Daytona Beach, FL (23 January 2012) - Michael Shank Racing with
Curb/Agajanian will look to kick off the 2012 GRAND-AM Rolex Sports Car
Series championship this weekend at Daytona International Speedway with a
strong result in the much anticipated 50th Anniversary Rolex 24 At
Daytona.
Making its ninth appearance in the 24-hour endurance
classic, the team has fielded a multi-car campaign in every Rolex 24
event since 2006 and is well-prepared for the historic 50th running of
the race. Michael Shank Racing with Curb/Agajanian will again field two
Daytona Prototype entries this year and boasts one of its strongest
driver line-ups to date.
The team welcomes back NASCAR Sprint Cup
driver AJ Allmendinger and IndyCar racer Justin Wilson as the pair
joins GRAND-AM series regulars Ozz Negri and John Pew in the No. 60
LiveOn.com Daytona Prototype.
The No. 6 Ford-Riley will be
shared by an international driver line-up which includes NASCAR driver
and Rolex 24 veteran Michael McDowell (United States) and three young
drivers who will make their Rolex 24 debut: Jorge Goncalvez (Venezuela),
Felipe Nasr (Brazil), and Gustavo Yacaman (Colombia).
The team’s
best finish in the event came in 2006 when Allmendinger, Wilson, Negri
and Mark Patterson co-drove the No. 60 machine to a second place finish.
Michael Shank Racing with Curb/Agajanian knows what it takes to survive
the Rolex 24 having fielded a three-car effort last year. In an
impressive performance from the team, all three cars never went to the
garage and all three machines were still running at the end of the 24
hours with the No. 23 Ford-Riley finishing on the lead lap just off the
podium in fourth after a strong late-race charge for third.
Michael
Shank Racing with Curb/Agajanian has been working countless hours as
the team prepares for the twice around the clock event in hopes that the
efforts pay off with a solid showing from both cars and that 2012 will
be their year to earn the Rolex 24 title.
“The team has been
working incredibly hard over the last few weeks,” said Shank. “We’re as
ready as we can be and we’re eager to get going. I’m very proud of the
effort this whole team has put in, and I’m very excited about our
chances this year. We’ve got an exciting line up of guys, and we know
that this race will be as much about performance as it will be about
patience. ”
The event opens with practice on Thursday followed by
Daytona Prototype qualifying at 3:45 PM (ET). The green flag will drop
on the 24-hour race at 3:30 PM (ET) on Saturday with SPEED carrying full
flag-to-flag coverage. The opening seven and a half hours as well as
the closing seven hours of the event will be televised on the SPEED
channel while speedtv.com will have live streaming during the overnight
hours.
Monday, January 23, 2012
Spirit of Daytona Secures Richard Westbrook For 2012 Season
Spirit of Daytona announced today that Richard Westbrook will be
joining the team's driver lineup for the entire 2012 Rolex Sports Car
Series season. Westbrook will be driving the No. 90 Corvette Daytona
Prototype along with returning Spirit of Daytona driver Antonio Garcia.
Westbrook has established himself as a standout in top-tier international sports car competition. He won the FIA GT2 championship in 2009, and scored podium finishes in 24-hour races at Le Mans (third in GT2) and Daytona (third overall) in 2010. He is also a two-time Porsche Supercup champion (2006-07). Westbrook notched an ALMS GT2 victory at Road America in 2008.
"We are very excited to have Richard behind the wheel of our new Corvette. This is a very exciting time for Spirit of Daytona," said team owner Troy Flis.
"I'm delighted to have joined SDR for 2012. It's a very exciting time to be joining the GRAND-AM championship with all the new cars and in particular the new Corvette," added Westbrook. "We all know how good looking the car is, but now we will work hard to make it a success on the track, and I'm relishing the hard work that lies ahead."
"Everyone at Spirit of Daytona is thrilled about Richard joining our team. We are working very hard to make sure that we perform at the highest level and are challenging for a championship at the end of the year," said Flis. "Our focus now is to be prepared for the 50th anniversary of the Rolex 24 in a few weeks and to carry that momentum for the entire season."
Richard Westbrook will begin the 2012 race season with Spirit of Daytona at the official three-day test weekend, the Roar Before the Rolex 24, scheduled for Jan. 6-8, on the 3.56-mile road course at Daytona International Speedway.
