2011 Rolex 24 at Daytona

Matthew Little

Matthew Little

Points Scorer
The international motorsports is said to have several waypoints, seminal events that allow us to know what time of year it is. For instance, the midpoint of the calendar takes us to central France for the 24 Hours of LeMans while its' endpoint usually can be marked by wherever Bernie Ecclestone takes the traveling circus more commonly known as Formula 1 for its' season finale. As to the beginning.........that honor goes to a place in central Florida known as the "World Center of Racing", the 3.56-mile stadium road course that is part of the Daytona International Speedway and plays host to one of the biggest events in endurance racing.........

232px-Rolex24logo.jpg


First run as a 3-hour race known as the Daytona Continental, it has grown into the winter-time equivalent of LeMans, an event that draws the best racers from all around the world. Winners from some of racing's biggest events come to Daytona for a shot at immortal glory, a chance to put their name in the history books and a shot at racing immortality. While many things can happen(and usually do), it is the ticking of the clock that gives the event its' challenge.............to quote Speed's Bob Varsha in the intro to the 2007 event,
The word trophy comes from the greek "tropion", which means 'not a salute to victory but to commemorate an enemy's defeat. To some that may mean mere semantics, but if you appreciate the challenge of racing flat-out for 24 hours, the difference is as clear as the crystal on the face of the world's finest watch. It is why you come to the Rolex 24. To win, you must conquer an army of rivals, including winners of a museum full of trophies, including some of the sport's biggest races....and its' most prestigious championships. They all know there is one unique trophy they cannot do without......and so they come to the Rolex 24.

But there are other enemies to conquer as well, You must also overcome obstacles such as fatigue.........and darkness........and weather..........and mechanical failure.........and human error. They too are why you come to the Rolex 24. Throughout the race the ticking of the clock for 24 long hours is your most fickle companion. When you are fit, rested and running swiftly, time is your ally. But if you are stuck....or stranded....or broken, time becomes your enemy; it is the most formidable challenge of the Rolex 24.

The world's best drivers and cars have taken up this challenge for nearly a half-century, writing some of the sport's most exciting chapters and creating some of the legends that have given this race its' place amongst the greatest of them all. That is also why you come to the Rolex 24.........
Click to expand
 
500px-Daytona_International_Speedway_-_Road_Course.svg.png

Track Map, Daytona International Speedway Stadium Road Course

24 Hours of Daytona
Rolex 24 Event Page, Daytona International Speedway
Event Schedule, 2011 Rolex 24 at Daytona



Entry List, 49th Rolex 24 at Daytona
note.....list subject to change prior to event weekend

