Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing
Round 9 of 10 in the Jaguar I-PACE eTROPHY
New York City E Prix – Brooklyn, New York
RACE NOTES AND QUOTES
July 13, 2019
SELLERS WAS UNABLE TO FIGHT FOR THE JAGUAR I-PACE eTROPHY TITLE IN RACE 1 AFTER A QUALIFYING CRASH SIDELINED HIM; LEGGE FINISHED FOURTH
KATHERINE LEGGE, No. 3 Jaguar I-PACE eTROPHY entry: “Obviously it was a disappointing race because we had to start fifth due to the penalty carrying over from the last race after being second fastest in qualifying. I think we had the pace to be right at the front but unfortunately it’s just not that easy to overtake so were looking for an RLL 1-2 finish to finish out the season strong tomorrow and keep us going over the off season.”
- FAST FACTS: Legge set the second fastest time in qualifying but had to serve a three-grid penalty from the previous race in Berlin due to contact in that race. She would have started fifth but as Sellers did not start the race, she moved up to a fourth-place start and held the position throughout the race… Legge is fifth in the point standings with 75 points.
BRYAN SELLERS, No. 6 Jaguar I-PACE eTROPHY entry: “Today was an extremely difficult day. I made a mistake this morning that put us in a position that ultimately forced us to not be able to start the race. I feel terrible that we had all of our RLL representatives, as well as our Jaguar Land Rover partners here, and were not able to race for them. Tomorrow is another day, and we have another race. All the mechanics have worked themselves to the bone to get the car ready and tomorrow I will do my best to make them happy with the effort they have put in.
“What happened in qualifying was a two-stage event for me. I actually came out of Turn 10 and scrubbed the wall. As soon as that happened, I came in the pits and it looked to be just cosmetic. It didn’t feel like a huge hit or anything like that but then on the next lap out, trying to set up to start the next qualifying run, I had some sort of failure in the front which is what ultimately had the hard crash. At the end of the day it all boils back to what I did in the lap before and the turn before and I feel pretty terrible to put everyone in this position. Everyone that worked so hard, from RLL, to our mechanics Dave and Owen, and then into the process of fixing it. I think every single guy in there (I-PACE eTROPHY garage) had their hands on the car at some point in time to try to get the car turned around and unfortunately just a bad wheel bearing at the end was the thing that kept us from being able to race. At this moment I’m as gutted for those guys as I am for myself because they put in so much effort and to not even get the car on track is pretty tough. I really want everyone to know how much I appreciate the effort they put in not only today, but all season.”
- FAST FACTS: Sellers was fifth fastest in qualifying before he made contact with the wall at the end of the session at approx., 9 AM. The car was unable to be fully repaired in time for the 2:05 PM ET race start therefore he was unable to fight for the title… After his win in Round 6 in Paris, he took the lead with 82 points over Jimenez, 77, and Evans, 68. After Monaco, his lead narrowed to 1 point over Jimenez (93-92). He dropped to second place after finishing fourth in Round 8 in Berlin with 101 points to leader Jimenez, 107. Jimenez clinched the title with a win from pole and total of 128 points. Bueno is second with 106, Sellers has 101 and fourth place Evans has 98. He is mathematically able to finish second in the point standings.
NEXT UP: The final round of the Jaguar I-PACE eTROPHY will take place tomorrow at 2 PM ET.