Westbrook has established himself as a standout in top-tier international sports car competition. He won the FIA GT2 championship in 2009, and scored podium finishes in 24-hour races at Le Mans (third in GT2) and Daytona (third overall) in 2010. He is also a two-time Porsche Supercup champion (2006-07). Westbrook notched an ALMS GT2 victory at Road America in 2008.
"We are very excited to have Richard behind the wheel of our new Corvette. This is a very exciting time for Spirit of Daytona," said team owner Troy Flis.
"I'm delighted to have joined SDR for 2012. It's a very exciting time to be joining the GRAND-AM championship with all the new cars and in particular the new Corvette," added Westbrook. "We all know how good looking the car is, but now we will work hard to make it a success on the track, and I'm relishing the hard work that lies ahead."
"Everyone at Spirit of Daytona is thrilled about Richard joining our team. We are working very hard to make sure that we perform at the highest level and are challenging for a championship at the end of the year," said Flis. "Our focus now is to be prepared for the 50th anniversary of the Rolex 24 in a few weeks and to carry that momentum for the entire season."
Richard Westbrook will begin the 2012 race season with Spirit of Daytona at the official three-day test weekend, the Roar Before the Rolex 24, scheduled for Jan. 6-8, on the 3.56-mile road course at Daytona International Speedway.
Motors TV Partners With GRAND-AM On European TV Package For Rolex Series
Increasingly, the world is coming to GRAND-AM Road Racing.
Today, the sports car sanctioning body announced a groundbreaking television deal that will take GRAND-AM to a large portion of the world.
As the result of a multi-year deal with Motors TV, fans in 38 European countries will have the opportunity to watch the entire 2012 GRAND-AM Rolex Sports Car Series season live on television for the first time this season.
Motors TV, headquartered in Chaville, France, will begin its coverage with more than 15 hours of live action from the 50th Anniversary running of the Rolex 24 At Daytona on Jan. 28-29 at Daytona International Speedway.
The "High Speed Television" network is available throughout Europe, reaching 21.2 million homes with broadcasts in five languages: English, French, German, Dutch and Greek. Motors TV covers approximately 20 racing series live.
"With an unprecedented number of European manufacturers and competitors participating in the 2012 Rolex Series, we believe there has never been stronger interest in our series from European race fans," said GRAND-AM CEO Ed Bennett. "This is great timing - and a great addition to our television coverage lineup."
Added GRAND-AM President Tom Bledsoe: "This announcement coincides with the most attractive schedule in the history of the Rolex Series. This year we're going to great race tracks ... historic race tracks, which will resonate with European fans - because they know their road racing. It's going to translate into some compelling television."
Highlights of the 2012 Rolex Series schedule on Motors TV include the three events in the North American Endurance Championship, a new competition involving the Rolex 24, the Sahlen's Six Hours of The Glen on July 1 at Watkins Glen International and the three-hour Rolex Series debut at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on July 27.
"We're delighted to welcome GRAND-AM as one of the flagships of our 2012 lineup," said Motors TV Head of Programming & Acquisitions Frédéric Viger. "The series has been growing over the years, the European interest consistently building-up, and we believe the series now gets the coverage it deserves this side of the ocean."
To further emphasize the importance of GRAND-AM for Motors TV, the "High Speed Television" network will feature a GRAND-AM race car on its stand at the annual Autosport International Show, Thursday-Sunday (Jan. 12-15) in Birmingham, England.
Today's announcement highlights a comprehensive international distribution plan that will bring Rolex Series action to Africa, Asia, Australia, Canada, the Caribbean, Central America, South America and the Middle East.
Some highlights of that distribution:
• Eurosport will air selected live coverage of the Rolex 24 race and a Rolex 24 highlight show, reaching 52 countries.
• Speed Latin America will broadcast all 13 races to 42 countries.
• Speed Australia will broadcast all 13 races and the accompanying highlight shows.
• Network Ten will broadcast all 13 races in Australia.
• ESPN2 Caribbean will air all 13 highlight shows to 14 countries while ESPN Dos will reach 14.
• ESPN Africa will broadcast all 13 of the series' highlight shows to 57 countries.
• ESPN Star will have selected live coverage of the Rolex 24 and all highlight shows going to 19 Asian countries.
Today, the sports car sanctioning body announced a groundbreaking television deal that will take GRAND-AM to a large portion of the world.
