Robert Wickens came agonizingly close to a storybook pole position in his 2025 IMSA debut. The Canadian driver, competing in the GTD class with DXDT Racing, briefly held the top spot in qualifying for the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach before being pipped at the very last moment. Frankie Montecalvo of Vasser Sullivan ultimately secured pole, leaving Wickens to start a strong second on the grid.

For a driver who hadn't been in a race car since last August, the performance was a stunning display of raw speed and adaptability. Wickens's time was a mere 0.151 seconds off the pole-setting pace, a razor-thin margin in the high-stakes world of sports car racing. "As soon as I heard that I missed it by a tenth, I knew exactly where I could have found that to snag P1," Wickens remarked, showcasing the driver's instinct to immediately dissect every fraction of a second.

This year's result carries extra weight, serving as a measure of redemption. Last year's Long Beach weekend was marred by setbacks, making this clean, competitive run a significant turnaround. Wickens credited his DXDT Racing team and co-driver Mason Filippi for the progress, highlighting the collaborative effort required to extract maximum performance from the potent Chevrolet Corvette Z06 GT3.R on the challenging street circuit.

"The car is so nice to drive," Wickens said, praising the machinery that will now start from the front row. While pole slipped away in the final moments, starting P2 provides a prime launchpad for the race. Wickens and the team have clearly demonstrated they have the pace to contend, turning their focus to converting this promising qualifying effort into a podium finish on the iconic streets of Long Beach.