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Daytona 24 Hour 2004

Rolex

01/02/2004

12 Hour Report

12 Hour Report at Daytona: Chevrolet and Pontiac in the Lead

Pontiac and Chevrolet-powered Daytona Prototypes hold first four positions at halfway

At the halfway point in the Rolex 24 at Daytona, General Motors’ Pontiac and Chevrolet-powered Daytona Prototypes make up the top four positions, with the No.2 Chevrolet Crawford currently in the lead on lap 330. Drivers Andy Wallace, Tony Stewart and Dale Earnhardt, Jr. have been in front since roughly 8:00 p.m., pacing consistently through the rain and gathering dark. The No.10 Pontiac Riley of Max Angelelli, Wayne Taylor and Emmanuel Collard set the fastest time of the day as of the halfway point, with a lap of 1:48:631.

“This is a long race but we have to be pleased with our position right now,” said Gary Claudio, marketing manager for GM Racing. “We’re optimistic and look forward to another great 12 hours of racing.”

While a Lexus-powered Riley started the race from pole position, Terry Borcheller captured the lead for GM at the very first corner in his No.54 Pontiac Doran. Although the lead changed hands some two dozen times in twelve hours, Pontiac and Chevrolet-powered Daytona Prototypes have managed to stay in front. Hard rain has reduced speeds and increased lap times on the 3.56-mile course. The conditions have been a new experience for Chevrolet’s NASCAR drivers, not usually accustomed to competing in the wet.

“It was fun out there,” said Tony Stewart, driver of the No.2 Chevrolet Crawford. “I didn’t know what to expect, but it is actually more fun in the rain than it is in the dry because you can get it loose, you can get it tight, and you can really manhandle the car in the rain.”

The No.09 Pontiac Crawford has had to fight back position in class after making contact with the wall on lap 112. Robbie Gordon brought the injured prototype back to pit lane, and eventually to the Pontiac Crawford garage, in order to repair damage to the right rear suspension. After considerable time in the garage, Milka Duno brought the car back on track in an effort to catch up with the leaders. At the halfway point, the team has brought the No.09 car back to the garage and is working to get back on track.

Halfway race results after 12 of 24-hours in the Rolex 24 At Daytona at Daytona International Speedway with running position, (car number), drivers, class, car and laps completed. Racing continues until 1:00 p.m. on Sunday.

1. (2) Andy Wallace, Tony Stewart, Dale Earnhardt Jr, DP, Howard - Boss Motorsports Chevrolet Crawford, 330.

2. (54) Terry Borcheller, Forest Barber, Andy Pilgrim, Christian Fittipaldi, DP, Bell Motorsports Pontiac Doran, 327.

3. (4) Butch Leitzinger, David Brule Sr, Elliott Forbes-Robinson, Jimmie Johnson, DP, Howard - Boss Motorsports Chevrolet Crawford, 325.

4. (10) Max Angelelli, Wayne Taylor, Emmanuel Collard, DP, SunTrust Racing Pontiac Riley, 322.

5. (44) Mike Fitzgerald, Joe Policastro, Jay Policastro, Robin Liddell, Johnny Mowlem, GT, Orbit Racing Porsche GT3 RS, 318.

6. (74) Johannes van Overbeek, Seth Neiman, Lonnie Pechnik, Peter Cunningham, Mike Rockenfeller, GT, Flying Lizard Motorsports Porsche GT3 Cup, 317.

7. (27) Didier Theys, Fredy Lienhard, Jan Lammers, Marc Goossens, DP, Doran Lista Racing Lexus Doran, 316.

8. (6) Kelly Collins, Brent Martini, Cort Wagner, Mike Newton, Thomas Erdos, Brazil, DP, Michael Shank Racing Lexus Doran, 315.

9. (01) Scott Pruett, Max Papis, Jimmy Morales, Scott Dixon, DP, CGR Grand Am Lexus Riley, 314.

10. (59) Hurley Haywood, JC France, Scott Sharp, Tommy Riggins, DP, Brumos Racing Porsche Fabcar, 312.

11. (7) Shane Lewis, Jack Baldwin, George Robinson, Vic Rice, Steve Southard, DP, Southard Motorsports BMW Fabcar, 311.

12. (73) Philipp Peter, Klaus Engelhorn, Dieter Quester, Andrea Montermini, GT, Red Bull BE Racing Ferrari 360 Modena, 311.

13. (66) Kevin Buckler, Timo Bernhard, Jorg Bergmeister, Patrick Long, GT, The Racers Group/ Monster Cable Porsche GT3 RS, 309.

14. (91) Jean-Francois Dumoulin, Canada; Robert Julien, Greg Pootmans, Marc Lieb, SGS, Doncaster Racing Porsche GT3 Cup, 308.

15. (68) Ian James, Kissimmee, RJ Valentine, Chris Gleason, Abraham Zimroth, Bohdan Kroczek, GT, The Racers Group/ Monster Cable Porsche GT3 RS, 308.

16. (71) Dave Lacey, Greg Wilkins, Mark Wilkins, Tom Nastasi, Kenny Wilden, SGS, Doncaster Racing Porsche GT3 Cup, 305.

17. (38) Randy Pobst, Marc Bunting, Andy Lally, John Littlechild, Michael Levitas, SGS, TPC Racing Porsche GT3 Cup, 304.

18. (56) Tony Burgess, Philip Collin, P van Merksteijn, Fabio Rosa, Italy, GT, Seikel Motor Sport Porsche GT3 RS, 303.

19. (83) Rob Wilson, Frank Mountain, Martyn Konig, GT, Cirtek Motorsport Porsche GT3 RS, 302.

20. (5) Scott Maxwell, Justin Pruskowski, Ross Bentley, Joe Pruskowski, DP, Essex Racing Ford Multimatic, 301.

