How to Race Your Teammate

In many ways, racing a teammate or good friend can be easier than an unknown; but the consequences for contact can go much higher.

As three MX-5s battled toward the finish of the Continental Tire SportsCar Challenge race at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, two from Freedom Autosport and one from Alara Racing (CJ Wilson Racing's MX-5 was in fifth), the finish was shaping up to be a good one. Andrew Carbonell was on a charge in the No. 26 Freedom Autosport that Liam Dwyer had started. He had already made his way past the Alara Racing MX-5 of Justin Piscitell and Christian Szymczak and only needed to get by Tom Long, finishing the No. 25 Freedom Autosport MX-5 started by Britt Casey Jr.

"Fortunately we were able to run a clean race," says Carbonell. "All of the MX-5s were extremely strong at the end. Towards the end it came down to three of us. Christian Szymczak definitely gave me a run for my money. We were back and forth, bumping fenders, closing mirrors on each other. It was an incredible battle and it just came down to who was going to keep it on track. Unfortunately he had a little off at the exit of [Turn] 5 that gave me the run up to 6. From that point forward, it was put my head down and chase after the 25."

The resulting pass happened in grand style in the penultimate corner on the final lap. It was a thrilling finish that resulted in a storybook ending for Carbonell and Marine Staff Sgt. Dwyer; but it could also have gone very wrong, taking out the whole Freedom Autosport contingent and ruining a Mazda one-two-three.

That would have left some people rather upset. It's an unwritten edict in motorsports at the professional level: contact will happen, but don't hit your teammate. Ever.