Rolex 24, Hour 22: Bourdais and Action Express Out Front

We’re nearing the 22-hour mark in the Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona. A caution has come out after the #7 PC driven by Kyle Marcelli caught fire on the backstretch. Marcelli is out of the car, and seems to be fine.

By virtue of a Jordan Taylor pit stop, Sebastien Bourdais has inherited the lead driving #5 Action Express. Taylor is second in the #10 Wayne Taylor Racing Corvette 46 seconds behind Bourdais. John Martin has the #9 Action Express Corvette in third-place, as the Corvette 1-2-3 continues.

Tony Kanaan, driver of the #02 Chip Ganassi Racing Ford EcoBoost, remains one lap behind in fourth place. We imagine Scott Dixon will take over soon, as Kanaan has been at the while about three stints now. Remember, Dixon was quite fast in the early going, and if the #02 can get its lap back, Dixon will be a factor in the closing stages .

Two laps behind is the #6 Muscle Milk Nissan Oreca currently being driven by Klaus Graf, and quietly having a strong run. Richard Westbook has the #90 Spirit of Daytona Corvette in sixth, three laps back.

Nick Tandy has taken over for Richard Lietz in the #911 Porsche, which continues to lead the GTLM class. Mark Wilkins has taken over for Jon Bennett and leads the PC class in the #54 Oreca FLM09. Spencer Pumpelly now leads the GTD class in the #45 Audi R8 LMS. However, Pumpelly just made a pit-stop with the pits closed, and will have to come back to pit lane for full service.

Last, USA Today is reporting that Memo Gidley has suffered a broken back, and will need further surgery.

Brian C. reporting for AR1

Social Media Auto Publish Powered By : XYZScripts.com