Russell Ward Criticizes IMSA Race Control Over Grid Penalty
Russell Ward and co-driver Philip Ellis faced a setback at the Indianapolis round of the 2026 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship when a pre-race penalty relegated their No. 57 Winward Racing Mercedes-AMG GT3 to the back of the grid. Ward publicly criticized the decision as a 'bad call' during a live TV interview, asserting that miscommunication played a significant role.
Criticism of Race Control
Russell Ward, along with co-driver Philip Ellis, arrived at the Indianapolis round of the 2026 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship leading the GTD points standings. Initially set to start from pole position after the cancellation of GTD qualifying due to lightning, they were unexpectedly penalized and placed at the back of the grid for violating Article 42.1 of the racing regulations.
According to race control, the team failed to adhere to designated pre-race times, a decision that Ward condemned during a post-race interview. He explained that a miscommunication regarding their positioning led to their penalty, stating, "There is a provision in the rules that at once a certain time has passed, if you haven't gridded up, that you lose your position."
Ward expressed frustration with the race officials, claiming, "It seems that every committee in this organization is doing whatever they can to prevent us from winning a straight championship -- a third straight championship." Despite the setback, the Winward Racing team persevered, showcasing their resilience by finishing second in class after a strong performance throughout the race.
Ward's determination was evident as he stated, "We're not going to give up. I mean, they're going to have to crash us, kill us, or kick us out. That's the only way we're going to lose."