Ganassi Racing announces Daytona 24 entries
Last year, the team became the first in history to win three consecutive overall titles in the Rolex 24 At Daytona. The CGRFS roster will look to add to the record book this year with an impressive group of international racing champions representing three Indianapolis 500 titles (Montoya-2000, Franchitti-2007 and Dixon-2008), five open wheel championships (Montoya-1999, Dixon-2003/2008, Lloyd-2007 and Franchitti-2007), three Daytona Prototype championships (Pruett-2004/2006 and Pruett/Rojas-2007) and five former Rolex 24 winners.
Notes of Interest:
* Chip Ganassi and co-owner Felix Sabates are the first team owners in history to win three straight Rolex 24 at Daytona events.
* CGRFS has led 1,257 laps, more than 60 percent of the laps, in the past three years. The team led 720 laps out of a possible 1363 (53%) in the past two races alone.
* Pruett and Montoya's back-to-back wins marked the first time drivers earned repeat victories in the race since 1986 and 1987 when Derek Bell, Al Unser, Jr. and Al Holbert accomplished the feat. Montoya became the first driver in Rolex 24 history to win in each of his first two starts in the 24-hour race.
* Last year's victory added to Pruett's already all-time best eight class victories at the Rolex 24 and record 15th overall Rolex Series wins. It was his third overall in the Rolex 24 and gave him a record-setting eighth Rolex 24 class victory. (He earned previous class victories in 2007, 2002, 1994, 1993, 1992, 1988 and 1987. It was his third overall win after taking the checkered flag first in 1994 and 2007.
* Franchitti is the first driver to ever capture the 12 Hours of Sebring, the Indianapolis 500, an open wheel title and the Rolex 24 At Daytona consecutively, accomplishing the feat in less than a year. Mario Andretti and A.J. Foyt are the only others to win the four titles, but neither did so in succession.
* Pruett and co-driver Rojas rewrote the record books in 2008 by winning the Rolex Series championship. Pruett is the first two-time Grand-Am Series driver champion and is the first American to score eight major sports car championships, breaking a record he previously held with the late Peter Gregg. Pruett's previous titles include a Daytona Prototype championship (2004), two IMSA GTO titles (1986 and 1988), one IMSA GT Endurance (1986) and three Trans-Am championships (1987, 1994 and 2003). Rojas became the first Mexican driver to win a major racing championship in the United States.
2009 Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates Rolex 24 At Daytona Driver Lineup
SCOTT PRUETT — United States (No.01 TELMEX/Target)
– Two-time defending Rolex 24 At Daytona overall winner
– Defending Rolex Series driver and team champion
– 2004 Rolex Series driver and team champion
JUAN PABLO MONTOYA — Colombia (No.01 TELMEX/Target)
– Two-time defending Rolex 24 At Daytona overall winner
– 2007 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series rookie of the year
– 2000 Indianapolis 500 winner for Target Chip Ganassi Racing
MEMO ROJAS — Mexico (No.01 TELMEX/Target)
– Defending Rolex 24 At Daytona overall winner
– Defending Rolex Series driver and team champion
– 2003 Skip Barber Dodge Pro Series two-time race winner and championship runner-up
SCOTT DIXON — New Zealand (No.02 Target/TELMEX)
– 2008 Indianapolis 500 and IndyCar Series champion for Target Chip Ganassi Racing
– 2006 Rolex 24 At Daytona overall winner
– 2003 IndyCar Series champion for Target Chip Ganassi Racing
DARIO FRANCHITTI — Scotland (No.02 Target/TELMEX)
– Defending Rolex 24 At Daytona overall winner
– 2007 Indianapolis 500 and IndyCar champion
– 2007 winner of the 12 Hours of Sebring in the LMP2 class
ALEX LLOYD — England (No.02 Target/TELMEX)
– 2007 Indy Pro Series champion
– IPS record holder in victories (10) and only driver to win five consecutive events
– 2003 McLaren Autosport BRDC young driver of the year