Justin Rothberg secured a commanding victory in the first GT America Powered by AWS race at the iconic Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Friday, leading from start to finish and crossing the line 3.358 seconds ahead of rival Johnny O’Connell. While Rothberg’s victory appeared comfortable, the action behind him was anything but, as battles raged across the field and the final podium spots were hotly contested until the very end.
The race kicked off with chaos as James Sofronas, starting alongside Rothberg in his No. 14 GMG Racing Audi R8 LMS GT3, ran too deep into the first corner, dropping him to fifth place. This early misstep allowed O’Connell in the No. 3 SKI Autosports Audi R8 LMS GT3 and Mirco Schultis in the No. 70 MISHUMOTORS Callaway Corvette Z06 GT3 to capitalize, pushing themselves into contention early on.
Sofronas wasn’t deterred by his initial mistake. He quickly set about reclaiming lost ground, engaging in a fierce battle with championship leader Jason Daskalos in the No. 27 CRP Racing Mercedes-AMG GT3. Sofronas eventually outmaneuvered Daskalos after a thrilling wheel-to-wheel duel, but the drama didn’t end there. Kyle Washington in the No. 32 GMG Racing Porsche 992 GT3 R entered the fray, briefly overtaking Daskalos, only for the Mercedes driver to regain his position in the race’s final ten minutes.
The closing stages saw Rothberg take the win uncontested, while O’Connell secured second place and Sofronas recovered to claim the final podium spot. However, the real drama unfolded behind them, with Daskalos making contact with Schultis on the last lap, sending the Corvette driver into a spin. This incident led to a post-race penalty for Daskalos, dropping him further down the order.
“It was really helpful to get some midday laps in,” Rothberg remarked after the race, preparing for his double duty in Fanatec GT World Challenge America Powered by AWS. “It’s been a busy day, but racing a GT3 here at Indy is an incredible experience.”
Meanwhile, Dan Knox, behind the wheel of his Mercedes-AMG GT2, delivered a solid performance, finishing where he started in eighth place after a clean and consistent drive.
GT4: Sherman Dominates, Late-Race Drama Shakes Up the Podium
In the GT4 class, Isaac Sherman made a strong statement in his No. 098 Rotek Racing Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS Clubsport, building a commanding lead from the start and cruising to a well-earned victory. Behind him, the battle for second place heated up as Gray Newell in the No. 25 Heart of Racing Team Aston Martin Vantage AMR GT4 pressured Curt Swearingin’s No. 7 ACI Motorsports Porsche.
The real shake-up came late in the race when contact between Newell and Swearingin dropped the latter down the order. Swearingin was later penalized for the incident, allowing Damir Hot in the No. 5 Flying Lizard Motorsports Nissan Z NISMO GT4 to seize second place, with Swearingin managing to hold on to third.
“I just put my head down and focused on my laps,” Sherman said after the race. “It was great preparation for tomorrow, and I’m thrilled with the result.”
The GT America Powered by AWS field returns to the track for race two on Sunday, October 6th, at 8:35 a.m. ET. With tempers flaring and close competition, the next race promises even more drama and excitement.
