Rolex 24 at Daytona

[Martin Lenick]

I'm sure many of you are watching this.
How about some real-time commentary?

GT's making a mess in the first lap of a 24 hour race. "Nice move" 86.

[peterjank]

I've got it set up on my DVR at home. I'll add some comments after I watch it tonight.

[Martin Lenick]

This is not unlike a CIR Arrive&Drive. The GT's are just rolling chicanes. Great for spectator excitement, but an unfair element of luck for the big boys.

[Martin Lenick]

"Chance of rain 80%"
Cool!:clap:

[Martin Lenick]

The local FOX network dropped coverage of the race for an "INVESTools" info-mercial. Go to the SPEED channel. (I'm staying with "INVESTools"; I've never been so inspired. Donald Trump.... You're Fired!

[Martin Lenick]

Here's the link for live timing: http://www.livetiming.net/rolex/livetiming.asp

[Mark Hirt]

Martin, I understand you will be driving a GT kart Sunday :bugeye:

[Rick]

How's Memo doing?

[peterjank]

I just finished hour three on my DVR. Juan Pablo has the lead with the Ganassi car. Good to see David Donue doing well in the Red Bull Brumos car.

[Heat Seeker WS6]

Just resumed on Speed Channel. Too bad they cant do the entire 24 hours.

[Martin Lenick]

What happened to #58 (Scott Sharp, Buddy Rice & Co.)?
They were flying (fastest lap), now down to p34.

[Heat Seeker WS6]

Did they get caught up in the incident where the that Porsche bounced between the 2 DP's and sent a bunch of cars spinning?

[Martin Lenick]

From the news feed:

Rain is friend or foe
Two drivers who rarely race in the rain, Jimmie Johnson and Jeff Gordon (http://www.speedtv.com/articles/grandam/auto/35047/#), have different perspectives on the rain.

Johnson, who has raced the Rolex 24 before, says he is not worried about it. Gordon is.

“I’m looking forward to it,” said Johnson, driving (http://www.speedtv.com/articles/grandam/auto/35047/#) the No. 91 Lowe’s Riley-Matthews Pontiac Riley. “I drove in the rain back in ’04, and I had a great experience. It took a little bit to get used to it and find the right line. I think we have a great wet setup – the team’s prepared for that. It will take a couple laps to get the groove of things out there, then I’m pretty sure I’ll be right back on pace.”

End of news feed.

This should be interesting. Rain on the way.

[Martin Lenick]

The gentlemen in #86 (see my first post) caused the first full-course yellow.

[Heat Seeker WS6]

The gentlemen in #86 (see my first post) caused the first full-course yellow.

Sorry, I was referrring of the other P-car that caused the spin outs at about 8:40pm or so- I don't have that incident on DVR.
Although, when looking at what I DVR'd at the very end of the 7-9pm speed coverage, #58 was in 2nd at lap 240-ish with 16:25 remaining. Now #58 is P48 at lap 326.

[Martin Lenick]

? can't respond to previous post

Rain has begun to fall:bugeye:

[Martin Lenick]

First drizzle - full course yellow.
I feel like a NASCAR fan!

[Heat Seeker WS6]

First drizzle - full course yellow.
I feel like a NASCAR fan!

Maybe they did that for Gordon??:hmm:

[Martin Lenick]

Pablo drops to P2 - during a driver change, but the red flag might seal the change.

[Heat Seeker WS6]

Darnit! Update #5
"On lap 254, Scott Sharp was hit by the No. 41 Team Sahlen GT Porsche (http://www.speedtv.com/articles/auto/grandam/35048/#) driven by Tom Malloy after Malloy bounced off the No. 6 Michael Shank Racing Lexus Riley. Sharp was running second in the No. 58 Red Bull/Brumos Porsche Riley. The car had been up front all race after starting fourth, and even had brief glances at the lead. However, the Red Bull Riley had to visit the pits for extensive repairs."

[Martin Lenick]

Welcome to ChicagoRacers, John G.

[Heat Seeker WS6]

Thanks Martin!

Red? rain induced accident?

[Martin Lenick]

The #11 must be defeated (currently P1). CITGO (or, at least Hugo Chavez) must go.

Sorry, but if you race under a flag, you espouse its ideology.

(I'll be going back there in two weeks. Anonymity may have its advantages.)

[Martin Lenick]

How's this for a worthless post:

Still red. Come on guys, let's go!

[Martin Lenick]

Green Green Green !!!!

Tires have all kinds of crazy grooves.

Can Memo (Rojas, not Gidley) get back on the lead-lap?

[Martin Lenick]

Pablo and Memo back in front. Viva la revolucion! jajaja Hugo

[Martin Lenick]

Oof, neat pass GT#81!!

[Martin Lenick]

Full-course yellow. I couldn't make it out. Was it #22?

[Martin Lenick]

PT is back in the seat of #6; 33 laps down.
I might fall asleep (read: pass out), so please let us know if he picks up any spots.

[Martin Lenick]

Good golly, the yellows are getting tedious.

The GTs appear to be adapting to the wet better than DPs.

[peterjank]

GT's usually do. Being heavy has its advantages sometimes :)

[Martin Lenick]

Woke up to full-course yellow. Memo Rojas (#2) has front-end damage.
#11 (Hugo Chavez) still in the lead.
Back under green, Juan Pablo & Co. P2 2.388 down.

[Martin Lenick]

The #1 machine drops to P3 after a driver change. Juan Pablo back in the seat.

#11 still in the lead.
#10 in P2, Gordon making rights nicely.