Daytona Prototype Class
#01 Chip Ganassi Racing BMW/Riley---Scott Pruett, Memo Rojas, Joey Hand, Graham Rahal
#02 Chip Ganassi Racing BMW/Riley---Juan Pablo Montoya, Jamie McMurray, Dario Franchitti, Scott Dixon
#5 Action Express Racing Porsche/Riley---David Donohue, Darren Law, Buddy Rice, Burt Frisselle
#6 MSR/Curb-Agajanian Ford/Dallara---A.J. Allmendinger, Justin Wilson, Michael McDowell
#7 Starworks Racing Ford/Riley---Doug Pederson, R.J. Valentine, Jared Beyer, Jan Heylen, Scott Mayer
#8 Starworks Racing Ford/Riley---Ryan Dalziel, Mike Forest, Jim Lowe, Colin Braun, Tomas Enge
#9 Action Express Racing Porsche/Riley---Joao Barbosa, Terry Borcheller, J.C. France, Christian Fittipaldi, Max Papis
#10 SunTrust Racing Chevrolet/Dallara---Ryan Briscoe, Max Angelelli, Ricky Taylor, Wayne Taylor
#23 MSR/United Autosports Ford/Riley---Mark Blundell, Martin Brundle, Zak Brown, Mark Patterson
#45 Flying Lizard Mtrspts. Porsche/Riley---Jorg Bergmeister, Patrick Long, Seth Neiman, Johannes van Overbeek
#55 Level 5 Mtrspts. BMW/Riley---Scott Tucker, Luis Diaz, Christophe Bouchut, Mark Wilkins
#60 Michael Shank Racing Ford/Riley---Oswaldo Negri, John Pew, Marc Goosens, Michael Valiente
#76 Krohn Racing Ford/Lola---Tracy Krohn, Nic Jonsson, Ricardo Zonta, Nicolas Minassian
#77 Doran Racing Ford/Dallara---Ross Kaiser, Matt Bell, Brian Frisselle, Henri Richard
#90 Spirit of Daytona Chevrolet/Coyote---Paul Edwards, Antonio Garcia, Sascha Maasen
#95 Level 5 Mtrspts. BMW/Riley---Richard Westbrook, Raphael Matos, Scott Tucker, Ryan Hunter-Reay
#99 Gainsco/Bob Stallings Racing Chevrolet/Riley---Jimmie Johnson, Alex Gurney, Jon Fogarty
Grand Touring Class
#00 Aten Mtrspts. Ferrari 430 Challenge---Gabriel Abergel, Davy Jones, Emmanuel Collard, Pascal Gibon, John McCutcheon
#4 The Racer's Group Porsche 911 GT3---Ryan Eversley, Kenny Wallace, Daniel Graeff, Ron Yarab Jr., Richard Zahn
#07 Banner Racing Camaro GT-R---Oliver Gavin, Gunter Schaldach, Bruce Ledoux, Eric Curran
#11 TPN/Blackforest Racing Ford Mustang---David Empringham, Tom Nastasi
#17 Burtin Racing Porsche 911 GT3---Jack Baldwin, Claudio Burtin, Martin Ragginer, Stefan Wendt, Nick Tandy
#18 Muehlner Mtrspts. Porsche 911 GT3---Peter Ludwig, Mark Thomas, Dion von Moltke, Cory Friedman
#22 Bullet Racing Porsche 911 GT3---Brian Wong, Darryl O'Young, Eric Lux
#30 Racers Edge Mtrspts. Mazda RX-8---Gary Jensen, Mark Jensen, Michael Marsal, Scott Rettich, Jade Buford
#32 PR1 Motorsports BMW M6---Max Hyatt, David Cheng, Ryan Lewis, Tom Papodopoulos
#36 Yellow Dragon Mtrspts. Mazda RX-8---Chris Cumming, Taylor Hacquard, Justin Marks, Mikel Miller
#40 Dempsey Racing Mazda RX-8---Patrick Dempsey, Joe Foster, Charles Espenlaub, Tom Long
#41 Team Seattle Mazda RX-8---Dane Cameron, James Gue, Ian James, Don Kitch Jr., Dave Lacey
#42 Team Sahlen Mazda RX-8---Joe Nonnamaker, Will Nonnamaker, Memo Gidley, Wayne Nonnamaker, Joe Sahlen
#43 Team Sahlen Mazda RX-8---Joe Nonnamaker, Will Nonnamaker, Memo Gidley, Wayne Nonnamaker, Joe Sahlen
#44 Magnus Racing Porsche 911 GT3---John Potter, Craig Stanton, Marco Holzer, Richard Lietz
#47 Rick Ware Racing Porsche 911 GT3---Jeffrey Earnhardt, Doug Harrington, Maurice Hull, Scott Monroe
#48 Paul Miller Racing Porsche 911 GT3---Bryce Miller, Bryan Sellers, Tim Sugden, Robert Bell
#53 Magnus/Nadeau Racing Porsche 911 GT3---Bob Doyle, Jim Michaelian, Coulter Mulligan
#54 TRG/Black Swan Racing Porsche 911 GT3---Jeroen Bleekemolen, Tim Pappas, James Sofronas, Bret Cutris, Patrick Pilet
#56 Bennett Racing Ferrari 430 Challenge---Jonathan Allen, Michael Davidson, jean-Francois Dumoulin, Glynn Geddie, Mike Skeen
#57 Stevenson Mtrspts. Camaro GT-R---Ronnie Bremer, Jan Magnussen, Robin Liddell
#59 Brumos Racing Porsche 911 GT3---Hurley Haywood, Andrew Davis, Leh Keen, Marc Lieb
#63 Team Spencer Mtrspts. Mazda RX-8---Jim Downing, Richard Grupp, David Murry, Dennis Spencer, Owen Trinkler
#65 Chris Smith Mtrspts. Porsche 911 GT3---Dave Mundy, Tony Rivera, Thomas Sheehan
#66 The Racer's Group Porsche 911 GT3---Dominic Farnbacher, Tim George Jr., Ben Keating, Lucas Luhr
#67 The Racer's Group Porsche 911 GT3---Steven Bertheau, Andy Lally, Wolf Henzler, Brenden Gaughan, Spencer Pumpelly
#69 SpeedSource Mazda RX-8---Emil Assentato, Jeff Segal, Nick Ham, Nick Longhi, Anthony Lazzaro
#70 SpeedSource Mazda RX-8---Sylvain Tremblay, Jonathan Bomarito, Adam Christodoulou, John Edwards
#81 Dragon Speed Mtrspts. Ferrari 430 Challenge---Cort Wagner, Fred Poordad, Doug Baron
#86 Mitchum Mtrspts. Porsche 911 GT3---Joey Atterbury, Randy Pobst, Derek Whitis, Randy MacNeil
#88 Autohaus Mtrspts. Camaro GT-R---Jordan Taylor, Bill Lester, Johnny O'Connell, Matthew Marsh
#94 Turner Mtrspts. BMW M3---Paul Dalla Lana, Bill Auberlen, Joey Hand, Boris Said

---17 Daytona Prototype entries
---32 Grand Touring entries
 
Anyone know if this is being covered on UK TV? Motors covered ALMS last season but this is too far ahead to see their schedule.
 
