2010 Grand-Am Rolex Series

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2010 Grand-Am Rolex Series Schedule

~~~Rolex 24 at Daytona, Daytona International Speedway(28-31 Jan. 2010)
~~~Grand Prix of Miami, Homestead-Miami Speedway(5-6 March 2010)
~~~Porsche 250 presented by Legacy Credit Union, Barber Motorsports Park(8-10 April 2010)
~~~Bosch Engineering 250, Virginia International Raceway(23-24 April 2010)
~~~New England Grand Prix, Lime Rock Park(28-31 May 2010)
~~~Sahlen's Six Hours at the Glen, Watkins Glen International*(4-5 June 2010)
~~~EMCO Gears Classic, Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course(18-19 June 2010)
~~~Brumos Porsche 250, Daytona International Speedway(2-3 July 2010)
~~~Verizon Festival of Speed, New Jersey Motorsports Park(16-18 July 2010)
~~~Crown Royal 200, Watkins Glen International**(6-7 August 2010)
~~~Montreal 250, Circuit Gilles Villeneuve(27-28 August 2010)
~~~Discount Tire SunChaser 250, Miller Motorsports Park(10-11 Sept. 2010)

*---uses the long course at WGI
**---uses the short course at WGI

.............hopefully I'll remember to keep this thread a lot more up-to-date than I did with the 2009 Grand-Am thread........

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Rolex 24 Practice Session 1
(from TH, 28 Jan. 2010)

DP-1} #6 MSR/The Pit Stop Ford/Riley, 1:41.098 sec
DP-2} #10 SunTrust Racing Ford/Dallara, 1:41.426 sec
DP-3} #59 Brumos Porsche/Riley, 1:41.663 sec
DP-4} #99 Gainsco Chevrolet/Riley, 1:41.875 sec
DP-5} #01 Telmex BMW/Riley, 1:41.882 sec

GT-1} #70 SpeedSource Mazda RX-8, 1:50.009 sec
GT-2} #67 The Racer's Group Porsche 911 GT3, 1:50.023 sec
GT-3} #41 Team Seattle Mazda RX-8, 1:50.125 sec
GT-4} #71 The Racer's Group Porsche 911 GT3, 1:50.275 sec
GT-5} #57 Stevenson Auto Chevrolet Camaro GT-R, 1:50.510 sec

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Rolex 24 Practice Session 2
(from TH, 28 Jan. 2010)


DP-1} #6 MSR/The Pit Stop Ford/Riley, 1:41.296 sec
DP-2} #60 MSR/Crown Royal XR Ford/Riley, 1:41.314 sec
DP-3} #59 Brumos Porsche/Riley, 1:41.475 sec
DP-4} #02 Target BMW/Riley, 1:41.513 sec
DP-5} #01 Telmex BMW/Riley, 1:41.597 sec

GT-1} #41 Team Seattle Mazda RX-8, 1:49.704 sec
GT-2} #70 SpeedSource Mazda RX-8, 1:50.007 sec
GT-3} #30 Cobalt Friction Mazda RX-8, 1:50.041 sec
GT-4} #66 The Racer's Group Porsche 911 GT3, 1:50.092 sec
GT-5} #94 Turner Motorsports BMW M6, 1:50.276 sec

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Rolex 24 Qualifying Session
note..........top-5 in each class listed


DP-1} #10 SunTrust Racing Ford/Dallara, 1:40.681 sec
DP-2} #60 MSR/Crown Royal XR Ford/Riley, 1:41.100 sec
DP-3} #6 MSR/The Pit Stop, 1:41.110 sec
DP-4} #02 Target BMW/Riley, 1:41.147 sec
DP-5} #01 Telmex BMW/Riley, 1:41.164 sec

GT-1} #69 SpeedSource Mazda RX-8, 1:49.282 sec
GT-2} #30 Cobalt Friction Mazda RX-8, 1:49.371 sec
GT-3} #70 SpeedSource Mazda RX-8, 1:49.462 sec
GT-4} #07 Godstone Ranch Chevrolet Corvette C-6R, 1:49.474 sec
GT-5} #66 The Racer's Group Porsche 911 GT-3, 1:49.637 sec

