SCCA Pro Racing officials announced this morning a penalty in the Pirelli World Challenge Championships from Race 1 at the Acura Sports Car Challenge of St. Petersburg presented by Pirelli that moved Lawson Aschenbach, of Darnestown. Md. from first to 11th in the final GT race standings and promoted Johnny O'Connell, of Flowery Branch, Ga., to the GT victory.
Johnny O'Connell (No. 3) was declared the GT winner of the 2012 Pirelli World Challenge Championships season opener in St. Petersburg. Credit: Mark Weber/SCCA
A post-race review by race officials revealed that Aschenbach passed multiple cars in the No. 1 Privacy Star/Entrust Porsche 911 GT3 and took the lead at the scene of a local yellow between Turns 3 and 4 for the stalled No. 23 Rehagen Racing Ford Mustang Boss 302R of Roger Miller on Lap 27 of the 27-lap event. As a result, Aschenbach was penalized 60 seconds, dropping him to 11th in class and 27th in the final race standings.
The penalty gives O'Connell, driver of the No. 3 Cadillac Racing Cadillac CTS-V, his third career World Challenge victory and second in a row dating back to the 2011 season finale at Road Atlanta.
Two drivers were also penalized for driver conduct in Saturday's race. Brad Adams, of New Orleans, La., and Patrick Seguin, of Clarence Creek, Ontario, Canada, were each docked 20 championship points and fined $1,000 for avoidable contact during the race.
YEP, It happens if you don't follow the rules.