FB said:
Anyone know if this is being covered on UK TV? Motors covered ALMS last season but this is too far ahead to see their schedule.
Click to expand

I don't think anything's been posted as of yet, but I'd bet either Motors or Sky Sports will have the broadcast in the UK........... :dunno: :dunno:
 
There has been a fair bit of publicity over here around the United Autosports car. Well, I have heard it mentioned...

Blundell did Spa in an Audi R8 last year, but this is set to be Brundle's first proper sportscar race since Le Mans in 1999.

Interesting to see Nic Minassian in the Krohn car, too. He could be setting himself up for a good year in the big events if things turn out well...
 
 
Star Studded Lineup For Ganassi Racing at Rolex 24
---as expected, the Chipster's bringing a full plate of champions to Daytona, filling out the 2010 DP champion #01 Telmex race-car and adding a second entry to the DP lineup

#01 Telmex BMW/Riley: Scott Pruett, Memo Rojas, Graham Rahal, Joey Hand
#02 Target BMW/Riley: Juan Pablo Montoya, Jamie McMurray, Scott Dixon, Dario Franchitti


2010 Rolex GT Champions Complete Rolex 24 Lineup
---2010 Rolex GT champions Jeff Segal and Emil Assentato will have some company as they attempt to win the 2011 Rolex 24 at Daytona in veteran drivers Nick Longhi, Nick Ham and Anthony Lazzaro

#69 FXDD/SpeedSource Mazda RX-8: Jeff Segal, Emil Assentato, Nick Longhi, Nick Ham, Anthony Lazzaro


British Veterans Join Paul Miller Racing for 2011 Rolex 24
---veteran British racers Tim Sugden and Rob Bell join Bryce Miller and Bryan Sellars in the #48 Paul Miller Racing Porsche 911 GT3 entry

#48 Marquis Jet Porsche 911 GT3: Bryce Miller, Tim Sugden, Bryan Sellars, Rob Bell
 
Grand-Am Ready For Rolex 24 Test

Buried towards the end of what was essentially a Grand-Am PR piece was an announcement concerning Speed Channel's coverage of the Rolex 24............
SPEED's live television coverage of the Rolex 24 runs from 3-10 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 29 (ET), and 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 30.....
Click to expand

In case you missed it:
3-10pm U.S. EST, 29 Jan. 2011
9am-4pm, U.S. EST, 30 Jan. 2011
---Grand-Am as always will(or at least I hope) have streaming radio coverage of the 24 courtesy of the Motor Racing Network here in the States' and possibly even video streaming as well......... :thinking: :thinking: :dunno:
 
In case anyone's interested, there's going to be a Rolex 24 preview show on both F/X and Speed Channel............
--Sat. 22 Jan. 2011: 11pm, F/X
--Sun. 23 Jan. 2011: 8pm & 11pm, Speed
--Friday, 28 Jan. 2011: 10pm, Speed
--Sat. 29 Jan. 2011: 2pm, Speed
 
Daytona 24 Practice Session #1 Top-5
DP-1} #02 Target BMW/Riley, 1:40.544 sec(127.466 mph)
DP-2} #10 SunTrust Chevrolet/Dallara, 1:40.665 sec
DP-3} #8 Corsa Car Care Ford/Riley, 1:40.738 sec
DP-4} #90 Spirit of Daytona Chevrolet/Coyote, 1:40.757 sec
DP-5} #95 Level 5 Mtrspts. BMW/Riley, 1:40.830 sec

GT-1} #67 The Racer's Group Porsche 911 GT3, 1:49.116 sec(117.452 mph)
GT-2} #57 Stevenson Automotive Camaro GT-R, 1:49.657 sec
GT-3} #54 TRG/Black Swan Porsche 911 GT3, 1:49.685 sec
GT-4} #59 Brumos Racing Porsche 911 GT3, 1:49.713 sec
GT-5} #66 The Racer's Group Porsche 911 GT3, 1:50.054 sec


