Speedweeks Is Underway at Daytona

The 2012 racing season is underway!  No its not time for the Daytona 500, that's still four weeks away.  But race cars are circulating around Daytona International Speedway this weekend in a classic race known around the world.  It's the Grand-Am Racing Series Rolex 24 At Daytona.

This twice around the clock event is for sportscars on the 3.56 mile road course.  This year the race features 59 cars:  14 in the Daytona Prototype class and 45 in the Grand Touring class.

The Rolex 24 will have plenty of NASCAR flavor as a number of NASCAR drivers will tackle the day-to-overnight auto racing at Daytona. 

Driving for Chip Ganassi Racing, Juan Pablo Montoya and Jamie McMurray will team up with IndyCar drivers Darion Franchitti and Scott Dixson.  AJ Allmendinger who is looking forward to his first season with Penske Racing in the Sprint Cup Series will race a Ford Riley for Michael Shank Racing. 

Last year's Rookie of the Year and an accomplished road racer, Andy Lally, will be running a Porsche in the GT class.  Michael McDowell who is running in both the NASCAR Sprint Cup series and Nationwide Series this year, is part of a Michael Shank Racing entry.

Other names in the race that NASCAR fans will recognize during the 24 hour event include Boris Said, Max Papis, Colin Braun, John Andretti and Michael Waltrip.   Waltrip together with his Nationwide Series driver Travis Pastrana are running a Ferrari in the GT class.