Cooper, Gaples second in Pro-Am title after Race One win, P3 in Race Two
Blackdog Racing’s Michael Cooper and Tony Gaples recorded a victory and third-place finish at Indianapolis Motor Speedway to close the Pirelli GT4 America season, good enough for a second-place championship finish in the Pro-Am Drivers and Teams standings.
The pair drove their No. 33 Blackdog Cars McLaren Artura GT4 to five victories, two runner-up finishes and a trio of third-place results in a highly competitive and keep GT4 America Pro-Am field. Along the way, Cooper became the winningest driver in SRO Motorsports America competition and Gaples set a record for career starts.
Race One of the Indianapolis weekend was quintessential Cooper. The team had to start at the rear of the field following a fuel pressure issue in Friday’s first qualifying session. Gaples, a notorious hard-charger, had to be cautious at the start with a number of amateur drivers ahead.
A lengthy full-course yellow on the second lap didn’t do him any favors as the race went back green 17 minutes later. Gaples only got a couple of green-flag laps but he did pick up three spots to ninth by the time he handed over the Blackdog Cars McLaren to Cooper for the final 35 minutes.
And what a 35 minutes they were. Cooper rejoined ninth but he consistently picked off cars and moved onto the class podium with 20 minutes remaining. Less than 10 minutes to go, he moved into the effective class lead as the then-P1 car was assessed a post-race time penalty. Cooper made that irrelevant with a late move past to put a stamp on the race win.
Cooper began Sunday’s Race Two third in class and fifth overall. He drove to the limit of the drivetime and handed over to Gaples in the overall lead with 25 minutes to go. After a 10-second penalty at the end of the pitstop, Gaples emerged third in class and withstood a late charge for another Indy podium after the team swept the weekend a year ago.
Blackdog Racing will announce its 2027 racing plans at a later date.
MICHAEL COOPER, NO. 33 BLACKDOG CARS McLAREN ARTURA GT4: "Taking a step back and looking at the entire season, I’m really proud of this team and how we responded to adversity after the race at COTA. Instead of folding we all went to work and drove our way back into the championship fight. We knew it was going to be tough coming into this weekend but we never gave up and did what we could do. Thanks to Tony, to Ray and all of the team at Blackdog Racing for another fun season. Hopefully we can finish one spot higher next year.”
TONY GAPLES, NO. 33 BLACKDOG CARS McLAREN ARTURA GT4: “It’s a mix of being happy and grateful for our team and season with a little disappointment about how the championship ended for us. Overall I’m proud of the team and driving again with Michael. He keeps showing why he’s the best in this paddock race after race. There’s not a lot to be disappointed about with the weekend – a win and another podium. We’ll come back for more next year.”
About Blackdog Racing
Ever dreamed of piloting a real SRO GT race car? Blackdog offers rental and “arrive and drive” racing in addition to purpose-built cars. Email sales@blackdogspeedshop.com to discuss the best way to put you in the driver’s seat!
About Blackdog Performance Cars
At Blackdog Performance Cars, luxury and performance converge in an exclusive collection of high-end vehicles, each designed to deliver an unparalleled driving experience. Our curated inventory is a testament to exceptional craftsmanship and innovation, while our GT4 America McLaren Artura race team subtly underscores our passion for precision engineering on the track. Discover the ultimate blend of sophistication and speed at www.blackdogperformancecars.com.