Jarvis Rebounds to Put Mazda On Top in Final Practice

Photo: Jake Galstad/IMSA

Mazda has rebounded from a challenging opening day of track activity to go quickest in the second and final practice session prior to qualifying for this evening’s WeatherTech 240 at Daytona.

Oliver Jarvis put the No. 77 Mazda RT24-P on top of the time charts, thanks to a 1:34.398 lap time late in the 60-minute session.

It came in both Jarvis and co-driver Tristan Nunez’s first laps of the weekend after an engine-related issue prevented the car from setting a time on Friday.

Jarvis’ lap was 0.248 seconds quicker than the No. 7 Team Penske Acura ARX-05 of Helio Castroneves, with teammate Juan Pablo Montoya, who topped Friday’s one-and-only session, ending up fourth after a number of late-session improvements.

The No. 55 Mazda DPi of Jonathan Bomarito split the two Acura DPis, having clocked a 1:34.689 lap time in the closing moments of the session.

Gabby Chaves, who is subbing for the COVID-19-inflicted Felipe Nasr, completed the top-five in the No. 31 Action Express Racing Cadillac.

The session, split between dedicated practice times for DPi/GT Le Mans and GT Daytona class competitors, was halted roughly halfway in when the No. 10 Wayne Taylor Racing Cadillac DPi of Renger van der Zande had a puncture entering Turn 1.

The Rolex 24 at Daytona-winning entry was towed back to the garage with bodywork damage but is expected to be repaired in time for qualifying.

A late flyer by Nick Tandy put Porsche on top of GTLM, denying a 1-2 in practice for Corvette Racing.

Tandy’s 1:42.990 was 0.059 seconds quicker than the No. 4 Chevrolet Corvette C8.R of Oliver Gavin, who edged out teammate Jordan Taylor on the time charts.

The No. 24 Team RLL BMW M8 GTE of Jesse Krohn was fourth, ahead of teammate Bruno Spengler in fifth.

Aaron Telitz, in his first IMSA sprint race, led the way in GTD for AIM Vasser Sullivan.

The Silver-rated driver reeled off a 1:46.694 in his No. 14 Lexus RC F GT3 to edge out Corey Fergus’ Compass Racing McLaren 720S GT3 by 0.472 seconds.

The Practice 1 pace-setting Scuderia Corsa Ferrari 488 GT3 Evo 2020 was third quickest in class.

Qualifying is set to get underway at 1:55 p.m. ET.

RESULTS: Practice 2

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