Ford Racing’s #64 Mustang, driven by Dennis Olsen, seized an IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship GTD Pro title at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, edging Nicky Catsburg’s Corvette by 0.993 seconds on the final lap.
Race dynamics and final confrontation
The two‑hour, 40‑minute contest, known as the Battle on the Bricks, saw the Mustang grappling with faster traffic and sandwiched between Grand Touring Prototype leaders. A late‑stint fuel stop from newly crowned Indy NXT champion Nikita Johnson put the race into a tighter battle for the lead, propelling Olsen to the front lines.
Approaching Turn 7, Catsburg attempted a wide pass, but a Group‑Prototype car erupted ahead, forcing both GTD Pro entrants into a midfield squeeze. Olsen’s defensive line led to light contact with the Corvette, sending Catsburg onto the grass before both drivers re‑grouped. The Mustang crossed the line first, claiming the win.
Ben Barker reflected on the timing of the Mustang’s pit cycle, noting that pitting just before a full‑course caution twenty‑five minutes into the final stint was decisive: “We didn’t have the fastest car today, but we maximized what we had and came away with the win,” he said.
Olsen, grateful for the robust performance of the Mustang, added, “I had a strong team and a solid car that held together under pressure. It feels amazing to pull off this victory after so many attempts with Ben this season.”
Championship consequences and the road ahead
With the victory marking Olsen’s third IMSA triumph and Barker’s debut win, Ford Racing secured its second consecutive GTD Pro title at Indianapolis. Meanwhile, Catsburg, co‑driver Tommy Milner, and the #4 Corvette squad took over the unofficial GTD Pro standings lead, maintaining a 47‑point cushion heading into the October 3 Motul Petit Le Mans finale at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta.
"