"Idiot": DragonSpeed ​​responds to Parker Thompson after the Sebring crash

There was definitely electricity in the air at the 12 Hours of Sebring 2026. After the exchange between Kevin Estre and Felipe Nasr during the post-race press conference, tempers flared on social media with new protagonists.

This time, Parker Thompson and Elton Julian are involved. Let's put the events in context: at the start of the race, during the second round of the season. IMSA 2026, an accident took place between the No. 52 Oreca 07 of Bryan Herta Autosport with PR1/Mathiasen, which started from pole position in the LMP2 category, and the Corvette Z06 GT3.R of the DragonSpeed ​​team, sending the latter into the barriers.

While driving the prototype, Parker Thompson collided sideways with the American manufacturer's car. It's entirely my fault "That's true," the Canadian driver admitted to IMSA radio. I saw Casper [Stevenson] and Giacomo [Altoe] and I have to go see the rest of the DragonSpeed ​​team to apologize, but they were busy putting the car back together to get it back on track. »

« There is no excuse. he added. I was a GT driver; I saw the monstrosities the LMP2s committed in the GT group. I'm not trying to excuse the P2 drivers, but you simply don't realize the long wheelbase of this car (LMP2). It caught me off guard today. I'd like to forget it. »

This is Elton. Apologized, Means NOTHING. You should have a race ban. Your car was back on the lead a few hours later. “Car is long” Idiot you hit us with your side pod. Chassis damaged, 200k in parts. All for an idiotic under no pressure with all the road available AM ​​move pic.twitter.com/11eUKk0MZh

— DragonSpeed ​​(@DragonSpeedLLC) March 23, 2026

Words that did not sit well with Elton Julian, head of the DragonSpeed ​​team. The former Ecuadorian rider spoke on his team's X account (formerly Twitter), with video support. In response to the article by our colleagues at Sportscar365 mentioning Thompson's comments: It's Elton. An apology? That means nothing. You should be suspended. Your car was back on the same lap as the leader a few hours later. "The car is long"? Idiot, you hit us with your sidepod! Damaged chassis, $200,000 in parts. All for a stupid maneuver, with no pressure and the whole track open. »

The Corvette did return to the track, but only after losing three hours for repairs. And the costs are significant for the team. Thompson, for his part, will try to learn from this accident, which occurred in only his second race in the LMP2 category.

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