IMSA Road America: Derani puts Cadillac on pole

Derani lapped the newly repaved Road America course in 1:47.730s, earning pole position for the first time since Sebring.

It looked like it could be a front row lockout for Cadillac with Sebastien Bourdais trailing Derani for some time, but Matt Campbell would make a late push for pole that very nearly succeeded.

The No. 7 Penske Motorsport Porsche ended up second, just 0.068s off pole. Bourdais was third in the No. 01 Ganassi Cadillac.

"We used the second half of qualifying to try and get one set ready for the race," said Derani after qualifying. "Obviously, we went out there with not a big amount of time to go. So we were just trying to be safe if we had to do another lap. If not, just prepare the tires for the race. 

"The V-Series has been perfect today. It's been perfect the whole week. I'm very happy to be able to put the lap. Everyone involved has done a fantastic job so far this year. Just have to thank those guys for the hard work. Honestly, it's not done yet. Qualifying doesn't mean much, but for a few points that could count in the end. But it's always good to start ahead."

#31 Whelen Engineering Racing Cadillac V-LMDh Cadillac V- LMDh: Pipo Derani, Alexander Sims (Photo by: Jake Galstad / Motorsport Images)

In LMP2, the No. 04 Crowdstrike Racing by APR ORECA surged to the top of the charts with George Kurtz lapping the course in 1:53.621s. The championship leaders claimed pole position, beating the No. 8 Tower Motorsports ORECA of Rodrigo Sales by 0.508s.

LMP3 wasn't even a competition, with Nico Pino's pole time of 1:57.930 being nearly one-second clear of his closest competitor. The No. 33 Sean Creech Motorsport Ligier was 0.930s ahead of Bijoy Garg in the No. 29 Jr III Racing Ligier.

Pino made the highlight reel, not just for earning pole position, but for catching air after running wide at the exit of Turn 1. He escaped the dramatic moment unscathed, and continued on without any further issues.

GTD Pro driver Alex Riberas and the Heart of Racing team led the entire GT field, taking pole position in their No. 23 Aston Martin Vantage GT3 entry. Fresh off their first win of the year at Lime Rock, he earned the team its second consecutive pole with a 2:02.918s lap. 

Daniel Juncadella in the No. 79 WeatherTech Racing Mercedes AMG GT3 will join him on the front row, just 0.057s back of the pole time.

Looking at the non-pro GTD runners, Madison Snow placed the championship-leading No. 1 Paul Miller Racing BMW M4 GT3 on pole for the first time this year. Brendan Iribe put in a valiant effort, getting the No. 70 Inception Racing McLaren 720S GT3 EVO onto the front row and just missing out on pole by 0.091s.

