Drissi wins Historic IROC Collection race at Laguna Seca

Tomy Drissi powered his 2006 Pontiac Firebird to victory in Saturday’s race for the IROC Collection Unser Household Cup on the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion. The occasion marked the primary time the IROC sequence has competed at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca since 2002 and the first-ever look of all seven generations of IROC automobiles in a single area.

Drissi claimed the highest spot on the rostrum amongst a area of 26 drivers, heading off former IndyCar champion Dario Franchitti in a 2006 IROC Pontiac Firebird. Kurt Busch, the 2004 NASCAR Cup Collection champion, completed third in a 2003 IROC Pontiac Firebird.

The sphere was a rolling museum of motorsport historical past, that includes champions and icons from F1, IndyCar, IMSA and NASCAR. Different drivers included four-time NASCAR Cup Collection champion Jeff Gordon in fourth (2001 IROC Pontiac Firebird), sports activities automotive ace Patrick Lengthy in sixth (1977 IROC Chevrolet Camaro) and Bobby Labonte in eighth (2001 IROC Pontiac Firebird)). The sphere additionally included Zak Brown, Jenson Button, Mark Martin, Invoice Elliott, Bruce Canepa, Scott Pruett and lots of extra.

VIDEO: Be a part of Ray Evernham for a tour of the IROC automobiles on the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion

The occasion was a part of a particular showcase organized by IROC co-owner Ray Evernham, bringing collectively legendary equipment spanning the sequence’ authentic 1974 Porsche 911 Carrera RSR to the ultimate Pontiac Firebirds of the mid-2000s. Serving as Grand Marshal was two-time Indianapolis 500 winner Al Unser Jr., whose household has deep roots in IROC historical past.

On Friday, following the qualifying race, the sector of IROC automobiles shaped a colourful caravan from WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca to The Quail, A Motorsports Gathering at The Quail Lodge for a particular parade.

“The sphere of drivers right this moment was unimaginable,” stated Evernham. “We had Indy 500 winners and champions, Daytona 500 winners and champions, and IROC champions. IROC has been such an enormous a part of the historical past of motorsports and now to have all seven generations of those automobiles on monitor collectively for the primary time was pure magic for followers and individuals alike.”