As the result of a multi-year deal with Motors TV, fans in 38 European countries will have the opportunity to watch the entire 2012 GRAND-AM Rolex Sports Car Series season live on television for the first time this season.
Motors TV, headquartered in Chaville, France, will begin its coverage with more than 15 hours of live action from the 50th Anniversary running of the Rolex 24 At Daytona on Jan. 28-29 at Daytona International Speedway.
The "High Speed Television" network is available throughout Europe, reaching 21.2 million homes with broadcasts in five languages: English, French, German, Dutch and Greek. Motors TV covers approximately 20 racing series live.
"With an unprecedented number of European manufacturers and competitors participating in the 2012 Rolex Series, we believe there has never been stronger interest in our series from European race fans," said GRAND-AM CEO Ed Bennett. "This is great timing - and a great addition to our television coverage lineup."
Added GRAND-AM President Tom Bledsoe: "This announcement coincides with the most attractive schedule in the history of the Rolex Series. This year we're going to great race tracks ... historic race tracks, which will resonate with European fans - because they know their road racing. It's going to translate into some compelling television."
Highlights of the 2012 Rolex Series schedule on Motors TV include the three events in the North American Endurance Championship, a new competition involving the Rolex 24, the Sahlen's Six Hours of The Glen on July 1 at Watkins Glen International and the three-hour Rolex Series debut at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on July 27.
"We're delighted to welcome GRAND-AM as one of the flagships of our 2012 lineup," said Motors TV Head of Programming & Acquisitions Frédéric Viger. "The series has been growing over the years, the European interest consistently building-up, and we believe the series now gets the coverage it deserves this side of the ocean."
To further emphasize the importance of GRAND-AM for Motors TV, the "High Speed Television" network will feature a GRAND-AM race car on its stand at the annual Autosport International Show, Thursday-Sunday (Jan. 12-15) in Birmingham, England.
Today's announcement highlights a comprehensive international distribution plan that will bring Rolex Series action to Africa, Asia, Australia, Canada, the Caribbean, Central America, South America and the Middle East.
Some highlights of that distribution:
• Eurosport will air selected live coverage of the Rolex 24 race and a Rolex 24 highlight show, reaching 52 countries.
• Speed Latin America will broadcast all 13 races to 42 countries.
• Speed Australia will broadcast all 13 races and the accompanying highlight shows.
• Network Ten will broadcast all 13 races in Australia.
• ESPN2 Caribbean will air all 13 highlight shows to 14 countries while ESPN Dos will reach 14.
• ESPN Africa will broadcast all 13 of the series' highlight shows to 57 countries.
• ESPN Star will have selected live coverage of the Rolex 24 and all highlight shows going to 19 Asian countries.
SPEED, SPEED.com to Cover Rolex 24 Flag to Flag
Race fans will be able to follow all of the action in the historic
50th Anniversary of the Rolex 24 At Daytona through SPEED and SPEED.com.
SPEED will continue to be the television home of GRAND-AM Road Racing in 2012, televising all 13 Rolex Sports Car Series events either live or on a same-day delay basis. Coverage begins with 15-and-a-half hours of coverage from the Rolex 24, which will be enhanced for the first time by continued streaming on its web site.
The Rolex 24 live broadcast kicks off with a one-hour pre-race show at 2:30 p.m. (ET) on Saturday, Jan. 28, and continues with the opening seven-and-a-half hours of the race, from 3:30-11 p.m.
A new component will then enhance the Rolex 24 coverage. SPEED.com will cover the night action with a camera located atop the grandstand, several stationary cameras, a running leaderboard and audio commentary.
SPEED television coverage resumes at 9 a.m. on Sunday, Jan. 29, running through 4 p.m. – including 30 minutes of interviews following the checkered flag.
Leigh Diffey, Calvin Fish and Dorsey Schroeder will anchor the Rolex 24 coverage, and will be joined in the broadcast booth by Bob Varsha, David Hobbs and Tommy Kendall. Brian Till, Chris Neville, Jamie Howe and Greg Creamer will report from the pits, while Justin Bell takes on the role of in-race reporter.
Current plans are for SPEED to televise 10 Rolex Series races live.
Among the highlights will be coverage of the three events in the North American Endurance Championship, a new competition involving the Rolex 24, the Sahlen's Six Hours of The Glen on July 1 at Watkins Glen International and the three-hour Rolex Series debut at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on July 27. The Rolex 24 and the Sahlen's Six Hour will be live; the Indianapolis race will be shown on the afternoon of July 27, on a delayed basis.
