2011 Rolex 24 at Daytona

[Matthew Little]

Approaching 2 hours now..........the top-3 overall(Dixon, Fittipaldi, Blundell) are w/in less than 2 seconds from P1-P3; imagine that.........22 hours in and it's still that close.

 

[Matthew Little]

And the caution is back out...........reports are the #45 Flying Lizard DP has suffered an engine failure, doing a combo BBQ/grenade act over near the West Horseshoe.

Considering the top-4 overall atm(Dixon, Barbosa, Brundle & Pruett) it appears we will likely have a knock-down, drag-out dogfight to the checkers here on the highbanks.........

---Class Leaders
DP: #02 Target BMW/Riley(Scott Dixon), 673 laps
GT: #67 The Racer's Group Porsche 911 GT3(Andy Lally), -32 laps/13th overall

 

[Matthew Little]

Approaching one hour remaining and it is getting fierce................and Brundle just got hip-checked by Pruett entering the Bus Stop; Pruett jumps to 3rd, Brundle to 4th. Dixon still leads w/Barbosa 8/10ths' of a second back

---Class Leaders
DP: #02 Target BMW/Riley(Scott Dixon), 684 laps
GT: #67 The Racer's Group Porsche 911 GT3(Andy Lally), -32 laps/13th overall

 

[Matthew Little]

57 minutes remaining; 9/10ths' separate Dixon, Barbosa & Pruett w/the 5th-place DP of Angelelli stuck in the middle of the scrum

 

[Matthew Little]

Leaders are making their final stops; Pruett's the first to go...............4 Continentals, fuel topped off and he's away; Brundle's in also

 

[Matthew Little]

Barbosa's in.........4 tires, full fuel

 

[Matthew Little]

Dixon leads, Pruett 2nd, Brundle 3rd; Angelelli still trying to get back on the lead lap

 

[Matthew Little]

Dixon's in, Dixon's in..............will this be a timed spot?
4 Continentals, waiting for fuel..................and he's away...........Pruett takes the lead!

 

[Matthew Little]

DP Top-5: Pruett, Dixon, Barbosa, Brundle, Angelelli
GT Top-5: Lally, Miller, Espenalub, Stanton, Davis

 

[cider_and_toast]

I've been impressed by Brundle's speed. Just a shame that's the speed he's falling off the leading 3

 

[Matthew Little]

30 minutes!

---Class Leaders
DP: #01 Telmex BMW/Riley(Scott Pruett), 705 laps
GT: #67 The Racer's Group Porsche 911 GT3(Andy Lally), -35 laps(12th overall)

 

[Matthew Little]

10 minutes!

Ganassi looks set to take a 1-2 in the DP class while The Racer's Group looks set to win in the GT ranks.......

Wait a minute; caution's out!
Race control reporting that the #90 Spirit of Daytona DP suffered a right-rear failure and it shredded the rear bodywork; hopefully the safety crews can clean it up quickly so this race can end under green.........

 

[Matthew Little]

Problems for the #01?
Race control reporting radio comms btwn. Ganassi's Tim Keene(strategist for the #01) and Scott Pruett are hinting at possible tire problems on the #01.............could be rubber buildup on the tire or a slow-leak; who knows but it would be the cruelest luck if that prevents them from winning

 

[Matthew Little]

Lights out on the safety car; race control trying to bunch up the leaders for a late-race shootout

 

[Matthew Little]

Race control reporting there will likely be a green/white re-start

 

[Matthew Little]

Pruett leads; Dixon, Barbosa & Brundle are line astern......white flag; one lap remaining!

 

[Matthew Little]

Pruett makes it through; Brundle runs wide!

 

[Matthew Little]

Pruett still leads, Barbosa trying to run down Dixon for 2nd

 

[Matthew Little]

Through the Bus Stop, Pruett still leads, Dixon & Barbosa line astern

 

[Matthew Little]

Through NASCAR-3............through NASCAR-4....................and Pruett takes the win for Ganassi!
Dixon holds off Barbosa for 2nd, while Brundle and Angelelli finish 4th & 5th respectively

Over in GT, Andy Lally takes the win for TRG; Miller, Foster, Stanton & Davis round out the top-5 in GT!