Tag: ROLEX 24

The Mayans say this year, 2012, is the last year. Or that there will be some kind of great shift in civilization. Or the world will flip like a tossed omelet.
It all sounds very exciting. However, if you are a racing fan, you might have to ask yourself what it all means. We are just a few days into the new year and 2011 is still fresh in our minds. There is so much for the fans to reflect on, pour over and chew on, before the first checkered flag flies this year. We also need to prepare and pack as much as possible into every race in 2012 in case the Mayans are right. (more…)

rolex24logo2010We sit upon the weekend to start the racing reason in a spectacular fashion. Grand-Am drivers of Daytona Prototypes and GTs share their seats with Formula One, LeMans, Indy and NASCAR drivers for this roar of color and a 24 hour speed parade. For the visiting series drivers this is a fun step away from their regular jobs. It is a chance to shine in an endurance race with exotic cars and maybe get a little ink before their own cars roll out to their respective starting lines. However, the Grand-Am / ROLEX Series drivers bank points on this race to officially start their season.

grandamlogo1The Grand-Am / ROLEX season start with the ROLEX 24. Do the regular drivers secretly harbor some hidden issues with these usurpers in their seats? It is a double-edged sword when you turn it over and look at it. On the one hand, the starting series points could be jeapordized by the one race visiting drivers. On the other, the fact of these visiting drivers brings a huge motor sports spotlight on the series as a whole.  It is a frenzy of media and speed for this January weekend in Daytona with Grand-Am drivers catching a lot of attention because of the presence of the stars from other dimensions of racing. Is it a good thing…? Yes. Whatever points may be won or lost due to the presence of these other drivers falls in importance next to the attention drawn to Grand-Am racing because of them. The ROLEX 24 is a bright start to the racing season for everyone involved.

Enough commentary and philosophical drivel. Let’s talk racing. Qualifying is done for the 2010 ROLEX 24. There were some incidents during practice sessions that left 3 cars on the lift for repairs. All should be ready to race by Saturday to take the green. The Daytona Prototype pole position is held by the #10 SunTrust Ford Dallara following the drive by Max Angelelli. The outside spot on row one is held by the #60 Crown Royal Ford Riley driven through qualifying by Ozz Negri.

2010dprolex24

The GT series front spot is held by the #69 SpeedSource FXDD Mazda RX-8 driven to qualify by Jeff Segal. The GT series has a large pool of entries consisting of Mazdas, Porsches, BMWs and Chevy Camaros.

2010gtrolex24

The large field of GT cars sharing the track with the Daytona Prototypes is going to make for some tight racing and challenging pass positions. The size of the road course layout at Daytona makes for a 3.5 mile distance but when these cars bunch up in groups fighting for series position it will be a force of will and patience to move through.

It all adds up to one thing. The ROLEX 24 is a must watch on SPEED this weekend. They will broadcast all but the overnight ours of the race which, in a way, is a bit disappointing. Some of the best racing can happen under the lights. However, those of us who are fans might also benefit from a little sleep and catch the headlight highlights on Sunday dropped in over live coverage.

Get your pizzas and snacks and beverages of choice and get ready to watch some racing to get 2010 off to fast start. The Super Bowl is yet to come so no conflict there. Basketball…? Are you kidding? Hockey…? Do we need to be reminded it’s cold outside? This is racing! This is speed! This is a world wide showcase of some of the best drivers from the hottest disciplines of racing. Put aside anything that has no wheels and watch this. Enjoy.

735 laps. The last hour held the possibility of a win for four cars. A Lexus, two Porsches and a Ford. Ford had a rough 24 hours as the Suntrust Ford was the last one remaining even if it did shine on the lead lap. Juan Pablo Montoya had the lead up to the last pit stop when a fresh driver and tires in the #58 Brumos Porsche put him hard on the defensive. The Ganassi team with the Lexus was looking for a fourth straigh Rolex 24 win. However, the Brumos team and the #58 had history and heritage driving them as David Donahue passed Montoya shortly after the last pit. In the end, passing GT traffic and holding Montoya in the mirror, the Porsche crossed the line to victory. The #59 Brumos Porsche drove in 3rd behind Montoya.

Brumos Racing #58 Porsche driven to win the ROLEX 24
Brumos Racing #58 Porsche driven to win the ROLEX 24

See complete results and more photos at the ROLEX / Grand-Am website.
The GT class had yet another Porsche victory with the #67 from TRG Motorsports. The GT winning drivers managed 695 laps in the 24 hours. TRG is also noted as moving somewhat out of the driver’s seat of the Porsche and running a Sprint Cup entry for 2009. Don’t worry, TRG hasn’t garaged their Porsche fleet as there is a full Grand-Am season on the way starting back in April at Virginia International Raceway. However, they will be back at Daytona in a few weeks for the Daytona 500 attempting to qualify their #71 Chevrolet with NASCAR veteran Mike Wallace at the wheel.

TRG Motorsports #67 Porsche takes first spot in the GT Class of the Rolex 24
TRG Motorsports #67 Porsche takes first spot in the GT Class of the Rolex 24

Over the course of 24 hours their were broken engines, transmissions and brakes. Pit stop mistakes and an oil fire. A number of spins and taps and bumps. Close racing and wheel to wheel driving. Everything you would want to see in an automobile race… So why didn’t you watch? FOX and SPEED had 15 hours of live coverage. Is it too unfamiliar? A number of NASCAR drivers were in the cars including Jimmie Johnson, Juan Pablo Montoya, Kyle Petty, Casey Mears and a few more. Would you watch if Gordon or Earnhardt, Jr. were in it? Are left turns all you can handle? Open up a little. These cars fast. These cars are cool and there is more variety. Pontiac, Mazda, Porsche, Lexus, Ferrari, BMW and Corvettes and Mustangs. How cool is that? Plus – the drivers aren’t known for rushing past when you want an autograph.

The Grand-Am Rolex Series presented by Crown Royal Cask no16 is off to a nice start with a full season ahead. NASCAR is cranking up to go green. Teams are in garages around the world preparing for racing. Open your horizons a little and check out some of the other series of racing. What else are you going to watch…? Baseball…? C’mon! Nobody needs to be that bored.