Ganassi Leads at Six-Hour Mark in Daytona

Photo: John Dagys

Chip Ganassi Racing led the way as the 52nd Rolex 24 at Daytona hit the six-hour mark and the crucial first point-scoring segment of the Tequila Patron North American Endurance Cup.

The No. 01 Riley-Ford of Memo Rojas was out front just as the field returned to green following the fourth caution of the race for debris on the 3.56-mile oval/road course.

An additional previous yellow slowed the field for the No. 09 RSR Racing PC car of Duncan Ende, who became stranded on circuit.

Rojas pitted upon the resumption of racing, handing the top spot to the No. 10 Wayne Taylor Racing Corvette DP of Max Angelelli, but not before the crucial six-hour mark, which paid the first batch of points to the NAEC.

Other class leaders with one-quarter of the race complete was the No. 93 SRT Motorsports Viper GTS-R of Rob Bell (GTLM), Enzo Potolicchio’s 8Star Motorsports Oreca FLM09 (PC) and the No. 48 Paul Miller Racing Audi R8 LMS of Rene Rast (GTD).

The sixth hour saw the contending No. 42 OAK Racing Morgan-Nissan of Gustavo Yacaman hit alternator failure, which has since returned to action following a lengthy trip to the garage.

Daytona Prototypes occupy the top-8 positions overall, with the No. 6 Muscle Milk Pickett Racing Oreca 03 Nissan the only P2 car yet to run into trouble.

There has still been no word on the conditions of Memo Gidley and Matteo Malucelli, who were involved in a massive accident late in the third hour that resulted in a one-hour red flag period.

John Dagys

John Dagys is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of Sportscar365. Dagys spent eight years as a motorsports correspondent for FOXSports.com and SPEED Channel and has contributed to numerous other motorsports publications worldwide. Contact John