Sunday was a disappointing day on the streets of Belle Isle Raceway for Lowe's Fernandez Racing as a mechanical failure removed the No. 15 Lowe's Acura ARX from contention in the Detroit Sports Car Challenge presented by Bosch.
Adrian Fernandez and Luis Diaz crossed the finish line ninth in class and 24th overall. The checkered flag brought the first one-two-three finish for Acura with the No. 26 car of Andretti Green Racing's Franck Montagny and James Rossiter claiming the top spot.
After qualifying fourth overall Saturday, Luis Diaz started the race from the third spot on the grid -- the third-place No. 16 Dyson car was sent to the back for changing its qualifying tires because of damage. Aside from being hit from behind by the No. 7 Porsche at the start, Diaz managed to avoid trouble in the action-packed opening laps.
He was running third overall just past the halfway point of the race when he brushed the wall at turn 3 because of a mechanical failure. A broken bolt at the top of the left rear upright required extensive repair work to the suspension; however, the team managed to complete the work in time to send Adrian Fernandez out on track. Fernandez emerged 20 laps down but was able complete 70 percent of the race distance, allowing the team to retain its ninth-place points.
Lowe's Fernandez Racing next will head to Braselton, Ga., for the Petit Le Mans endurance classic on October 4.
RACE RESULTS (OVERALL)
1. Montagny/Rossiter, LMP2 Acura ARX
2. Brabham/Sharp, LMP2 Acura ARX
3. Faessler/Pirro, LMP1 Audi R10/TDI
4. de Ferran/Pagenaud, LMP2 Acura ARX
QUOTABLE
Adrian Fernandez, No. 15 Lowe's Acura ARX: "We don't know what happened. We think something broke on the car. We are not 100 percent certain, but it is very disappointing."
Luis Diaz, No. 15 Lowe's Acura ARX: "It was a very bad day for me. At the exit of turn 3 I felt the car snapping on me and brushed the wall. I barely, barely brushed the wall. I didn't do anything differently. I didn't lose the car or anything like that. I feel bad about this result, and we will keep working very hard."
