Global RX: Speed wins X Games gold again

For the second consecutive year, Scott Speed earned a gold medal for the Volkswagen Andretti Rallycross squad in Red Bull Global Rallycross’ main event at X Games Austin. Speed, who qualified on the pole for the event and also won his heat, held off Chip Ganassi Racing’s Steve Arpin and Olsbergs MSE’s Sebastian Eriksson for the medal.

“We were on plan D – plans, A, B, and C went out the window after lap one!” Speed said after the event. “What a great race. This is, by far, the best medal I’ve won. The first one was great because it was my first X Games and I made a last-lap pass, but I’m sure the in-car footage of this one is going to be a lot more exciting!”

Speed, Eriksson, and SH Racing Rallycross driver Andreas Bakkerud won the three heats that sent drivers directly to the final, while Tanner Foust, Brian Deegan, and Arpin transferred from the six-car last chance qualifier. In the main event, Eriksson jumped to an early lead, but Speed managed to catch the Swedish rookie and muscle past to grab the lead. From there, Arpin claimed second place while Eriksson held Deegan off for third place on only three tires.

The event, the second on Red Bull GRC’s 2015 schedule, saw 15 drivers competing for an X Games gold medal in an invitational, non-points format. Speed’s gold medal on Saturday joins his 2013 gold medal from Brazil and last year’s gold medal from Austin, while Eriksson adds his bronze medal to a bronze from GRC Lites competition in Los Angeles in 2013. Arpin’s silver medal is his first in X Games competition.

Full results from Red Bull Global Rallycross at X Games Austin are as follows:

1. Scott Speed, #41 Volkswagen Andretti Rallycross Beetle
2. Steve Arpin, #00 Chip Ganassi Racing Ford Fiesta ST
3. Sebastian Eriksson, #93 Red Bull Olsbergs MSE Ford Fiesta ST
4. Brian Deegan, #38 Chip Ganassi Racing Ford Fiesta ST
5. Tanner Foust, #34 Volkswagen Andretti Rallycross Beetle
6. Andreas Bakkerud, #07 SH Racing Rallycross Ford Fiesta ST

The Red Bull GRC season resumes on June 19-21 with a double-header round at Daytona International Speedway.

Source: Red Bull GRC