No. 01 Cadillac Finishes Second at 12 Hours of Sebring

The No. 01 Cadillac V-Series.R team fought at the front of the field for the entirety of the 12 Hours of Sebring race today, where they secured a runner-up finish in the historic endurance event and finished just 0.891 seconds behind the overall winner.

• Sebastien Bourdais, Scott Dixon and Renger van der Zande combined to lead 96 of the 333 total laps (29%).
• Chip Ganassi Racing has produced two podiums in the past three 12 Hours of Sebring races (overall win in 2022).
• Dixon produced the fastest lap among the team (1:50.186) on lap 64 of the race.
• Bourdais: “I gave it all I had. Obviously disappointed for the whole group and Cadillac because we had a really strong day. It was not as straightforward as we wanted, but we raced up front for most of it. It always hurts to get done like this in the closing laps, but it’s racing.”
• Dixon: “It was a lot of fun. It was definitely an up and down race. We had an electronic issue that we were trying to debug. We got that sorted after falling back and clawed our way back up to second and then took the lead. The car had good speed. You never know; you always think you’re in this race and it can change quickly. You’re never out of it until you’re out of it. I’m glad Pipo (Derani) is okay; that is a testament to the safety of these cars.”
• van der Zande: “The battle there at the end is good for the show. I am obviously disappointed but at the same time very proud of the team and Cadillac. We’ll continue to be in the hunt to win other races this year, but this one for now stings. Second place in my 100th IMSA start is not bad.”
• Bourdais navigated the beginning of the endurance race smoothly, maintaining the team's P2 starting position for the first hour of action.

• Just two minutes into the second hour of the race, Bourdais executed an overtake at the exit of Turn 1 and advanced past the No. 31 Cadillac to seize the race lead.
• The No. 01 Cadillac crew made their second pit stop of the race one hour and 47 minutes into the race, as Scott Dixon took over command of the car. Dixon emerged from the pit sequence in P2 but tactfully passed the No. 31 Cadillac again for the top position shortly thereafter.
• Dixon clutched the lead throughout his stint before handing driving duties over to van der Zande four hours and eight minutes into the race as the team completed their fourth pit stop.
• Van der Zande operated through several full-course yellows across his stint, including his final stretch as he swapped out for Bourdais as the race neared the halfway mark. Bourdais emerged from a chaotic pit cycle in P4 position as the race returned to green with six hours left in the race.
• While Bourdais pushed the pace during his late afternoon stint, a 25-minute full course caution came out after the No. 21 (GTD) made contact with the rear of the No. 31 Cadillac, forcing the No. 31 into the tire barriers and landing upside down.
• Dixon took over driving duties during the caution with four hours and 20 minutes to go, eventually entering the final third of the race in P6.
• Jumping into the car in P3 position with three hours and 15 minutes remaining, van der Zande quickly went to work and advanced another position to P2 within his first few laps.
• CGR's No. 01 Cadillac team made their final driver chance of the race as the sun fell with two hours and 12 minutes remaining, as Bourdais jumped in for van der Zande. The team later emerged in P5 as they approached the two-hour mark.
• Bourdais continued to charge and cycled through as the leader with one hour and 45 minutes left in the race. The No. 01 then pitted for fuel under green with one hour and 26 minutes remaining.
• A full course yellow was displayed five minutes later with debris on-track near Turn 16, as the No. 01 raced from P4 position. The team dove into the pits once it was declared open and emerged again as the race leaders. 
• With 47 minutes remaining, a full course yellow was again brought out after the No. 55 (GTD) ran off-track and came to a stop.
• Another full-course yellow due to debris was displayed with 35 minutes to go in the race, allowing the No. 01 Cadillac team to return to the pits one final time for fresh tires and fuel.
• The No. 01 battled wheel-to-wheel in the closing moments of the race and ultimately settled for a second-place finish, finishing just 0.891 seconds behind the winner of the 12-hour race.