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Rolex 24 Thursday Photo Gallery

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Rolex 24 Practice Session 3
(from 29 Jan. 2010)


DP-1} #02 Target BMW/Riley, 1:41.686 sec
DP-2} #6 MSR/The Pit Stop Ford/Riley, 1:41.799 sec
DP-3} #01 Telmex BMW/Riley, 1:41.863 sec
DP-4} #10 SunTrust Racing Ford/Dallara, 1:41.927 sec
DP-5} #75 Krohn Racing Ford/Lola, 1:42.656 sec

GT-1} #70 SpeedSource Mazda RX-8, 1:50.179 sec
GT-2} #67 Flying Lizard Porsche 911 GT3, 1:50.531 sec
GT-3} #32 Corsa Team PR1 BMW M6, 1:50.761 sec
GT-4} #44 Magnus Racing Porsche 911 GT3, 1:50.775 sec
GT-5} #41 Team Seattle Mazda RX-8, 1:50.780 sec

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Rolex 24 Practice Session 4
(from 29 Jan. 2010)


DP-1} #59 Brumos Porsche/Riley, 1:41.586 sec
DP-2} #9 Action Express Porsche/Riley, 1:41.878 sec
DP-3} #99 Gainsco Chevrolet/Riley, 1:42.462 sec
DP-4} #77 Doran/McDonald's Ford/Dallara, 1:42.716 sec
DP-5} #5 Beyer Racing Chevrolet/Crawford, 1:44.476 sec

GT-1} #23 Alex Job Racing Porsche 911 GT3, 1:50.460 sec
GT-2} #70 SpeedSource Mazda RX-8, 1:50.642 sec
GT-3} #44 Magnus Racing Porsche 911 GT3, 1:50.771 sec
GT-4} #66 The Racer's Group Porsche 911 GT3, 1:51.222 sec
GT-5} #71 The Racer's Group Porsche 911 GT3, 1:51.223 sec

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Rolex 24 Friday Photos

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Champions gather in victory lane at Daytona
Date 2010-01-30 (Daytona Beach, FL)
By Joe Jennings - Motorsport.com





Champions know how to find their way to victory lane and 31 of them representing various forms of professional racing didn't need directions for a special champions/stars photo shoot at Daytona International Speedway prior to the Rolex24 at Daytona. The champions came from the ranks of NASCAR, the Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series and the IndyCar Series, and they eagerly greeted each other, posed for photographs and talked with reporters while in the relaxed environment.

Those participating in the media gathering included recently crowned champs Jimmie Johnson, Dario Franchitti, Hurley Haywood, Alex Gurney and Jon Fogarty along with achievers such as Juan Pablo Montoya, Scott Pruett, Max Papis, Scott Dixon, Bobby Labonte, Davy Jones, Jorg Bergmeister, Kelly Collins, Andy Lally, Memo Rojas, Boris Said and others.

The drivers unanimously expressed their enthusiasm with being at the Rolex24, the traditional opening of a new season. Franchitti and Dixon said the race offered them a chance to get a head start on the new season, and that it was a fun race in which to participate.

Former Rolex24 winner Papis was more than enthusiastic, "For me, winning the race is more exciting than winning a championship," he said. "When they put your name on the trophy, you know you have done something special. That drives me to come here."

For Papis, he is driving in his 14th Rolex24 and along with the thrill of victory, he says one of the most memorable moments of his life took place years ago when he got to shake hands with the late Dale Earnhardt Sr. "That was a very special moment for me," he said.

The champions and everyone else were eager for America's longest endurance race to take the green flag, and they will be even more enthusiastic when the checkered flag drops Sunday afternoon. For those ending up in victory lane, their names will be etched in the history books, plus they will walk away with an impressive Rolex watch -- a lifetime symbol of success.

