{
  "id": 8771045,
  "title": "Russell Ward blasts IMSA race control for \"bad call\" in fiery interview",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/20/russell-ward-blasts-imsa-race-control-for-bad-call-in-fiery-interview",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-09-20T20:57:01.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Motorsport.com",
    "slug": "motorsport-com",
    "url": "https://www.motorsport.com/imsa/news/russell-ward-hits-out-at-race-control-for-bad-call/10857556/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Russell Ward, co-driver Philip Ellis, and the Winward Racing team found themselves at the Indianapolis round of the 2026 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, leading the GTD points. Due to lightning, their scheduled pole start was cancelled, but a pre-race penalty sent them to the back of the grid. Ward vehemently criticized the decision, citing Article 42.1 of the rules which states that any car arriving late at pit entry, grid, or designated location may be placed at the back of the grid and not allowed to regain its original starting position. Ward continued, \"Yeah, I think there was just a little bit of miscommunication where we drove by the pit entrance, ended up getting parked here before the start-finish and getting towed back.\" He argued that a provision in the rules would place them at the back of the grid if the designated time had passed without gridding up. Ward felt the call was a \"bad call\" and questioned the committee's intentions, saying, \"You know, really, the interpretation's up in the air of where we should actually be. I think it was a bad call.\" Despite the setback, Ward and Ellis remained determined, with the No. 57 Winward Mercedes-AMG GT3 climbing back into top-five contention with about an hour left in the race.",
  "summary": "Russell Ward and co-driver Philip Ellis entered the Indianapolis round of the 2026 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship in control of the GTD points lead. The Winward Racing duo was due to start from pole after GTD qualifying was cancelled because of lightning, but a pre-race penalty sent the No. 57 Mercedes to the back of the grid, a decision Ward strongly criticised. According to race ...…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}