Wednesday, January 14, 2009

Rolex 24: Ganassi Racing aims for fourth straight win

Last year, Chip Ganassi Racing With Felix Sabates became the first team to win the Rolex 24 three consecutive seasons. This year, it's going for four-in-a-row.

The team has two entries in the race. The No. 01 TELMEX/Target Lexus Riley will be driven by Juan Pablo Montoya, Scott Pruett and Memo Rojas. Montoya and Pruett have won the event the last two years.

The No. 02 Target/TELMEX Lexus Riley will be driven by Dario Franchitti, Scott Dixon and Alex Lloyd.

NASCAR drivers set for the 24

A number of NASCAR drivers will test their sports car prowess in the Rolex 24:

• Jimmie Johnson will drive the GAINSCO Auto Insurance Pontiac Riley in the featured Daytona Prototype category. He'll share the cockpit with team regulars Jon Fogarty and Alex Gurney and open-wheel champion Jimmy Vasser. The team finished second overall in last year's race.

• Juan Pablo Montoya goes for the three-peat in the Rolex 24 at Daytona. Montoya, Scott Pruett and Memo Rojas will share the Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates Lexus Riley that captured the race in 2007-08. The team also won the 2006 event with Casey Mears.

• Other NASCAR national series competitors who have lined up Rolex 24 at Daytona rides are Mears; Kyle Petty (Orbit Racing BMW/Riley); A.J. Allmendinger (Michael Shank Racing Ford/Riley) and Colin Braun (Michael Shank Racing Ford/Riley).

• NASCAR Sprint Cup Series team owner Roger Penske will enter a Porsche/Riley in the Rolex 24 at Daytona joining fellow NASCAR Sprint Cup owners Chip Ganassi, Felix Sabates and Richard Childress in the field.

Source: NASCAR

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