21. (98) Ron Zitza, Marc Feinstein, Bill Riddell, Hartmut Von Seelen, Carlos de Quesada, GT, GT Technologies Porsche GT3 Cup, 300.

22. (57) Chip Vance, John Stevenson, John Buttermore, Piers Masarati, GT, Stevenson Motorsports/ Auto Assets Porsche GT3 RS, 299.

23. (13) Andrew Davis, Michael Cawley, Charles Espenlaub, Joe Foster, SGS, Foxhill Racing Porsche GT3 Cup, 299.

24. (72) Jack Lewis, Edison Lluch, Tom McGlynn, Manuel Matos, GT, Jack Lewis Enterprises Porsche GT3 Cup, 299.

25. (41) Joe Nonnamaker, Will Nonnamaker, Charlie Menard, Paul Menard, Wayne Nonnamaker, SGS, Orison-Planet Earth Motorsports Porsche GT3 Cup, 297.

26. (33) Fabrizio De Simone Niquesa, Stephen Earle, Emil Assentato, Nick Longhi, GT, Scuderia Ferrari of Washington Maserati Light GT, 298.

27. (82) Steve Lynn, Jim Brillhart, Terry Heath, Jack Henricks, SGS, dds Racing Porsche GT3 Cup, 292.

28. (63) Hugh Plumb, Geoff Escalette, Kim Wolfkill, Mike Lewis, SGS, Glenn Yee Motorsports Porsche GT3 Cup, 292.

29. (67) Robert Nearn, Pierre Ehret, Jim Matthews, Lars Nielsen, GT, The Racers Group/ Monster Cable Porsche GT3 RS, 292.

30. (16) Craig Stanton, David Murry, Tim Sugden, SGS, AASCO Motorsports Porsche GT3 Cup, 290.

31. (47) Michael Baughman, Bob Ward, Brad Jaeger, Frank Del Vecchio, SGS, Michael Baughman Racing Porsche GT3 Cup, 290.

32. (80) Hugo Guenette, Steve Marshall, Danny Marshall, Fabio Spatafora, Jason Workman, DP, G&W Motorsports BMW Picchio, 288.

33. (00) Dwain Dement, Steve Bernheim, Doug Baron, Dennis Puddester, SGS, Team Vision Porsche GT3 Cup, 278.

34. (86) Tracy Krohn, Andres Van Der Dys, Mae Van Wijk, Armando Trentini, Ron Forristall, , SGS, G&W Motorsports Porsche GT3 Cup, 275.

35. (93) Luca Drudi, Matteo Meneghello, Ferdinando Monfardini, Joe Colasacco, Ross Fonferko, GT, Mastercar Ferrari 360GT, 272.

36. (14) Cory Friedman, Lynn Wilson, Bransen Patch, Adam Merzon, Mike Smith, SGS, Autometrics Motorsports Porsche GT3 Cup, 270.

37. (9) Mike Borkowski, Paul Mears Jr, Arie Luyendyk Jr, Nick Ham, Justin Bell, DP, Mears Motorcoach/ SpeedSource Ford Multimatic, 270.

38. (30) Anthony Lazzaro, Ralf Kelleners, Matteo Bobbi, GT, Risi Competizione Maserati Light GT, 269.

39. (22) Niclas Jonsson, Justin Marks, Joey Hand, Boris Said, Bill Auberlen, GT, Prototype Technology Group BMW M3, 267.

40. (70) Sylvain Tremblay, Selby Wellman, Larry Huang, Chris Hall, Port Orange, Fla., DP, SpeedSource Ford Multimatic, 267.

41. (24) John Heinricy, Jeff Nowicki, Tom Bambard, Pete Halsmer, GT, Specter Werks/Sports Corvette, 261.

42. (94) Mauro Casadei, Francois Labhardt, Manfred Jurasz, Jim Michaelian, GT, Mastercar Ferrari 360GT, 261.

43. (09) Doug Goad, Stephan Gregoire, Robby Gordon, Milka Duno, DP, Spirit of Daytona Racing Pontiac Crawford, 237.

44. (97) Robert Orcutt, Ken Dobson, Kurt Teal, Paul Jenkins, GT, Graham Nash Motorsport Porsche GT3 RS, 236.

45. (46) Peter Argetsinger, John Pew, Mark Patterson, Dario Cioti, Jim Victor, SGS, Michael Baughman Racing Corvette, 208.

46. (45) Gunnar Jeannette, Kyle Petty, Paul Newman, Michael Brockman, DP, Gunnar Racing Porsche Fabcar, 185.

47. (17) Joe Kunz, Mark Webber, Gary Becker, Patrick Flanagan, Derek Clark, SGS, AASCO Motorsports Porsche GT3 Cup, 183.

48. (21) Bill Auberlen, Boris Said, Justin Marks, Joey Hand, Niclas Jonsson, GT, Prototype Technology Group BMW M3, 162.

49. (58) David Donohue, Darren Law, Sascha Maassen, Lucas Luhr, DP, Red Bull - Brumos Porsche Porsche Fabcar, 150.

50. (15) David Gaylord, Don Kitch Jr, John Olson, Tom Hessert Jr, Tom Hessert III, DP, Essex Racing Ford Multimatic, 149.

51. (11) Iradj Alexander, Edi Gay, Diego Alessi, Maurizio Mediani, Paul Dana, GT, JMB Racing USA Ferrari 360GT, 98.

52. (88) Pedro Couceiro, Miguel Amaral, PCarlos Barbot, Manuel Giao, GT, ASM Team Porsche GT3 RS, 65.

53. (60) Anthony Puleo, Robert Dubler, Squeak Kennedy, Joe Evans, GT, Xtreme Racing Group Corvette, 47.