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Two-time IndyCar champion Scott Dixon led the 48th Rolex 24 at Daytona International Speedway
after the first hour -- about half of which was run under caution due to standing water on the track and two separate racing accidents. The Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series field had just returned to green flag racing at the one hour mark when at the same time, the leading team Beyer Racing Chevrolet Crawford had a tire puncture.

Driving the Ganassi Racing BMW Riley, the Kiwi held a narrow lead over SunTrust Racing's Max Angelelli and Doran Racing's Memo Gidley. Alex Gurney and Ricardo Zonta rounded out the top-five in the headlining Daytona Prototype class.

The race began behind the safety car because of standing water on the track. Six laps were run under yellow before the 44-car Rolex Sports Car Series field was turned loose on Lap 7.

A spin by Henri Richard in the infield portion of the 3.56-mile Daytona International Speedway road course brought out the race's second caution, on Lap 20. Then Dane Cameron lost a wheel near the one-hour mark, bringing out the third caution.

The Alex Job Racing Porsche of Mark Ragginger was out in front of the GT class, with Robin Liddell and Patrick Long running second and third, respectively.

Rain blanketed the track during pre-race activities and then stopped around the 30-minute mark. But the track was still very wet in places, limiting vision and requiring drivers to search for grip on their rain tires.

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The Ganassi Racing BMW Riley of reigning IndyCar champion Dario Franchitti led the way after three hours of the 48th Rolex 24 at Daytona International Speedway. Burt Frisselle lays second, followed by his brother Brian - both driving Michael Shank Racing Ford Rileys.

Johnson, behind the wheel of the Bob Stallings Chevrolet Riley, was running fourth and turning some of the fastest laps of any car on the track. The Krohn Racing Ford Lola of Nic Jonsson was fifth, followed by Hurley Haywood in the Brumos Porsche Riley and Justin Wilson in the second Ganassi entry.

Ten cars were still on the lead lap. The SunTrust Racing Ford Dallara was two laps down to the leaders after losing time in the pits as the team tried to fix a broken antenna that was distracting the driver, Ricky Taylor.

The No. 69 SpeedSource Mazda RX-8 was leading the GT class, with Anthony Lazzaro at the controls. The Racers Edge Mazda wheeled by Todd Lamb sat in second, followed by another SpeedSource Mazda in third.

The race had been slowed by four cautions for 15 of 82 laps.

The rain that was falling at the start of the race had stopped, though portions of the track were still a little wet.

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Ganassi Racing's Juan Pablo Montoya
led the Rolex 24 after six hours at the Daytona International Speedway. A few minutes before the end of the sixth hour, Montoya drove his BMW Riley around the outside of Lucas Luhr going into Turn 1 on the restart that followed the race's eighth caution period. Montoya quickly opened up a gap of almost a second on the lanky German, who was not pleased with Montoya's aggressive driving.

Ryan Dalziel lay third in the Action Express Racing Porsche Riley, followed by the Michael Shank Racing Ford Riley driven by A.J. Allmendinger and Scott Tucker in the NPN Racing BMW Riley. The Brumos Porsche Riley, the second Ganassi entry, the Krohn Racing Ford Lola, the Gainsco Bob Stallings Racing Chevrolet Riley, and the second Michael Shank Racing car rounded out the top-10.

The SunTrust Ford Dallara lost time in the fifth hour when it had to go to the garage so the team could replace the nose. The nose change was necessary after Pedro Lamy bounced the car off the wall while exiting the pits.

The Gainsco entry also ran into problems, in both the fifth and sixth hours. In hour five, Jimmie Johnson experienced a throttle issue that eventually resolved itself. Then, in the sixth hour, the car's telemetry system stopped transmitting data to the pits.

"The car is competitive and quick," said Johnson after his stint during hour six. "I wasn't going to break the car on my watch. I've already done that once this weekend."

Robin Liddell in the Stevenson Motorsports Camaro was first in the GT class, leading Tim George, Jr.'s TRG Porsche by about 10 seconds. Another TRG Porsche was third in class.

