Scott Speed goes flag-to-flag in LA
Scott Speed, who took second place in yesterday’s qualifying session, led home polesitter Tanner Foust from lights to flag, with Bryan Herta Rally Sport driver Patrik Sandell following behind in third, almost four seconds back.
It was a perfect event for Speed who won both his heats and his semi final en route to the final.
"It’s been a great weekend, obviously at the beginning of the season we struggled a bit, but with a new program like this you're bound to have problems and we have had them. I think our Beetles are dialed in, they are fast and durable, so I see us as a major threat for the championship. I couldn’t be happier, I feel so lucky to be able to drive this Merchant First Beetle and I have a great teammate, a great team and I cannot say enough good things about Volkswagen Andretti Rallycross."
Second place for Speed’s VARX team mate Foust marked his first podium since winning at Daytona, Sandell meanwhile took a semifinal win before clinching his third podium in as many races after turning his season around with a win in Detroit.
Taking time out to work on their new WRX STi paid dividends for Subaru Rally Team USA who took their best result of the season with fourth for Sverre Isachsen.
Three of the team’s four cars qualified for the final – Travis Pastrana took seventh although Bucky Lasek was unable to start the final after contact with Austin Dyne in the LCQ left the skateboarding superstar with engine issues.
Chip Ganassi Racing pair Steve Arpin and Brian Deegan finished the final in fifth and sixth respectively in another strong showing for the IndyCar championship winning outfit.
It was a strong return to the series for Deegan who after dividing his time so far this year between Red Bull GRC and off road truck racing took a pair of heat wins and a third place in his semifinal on his way to the main event.
Nelson Piquet Jr. couldn’t make it back to back wins, settling for eighth place – although he did take a brace of heat wins earlier in the day.
Joni Wiman was the final runner in the main event, taking ninth.
Championship contenders Ken Block and Sebastian Eriksson didn’t make the final for the first time this season after both failed to advance from the Last Chance Qualifier. Brian Wong and David Higgins, making their first starts of the season, as well as Dyne were the other drivers who did not advance from the LCQ.
Red Bull GRC Los Angeles presented by Subaru Tecnica International continues today with the second full event of the weekend taking place on a truncated timetable.
| Pos | No. | Driver | Team |
| 1 | 41 | Scott Speed | Volkswagen Andretti Rallycross |
| 2 | 38 | Brian Deegan | Chip Ganassi Racing |
| 3 | 34 | Tanner Foust | Volkswagen Andretti Rallycross |
| 4 | 18 | Patrik Sandell | Bryan Herta Rallysport |
| 5 | 00 | Steve Arpin | Chip Ganassi Racing |
| 6 | 199 | Travis Pastrana | Subaru Rally Team USA |
| 7 | 93 | Sebastian Eriksson | Red Bull Olsbergs MSE |
| 8 | 31 | Joni Wiman | Red Bull Olsbergs MSE |
| 9 | 43 | Ken Block | Hoonigan Racing Division |
| 10 | 07 | Nelson Piquet Jr. | SH Racing Rallycross |