Daytona 24 Practice Session #2 Top-5
DP-1} #10 SunTrust Chevrolet/Dallara, 1:40.340 sec(127.725 mph)
DP-2} #60 Crown Royal XR Ford/Riley, 1:40.758 sec
DP-3} #45 Flying Lizard Porsche/Riley, 1:40.778 sec
DP-4} #8 Corsa Car Care Ford/Riley, 1:40.832 sec
DP-5} #6 Continental Tire Ford/Dallara, 1:40.902 sec

GT-1} #67 The Racer's Group Porsche 911 GT3, 1:48.998 sec(117.580 mph)
GT-2} #57 Stevenson Automotive Camaro GT-R, 1:49.453 sec
GT-3} #66 The Racer's Group Porsche 911 GT3, 1:49.554 sec
GT-4} #88 Autohaus Mtrspts. Camaro GT-R, 1:49.814 sec
GT-5} #44 Magnus Racing Porsche 911 GT3, 1:49.912 sec


A few items of note from afternoon practice.................
Rolex 24 Live Updates
Chevrolet Signs On As Official Partner With Grand-Am
 
Daytona 24 Night Practice Top-5
DP-1} #6 MSR-Curb Ford/Dallara, 1:41.102 sec(126.763 mph)
DP-2} #90 Spirit of Daytona Chevrolet/Coyote, 1:41.152 sec
DP-3} #10 SunTrust Chevrolet/Dallara, 1:41.192 sec
DP-4} #95 Level 5 Mtrspts. BMW/Riley, 1:41.227 sec
DP-5} #99 Gainsco Chevrolet/Riley, 1:41.337 sec

GT-1} #57 Stevenson Mtrspts. Camaro GT-R, 1:49.819 sec(116.701 mph)
GT-2} #70 SpeedSource Mazda RX-8, 1:50.343 sec
GT-3} #07 The Cool TV Camaro GT-R, 1:50.743 sec
GT-4} #94 Turner Mtrspts. BMW M3, 1:50.900 sec
GT-5} #67 The Racer's Group Porsche 911 GT3, 1:50.911 sec
 
Daytona 24 Trueman-Akin Practice Session Top-5
DP-1} #01 Telmex BMW/Riley, 1:41.019 sec(126.867 mph)
DP-2} #99 Gainsco Chevrolet/Riley, 1:41.185 sec
DP-3} #02 Target BMW/Riley, 1:42.464 sec
DP-4} #90 Spirit of Daytona Chevrolet/Coyote, 1:43.057 sec
DP-5} #8 Corsa Car Care Ford/Riley, no posted time

GT-1} #59 Brumos Porsche Porsche 911 GT3, 1:49.330 sec(117.223 mph)
GT-2} #54 TRG/Black Swan Porsche 911 GT3, 1:49.758 sec
GT-3} #48 Marquis Jet Porsche 911 GT3, 1:50.034 sec
GT-4} #65 Chris Smith Racing Porsche 911 GT3, 1:50.337 sec
GT-5} #18 Muehlner Mtrspts. Porsche 911 GT3, 1:50.652 sec


Daytona 24 Final Practice Top-5
DP-1} #99 Gainsco Chevrolet/Riley, 1:40.878 sec(127.044 mph)
DP-2} #01 Telmex BMW/Riley, 1:40.907 sec
DP-3} #45 Flying Lizard Porsche/Riley, 1:41.128 sec
DP-4} #60 Crown Royal XR Ford/Riley, 1:41.260 sec
DP-5} #5 Action Express Porsche/Riley, 1:41.385 sec

GT-1} #44 Magnus Racing Porsche 911 GT3, 1:49.023 sec(117.553 mph)
GT-2} #48 Marquis Jet Porsche 911 GT3, 1:49.453 sec
GT-3} #57 Stevenson Automotive Camaro GT-R, 1:49.678 sec
GT-4} #66 The Racer's Group Porsche 911 GT3, 1:49.702 sec
GT-5} #70 SpeedSource Mazda RX-8, 1:49.815 sec

..........considering the depth of talent in the field this year, this is going to be one helluva' of a 24. It about makes you ask, "What's this LeMans 24hr race anyhow? The highbanks are where it's at anyhow.....".........
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Updating from Daytona................
---There is a problem with one of the Chipster's DPs! Watching the Speed TV feed, it appears there's some bodywork coming off the rear-right of the #02; possible contact btwn. Scott Dixon in the #02 and the #30 Racers' Edge Mazda RX-8

:o:o:o

the #02 just made a pitstop a few moments ago; they didn't change the rear bodywork on the car but simply pulled the fender away from the tire and sent Dixie on his way.........lucky break for the Chipster and the #02........
 

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