,
OTHER STORYLINES
 |
| The APR Audi R8 Grand-Am before contact with a prototype sent it to the garage for lengthy repairs. |
Both of the Audi R8 Grand-Am's suffered from a myriad of mechanical problems in their first Rolex 24 at Daytona. The no. 51 APR Motorsports Audi R8 Grand-Am, which featured five-time LeMans winner Emmanuele Pirro, suffered through a broken clutch, lengthy crash damage repair caused when they were taken off course by a Daytona Prototype, and a broken power steering pump to finish in 31st position – just ahead of the no. 74 Oryx Racing Audi R8 Grand-Am.
Also having a difficult time were the Turner Motorsports BMWs. With a strong driver lineup featuring several BMW Motorsports factory drivers, the team lost their no. 94 car in the sixth hour while the no. 93 car finished 16th in GT class after encountering several setbacks of their own.
 |
| A late-race gearbox failure meant no Ganassi Racing car would be on the podium for the first time since 2005 |
For all the hype surrounding their first race, the Corvette Daytona Prototypes could do no better than fifth. Also lacking for results was the Chip Ganassi Racing team, which as dominated the Daytona Protoype class in recent seasons. It was the first time since 2005 that a Ganassi car did not finish on the podium in the Rolex 24 at Daytona.
 |
| An all-star lineup of drivers such as Juan Pablo Montoya, Scott Dixon, Graham Rahal, Joey Hand and Dario Franchitti (above) couldn't help the Ganassi team on this weekend. |
Action sports star and rally driver Travis Pastrana teamed with his NASCAR team owner Michael Waltrip, as well as Rui Aguas and Rob Kauffman, to drive the no. 75 AF-Waltrip Ferrari F458 Italia to 22nd in class. The team lost 75 minutes in the pits changing a clutch in the late morning hours on Sunday.
 |
| Travis Pastrana acquitted himself well in his first endurance race. Despite a late-race clutch change, the AF Waltrip Ferrari F458 Italia that he drove made it to the checkered. |
”I'd never driven a Ferrari, or been in a 24-hour race before so as soon as they asked me I said ‘sign me up',” said Pastrana. “I wasn't disappointed. I hope this isn't the last time I do this.”
The next race for the Rolex Sports Car Series will be the Porsche 250 at Barber Motorsports Park on March 31.
