INDIANAPOLIS, IN (Saturday, September 16, 2023) – The Indianapolis Motor Speedway has an incredible history of providing racers with the highest of highs and the lowest of lows – unfortunately for Team TGM, they were on the wrong side of the ledger today with both cars failing to finish.
Optimism ran high today at the start of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway 240 – the penultimate round of the IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge championship.
Giovanis (No 64) posted his fastest lap ever at the famed speedway in qualifying, and Hugh Plumb (No 46) lined up in the third row for the start.
However, within 20 minutes of the start, Plumb was the first to become the victim of an over-aggressive driver – being hit and spun by a BMW and sustaining suspension damage.
After pitting to check the damage, a miscue had the No 46 pull out of the pit box with the fuel still engaged, which led to a mandatory drive-through penalty.
Matt Plumb took over the car, however, the damage from the initial incident proved to make driving the car very difficult. Ultimately, the car was not able to finish after being pushed off the circuit again, stopping with about 15 minutes remaining in the 4-hour enduro.
It took about 10 minutes longer, 30 minutes into the race, for Ted Giovanis to become a spectator in a TCR car-to-car impact, which shoved the TGM team owner into the grass, also causing suspension damage. The team decided to push through until co-driver Owen Trinkler took over driving duties, but it was evident that the damage had to be repaired.
The car went to the garage to change a tie-rod, which turned the remainder of the race into a “test session” being several laps down and ultimately leading to a DNF with about 20 minutes remaining in the race.
Next up is the season finale race, Petit Le Mans, at Road Atlanta, October 11-13, 2023.
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Gallery: Sebring Race
It was a great day for racing - although some might say every day is a great day for racing! Check out Team TGM in action in round two of the IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge at Sebring International Raceway.Ted Giovanis the author FOCUS FORWARD: Life lessons from racing...
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Gallery: Sebring Practice and Qualifying
All the action from Sebring International Raceway as Team TGM prepares for round two of the IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge Championship. Today - we race!Ted Giovanis the author FOCUS FORWARD: Life lessons from racing Life comes at you fast when you’re traveling 180...
Ted Giovanis
”The first five or six laps went really well when I got pushed offline, and the tires were dirty and slick. Just a couple of laps later, two TCR cars collided and shoved me into the grass, doing major damage to the car. Soon, the left rear tire went down, and we pitted. After Owen took over and our struggles continued – all as a result from the impact. Both Team TGM cars were victims of early accidents. It’s disappointing that there was so much aggression early in a very long race.”
Owen Trinkler
“When Ted was hit we went a lap down but we were hopeful that with a caution or two we could get back on the lead lap. However, the damage was more than we imagined, and ultimately, I had a tire wear right down to the cord, and we had to come to the garage and replace the tie-rod and all four tires. This being our first year in the Aston Martins, we used the time to learn more about the cars and try a few alternative changes to the car.
Although we were not in the podium fight, we turned the second fastest time among the Aston Martins, so we were pleased with that.”
Hugh Plumb
“We started strong, and I was able to gain a spot on the start. The car was running great. We were closing in on the top four cars and looking to have a podium-finishing day. Something in the car was bent from the hit and spin, which we were never able to pin point while still racing, but we soldiered on. Even after receiving the pit lane penalty, we were still aiming to get a wave around during a caution to get back into the hunt. Unfortunately, the car just never performed at a premium after the hit.”
Matt Plumb
“After a great start, we had a couple of mishaps that we could not bounce back from. In the end, I was struggling greatly trying to drive the wounded car, and it appears something may have finally broken all together in the car and forced me off track. The car was pancaked on one side hitting a barrier, ending our race with less than a half hour to go.”
Ted Giovanis the author
FOCUS FORWARD: Life lessons from racing
Life comes at you fast when you’re traveling 180 miles per hour. For Ted Giovanis, it’s also where you can learn the most valuable lessons. Since becoming a race car driver three decades ago at age forty-six—a ride that is still in overdrive—Giovanis has discovered how the tools of racing and the teamwork within it are applicable to life and business. In forty-eight motivating and, at times, exhilarating chapters, he shares his experience and knowledge.
