Posted on 02/01/2005 7:49:18 AM PST by kahoutek
Drivers representing more than 100 major auto racing championships and a record 29 Daytona Prototypes will make up the strongest starting grid in American sports car history for the 43rd anniversary Rolex 24 At Daytona on Feb. 5-6 at historic Daytona International Speedway.
"Without exaggeration, you would have to say this is probably the best depth of a field that I've ever seen, even in the GTP heyday when there were probably 15 or so (Porsche) 962s. There weren't this many cars within this tight of a group," said Butch Leitzinger, a three-time Rolex 24 champion who'll co-drive the No. 4 Howard-Boss Motorsports Pontiac Crawford. "If you're a little bit off in the setup, as we've seen on the time sheet (during testing), instead of being fourth, you're all of a sudden 16th. It's going to be something where the team is going to have to work incredibly hard and the driver is going to have to work incredibly hard just to keep on pace with everyone."
The list of drivers features high-profile names such as five NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series champions - Kurt Busch, Matt Kenseth, Tony Stewart and Bobby and Terry Labonte - open-wheel stars Paul Tracy and Dario Franchitti and 2004 Indianapolis 500 winner Buddy Rice.
The field also includes Academy Award-winning actor Paul Newman, two more Champ Car World Series champions (Cristiano da Matta and Sebastien Bourdais) and two Indy Racing League IndyCar Series champions (Scott Sharp and Scott Dixon).
Sports car stars looking to guard their home turf include five-time Rolex 24 champion Hurley Haywood, 2004 Daytona Prototype co-champions Scott Pruett and Max Papis, Leitzinger, Andy Wallace, Terry Borcheller, Boris Said, Wayne Taylor and Rob and Chris Dyson.
"This is without a doubt a star-studded cast of drivers and cars," Speedway President Robin Braig said. "We're thrilled that our newly renovated infield will serve as the backdrop to a competitive Rolex 24 that will surely go down as a historic weekend in the sports car world."
And unlike previous Rolex 24 events, the elite drivers competing in this year's twice-around-the-clock challenge will be spread out among the 29 entries in the Daytona Prototype class, the premier division of the Grand American Rolex Series.
"I recognize a lot of faces for sure from all different areas in the world," said Franchitti, an Indy Racing League IndyCar star who'll co-drive the No. 2 CITGO Howard-Boss Motorsports Pontiac Crawford in his first Rolex 24 start. "I think to have them all here in one place …you just look through the entry list, it's pretty intimidating but I'm looking forward to the challenge. Just look at any of the cars, you're going to see one or more guys in there that have done amazing things in their careers."
Said Haywood: "This is undoubtedly the best driver lineup I've seen for a 24-hour race, anywhere. It has representation from all of the different fields of motorsports and it's going to be a heck of a show."
One of the most exciting Rolex 24s will be presented in front of a festival atmosphere in the new Daytona International Speedway infield. Last July, the Speedway underwent a multi-million dollar, multi-faceted infield renovation, which included new garages, new Turn 1 tunnel, new Gatorade Victory Lane, waterfront specialty vehicle parking and a uniquely designed FanZone.
Besides enjoying the thrilling side-by-side racing on Daytona's legendary 3.56-mile road course, sports enthusiasts attending the Rolex 24 will also enjoy the largest Ferris Wheel on the East Coast in the Midway, a screening of the Rocky Horror Picture Show, car corrals and a wine and cheese tasting and participate in the Daytona 5K run.
I hate rejection.....................................
Watching sports car races is hard enough, but in the dark presents another set of challenges. At least Daytona is within the infield, and you can see the whole place, unlike Wtakins Glen, etc.
A 24 hr race with a dream lineup of Andretti, Jones, Prost, Senna, Fittipaldi, Hill, Stewart (jackie, not the unshaven Home Depot spokesman), schumacher, Foyt, et.al. would be cool.
I don't necessarily agree with Paul Newman on politics, but his competing at Daytona at his age is an inspiration for everybody.
Too cool. Never been to Daytona, but I have been to Sebring and you are correct.........it's a challenge, but I wouldn't have missed it.
One of these days I'll get to Daytona.
Agreed. Bob Grant called him "an excellent human being, but a political idiot."
I was watching CHEAP SEATS on ESPN-42,902 with the Klarr Brothers. They were watching Wide World of Sports featuring Jackie Stewart and Jim McKay getting drunk while driving a 1908 (?) English car in a historic car race through London. Funniest part was at the end when they were obviously weaving at 5MPH.
Possibly the only time I enjoyed sports car racing. IMO, you or the driver must be drunk to enjoy such a mindless activitiy.
That is hilarious.
It was hilarious, especially with the Klarr Brothers commenting ala Mystery Theater 3000.
Jim and Jackie would stop every so often and guzzle some type of alcohol. At the end of the broadcast, they signed off at a pub with a pint in their hands.
To me, the DP cars are a total bore. The sanctioning bodies need to find a way back to more exciting machinery like the IMSA cars of the 70s and 80s, with direct factory involvement from the likes of Porsche, Toyota, Nissan, Jaguar, Ford, BMW and others. As for the drivers, well, there's nobody in this field to compare with Andretti, Foyt, Wollek, Stuck, Redman, Ongaias, Petersen, Holbert, and many of the other international stars who used to race at the 24 and Sebring. Watching a bunch of NASCAR drivers in cookie-cutter cars isn't my idea of an exciting weekend, but that's just me.
It was hilarious, especially with the Klarr Brothers commenting ala Mystery Theater 3000.
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