DAYTONA BEACH — It's time to punch in and buckle — and bundle — up for the longest race of the motorsports season at Daytona International Speedway.
The 60th running of the Rolex 24, IMSA's annual twice-around-the-clock race, will go green at 1:40 p.m. Saturday with a loaded field, bitterly cold temperatures, and enough drama to keep even the earliest sleeper awake well into the night.
"If that's a glimpse of what the Rolex 24 is like, I don't think people are going to sleep much," Ricky Taylor said after last Sunday's qualifying race.
Taylor won that race to put the No. 10 Wayne Taylor Racing Acura on the pole for Saturday's start. Should that team cross the finish line first when the clock strikes zero on Sunday, it'll be a record fourth straight Rolex 24 victory.
Last season, the group tied Chip Ganassi Racing's mark of three in a row set from 2006-08.
“Winning is part of the business,” said Filipe Albuquerque, who will help pilot the No. 10 Acura this weekend along with Taylor, Alexander Rossi and Will Stevens.
“By now, all of us are so experienced. The most important thing is to stay loyal to our principles and work ethic. If it worked in the past, then we should keep doing the same.”
So far, so good.
The No. 10 DPi has led several practice sessions dating back to last weekend's "Roar Before the Rolex," and certainly appears to have the speed to stay out front over the next 24 hours.
Don't expect that car to be on cruise control, though.
Rolex 24 starting grid
There will be several obstacles standing in its way over the weekend, including a stacked DPi class, wild temperature swings — overnight lows going into Sunday could dip below 30 degrees — and the event's largest starting grid (61) since 2014.
Within the field, 57 drivers have won at least once in class at the Rolex 24, led by Andy Lally’s (No. 44 GTD) five victories.
Meanwhile, 40 drivers have been winners at the 24 Hours of Le Mans and four have won the Indianapolis 500, including last year's champ, Helio Castroneves (No. 60 DPi).
And then there's seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson, who returns to the Rolex 24 for a second straight season and 10th time overall.
Johnson, who will help drive the No. 48 Cadillac DPi, has finished second in this race three times, including last season.
"I am much more competitive this year than last," Johnson said. "So, I am looking forward to helping the team. It is about executing well and dialing the car and team in perfectly. I think our team is stronger this year.”
Johnson and teammates Kamui Kobayashi, Mike Rockenfeller and José María López will roll off third.
The No. 52 ORECA will lead the LMP2 field (10 entries) to green, while the No. 36 Andretti Autosport Ligier will lead the nine-car LMP3 field to the start.
This weekend's largest and most competitive field figures to be down in the GT class, which features 35 entries between GT Daytona and GTD Pro and could play a big role in deciding the overall outcome.
Navigating through that traffic, especially when the sun goes down, could be treacherous.
"The traffic played a big role, so you (need to) know how to position yourself to be in the right spot at the right time," said Mirko Bortolotti, who's late pass during Sunday's qualifying race put the No. 63 Lamborghini on the pole in the GTD Pro class.
As the temperature plummets throughout the night Saturday into Sunday morning, cold tires will certainly be a factor, especially on restarts.
"The cold tires are going to be atrocious all the way through the night," said Jordan Taylor, who will help drive the No. 3 Corvette. "Being patient with them will be a big part of it. Every restart is going to be tricky. It's going to create a lot more stress."
Add it all together and what do you get?
A minefield, said Rolex 24 veteran Oliver Jarvis, who will help drive the No. 60 Acura for Meyer Shank Racing.
"No mistakes," he added. "As always with the Rolex 24, you have to stay on (track) and stay out of trouble."
The 60th running of the Rolex 24, IMSA's annual twice-around-the-clock race, will go green at 1:40 p.m. Saturday with a loaded field, bitterly cold temperatures, and enough drama to keep even the earliest sleeper awake well into the night.
"If that's a glimpse of what the Rolex 24 is like, I don't think people are going to sleep much," Ricky Taylor said after last Sunday's qualifying race.
Taylor won that race to put the No. 10 Wayne Taylor Racing Acura on the pole for Saturday's start. Should that team cross the finish line first when the clock strikes zero on Sunday, it'll be a record fourth straight Rolex 24 victory.
Last season, the group tied Chip Ganassi Racing's mark of three in a row set from 2006-08.
“Winning is part of the business,” said Filipe Albuquerque, who will help pilot the No. 10 Acura this weekend along with Taylor, Alexander Rossi and Will Stevens.
“By now, all of us are so experienced. The most important thing is to stay loyal to our principles and work ethic. If it worked in the past, then we should keep doing the same.”
So far, so good.
The No. 10 DPi has led several practice sessions dating back to last weekend's "Roar Before the Rolex," and certainly appears to have the speed to stay out front over the next 24 hours.
Don't expect that car to be on cruise control, though.
Rolex 24 starting grid
There will be several obstacles standing in its way over the weekend, including a stacked DPi class, wild temperature swings — overnight lows going into Sunday could dip below 30 degrees — and the event's largest starting grid (61) since 2014.
Within the field, 57 drivers have won at least once in class at the Rolex 24, led by Andy Lally’s (No. 44 GTD) five victories.
Meanwhile, 40 drivers have been winners at the 24 Hours of Le Mans and four have won the Indianapolis 500, including last year's champ, Helio Castroneves (No. 60 DPi).
And then there's seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson, who returns to the Rolex 24 for a second straight season and 10th time overall.
Johnson, who will help drive the No. 48 Cadillac DPi, has finished second in this race three times, including last season.
"I am much more competitive this year than last," Johnson said. "So, I am looking forward to helping the team. It is about executing well and dialing the car and team in perfectly. I think our team is stronger this year.”
Johnson and teammates Kamui Kobayashi, Mike Rockenfeller and José María López will roll off third.
The No. 52 ORECA will lead the LMP2 field (10 entries) to green, while the No. 36 Andretti Autosport Ligier will lead the nine-car LMP3 field to the start.
This weekend's largest and most competitive field figures to be down in the GT class, which features 35 entries between GT Daytona and GTD Pro and could play a big role in deciding the overall outcome.
Navigating through that traffic, especially when the sun goes down, could be treacherous.
"The traffic played a big role, so you (need to) know how to position yourself to be in the right spot at the right time," said Mirko Bortolotti, who's late pass during Sunday's qualifying race put the No. 63 Lamborghini on the pole in the GTD Pro class.
Daytona Beach weather
And if you do get through that traffic, you better keep an eye on those thermometers.As the temperature plummets throughout the night Saturday into Sunday morning, cold tires will certainly be a factor, especially on restarts.
"The cold tires are going to be atrocious all the way through the night," said Jordan Taylor, who will help drive the No. 3 Corvette. "Being patient with them will be a big part of it. Every restart is going to be tricky. It's going to create a lot more stress."
Add it all together and what do you get?
A minefield, said Rolex 24 veteran Oliver Jarvis, who will help drive the No. 60 Acura for Meyer Shank Racing.
"No mistakes," he added. "As always with the Rolex 24, you have to stay on (track) and stay out of trouble."
Rolex 24 at Daytona: Huge field, freezing weather makes IMSA opener even more unpredictable
Below freezing temperatures, and the biggest Rolex 24 field in nearly a decade? This year's 60th edition could be filled with drama.
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