Other live coverage this season: Homestead-Miami Speedway on April 29, New Jersey Motorsports Park on May 13, Detroit Belle Isle on June 2, Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course on June 9, Road America on June 23, the second race at Watkins Glen International on August 11, Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca on September 9 and Lime Rock Park on Sept. 29.
Same-day delayed coverage is currently planned for Barber Motorsports Park on March 31 and Montreal's Circuit Gilles Villeneuve on Aug. 18.
"GRAND-AM continues to grow and so does our television coverage," said GRAND-AM CEO Ed Bennett. "It's all about the fans ... working with a great partner like SPEED serves those fans while reflecting the ever-increasing interest in GRfAND-AM."
SPEED's plans for the GRAND-AM Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge TV coverage are expected to be announced in the near future.
GRAND-AM Rolex Series Broadcast Schedule On SPEED
Date Race Broadcast Time
Jan. 28-29 Daytona International Speedway 2:30 p.m. on Jan, 28; 9 a.m. on Jan. 29.
March 31 Barber Motorsports Park 4 p.m. (SDD)
April 29 Homestead-Miami Speedway 1 p.m.
May 13 New Jersey Motorsports Park 1 p.m.
June 2 Detroit Belle Isle 5 p.m.
June 9 Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course 4:30 p.m.
June 23 Road America 12 p.m.
July 1 Watkins Glen International 11 a.m.
July 27 Indianapolis Motor Speedway 4:30 p.m. (SDD)
Aug. 11 Watkins Glen International 6 p.m.
Aug. 18 Circuit Gilles Villeneuve 7 p.m. (SDD)
Sept. 9 Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca 3 p.m.
Sept. 29 Lime Rock Park 3 p.m.
Note: All times shown are ET; Times subject to change
SDD - Same-day delay
SPEED will continue to be the television home of GRAND-AM Road Racing in 2012, televising all 13 Rolex Sports Car Series events either live or on a same-day delay basis. Coverage begins with 15-and-a-half hours of coverage from the Rolex 24, which will be enhanced for the first time by continued streaming on its web site.
The Rolex 24 live broadcast kicks off with a one-hour pre-race show at 2:30 p.m. (ET) on Saturday, Jan. 28, and continues with the opening seven-and-a-half hours of the race, from 3:30-11 p.m.
A new component will then enhance the Rolex 24 coverage. SPEED.com will cover the night action with a camera located atop the grandstand, several stationary cameras, a running leaderboard and audio commentary.
SPEED television coverage resumes at 9 a.m. on Sunday, Jan. 29, running through 4 p.m. – including 30 minutes of interviews following the checkered flag.
Leigh Diffey, Calvin Fish and Dorsey Schroeder will anchor the Rolex 24 coverage, and will be joined in the broadcast booth by Bob Varsha, David Hobbs and Tommy Kendall. Brian Till, Chris Neville, Jamie Howe and Greg Creamer will report from the pits, while Justin Bell takes on the role of in-race reporter.
Current plans are for SPEED to televise 10 Rolex Series races live.
Among the highlights will be coverage of the three events in the North American Endurance Championship, a new competition involving the Rolex 24, the Sahlen's Six Hours of The Glen on July 1 at Watkins Glen International and the three-hour Rolex Series debut at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on July 27. The Rolex 24 and the Sahlen's Six Hour will be live; the Indianapolis race will be shown on the afternoon of July 27, on a delayed basis.
Other live coverage this season: Homestead-Miami Speedway on April 29, New Jersey Motorsports Park on May 13, Detroit Belle Isle on June 2, Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course on June 9, Road America on June 23, the second race at Watkins Glen International on August 11, Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca on September 9 and Lime Rock Park on Sept. 29.
Same-day delayed coverage is currently planned for Barber Motorsports Park on March 31 and Montreal's Circuit Gilles Villeneuve on Aug. 18.
"GRAND-AM continues to grow and so does our television coverage," said GRAND-AM CEO Ed Bennett. "It's all about the fans ... working with a great partner like SPEED serves those fans while reflecting the ever-increasing interest in GRfAND-AM."
SPEED's plans for the GRAND-AM Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge TV coverage are expected to be announced in the near future.
GRAND-AM Rolex Series Broadcast Schedule On SPEED
Date Race Broadcast Time
Jan. 28-29 Daytona International Speedway 2:30 p.m. on Jan, 28; 9 a.m. on Jan. 29.
March 31 Barber Motorsports Park 4 p.m. (SDD)
April 29 Homestead-Miami Speedway 1 p.m.
May 13 New Jersey Motorsports Park 1 p.m.
June 2 Detroit Belle Isle 5 p.m.
June 9 Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course 4:30 p.m.
June 23 Road America 12 p.m.
July 1 Watkins Glen International 11 a.m.
July 27 Indianapolis Motor Speedway 4:30 p.m. (SDD)
Aug. 11 Watkins Glen International 6 p.m.
Aug. 18 Circuit Gilles Villeneuve 7 p.m. (SDD)
Sept. 9 Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca 3 p.m.
Sept. 29 Lime Rock Park 3 p.m.
Note: All times shown are ET; Times subject to change
SDD - Same-day delay
Gianpiero Moretti: The Rolex 24 Loses One of its Most Popular Stars
On the eve of the 50th Anniversary Rolex 24 At Daytona - the most
anticipated sports car race in the history of North American motorsports
- the event lost one of its most popular stars.
Gianpiero Moretti, the man who helped define the term "gentleman racer," passed away Saturday at the age of 71 after a long illness at his home in Milan, Italy.
"He was definitely a great guy," said Kevin Doran, who partnered with Moretti for seven seasons. "He will be missed."
Moretti came to Daytona Beach for his first Rolex 24 in 1970, when his underfunded Ferrari team finished 32nd. He returned in 1979, and he could almost taste the victory lane champagne. Carlos Facetti put his Jolly Club Porsche 935 on the pole and led the race, but the car blew an engine.
This began a series of frustrations for Moretti, who made winning the Rolex 24 At Daytona his personal quest.
Moretti know that 1998 might be his final opportunity to challenge for victory at Daytona. With time running out on his racing career, he persuaded Ferrari to build him a car that could race - and win - in America. The result was the Ferrari 333SP, prepared for Moretti by a man with plenty of winning experience at Daytona, Kevin Doran. Moretti had finished seventh in the car in 1997, but knew the following year would be his best chance to finally win the coveted Rolex Daytona Cosmograph.
"With all the money I have spent at Daytona, I could have bought 1,000 Rolexes easily," Moretti said on the eve of the race. "But I wanted to win this race."
Moretti recruited Didier Theys, Mauro Baldi and two-time Indianapolis 500 winner Arie Luyendyk. Also fielding Ferraris were Andy Evans and Wayne Taylor, with Max Papis securing the pole for Evans' Scandia Ferrari. The race had its share of drama - setting the stage for a popular ending. After falling 18 laps down early in the race, Moretti's Momo Ferrari came back in the closing three hours to take the lead.
With minutes laps remaining, Moretti had his car brought back to the pits. Moretti slid back into the cockpit so he could take the checkered flag.
After years of frustration, Gianpiero Moretti finally won his Rolex on his 15th try in what remains as one of the most popular victories in the history of the Rolex 24. The victory began an unprecedented sweep of the American endurance classics at Sebring and Watkins Glen - in addition to finishing 14th overall and third in the LMP1 class in the 24 Hours of Le Mans. He then retired and never raced professionally again.
Moretti was a regular on the IMSA Camel GTP circuit. He played a role in the revival of the Six Hours of Watkins Glen, suggesting that the event be revived during his retirement tour in 1995. When Watkins Glen International officials agreed, Moretti was good to his word and returned for the 1996 event - winning with co-driver Max Papis.
"Gianpiero helped launch Doran Enterprises to a professional-level sports car team," Doran said. "Getting together with him and MOMO brought our team back to pro racing after Al Holbert's death."
One of Moretti's close calls in the Rolex 24 came in 1996, when the Doran-prepared MOMO Ferrari he shared with Bob Wollek, Didier Theys and rookie Max Papis finished 65 seconds behind Wayne Taylor's winning Oldsmobile Riley & Scott.
Fittingly, Moretti's colors will be carried in the 50th Rolex 24. Moretti founded the Italian equipment company MOMO (for Moretti-Monza) in the 1960s. The NGT Motorsport Porsche GT3 will be painted in the classic MOMO red and yellow in the upcoming Rolex 24 - ensuring that one of the most popular drivers in the history of the event will be there in spirit.
Gianpiero Moretti, the man who helped define the term "gentleman racer," passed away Saturday at the age of 71 after a long illness at his home in Milan, Italy.
"He was definitely a great guy," said Kevin Doran, who partnered with Moretti for seven seasons. "He will be missed."
Moretti came to Daytona Beach for his first Rolex 24 in 1970, when his underfunded Ferrari team finished 32nd. He returned in 1979, and he could almost taste the victory lane champagne. Carlos Facetti put his Jolly Club Porsche 935 on the pole and led the race, but the car blew an engine.
This began a series of frustrations for Moretti, who made winning the Rolex 24 At Daytona his personal quest.
Moretti know that 1998 might be his final opportunity to challenge for victory at Daytona. With time running out on his racing career, he persuaded Ferrari to build him a car that could race - and win - in America. The result was the Ferrari 333SP, prepared for Moretti by a man with plenty of winning experience at Daytona, Kevin Doran. Moretti had finished seventh in the car in 1997, but knew the following year would be his best chance to finally win the coveted Rolex Daytona Cosmograph.
"With all the money I have spent at Daytona, I could have bought 1,000 Rolexes easily," Moretti said on the eve of the race. "But I wanted to win this race."
Moretti recruited Didier Theys, Mauro Baldi and two-time Indianapolis 500 winner Arie Luyendyk. Also fielding Ferraris were Andy Evans and Wayne Taylor, with Max Papis securing the pole for Evans' Scandia Ferrari. The race had its share of drama - setting the stage for a popular ending. After falling 18 laps down early in the race, Moretti's Momo Ferrari came back in the closing three hours to take the lead.
With minutes laps remaining, Moretti had his car brought back to the pits. Moretti slid back into the cockpit so he could take the checkered flag.
After years of frustration, Gianpiero Moretti finally won his Rolex on his 15th try in what remains as one of the most popular victories in the history of the Rolex 24. The victory began an unprecedented sweep of the American endurance classics at Sebring and Watkins Glen - in addition to finishing 14th overall and third in the LMP1 class in the 24 Hours of Le Mans. He then retired and never raced professionally again.
Moretti was a regular on the IMSA Camel GTP circuit. He played a role in the revival of the Six Hours of Watkins Glen, suggesting that the event be revived during his retirement tour in 1995. When Watkins Glen International officials agreed, Moretti was good to his word and returned for the 1996 event - winning with co-driver Max Papis.
"Gianpiero helped launch Doran Enterprises to a professional-level sports car team," Doran said. "Getting together with him and MOMO brought our team back to pro racing after Al Holbert's death."
One of Moretti's close calls in the Rolex 24 came in 1996, when the Doran-prepared MOMO Ferrari he shared with Bob Wollek, Didier Theys and rookie Max Papis finished 65 seconds behind Wayne Taylor's winning Oldsmobile Riley & Scott.
Fittingly, Moretti's colors will be carried in the 50th Rolex 24. Moretti founded the Italian equipment company MOMO (for Moretti-Monza) in the 1960s. The NGT Motorsport Porsche GT3 will be painted in the classic MOMO red and yellow in the upcoming Rolex 24 - ensuring that one of the most popular drivers in the history of the event will be there in spirit.
1990 Rolex 24 Winner Davy Jones Returns with Muehlner Motorsports
Davy Jones announced today that he will compete in the 50th
Anniversary Rolex 24 At Daytona with the Mühlner Motorsports America
team in the season opener of the 2012 GRAND-AM Rolex Sports Car Series
season.
Jones will be behind the wheel of the No. 18 Texas Heart Institute Porsche GT3 Cup car which he will share with co-drivers John McCutchen, Bill Lester and Mark Thomas during the 24 hour event.
Jones will look to score his second career Rolex 24 victory around the high banked 3.56-mile, 12-turn speedway road course and preparations have started on the right foot as the Belgian team showed impressive speed at the Roar Before the 24, clocking the second fastest lap of the three day test.
Jones is no stranger to Porsches and endurance races as in 1996 he became the last American to win the 24 Hours of Le Mans while driving a Porsche LMP1 car. This year he will look to repeat that feat at Daytona by taking the win in the GT category.
