Ganassi Has All-Star Lineup for Rolex 24 at Daytona

By Anne Proffit

Anne Proffit

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274 views Jan 6, 2011

No. 01 Target/TELMEX BMW/Riley

The finished second overall in the 2010 Rolex 24 at Daytona [Photo: Courtesy Grand-Am]


The 2010 racing season was a stellar one for Chip Ganassi and his three teams in NASCAR Sprint Cup, IZOD IndyCar Series and the Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series.  In each discipline, every one of his drivers scored victories, he won championships in the Indy cars and sports cars, while racking up the three biggest race wins of the year: Daytona 500, Indianapolis 500 and Brickyard 400.  Incredibly, on one weekend in August all three of Ganassi’s teams achieved wins, a first in the industry.

All of those achievements will be hard to beat in 2011, but Ganassi is ready to start – and start big.  Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates has announced its stellar two-car driver lineup for the Rolex 24 at Daytona, scheduled January 29-30.  

Ganassi’s Rolex Series reigning champions, Scott Pruett and Memo Rojas will again drive the No. 01 Target/TELMEX BMW/Riley prototype with Grand-Am veteran Joey Hand and with Graham Rahal, recently announced as an IZOD IndyCar Series Ganassi driver.  The No. 02 TELMEX/Target BMW/Riley has a return quartet in the driving seat: 2010 Daytona 500 and Brickyard 400 winner Jamie McMurray, two-time Rolex 24 titleholder Juan Pablo Montoya (who won at Watkins Glen last August in Sprint Cup, and two Indy car veterans: two-time champion Scott Dixon and three-time, reigning champ Dario Franchitti.

Collectively, these two teams have won 12 series championships, eight Rolex 24s, one Daytona 500 and four Indianapolis 500 races.

"The Rolex 24 At Daytona is always exciting for our team, especially because it involves so many of our drivers from all different series," Ganassi said.  "There are so many elements out of the drivers' hands that need to come together, in order to have a shot at winning this event. That's what I love about it. You have to not only be good, but you also have to have a little bit of luck on your side to succeed in a race that lasts 24 hours."

Last year at Daytona International Speedway, the No. 02 DP squad dominated the race’s first eight hours before mechanical problems forced an early exit.  Pruett and Rojas’ No. 01 went on to finish second while teamed with other drivers.  

McMurray recently took part in a test session on the Daytona high banks in preparation for this race and the Daytona 500.  The circuit was repaved after the 2010 racing season.  Both stock cars and Grand-Am sports cars turned laps on the new pavement.  

"They did a really nice job with the paving project, so I expect the racing to be really good for the 24-hour race," McMurray noted. "I'm certain that we'll bring good cars for the race, as Chip and his Grand-Am guys do each and every year. It's great to have the opportunity to once again drive for Chip in one of the most prestigious motorsports events out there."

© 2011 Anne Proffit