Cadillac Racing Second and Third at Road America

Pilgrim second, O’Connell third

ELKHART LAKE, Wis. (June 21, 2014) – Cadillac Racing drivers Andy Pilgrim and Johnny O’Connell finished second and third respectively in the second race of the Pirelli World Challenge Series presented by Cadillac GT weekend at Road America this morning.

The field for the second race of the weekend was set by fast qualifying laps from Saturday’s race. O’Connell (Flowery Branch, Ga.) started from the second row in fourth with teammate Pilgrim (Boca Raton, Fla.) taking the lights from the eighth position. Both Cadillac drivers were able to get strong starts. O’Connell passed Mike Skeen’s Audi for the lead with a brave move on the outside of Turn Five. Pilgrim was passing cars throughout the lap and slotted into third going into Turn One on the second lap. On lap four a full caution flew and lasted most of the race, accounting for eight laps. When the race restarted on lap 12 (16 total laps were run) the field went into Turn Eight. O’Connell got pushed wide from his second place position and Pilgrim was able to squeak by and take the runner spot to the finish.

“The start was interesting,” Pilgrim said. “I was going to go right and then Tim Bergmeister went right and I had a better launch and he was a little hesitant and gave me room into three and I went by. I made a move on the Bentley going into eight and then on the Ferrari later. It just opened up for me early. On the restart, Johnny got pushed wide out of eight and he had to get off the gas and I was able to get by him. The long yellow was a gift from the racing gods. After ten laps yesterday we lost a lot of ground. The long yellow helped to keep the tires cool and the car under me. A good weekend.”

O’Connell had no trouble with the start today.

“I had a great start, went from fourth place to the lead,” O’Connell said. “The Cadillac Racing guys gave me a great hot rod today. I am pleased with the result. Congratulations to Mike Skeen on a double win. I am thinking championship. We helped ourselves today with the points that we are taking out of here. I was able to get by Skeen on the outside of Turn Five. Our best opportunity to move up is early in the race. I was able to do that and got by him for the lead. His tires came in and he found a way back by me. Without the yellow he would have really checked out. Later I went into eight and got shoved wide and Andy got by. We had a good points weekend.”

The Pirelli World Challenge Series presented by Cadillac from Road America will be televised on NBC Sports, Friday, July 4 at 6:30 p.m. ET. The series will travel to Toronto for the Grand Prix of Toronto, July 18-20.