On September 21, 2025, Acura Meyer Shank Racing turned heads with a gritty P3 finish for their #60 Acura ARX-06, driven by the dynamic duo of Colin Braun and Tom Blomqvist in the TireRack.com Battle on the Bricks at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Starting dead last after a qualifying DQ that stung like a bee, they clawed their way up through smart strategy and sheer pace, nabbing their fourth podium in a row this season. Meanwhile, the #93 sister car hung tough for a P5, keeping the pressure on in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship manufacturers’ title fight – now just seven points separates Acura from the top with Petit Le Mans looming. But amid the cheers, there was a poignant note: the racing world lost a legend in Robert Clarke, the founding force behind Honda Performance Development. Let’s unpack this rollercoaster of a day.

From the Back of the Pack to the Podium: #60’s Heroic Recovery

Talk about redemption arcs – Blomqvist’s blistering pole lap from Saturday got scrubbed due to a bodywork tech violation, dropping the #60 Acura ARX-06 to the rear of the eight-car GTP field. Undeterred, Braun kicked off the six-hour slugfest with a masterclass in overtaking, methodically picking off rivals on the 2.439-mile IMS road course. By the first round of stops, they were in the mix, and Blomqvist’s stint sealed the deal with consistent laptimes that kept the Cadillacs honest.

Their third podium of 2025 (after a Watkins Glen win and Daytona runner-up) vaults them to second in the IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup, just three points shy of the lead heading into the season finale. It’s the kind of drive that screams teamwork – shoutout to the MSR crew and HRC engineers for nailing those double-stacked pits that rocketed them forward.

#93’s Front-Running Fight Ends in Solid P5: Ohta’s Breakout Stint

Over in the #93 Acura ARX-06, Nick Yelloly, Renger van der Zande, and guest star Kaku Ohta – fresh from Honda’s Formula Dream Project – started fifth and spent chunks of the race sniffing the podium. Yelloly’s launch from the grid shot them to second early on, and Ohta’s bold moves, including a gutsy pass on Porsche’s Nick Tandy post-restart, lit up the timing screens. The Japanese ace even clocked the quickest Acura lap at 1:17.272, proving his chops in just his third GTP outing.

A late full-course yellow flipped the script, bunching the field and costing them spots, but P5 was a strategic win – keeping both Porsches behind to shave those crucial manufacturers’ points. For Ohta, wrapping up his 2025 IMSA stint, it’s a high note that highlights HRC’s talent pipeline.

Podium Streak Ignites the Manufacturers’ Chase: Seven Points from Glory

This Indy haul caps a red-hot summer for Acura Meyer Shank Racing: victories at Detroit and Watkins Glen, plus a Road America podium, all feeding into Acura’s 2,804-point tally – a mere seven behind the leaders (2,797). It’s a testament to the MSR-HRC synergy, blending Meyer Shank’s grit with Honda’s precision engineering in year one of their deepened collab.

With the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship GTP points tightening like a noose, all eyes turn to the 10-hour Petit Le Mans at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta (October 8-11). If the Acuras keep this momentum, that title could be theirs – game on, indeed.

Voices from the Paddock: Drivers Dish on the Indy Thriller

Nothing beats hearing it straight from the horses’ mouths – here’s what the #60 and #93 crews had to say post-checkered flag:

Tom Blomqvist (#60 Acura ARX-06, P3): “Solid result for the team after starting last – it’s a shame we couldn’t snag the win. Luck swung our way early, but that final yellow buffered the leaders’ energy. Still, P3 keeps us in the Endurance Cup hunt and juices the manufacturers’ fight.”

Colin Braun (#60 Acura ARX-06, P3): “Strategy was spot-on today – two perfect stops launched us up the order. Big props to MSR and HRC; closing that seven-point gap feels huge. Pumped for Petit and ending strong.”

Nick Yelloly (#93 Acura ARX-06, P5): “P5 with a fun scrap up front – we jumped to second at the start. Bittersweet after leading chunks, but boxing the Porsches tightens the title to seven points. Teaming with #60 for Road Atlanta? We’re primed.”

Renger van der Zande (#93 Acura ARX-06, P5): “Mission accomplished: beat the Porsches and chip away at the standings. Fuel saves and strategy clicked; Nick’s start and Kaku’s pace were gold. Ready to rumble at Petit.”

Kaku Ohta (#93 Acura ARX-06, P5): “Target hit – ahead of the Porsches for the team. That late yellow echoed Watkins Glen, but execution was near-perfect. Gained confidence in braking for passes like Tandy’s; stoked for HRC’s shot at me this year.”

Honoring a Legend: Robert Clarke’s Lasting Legacy at HRC

Amid the roars of Indy, the paddock paused to mourn Robert Clarke, HPD’s badge #1 and third president, who passed from heart failure at 75 over the weekend. Clarke built the foundation for Honda’s U.S. racing empire, steering four CART titles, Indy 500 triumphs, and the shift to IndyCar sole supplier status.

HRC US President David Salters captured it perfectly: “Robert was a driving force… his shoulders we stand on today. From mentoring me over lunches to empowering our ‘challenging spirit,’ he inspired us all. Thoughts with Ann, Chris, and Mike.” Clarke’s vision fueled outfits like Acura MSR – a fitting tribute in their title push.

Indy Results at a Glance: Acura’s Battle on the Bricks Snapshot

Overall GTP winners: #38 Cadillac (Aitken/Bamber/Vesti) took the checkers, with #40 Cadillac (Taylor/Albuquerque) in P2.

Eyes on Petit: The Championship Showdown Awaits

As the dust settles on Indy’s bricks, Acura Meyer Shank Racing heads to Road Atlanta with fire in their tanks. A win at Petit Le Mans could crown this breakout 2025 season – especially with the #60 and #93 locked in for 2026. From podium heroics to heartfelt tributes, this weekend encapsulated the raw heart of endurance racing. What’s your prediction for the finale – Acura sealing the deal? Drop it in the comments; let’s debate!

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