Cars that did not start

Willy T Ribbs first one

The race was to feature a fine battle between Ford-Chevrolet and Toyota, with even Pontiac and Oldsmobile getting stronger. Thirty three cars would start the race including GTO and GTU cars. However, one man appeared more eager than anyone when talking about winning that race. Willy T Ribbs, who was driving for Dan Gurney's AAR Team à Toyota Celica Tc. He was always fast, but something prevented him from winning in each of thé previously races. He would dominate the practice session and be nearly one second faster than Jack Baldwin, in a Peerless Chevrolet Camaro. At the start, Willy T Ribbs jumped into thé lead and pulled ahead of everybody, leading Jack Baldwin, who was also clear of Tom Gloy Ford Mustang, Chris Cord, Paul Gentilozzi, in an Oldsmobile Toronado, Bob Earl Pontiac Fiero and Wally Dallenbach, in a Ford Mustang. The latter would do away with Bob Earl and Paul Gentilozzi and began to get comfortable with his car. Then, he would trailing Chris Cord and pressure him. Amos Johnson was leading the GTU class, followed by Terry Visger who passed him on lap seven. After ten laps, the leaders would be some twenty seconds ahead of Paul Gentilozzi, when the first full caution was set to remove Dan Furey's Chevrolet Corvette had a broken wheel and had to be removed from a sandbank. The race restarted five laps later, and Amos Johnson tangled with Richard Oakley just before the pit entrance. He lost his second place in GTU to Tom Kendall. Tom Gloy, still in third place, had to pit to fix loose spark plug wires. The leaders were lapping the backmarkers and the gap was doing yoyo. Chris Cord was keeping Wally Dallenbach at bay, but the duel was exciting. The GTU class was still led by Terry Visger Pontiac Fiero, nineteen seconds ahead of Tom Kendall. Then came Al Bacon Mazda RX7, George Alderman Nissan 280ZX and Karl Durkheimer Porsche 911. Willy T Ribbs, still leading the race, pitted for fuel on lap 36. His pit stop was not so fast, as he would get back to the track in fifth place. Wally Dallenbach got back to the track just ahead of him on lap 42. He had just overtaken Bob Earl, at that point. Jack Baldwin was in the lead, just ahead of Chris Cord. He would pit on lap 44, while Chris Cord lasted one more lap. The Camaro driver had a very quick pit stop, which made him keep the lead when Chris Cord went in. But it was to be Willy's day. He was soon around Wally Dallenbach and Chris Cord, grabbing second place, and then closing the gap on Jack Baldwin. The Chevrolet Camaro was about to lap Bruce Jenner, who kind of blocked him. His car began overheating. When he managed to pass the third Roush Mustang, Willy T Ribbs was right on him. He would overtake him for turn Steven, on lap 61. Then the race was over. Jack Baldwin chose not to chase the Toyota : he was far away from Chris Cord. Six cars would finish on the lead lap. Amos Johnson had another mishap during the race, when he collided with a Chevrolet Camaro. He ended up eighth in GTU. The two leading cars remained the same throughout the race, with Terry Visger winning the class by 25 seconds over Tom Kendall. Willy T Ribbs took a very well deserved first victory in 1987.