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Nine hours of racing, mixed in with early rain and cautions, for the Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series contenders but they have a long way left to go before the 48th winning team at the Rolex 24 in Daytona is crowned. Will it before the dominant Chip Ganassi Racing team or perhaps Brumos Racing will repeat last year's victory -- either way they still have 15 hours of pushing their Daytona Prototypes (DP) and Grand Touring (GT) cars to the limit.

Midnight came and went with (approximately) eight still on the lead lap when pit stops came into play 28 minutes later, changing who held the top spot at the nine hour mark. While some of the top team, including the overall leaders: CGR's No. 02 with Juan Pablo Montoya in the cockpit. A normal occurrence in endurance racing.

At the nine hour mark, it was the No. 6 from Michael Shank Racing holding the lead, covering 265 laps, in their Ford Riley. The defending team, Brumos Racing's Porsche Riley was second followed by the Crown Royal/NPN Racing's No. 95 with an all-star sportscar and openwheel lineup in the BMW Riley.

Michael Shank Racing's AJ Allmendinger said after seven hours, "The car was pretty loose so I just couldn't quite keep up with the leader. But it's still very early and we have a very long way to go yet. I'm glad that Valiante got to do the first stint--the conditions are really challenging out there and he is so fast in these cars, I am glad we had him driving at the start! We have a stuck gurney, so we are limited on top-end, but the car is very good. I'm tire, but hopefully I'll be back for a good close to the race tomorrow!"

In GT, the hot battle between the Porsche and Camaro teams was still a close fight with the No. 57 Stevenson Motorsports Camaro GT.R holding the edge and only 10 laps off the pace of the leading DP cars.

On pace with the Camaro was two Porsche GT3s out of the TRG camp. The No. 71 was a notch ahead of the Porsche shared by TRG and the Flying Lizard Motorsports team.

While the top-budget teams run for the gold, some of the lower budget teams would like to finish on the podium some of them are turning laps to raise funds good causes. Two in particular are Team Seattle and Bullet Racing and both are putting on great performances. Bullet Racing is now fifth in the GT class.

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WILSON, CHIP GANASSI RACING WITH FELIX SABATES LEAD 48TH ROLEX 24 AT DAYTONA AT HALFWAY MARK IN No. 01 BMW RILEY

Team's No. 02 suffers midnight fate; Van Overbeek leads in GT

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Jan. 31, 2010) - They say that nothing good happens after midnight. For several competitors in the 48th Rolex 24 At Daytona, the season opener for the GRAND-AM Rolex Sports Car Series presented by Crown Royal Cask No. 16, that statement summed up much of their race.

The most dominant team in the race, as well as several others contending for the lead, either fell out or suffered fate during the early morning hours Sunday after at least eight-and-a-half solid hours of action Saturday at Daytona International Speedway. Moreover, several former winners took advantage of those problems to put themselves in contention to take the checkered flag - which flies at 3:30 p.m. Sunday at the 3.56-mile, 12-turn Daytona International Speedway.

The leader at 3:30 a.m. ET Sunday was Justin Wilson of the No. 01 TELMEX BMW Riley, fielded by Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates. Wilson took over from Pruett during the 12th hour as pit stops cycled through and held a 6.807-second advantage over Action Express Racing's Mike Rockenfeller in the No. 9 Porsche Riley.

Twenty-four drivers in 13 cars - the second most all-time in a GRAND-AM Rolex Series race - led the race, which consisted of 365 laps or 1,299.4 miles (2091.45 kilometers). Aside from Wilson and co-driver Scott Pruett, the team's No. 02 Target BMW Riley also led. In fact, the No. 02 was the most dominant team until its demise, leading 139 of the first 249 laps - or 56 percent at that point - before smoke from the car's rear forced it into the pits at 12:05 a.m. ET. Less than 15 minutes later, the car was announced retired with a blown engine.

The 11th hour also stirred up the rundown. Richard Westbrook was running second in Crown Royal/NGN Racing's No. 95 Crown Royal BMW Riley when a stuck seatbelt kept Westbrook from getting out of the car quickly. The team lost a lap before Lucas Luhr went back on the track, and another problem forced the car two more laps behind and out of the top five.

