Acura Secures DPi Championship
Alexander Rossi completed his three-race gig with Acura Team Penske, assisting teammates Ricky Taylor and Helio Castroneves with a season Championship.
For the three endurance events on the IMSA calendar, teams bring in a third driver to share the wheelman duties. It kicked off with the 24 Hours of Daytona in January, but due to COVID, the season calendar was shuffled. Rossi had to wait until October to get back in the cockpit of the Acura DPi machine.
Petit Le Mans took place at Road Atlanta on Oct. 17, with Rossi putting on a show in the evening hours and the No. 7 car bringing home a P2 finish.
Normally held in March, The 12 Hours of Sebring became the season finale on Nov. 14. Rossi's team was on pole and in position to secure the Championship. But bad luck struck within the first 45 minutes, as the No. 7 car retreated to the garage for a mechanical issue.
The driving trio displayed incredible determination and battled back from a 12-lap deficit to finish eighth and claim the drivers’ and teams’ titles by a single point. The title was the second for Taylor, and the first ever championship for Castroneves, who caps an incredible, 21-year career with Team Penske.
While Team Penske's successful run with Acura comes to an end, Honda Performance Development announced the Acura DPi program will continue with Wayne Taylor Racing and Meyer Shank Racing. Rossi's plans for 2021 endurance races will be announced soon.
