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Matthew Brabham
M. Brabham Wins Slick Duel with Papis for Victory in Indy Legends Charity Pro-Am at Brickyard Vintage Racing Invitational

Matt Brabham and amateur teammate Michael Donohue held off fellow Indianapolis 500 veteran Max Papis and amateur teammate Curt Vogt in a stirring late-race duel Saturday to win the Indy Legends Charity Pro-Am Presented by RACER Magazine at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

2016 Indianapolis 500 starter Brabham and Donohue drove their No. 33 1963 Chevrolet Corvette Roadster to a 2.323-second victory over the No. 530 1966 Shelby Mustang GT350 driven by two-time Indy 500 starter Papis and Vogt on a track made slippery by temperatures in the 90s.

“It was just awesome to race guys like that,” Brabham said. “We had a great battle at the end of the race. He was sliding through the corners. It was an honor to share the track with those guys.”

The 45-minute race was the feature event of the Brickyard Vintage Racing Invitational on the 14-turn, 2.439-mile road course. All drivers competed in machines from the Sportscar Vintage Racing Association (SVRA) “Group 6” A and B production class, which includes 1963 to 1972 vintage Corvettes, Camaros and Mustangs.

Brabham was a last-minute addition to the field of 21 Indianapolis 500 veterans, NASCAR Hall of Famer Bill Elliott, road racing legend Ron Fellows and their SVRA amateur co-drivers. Ten-time Indianapolis 500 starter Geoff Brabham also was in the field with his son.

“I don't think I'll ever forget racing against Max and obviously my father on Father's Day weekend,” Matt Brabham said. “It would have been good to have dad there in the end, but his car broke. That battle with Max is something I'll always remember the rest of my life.”

Elliott and his amateur teammate, fellow NASCAR Hall of Famer Ray Evernham, finished third in their No. 9 1970 Ford Boss 302.

Five-time Indianapolis 500 starter Jimmy Kite and his amateur teammate, NASCAR driver Gary Klutt, drove from the 15th starting spot on the 23-car grid to finish fourth in the No. 46A 1969 Chevrolet Corvette. They were the top-finishing pair in the Group 6 A Production class.

Donohue started from the pole after Matt Brabham took the top spot in qualifying Friday. But Edward Sevadjian wasted no time rocketing to the lead from the third spot on the grid in the No. 36 1969 Chevrolet Corvette that he shared with Indianapolis 500 veteran Willy T. Ribbs.

Sevadjian and Ribbs built a lead of more than 20 seconds, but their race came to a halt on Lap 15 when the gearbox failed in their vintage racecar. That set up the race-ending duel between Brabham and Papis.

In other SVRA competition, IMS President Doug Boles returned to the cockpit and won the Group 2 FF class in the No. 111 1968 Caldwell D9 Formula Ford.

Tony Buffomante won the 42-lap TA2 class race for the Trans Am by Pirelli championship in his No. 34 Ford Mustang. Pole sitter and Indianapolis 500 veteran Rafa Matos placed third in his No. 88 Chevrolet Camaro.

The feature race for the TA, TA3 and TA4 classes starts at 3:15 p.m. Sunday.

This final day of this event, on Father’s Day, also includes the Hagerty Insurance Show & Shine car show, vintage motorcycle racing and more SVRA vintage racing. An oval exhibition featuring the iconic 1950s roadsters will close the day.

Another unique attraction is the Pre-1920 Race Exhibition Series cars that will be on track, along with a paddock area full of in-period equipment displays. Former Indy 500 Rookie of the Year Lyn St. James will be among the drivers of those cars.

Visit IMS.com to buy tickets, parking and camping, and to see a complete weekend schedule and more information. Public gates open at 8 a.m. Sunday, with vintage cars and motorcycles at speed on track almost constantly until the late afternoon.

General admission tickets are $20 Sunday. Kids 15 and under are admitted for free when accompanied by an adult ticket holder, creating a perfect Father’s Day experience for all generations of fans.

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