Chip Ganassi Racing announced Monday its driver lineup for next month's
Rolex 24 Hours at Daytona, the opening round of the 2008 Grand-Am Rolex
Sports Car Series season. The two-car attack featuring drivers from the
team's three racing programs will be gunning to make Daytona history. No
team has ever won the 24-hour race overall in three consecutive years.
Scott Pruett returns to the No. 01 Lexus Riley, paired with Memo Rojas for
the entire season. The duo will be joined by NASCAR drivers Juan Pablo
Montoya and Dario Franchitti for the 24-hour race. IndyCar pilots Dan
Wheldon and Scott Dixon as well as Salvador Duran and Alex Lloyd make up
the driving strength in car No. 02.
These eight drivers boast an incredible resume, combining to earn three
Indianapolis 500 wins, five open wheel championships and two Daytona
Prototype titles. Five of the drivers are former Rolex 24 winners.
"Everyone knows how special this race is and how much of a team effort it
takes to win at Daytona," said Team Owner Chip Ganassi. "I'm extremely
proud of the effort put forth by our organization the last two years, and
we have another great opportunity this year with the addition of Dario and
Alex to the lineup. It is a tremendous feeling to know that we have this
many talented drivers on our teams to pick from."
Pruett, the 2004 Rolex Series Co-Champion, is the most winningest driver in
Daytona Prototype history. He along with Montoya and Duran are defending
champions of the 24-hour race. After that monumental victory, Pruett was
paired with rookie Memo Rojas for the remainder of the season. The duo won
at Iowa Speedway in July, and Pruett finished second in the driver's
championship.
Rojas made his series debut at the Rolex 24 last year but crashed out late
in the race after running inside the top five. Once paired with Pruett for
the remainder of the season, the young Mexican was on unequal points to his
teammate. Therefore, he finished behind Pruett in the standings, in fourth.
This year, Rojas and Pruett will be co-driving together for the full
season.
Montoya won two races in his rookie season in NASCAR, but one of those
victories came with controversy. Pruett, who was making a guest appearance
in a stock car, was spun out by Montoya while battling for the lead in the
Busch Series race in Mexico City. The Columbian went on to take his first-
ever stock car win while the California-native had to settle for fifth.
Now, the two will be back behind the wheel together for the first time
since that incident.
Franchitti rounds out the lineup in the No. 01 Lexus Riley. The reigning
IndyCar and Indianapolis 500 Champion moves to Ganassi's NASCAR operations
full-time in 2008, following the route carved by Montoya. The 34-year-old
Scot competed in six stock car races late this year in preparation for a
busy 2008 schedule which includes the Cup and Nationwide Series. Franchitti
will be making his third Rolex 24 start.
The No. 02 entry is headed up by open wheel veterans Dan Wheldon and Scott
Dixon. The duo, along with Casey Mears, won the 2006 race. Dixon finished
runner-up in the IndyCar championship to Franchitti, after losing the
championship in the final race due to running out of fuel. The New Zealand-
native earned four wins in 2007, including three in a row.
Wheldon endured a more challenging season, finishing fourth in the
standings with two wins. The 2005 Indianapolis 500 and IndyCar Champion
suffered five DNFs, including a 22nd place finish at the Brickyard.
Duran moves to the No. 02 entry after teaming with Pruett and Montoya in
last year's winning car. The 22-year-old Mexican spent much of 2007
competing in the World Series by Renault championship. He returned to the
Rolex Series at the season-ending Sunchaser 1000k as a third driver to
Pruett and Rojas.
Lloyd, like Franchitti, is a newcomer to the CGR team. The young
Englishman won the 2007 Indy Pro Series championship, driving for Sam
Schmidt Motorsports. With 10 wins, Lloyd is the most successful driver in
IPS history. Last October, he was signed to CGR's driver development
program.
Both cars are expected to be present in the upcoming Test Days at Daytona
on Jan. 4-6 in preparation for the 24-hour road racing classic.
