Aitken's Frustration Deepens: Yet Another Podium but No Victory at Long Beach!
In a race that had fans on the edge of their seats, Jack Aitken and his team came tantalizingly close to securing their first win of the season at the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach. Starting from a promising fourth position, Aitken displayed remarkable skill, slicing through the competition to position the #31 Whelen Cadillac V-Series.R at the front of the pack before handing the reins over to co-driver Frederik Vesti.
However, misfortunes struck during the race's critical moments, particularly due to poorly timed cautions in IMSA's intense 100-minute sprint. Vesti found himself in a dogged pursuit of Renger van der Zande from Acura Meyer Shank Racing, battling fiercely all the way to the checkered flag. Despite a valiant effort and multiple late-race restarts, Vesti crossed the finish line just 0.818 seconds behind van der Zande's #93 Acura ARX-06, marking yet another second-place finish for the Whelen Cadillac team.
“It's frustrating not to be on the top step, but we're gathering points, we're knocking on the door,” Aitken, 30, stated. “As I said last year, if you keep knocking, it's going to come eventually. We're not panicking just because we're not on the top step. I think we're pretty happy and confident in what we're doing at the moment.”
Aitken's sentiments were echoed by the 24-year-old Vesti, who, despite being a reserve driver for the Mercedes Formula One Team, showcased his talents on the racetrack. Vesti acknowledged the luck that played into Acura MSR's hands, particularly during the pivotal second full course yellow that shifted the race's dynamics. “Being frustrated in second place tells a lot about this team,” Vesti remarked. “First of all, Jack did amazing today, going from fourth to P1. They (Acura Meyer Shank Racing) were slightly lucky with that full course yellow, which was frustrating.”
As the team celebrated yet another podium finish—this one being their third consecutive top-three result of the 2026 season—there's an undeniable tension brewing. The consistency shown by the Whelen Cadillac team is impressive, yet the elusive victory remains just out of reach. Vesti recognized the challenges he faced, stating, “From my side, I was trying to keep it clean. Obviously, we needed to get to the finish line. I was pushing everything I could to get Renger.”
With five consecutive podium finishes for Vesti and the team’s undeniable progression, the question remains: when will the breakthrough come? As Aitken and Vesti continue to build momentum, all eyes will be on their next race. Will the winning moment finally arrive, or will frustration linger as the “almost” team? The racing world waits with bated breath!