Lexus and Acura Drivers Get into Heated Exchange at IMSA
Michelin GT Challenge turned into a good old-fashioned paint swap as tensions boiled over.
You’ve undoubtedly heard the expression “rubbing is racing.” It might have originally come about as a NASCAR reference, but there was plenty of rubbing going on at the recent Michelin GT Challenge at Virginia International Raceway. Specifically, it was between Lexus driver Sage Karam and Acura driver Katherine Legge.
It all started when the two were side-by-side on the back straight of VIR. Legge made a move outside, which forced Karam to run off into the grass. This clearly miffed Karam, who proceeded to cut in front of Legge and brake check her. The front of Legge’s NSX collided with the 3GT Racing RC F, which broke the Acura’s hood latches.
#LookWhatYouMadeMeDo pic.twitter.com/FTBRrl57nH
— IMSA (@IMSA) August 27, 2017
That collision effectively ended Legge’s day after it was discovered that her steering rack had also broken as a result of the skirmish. Following a review, IMSA race director Beaux Barfield slapped Karam with a stop-plus-60-second penalty. But that wasn’t the end of it. Before long, a Twitter battle erupted, beginning with a heated post from Legge’s teammate Andy Lally. But Karam wasted no time firing back.
You started it kid. Playing chicken on the straight? I love that game. Youre reckless everywhere you race. You will lose ON & OFF the track. pic.twitter.com/O0U943WN0u
— Andy Lally (@AndyLally) August 27, 2017
@AndyLally gonna take the high road on this one. Yes I made her life hard getting around. she plowed into me and chopped me. It’s all good. pic.twitter.com/TT4PVfaeNX
— Sage Karam (@SageKaram) August 27, 2017
Karam defends his (and Legge’s) actions and told RACER that he and Acura team owner Michael Shank settled the matter amicably. “In my honest opinion, I came off the Oak Tree corner and got wheelspin,” he said. “I saw Katherine had a little bit of a run and faded to the left. I’ve watched the overhead camera like 20 times and there was a lane [open for Legge]. It was very tight, but there wasn’t a need for contact. Then she ran me in the grass in the brake zone. I got it slowed down in the corner at a weird place and she got into the back of me. Then she got into me again, which I think was unintentional.”
It’s a fair point, though we don’t see any initial contact in the video. Regardless, the two teams have less than a month to sort things out before the next race at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca on September 24. Get your popcorn ready.
