NASCAR rookie Connor Zilisch will compete in the 2026 Rolex 24 at Daytona with Action Express Racing, marking his third consecutive appearance in the race and his debut in the GTP class, as he continues to build his racing career across different series.
The RACER Mailbag discusses IndyCar's engine options, IMSA's popularity, TV coverage of the Rolex 24 At Daytona, red flag rules at the Indy 500, and the debate over the current IndyCar chassis, with a focus on the need for innovation and change in the series to keep up with its rivals.
The 62nd Rolex 24 at Daytona ended prematurely due to an officiating error by IMSA, which led to the checkered flag being displayed early. The leading car, No. 7 Porsche Penske Motorsports 963, received the flag with 1 minute and 35.277 seconds still remaining, effectively ending the race one lap short of the planned 24 hours. While there was a possibility of a different outcome if the race had run the full 24 hours, it is unlikely that anything would have changed in the final 30 minutes.
Josef Newgarden expressed feeling "a little awkward" celebrating his Rolex 24 victory, emphasizing the collective effort of Porsche Penske Motorsport and deflecting credit to the team. This win comes after his 2023 Indianapolis 500 victory, making him one of the few drivers to achieve both within a year. Newgarden, primarily an open-wheel driver, described the experience as emotional and unfamiliar, highlighting the strong bond within the team and expressing pride in being part of it.
Felipe Nasr secured Porsche's victory at the Rolex 24 at Daytona, ending a 55-year drought for team owner Roger Penske. The win marked Penske's first overall victory at the endurance race classic and the first for Porsche at Daytona in 14 years. Nasr, along with teammates Matt Campbell, Dane Cameron, and Josef Newgarden, fended off challenges to claim the victory. The triumph also sets Penske's sights on the 24 Hours of Le Mans, an event yet to be conquered by the legendary team owner.
Ford Performance's new Mustang GT3 made its debut at the Rolex 24 at Daytona, with one car finishing sixth in the GTD Pro class while the other retired due to mechanical issues. Despite setbacks, Ford's global motorsports director Mark Rushbrook expressed optimism, stating that they learned a lot and are confident in addressing the issues. Driver Harry Tincknell praised the car's performance and reliability, expressing optimism for future races, particularly at Sebring.
At the Rolex 24, Hour 20, GT battles raged with Triarsi Racing leading in GTD due to a different pit strategy, while GTD PRO saw a fierce battle between Ferrari and BMW. In LMP2, Christian Rasmussen chased the lead, and Kevin Estre had a scary moment trying to overtake. Pfaff Motorsports retired due to issues, and class leaders after hour 20 were Felipe Nasr in GTP, Christian Rasmussen in LMP2, James Calado in GTD PRO, and Indy Dontje in GTD.
Pipo Derani of the No. 31 Whelen Engineering Cadillac V-Series.R leads the 2024 Rolex 24 Hours at Daytona, with Paul Miller Racing taking the lead in GTD PRO after a well-timed pit stop. The Era Motorsport No. 18 ORECA leads LMP2, while Winward Racing is ahead in GTD. The battle for class honors is heating up as the race enters its final hours.
Pipo Derani retakes the lead in the 2024 Rolex 24 Hours at Daytona with the No. 31 Whelen Engineering Cadillac V-Series.R, while BMW M Team RLL faces setbacks. Christian Rasmussen leads in LMP2, and Daniel Juncadella and Daniel Serra engage in an on-track pursuit in GTD Pro. The No. 57 Winward Racing Mercedes-AMG GT3 leads GTD, while the No. 70 Inception Racing McLaren and No. 47 Cetilar Racing Ferrari encounter trouble.
The 62nd Rolex 24 At Daytona kicks off the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship season with 59 cars starting the race, featuring Pipo Derani as the top qualifier. Chip Ganassi Racing is optimistic about their chances, while Wayne Taylor Racing with Andretti Acura ARX-06s strategizes to overcome the weight disadvantage. Pietro Fittipaldi will substitute for injured Clément Novalak, and the Heritage Display at the Fan Zone showcases historic racing cars. The race will be broadcast live on NBC and Peacock streaming platform, with warm weather expected throughout the event.
Actor Brad Pitt is at the Rolex 24 at Daytona filming scenes for an upcoming Formula One movie, causing disruptions for other drivers due to heavy security and late-night filming sessions. The movie, in which Pitt plays an aging driver returning to sports car racing, is being produced by Jerry Bruckheimer and is set for release in 2025. Seven-time F1 champion Lewis Hamilton is a producer and technical adviser, with the director being Joseph Kosinski.
The International Motor Sports Association (IMSA) is gaining popularity with its annual Rolex 24 At Daytona endurance race, featuring high-tech hybrid Grand Touring Prototypes (GTP) and a diverse array of GT machinery from 18 car manufacturers. The event attracts top racing talent from various disciplines, including IndyCar and Formula One, and is seen as the Super Bowl of IMSA racing. With increasing interest and fan attendance, IMSA is experiencing a surge in popularity and recognition within the auto industry, signaling a positive trajectory for American sports car racing.
Pipo Derani set a new lap record at Daytona International Speedway, securing pole position for the Rolex 24 in a Cadillac V-Series.R. All nine GTP cars surpassed the previous lap record, promising an exciting race. Cadillac's success isn't surprising given their achievements in various series last year. Acura fell to fifth and sixth place on the grid, while BMW and Porsche also showed promising pace. The 2024 Rolex 24 at Daytona is scheduled to start on Saturday at 1:30 pm ET.