audi R8 LMS of Connor De Phillippi.

The session’s only other stoppage occurred for a track inspection.

Practice 2 is set for 1:30 p.m. ET.

RESULTS: Practice 1

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