Grand Am Rolex 24: The Final Four Hours

Ganassi still has a lock on the Daytona Prototype class, with Juan Pablo Montoya ion the #01 and Joey Hand in the #02 leading the race. Hand is about three seconds behind and catching up—and catching Juan Pablo is a dangerous thing to do. He has already put at least two cars into the garage. One doubts he would treat his reamamtes differently.

Martin Brundle in the #23 United Autosports/Shank Racing Riley Ford, after spending the night avoiding trouble, is now running strong in third. Action express still has one car near the front, the #9, with Max Pappis at the wheel, is running fourth.

Justin Wilson has the #6 Shank machine in fifth, backing up the UA car. The top five are on the lead lap; the rest are trailing by a lap at least.

In GT it is Porsche 1–2–3, with the #67 TRG, still clutchless, running out in front. Patrick Pilet in the TRG/Black Swan/GMG Porsche is a minute behind, and Rob Bell in the #48 Miller racing Porsche is third, almost two minutes down.

Charles Espenlaub in the Dempsey Porsche is still in fourth after its costly spin/stall. TRG has another car in the top five, the #66 car driven by Lucas Luhr. Luhr was assessed a 20-second penalty for too many crew members working on the car.

The final four hours are often as damaging and demanding as the entire race before. Nothing can be known for sure. Cars running well now could be on flatbeds in an hour. Drivers turning hot laps now could be spinning into the infield in an hour.