Why Jack Aitken stays calm despite three straight podiums and no wins

Whelen Cadillac scores another podium at Long Beach but still awaits first IMSA victory

Jack Aitken and Co. were left once again getting close but not doing enough to take the win in Saturday’s Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach.

After starting fourth, Aitken cut through rivals and put the #31 Whelen Cadillac V-Series.R at the front of the field before handing off to co-driver Frederik Vesti. On the wrong end of oddly-timed cautions in IMSA’s 100-minute sprint race, Vesti was left chasing Acura Meyer Shank Racing’s Renger van der Zande all the way through the checkered flag.

In the end, despite multiple late race restarts, Vesti finished second by 0.818s to the #93 Acura ARX-06 of van der Zande. It’s the second runner-up result and third consecutive podium in as many races to start the 2026 season for the Whelen Cadillac.

“I think you can look at it as a good thing,” said Aitken, 30. “There's not many cars that are putting out as much consistency as we are at the moment. It's frustrating not to be on the top step, but we're gathering points, we're knocking on the door.

“As I said last year, if you keep knocking, it's going to come eventually. We're not panicking just because we're not on the top step. I think we're pretty happy and confident in what we're doing at the moment.”

Vesti, a 24-year-old Dane who is also a reserve driver for the Mercedes Formula One Team, echoed Aitken’s thoughts and also kept the runner-up result in perspective. He also noted the advantage Acura MSR gained courtesy of the second full course yellow, which happened with roughly an hour to go.

“Being frustrated in second place tells a lot about this team,” Vesti said. “First of all, Jack did amazing today, going from fourth to P1. They (Acura Meyer Shank Racing) were slightly lucky with that full course yellow, which was frustrating. “From my side, I was trying to keep it clean. Obviously, we needed to get to the finish line. I was pushing everything I could to get Renger.

“It was an easy experience for us. It wasn't easy to get by. Fifth straight podium for me and then the team wins that. I'm super proud of that.”