The team will be supplied with stylish safety sun glasses by Edge Eyewear (www.edge-eyewear.com) to help protect them during the various pit stops, and to keep them awake during the grueling 24 hour race MonaVie (www.monavie.com) will provide them with their EMV all natural energy drink.
Jones has competed with success in virtually every form of motorsports including GRAND-AM, Le Mans Series, IndyCar, NASCAR, IMSA-GTP, IROC and Formula 3. Jones returns to the Rolex 24 on the 22nd anniversary of his victory at the historic event.
Jones will be behind the wheel of the No. 18 Texas Heart Institute Porsche GT3 Cup car which he will share with co-drivers John McCutchen, Bill Lester and Mark Thomas during the 24 hour event.
Jones will look to score his second career Rolex 24 victory around the high banked 3.56-mile, 12-turn speedway road course and preparations have started on the right foot as the Belgian team showed impressive speed at the Roar Before the 24, clocking the second fastest lap of the three day test.
Jones is no stranger to Porsches and endurance races as in 1996 he became the last American to win the 24 Hours of Le Mans while driving a Porsche LMP1 car. This year he will look to repeat that feat at Daytona by taking the win in the GT category.
The team will be supplied with stylish safety sun glasses by Edge Eyewear (www.edge-eyewear.com) to help protect them during the various pit stops, and to keep them awake during the grueling 24 hour race MonaVie (www.monavie.com) will provide them with their EMV all natural energy drink.
Jones has competed with success in virtually every form of motorsports including GRAND-AM, Le Mans Series, IndyCar, NASCAR, IMSA-GTP, IROC and Formula 3. Jones returns to the Rolex 24 on the 22nd anniversary of his victory at the historic event.
The World Comes To Daytona ... Open-Wheel Influence Dates Back To Inaugural Race In 1962
When drivers sprinted to their cars at the beginning of the first
running of the event now known as the Rolex 24 At Daytona in 1962, it
was fitting that the reigning Indianapolis 500 champion led the very
first lap of competition.
A.J. Foyt went on to win the Indianapolis 500 four times, and extended his career with two victories and a pair of runner-up finishes in the Rolex 24 from 1983-86. This weekend, Foyt returns to Daytona International Speedway as Grand Marshal for the 50th Anniversary of the Rolex 24 At Daytona.
Foyt should feel right at home when he gives the command to start the engines. Three former Indy 500 winners will be in the field which includes a number of past and present stars from the open-wheel ranks. (CART, IndyCar Series and Champ Car)
This year's Rolex 24, the most anticipated road race in the history of North American motorsports, includes former Indy 500 winners Dario Franchitti of Scotland (2007, '10), Scott Dixon of New Zealand (2008) and Juan Pablo Montoya of Colombia (2000) - all of whom have Rolex 24 victories driving for Target/TELMEX Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates.
Tradition is being served; Indy 500 winners Mark Donohue, Mario Andretti, Al Unser, Al Unser Jr., Bobby Rahal, Arie Luyendyk and Dan Wheldon also won the Rolex 24 during their careers.
Dixon and Wheldon teamed with Casey Mears to give the Chip Ganassi organization its first Rolex 24 triumph in the 2006 event. Montoya won in 2007 and '08, joined by Franchitti in the latter event.
The Ganassi lineup also includes Graham Rahal - who was part of the team's winning lineup in the 2011 Rolex 24. An IndyCar series winner at St. Petersburg in 2008, he follows in the footsteps of his father, 1986 Indy 500 winner Bobby Rahal, who credits his victory in the 1981 Rolex 24 with launching his open-wheel career.
"The Rolex 24 is the most fun event we do all year," Dixon said. "It gets everyone together. All of us on the team are pretty close with our times, so everyone pulls their weight."
Ganassi's lineup is led by Scott Pruett, two-time defending Rolex Series Daytona Prototype co-champion (with Memo Rojas) and four-time Rolex 24 winner. And while Pruett is generally viewed as a sports car racer, he competed in open-wheel cars in the 1980s and '90s, winning twice and being named Indy 500 co-rookie of the year in 1989.
Other current and past open-wheel stars expected to compete in the 50th Anniversary Rolex 24 include:
A.J. Allmendinger: Five-time Champ Car winner, third in championship in 2006.
John Andretti: CART race winner at Australia in 1991; 12-time Indy 500 participant.
Ryan Briscoe: Third in 2009 IndyCar championship, six-time winner.
