Ganassi still ‘team to beat’ in Daytona’s 24 Hours
January 29, 2010
DAYTONA BEACH, Florida (AP)—David Donohue was alone and nestled in the cornerof Victory Lane at Daytona International Speedway for a photo shoot, watchingthe star drivers of Chip Ganassi Racing gobble up all the attention.
Even after winning the 24 Hours at Daytona last year, Donohue entersSaturday’s sports car endurance race knowing he’s not the favorite.
And neither is any other driver without Ganassi stitched on the uniform.
“With the depth of the Ganassi resources,” Donohue said, “they willalways be the team to beat.”
Maybe this year more than ever.
Donohue and the Brumos Racing team held off NASCAR star Juan Pablo Montoyaand the star-studded lineup a year ago in the closest finish by far in thehistory of the event, ending Ganassi’s three-year reign atop American sports carracing’s crown jewel. That upset in the twice-around-the-clock event gives thisyear’s race a little added spice.
Montoya will share the driver’s seat of the No. 02 BMW Riley with fellowIndianapolis 500 winners Scott Dixon and Dario Franchitti, and NASCAR’s JamieMcMurray. And with Scott Pruett leading Ganassi’s No. 01 BMW Riley, theorganization is not only aiming for one car at the top, it’s hoping for two.
“I would think that we are the favorites,” Montoya said. “I thinkeverybody is looking to knock us off again. We won three in a row, and wefinished second last year. This year, it would be nice if we had two cars incontention. It would be fun if we could make that like a one-two finish.”
The loss has made Ganassi more determined than ever to reclaim the title.
Montoya and his teammates complained last year that their car was too slowand couldn’t compete with some of the other Daytona Prototypes. They believenow, for the most part, the cars are up to speed and keeping up won’t be aproblem.
“As long as I don’t lose six or seven car lengths on the straightaway, I’llbe fine,” Montoya said. “But when we were losing what I was losing last yearon the straight, it wasn’t even funny. Hopefully now, I drive, give it to thenext guy and hope by the time I wake up I’m still in the race.”
Ganassi’s cars aren’t the only ones featuring big-name drivers crossing overto Grand-Am.
Four-time NASCAR champion Jimmie Johnson headlines the GAINSCO/Bob StallingsRacing team that has had a rough week of practice. Johnson damaged the rear ofthe No. 99 Chevrolet Riley on Thursday when he slammed into a wall trying toavoid a slower car.
The No. 99 car missed qualifying because of the wreck and will begin last in45th place. The team worked overnight to get the car back on the track onFriday, and Johnson said the crash shouldn’t change the way they run because thelength of the race makes starting position less important.
Max Angelelli took the pole on Thursday, and Ozz Negri will start outsidehim on the front row. The No. 02 Ganassi led by Montoya will start fourth, andthe No. 01 will be fifth. Donohue will be seventh with Brumos Racing.
Johnson says that even with all he has accomplished in NASCAR, he’d like towin a 24 Hours title.
“It would be really high on my list of accomplishments because it’s sodifferent than the rest of the stuff I run,” he said. “It’s a helluva anadventure.”
One that won’t be easy.
Most NASCAR drivers said the toughest part about weaving around the 3.5-mile(5.7-kilometer) road course—not including the winding infield, the NASCARoval’s high banks and the narrow turns—is navigating through traffic.Especially with Daytona Prototypes running straightaway speeds at least 20 mph(30 kph) faster than the GT cars that will also be racing.
Then there’s trying to rest amid the endless endurance race. Switchingdrivers. The different strategy.
All things Ganassi does best.
For Donohue, that’s what made his win for Brumos so special. He said therecognition he received from other drivers and crew members was overwhelming.
But winning once might not be enough to be on Ganassi’s level.
“I never would have guessed one race win would have meant so much, but ithas,” Donohue said. “But I guess we have to repeat to get that level ofattention.”
