Cadillac Whelen Claims Long-Awaited Win at Indianapolis
In a pivotal victory for the Cadillac Whelen team, Jack Aitken, Frederik Vesti, and Earl Bamber dominated the six-hour endurance race at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, leading an impressive 210 of 243 laps. This win marks a significant rebound after a challenging season in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship and sets a hopeful tone for the 2026 campaign.
Aitken expressed relief at securing the team’s first win of the year, stating, “It’s a bit of a relief to get the first one under the belt for the year. I think we had a really awesome car today… it shows how well we were working as a team.” The team employed a flexible three-driver strategy, with Aitken emphasizing its effectiveness, particularly against the No. 93 Meyer Shank Racing Acura, which posed a strong challenge early on.
After facing setbacks earlier in the season, including a tough weekend at the DTM round in Austria, Aitken displayed resilience during a nail-biting final hour at Indianapolis, navigated by a two-lap sprint finish. He noted the tactical shift at the end, “It turned into a bit of a shootout at the end… thankfully, everything went smoothly for the last two laps.”
Vesti, the 2023 FIA Formula 2 runner-up, highlighted his need to adapt to the rigors of multi-class racing, saying, “It’s fair to say it’s quite a shift…switching to prototypes is definitely a challenge.” The victory marked Vesti’s first in IMSA, while Bamber acknowledged the team’s laborious efforts to secure this win after a significant drought, noting, “We’d talked… that one day, the floodgates are going to open and it’s going to work.”
This 1-2 finish for Cadillac solidifies their competitive standing and provides momentum as they approach the season’s conclusion at Petit Le Mans and Daytona. Bamber reflected on the achievement, crediting the team’s hard work and collaborative effort, stating, “It’s a big team sport… a massive amount of stuff from Cadillac – updates through winter, throughout the season.”
As Cadillac Whelen builds momentum, expectations rise for the upcoming races, with the team poised to capitalize on their hard-fought success at Indianapolis.