Cla	Drivers	#	Chassis	Time	Interval	km/h
1	PIPO DERANIALEXANDER SIMSWhelen Engineering Cadillac Racing	31	Cadillac V-Series.R	1'47.730		135.272
2	MATT CAMPBELLFELIPE NASRPorsche Penske Motorsport	7	Porsche 963	+0.068	0.068	135.186
3	SÉBASTIEN BOURDAISRENGER VAN DER ZANDECadillac Racing	01	Cadillac V-Series.R	+0.306	0.238	134.888
4	RICKY TAYLORFILIPE ALBUQUERQUEKonica Minolta Acura ARX-06	10	Acura ARX-06	+0.426	0.120	134.739
5	CONNOR DE PHILLIPPINICK YELLOLYBMW M Team RLL	25	BMW M Hybrid V8	+0.489	0.063	134.660
6	TOM BLOMQVISTCOLIN BRAUNMeyer Shank Racing w/ Curb Agajanian	60	Acura ARX-06	+0.498	0.009	134.649
7	NICK TANDYMATHIEU JAMINETPorsche Penske Motorsport	6	Porsche 963	+0.825	0.327	134.243
8	PHILIPP ENGAUGUSTO FARFUSBMW M Team RLL	24	BMW M Hybrid V8	+1.140	0.315	133.855
9	TIJMEN VAN DER HELMMIKE ROCKENFELLERJDC/Miller Motorsports	5	Porsche 963	+1.482	0.342	133.436
10	HARRY TINCKNELLGIANMARIA BRUNIProton Competition	59	Porsche 963	+2.239	0.757	132.517
11	GEORGE KURTZBEN HANLEYCrowdstrike Racing by APR	04	ORECA LMP2 07	+5.891	3.652	128.258
12	RODRIGO SALESLOUIS DELETRAZTower Motorsports	8	ORECA LMP2 07	+6.399	0.508	127.687
13	STEVEN THOMASMIKKEL JENSENTDS Racing	11	ORECA LMP2 07	+6.566	0.167	127.501
14	BEN KEATINGPAUL-LOUP CHATINPR1 Mathiasen Motorsports	52	ORECA LMP2 07	+7.055	0.489	126.957
15	DWIGHT MERRIMANRYAN DALZIELEra Motorsport	18	ORECA LMP2 07	+7.140	0.085	126.863
16	DENNIS ANDERSENED JONESHigh Class Racing	20	ORECA LMP2 07	+7.912	0.772	126.016
17	JOHN FALBGIEDO VAN DER GARDETDS Racing	35	ORECA LMP2 07	+9.396	1.484	124.420
18	LANCE WILLSEYJOAO BARBOSASean Creech Motorsport	33	Ligier JS P320	+10.200	0.804	123.572
19	BIJOY GARG LINUS LUNDQVISTJr III Racing	29	Ligier JS P320	+11.130	0.930	122.605
20	GAR ROBINSONJOSH BURDONRiley	74	Ligier JS P320	+11.494	0.364	122.230
21	OREY FIDANIMATTHEW BELLAWA	13	Duqueine D08	+11.521	0.027	122.203
22	SETH LUCAS TONIS KASEMETSAve Motorsports	4	Ligier JS P320	+12.879	1.358	120.827
23	ARI BALOGHGARETT GRISTJr III Racing	30	Ligier JS P320	+12.888	0.009	120.818
24	ANTHONY MANTELLAWAYNE BOYDAWA	17	Duqueine D08	+13.858	0.970	119.854
25	GERRY KRAUT SCOTT ANDREWSJDC/Miller Motorsports	85	Duqueine D08	+14.177	0.319	119.540
26	ROSS GUNNALEX RIBERASHeart Of Racing Team	23	Aston Martin Vantage GT3	+15.188	1.011	118.557
27	DANIEL JUNCADELLAJULES GOUNONWeatherTech Racing	79	Mercedes AMG GT3	+15.245	0.057	118.502
28	ANTONIO GARCIAJORDAN TAYLORCorvette Racing	3	Corvette C8.R GTD	+15.413	0.168	118.340
29	BRYAN SELLERSMADISON SNOWPaul Miller Racing	1	BMW M4 GT3	+15.561	0.148	118.198
30	JACK HAWKSWORTHBEN BARNICOATVasser Sullivan	14	Lexus RC F GT3	+15.624	0.063	118.138
31	BRENDAN IRIBEFREDERIK SCHANDORFFInception Racing	70	McLaren 720S GT3 EVO	+15.652	0.028	118.111
32	KLAUS BACHLERPATRICK PILETPfaff Motorsports	9	Porsche 911 GT3 R (992)	+15.904	0.252	117.870
33	FRANKIE MONTECALVOAARON TELITZVasser Sullivan	12	Lexus RC F GT3	+16.220	0.316	117.570
34	MIKE SKEENMIKAEL GRENIERTeam Korthoff Motorsports	32	Mercedes AMG GT3	+16.592	0.372	117.218
35	ROMAN DE ANGELISMARCO SORENSENHeart Of Racing Team	27	Aston Martin Vantage GT3	+16.667	0.075	117.148
36	MIKHAIL GOIKHBERGLORIS SPINELLIForte Racing Powered by USRT	78	Lamborghini Huracan GT3 EVO2	+16.689	0.022	117.127
37	PATRICK GALLAGHERROBBY FOLEYTurner Motorsport	96	BMW M4 GT3	+16.700	0.011	117.116
38	BILL AUBERLENCHANDLER HULLTurner Motorsport	97	BMW M4 GT3	+16.995	0.295	116.839
39	RUSSELL WARDPHILIP ELLISWinward Racing	57	Mercedes AMG GT3	+17.150	0.155	116.694
40	SHEENA MONK KATHERINE LEGGEGradient Racing	66	Acura NSX GT3	+17.751	0.601	116.136
41	MARIO FARNBACHERASHTON HARRISONRacers Edge Motorsports with WTR	93	Acura NSX GT3	+17.882	0.131	116.014
42	ALAN METNI KAY VAN BERLOKellymoss with Riley	91	Porsche 911 GT3 R (992)	+18.766	0.884	115.204
43	PJ HYETT SEB PRIAULXAO Racing	80	Porsche 911 GT3 R (992)	+19.046	0.280	114.949
44	ALAN BRYNJOLFSSONTRENT HINDMANWright Motorsports	77	Porsche 911 GT3 R (992)	+19.642	0.596	114.411
45	DAVID BRULEALEC UDELLKellymoss with Riley	92	Porsche 911 GT3 R (992)	+20.271	0.629	113.849