Christian Fittipaldi: Two victories in eight CART seasons, second in 1995 Indy 500.
James Hinchcliffe: 2011 IndyCar Sunoco Rookie of the Year.
Ryan Hunter-Reay: IndyCar victory at Long Beach in 2010.
Davy Jones: 1996 Indy 500 runner-up.
Tony Kanaan: 2004 Indy 500 runner-up; 15 open-wheel wins; '04 IndyCar champion.
Raphael Matos: 13 top-10 finishes in 38 career IndyCar races.
Max Papis: Three-time Champ Car winner.
Eliseo Salazar: CART race winner at Las Vegas (1997).
Scott Sharp: 1996 IndyCar co-champion, five top-10 finishes in Indy 500.
Paul Tracy: 2003 CART titlist; 2002 Indy 500 runner-up; 31-time open-wheel winner.
E.J. Viso: Four years in IndyCar, 12 podium finishes.
Justin Wilson: Two victories and one pole in four IndyCar seasons.
A.J. Foyt went on to win the Indianapolis 500 four times, and extended his career with two victories and a pair of runner-up finishes in the Rolex 24 from 1983-86. This weekend, Foyt returns to Daytona International Speedway as Grand Marshal for the 50th Anniversary of the Rolex 24 At Daytona.
Foyt should feel right at home when he gives the command to start the engines. Three former Indy 500 winners will be in the field which includes a number of past and present stars from the open-wheel ranks. (CART, IndyCar Series and Champ Car)
This year's Rolex 24, the most anticipated road race in the history of North American motorsports, includes former Indy 500 winners Dario Franchitti of Scotland (2007, '10), Scott Dixon of New Zealand (2008) and Juan Pablo Montoya of Colombia (2000) - all of whom have Rolex 24 victories driving for Target/TELMEX Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates.
Tradition is being served; Indy 500 winners Mark Donohue, Mario Andretti, Al Unser, Al Unser Jr., Bobby Rahal, Arie Luyendyk and Dan Wheldon also won the Rolex 24 during their careers.
Dixon and Wheldon teamed with Casey Mears to give the Chip Ganassi organization its first Rolex 24 triumph in the 2006 event. Montoya won in 2007 and '08, joined by Franchitti in the latter event.
The Ganassi lineup also includes Graham Rahal - who was part of the team's winning lineup in the 2011 Rolex 24. An IndyCar series winner at St. Petersburg in 2008, he follows in the footsteps of his father, 1986 Indy 500 winner Bobby Rahal, who credits his victory in the 1981 Rolex 24 with launching his open-wheel career.
"The Rolex 24 is the most fun event we do all year," Dixon said. "It gets everyone together. All of us on the team are pretty close with our times, so everyone pulls their weight."
Ganassi's lineup is led by Scott Pruett, two-time defending Rolex Series Daytona Prototype co-champion (with Memo Rojas) and four-time Rolex 24 winner. And while Pruett is generally viewed as a sports car racer, he competed in open-wheel cars in the 1980s and '90s, winning twice and being named Indy 500 co-rookie of the year in 1989.
Other current and past open-wheel stars expected to compete in the 50th Anniversary Rolex 24 include:
A.J. Allmendinger: Five-time Champ Car winner, third in championship in 2006.
John Andretti: CART race winner at Australia in 1991; 12-time Indy 500 participant.
Ryan Briscoe: Third in 2009 IndyCar championship, six-time winner.
Christian Fittipaldi: Two victories in eight CART seasons, second in 1995 Indy 500.
James Hinchcliffe: 2011 IndyCar Sunoco Rookie of the Year.
Ryan Hunter-Reay: IndyCar victory at Long Beach in 2010.
Davy Jones: 1996 Indy 500 runner-up.
Tony Kanaan: 2004 Indy 500 runner-up; 15 open-wheel wins; '04 IndyCar champion.
Raphael Matos: 13 top-10 finishes in 38 career IndyCar races.
Max Papis: Three-time Champ Car winner.
Eliseo Salazar: CART race winner at Las Vegas (1997).
Scott Sharp: 1996 IndyCar co-champion, five top-10 finishes in Indy 500.
Paul Tracy: 2003 CART titlist; 2002 Indy 500 runner-up; 31-time open-wheel winner.
E.J. Viso: Four years in IndyCar, 12 podium finishes.
Justin Wilson: Two victories and one pole in four IndyCar seasons.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)