[Martin Lenick]

Juan Pablo & Co. back in the lead.

[Heat Seeker WS6]

1 driver change left for the top 3- should be interesting.

[paul_jankovskis]

Go JPM!!! So happy to see those NASCAR drivers doing so well in sports cars. :thumbsup:

[paul_jankovskis]

Looks like they are about the change drivers...Pruett looking to to go in soon.:bugeye:

[Heat Seeker WS6]

I'd like to see the Pilgrim/Collins GT move up another position.

Pruett isn't going to take any prisoners

[Martin Lenick]

I can't believe we're referring to JPM as a NASCAR driver.:shakehead:

[paul_jankovskis]

You mean he did something before that...oh yeah didn't he win an IRL race 5 or 6 years ago. :stickpoke:

[Heat Seeker WS6]

The broadcasters did refer to him as an F1 superstar a while ago. Is there a 2nd JPM running?:rofl:

[Martin Lenick]

You mean he did something before that...oh yeah didn't he win an IRL race 5 or 6 years ago. :stickpoke:

Yeah, he was a roadie for fellow Columbiana, Shakira. :)
He's gradually distancing himself from #11. Go Go Go!

[paul_jankovskis]

All kidding aside...I am hoping that JPM can pull it off.

[paul_jankovskis]

Yeah, he was a roadie for fellow Columbiana, Shakira. :)

:rofl:I liked that one :rofl:

[Heat Seeker WS6]

GT leader #85 is hurt!

[Martin Lenick]

He's flyin'! Back in the sub 1:45's
I can never keep them straight; is he the one with or without legs?

[Martin Lenick]

Driver changes done - #1 comes out P1.
Go Scott Pruett!

[Heat Seeker WS6]

He's flyin'! Back in the sub 1:45's
I can never keep them straight; is he the one with or without legs?

That was Alex Zinardi

[Martin Lenick]

The local FOX affiliate has chosen to run a jowl-lift infomercial instead of the last hour of the race. I may be distracted - you wouldn't believe the change in these broads.

[paul_jankovskis]

As far as I know, FOX was only to cover the start of the race and leave the real covergae to the SPEED folk. However, enjoy the infomercial land of FAX.

[paul_jankovskis]

Last exchange of DP pit stops for fuel should prove very interesting. Great race. Almost reminds me of the 24 Hours of America at the beginning of the month.

[Martin Lenick]

Almost reminds me of the 24 Hours of America at the beginning of the month. Hauntingly... I hope that this time #1 comes out ahead of #11 and stays there.

[paul_jankovskis]

Indeed! 1 must stay in front of the 11.

[Martin Lenick]

What an amazing race! I can't believe what's being shown on the big 3 networks and FOX sells more soap.

[Martin Lenick]

#10 & #11 on their end run. Pruett still needs fuel, but has a handsome lead - plenty of time for a splash-n-go.

[Martin Lenick]

:):) Pruett back out with a 30 second lead!!!:):)

[paul_jankovskis]

Awesome! Looking good for Chip's boys. Very cool race.

[Martin Lenick]

I missed it... what happened to Magnussen?

[paul_jankovskis]

Brake failure on the entry to the infield. Occured while they were interviewing Jeff Gordon. They are in bleeding the brakes, btu not looking good for the Subtrust guys.

[Martin Lenick]

I don't have SPEED, so I've been watching on a "Fan Cam" site. They've done a good job, as illegal as it is.

[paul_jankovskis]

God bless the internet!

[paul_jankovskis]

Thanks Al Gore.

[Martin Lenick]

Thanks Al Gore.
:lmao:

This race alone has increased the temperature of the earth 14.69 degrees F.

But the Prius is 658 laps down.

[paul_jankovskis]

15 Minutes to go in the race. 01 still leads.

[paul_jankovskis]

Looks like it is pretty much a done deal for Scott Pruett. The 11 car is falling off pace and appears to be settling into 2nd. Just need to make it through 6 more minutes.

[Martin Lenick]

Pruett is skating away from Carpentier.
Keep it on the track for 6 more minutes, Scott.

[paul_jankovskis]

White flag is out.

[Martin Lenick]

I'm out of smokes. Going to 7-11. Let me know how it ends.

[paul_jankovskis]

01 is the overall winner!

[paul_jankovskis]

Is it just me or doesn't the Target car look like a big Bomb Pop?
http://ec1.images-amazon.com/images/P/B0000CH44W.01-

[CIR-Reed]

What is everybody's beef with the #11 car? Ryan Daziel is a fantastic driver and a nice guy.

[D. Harrington]

The Hugo Chavez #11? Probably problem with their sponsor...CITGO...not the drivers. Ryan had an awesome run....it was an awesome race to watch.....off to CIR to check out Reed's creation.

[paul_jankovskis]

Cart #11 snuck by Martin's cart #1 in the last stint of the 24 Hours of America to take away one spot form us in the overall standings. Was not referring to the Daytona race directly. :shakehead:

[Martin Lenick]

Thanks, Paul, but "snuck by" is too kind; blew by, shot by, whistled past, all better descriptions.

Next year he'll have to work for it... and his efforts will not be rewarded. I learned a lot in the last two stints, and even more after the checkered flag and reflection on the race. We're going to be a formidable force next year.

I love it when there's a perfect word to convey your thoughts.
http://www.webster.com/cgi-bin/dictionary?sourceid=Mozilla-search&va=formidable
(http://www.webster.com/cgi-bin/dictionary?sourceid=Mozilla-search&va=formidable)

[Rick]

Let's hope that we don't start moving backwards AFTER the race is over.:shakehead: