Palou Paces Night Roar Session in Ganassi Cadillac

Alex Palou set the pace in the fifth test session of the Roar Before the Rolex 24 as Chip Ganassi Racing led the way across two hours of night-time running.

IndyCar champion Palou posted the best time of the evening, a 1:35.705, to consolidate the early advantage established by his co-driver Renger van der Zande in the No. 01 Cadillac V-Series.R.

The Spanish driver was 0.277 seconds faster than Connor De Philippi in the No. 25 BMW M Hybrid V8, although his best time was around half a second behind the benchmark set by JDC-Miller Motorsports driver Phil Hanson earlier in the day.

Kevin Estre was only a further two thousandths further back in third aboard the works No. 6 Porsche 963, while Filipe Albuquerque ensured all four GTP manufacturers were represented in the top four in the No. 10 Wayne Taylor Racing with Andretti Acura ARX-06.

The No. 31 Action Express Racing Cadillac was fifth in the hands of Jack Aitken, who only emerged on track for the first time with less than half an hour of the session to go.

Having set the standard in the fourth test session, the two customer Porsches brought up the rear in GTP, with the No. 5 Proton Competition car in ninth ahead of the No. 85 JDC-Miller machine.

Scott Huffaker set a late effort of 1:38.270 to propel the No. 20 MDK by High Class Racing Oreca 07 Gibson to the top of the LMP2 order.

A pair of Alpine FIA World Endurance Championship drivers were next up, with Matthieu Vaxiviere second in the No. 88 AF Corse car ahead of Charles Milesi in the No. 11 TDS Racing entry.

The GTD times were led by the No. 47 Cetilar Racing Ferrari 296 GT3 of Eddie Cheever III, who set the best time of 1:45.739 to beat the best of the GTD Pro cars.

That class was led by Marvin Kirchhoefer in the No. 9 Pfaff Motorsports McLaren 720S GT3 Evo on a 1:45.980, 0.027 seconds ahead of Frederic Vervisch in the No. 65 Ford Mustang GT3.

Both Corvette Racing by Pratt Miller Motorsports cars ran after taking engine changes following the fourth session, with Daniel Juncadella going third-fastest in GTD Pro aboard the rebuilt No. 3 Corvette Z06.R.

The No. 60 Iron Lynx Lamborghini Huracan GT3 EVO2 also appeared following an engine change, ending up with the eighth-fastest time in class.

Roar action continues on Sunday with the sixth test session at 1:25 p. m. ET.

RESULTS: Session 5