Other cars running on the lead lap during the 11th hour included the No. 75 Krohn Racing Ford Riley and No. 59 Brumos Porsche Riley. Nic Jonsson had just taken over the No. 75 when he was hit by another car and subsequently made contact with the Turn 5 tire barrier. The team lost more than 10 laps changing the right front upright and brake pads. Defending race co-winner Darren Law also had just taken over the No. 59 when problems forced the car into the pits for a rear end change. The car, fielded for Law and fellow 2009 race winner David Donohue, as well as Hurley Haywood, Raphael Matos and Butch Leitzinger, fell more than 20 laps behind by the halfway mark.

Following Wilson and Rockenfeller at halfway were AJ Allmendinger in the No. 6 Michael Shank Racing Ford Riley, the only other car on the lead lap. Fourth was Mark Wilkins in Michael Shank Racing's second car, the No. 60 Crown Royal XR Ford Riley, while fifth was defending Daytona Prototype co-champion Alex Gurney in the No. 99 GAINSCO Chevrolet Riley.

In GT, TRG and Stevenson Motorsports fought for the lead starting during the fourth hour, and no other team has held the point since then. Leading at halfway was Johannes van Overbeek in the No. 67 ShoreTel/Openwave Porsche GT3 he shared with 2009 co-winners Jorg Bergmeister and Patrick Long as well as Seth Neiman. The car led by more than a minute over the race's only three-driver team of Robin Liddell, Andrew Davis and Jan Magnussen in Stevenson Motorsports' No. 57 Stevenson Automotive Group/BryanMark Financial Camaro.

Third was two-time class winner Timo Bernhard in the No. 71 TRG Porsche GT3, while fourth was series debutant Matt Bell in the No. 97 Stevenson Automotive Group/LaLa Motorsports Camaro. Rounding out the top five was two-time race winner Anthony Lazzaro, who guided the pole-winning No. 69 FXDD Mazda RX-8, which caused a caution earlier in the race but was still within five laps of the class leaders.

The 24-hour race began Saturday afternoon in a drizzle and the first six laps were run under a full course caution. When the race finally started, Pruett jumped to the front from his fifth-place starting position, and six drivers led the race during the first hour.

The race was already fifth all-time in lead changes with 36 and was run under full course caution 11 times for 39 laps.

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With six hours remaining in the 48th Rolex 24 at Daytona, three cars were on the lead lap and vying for the win in the Rolex Sports Car Series' premier event. A.J. Allmendinger, at the wheel of the Michael Shank Racing Ford Riley, held a 4.70 second lead over Mike Rockenfeller's Action Express Racing Porsche Riley. And Scott Pruett lay third in the lone remaining Ganassi Racing BMW Riley, which was penalized late in the 18th hour.

Ryan Hunter-Reay held down fourth, two laps behind the lead trio of cars. A stuck seat belt in the 11th hour dropped Reay's NPN Racing BMW Riley off the lead lap.

The second Michael Shank entry sat in fifth of Burt Frisselle, six laps down to the leaders. But it went to the garage just past the end of the 18th hour.

Despite suffering electrical problems in the early hours, running off the track several times thereafter, and then needing a new gearbox during the 14th hour, the Gainsco Bob Stallings Chevrolet Riley was sixth, seven laps behind the leaders.

The Krohn Racing Ford Lola and the Brumos Porsche Riley were the last Daytona Prototypes in the top-10. The Krohn team had to replace the car's right-front upright during the 11th hour after contact with another car. The Brumos car needed a new rear end in the 10th hour.

A myriad of issues, including electrical gremlins, a collision with the pit wall, three broken gearboxes, and a broken half shaft, relegated the SunTrust Racing Ford Dallara to 15th overall.

The No. 02 Ganassi BMW Riley led 139 of the first 249 laps but succumbed to terminal engine problems just past midnight.

In a race that was supposed to favor the Mazda RX-8, the No. 71 TRG Porsche had a three-lap lead over the No. 67 TRG Porsche in the GT class. The best Mazda was third in class, five laps ahead of the Stevenson Motorsports Camaro.