Road America PWC: Fong shrugs off O’Connell clash to win

Fong’s pole position was challenged by O’Connell from the green flag. O’Connell tried to find a way past around the outside through the opening corners, and was running just ahead as they braked for Turn 5.

But Absolute Racing’s Fong committed to the inside line and they touched mid-corner, which sent O’Connell into a spin. Fong expected more room, but later apologized publicly for the clash.

O'Connell's spin also delayed reigning champion Alvaro Parente (K-PAX McLaren 650S) as he had to take to the run-off to avoid the spinning Caddy. O’Connell rejoined in 23^rd, with Parente 13^th.

Jon Fogarty’s Gainsco Porsche 911, which qualified on the second row, went off at the Turn 7 kink on the opening lap, dropping to 14th.

Fong led Patrick Long’s Wright Motorsports Porsche 911, Daniel Mancinelli (TR3 Ferrari 488), Acura’s Peter Kox and Alec Udell’s Porsche.

Michael Cooper’s Cadillac passed Udell for fifth on lap two, and then picked off Kox three laps later for fourth. Cooper, who broke an upright in qualifying, caught and passed Mancinelli for third on lap 10.

Fong held a comfortable lead until the last laps, when Long pushed hard to close the gap and got right on his tail through the Carousel on the penultimate tour. But Fong had all the answers to the challenge.

Cooper finished a distant third, ahead of the duelling Mancinelli and Kox.

Of the recovering cars, Parente impressively charged back to sixth, as O’Connell worked his way through the pack to finish eighth after some typically robust passing moves.

James Sofronas dominated the GTA class in his Porsche 911, while Yuki Harata of Japan claimed GT Cup honors – as the only finisher – in his Lamborghini Huracan.