Nasr Wins Porsche Penske’s Bitter End at Sebring

Nasr Wins Porsche Penske’s Bitter End at Sebring Jake Galstad - Getty Images During yet another wild finish in the dark at Sebring, Felipe Nasr confirmed his dominance of the GTP ranks to become the first driver to win the “36 hours of Florida” in back-to-back seasons. But it was a bitter end. In his closing stint, Nasr had to beat the Porsche 963 of his Porsche Penske Motorsport teammate Kevin Estre, completing a comeback that found the Brazilian’s No.

7 Porsche 11th and last at the end of the first hour coming off its victory in the season-opening Rolex 24. Nasr’s unique status within his team and the IMSA WeatherTech Championship was exemplified by expressing his displeasure with the orders of team owner Roger Penske, the Grand Marshall at this year’s Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring who is celebrating his team’s 60th season, a skein that includes the 1966 race at Sebring. The problem began during the race’s seventh caution, when leader Estre in the No.

6 Porsche let Nasr pass him on the pit road to allow the No. 7 Porsche a clean shot into its pit stall. For that favor, Nasr was instructed to return the lead to Estre after the green flag with 92 minutes remaining.

Jake Galstad - Getty Images “I have a right to say I was unhappy,” said Nasr of his radio response to team orders delivered by “The Captain” himself. After delaying, Nasr, who had gotten the lead by taking fuel only, then dictated terms, saying the trailing Estre, who had put on new Michelins, needed to catch his No. 7 Porsche 963 if he was going to be allowed past.