I'm hunkering down for the Rolex 24 at Daytona. I'm going to try and stay up for the entire race this year—I'm taking the following Monday off to catch up on my sleep. I hope to post at least hourly reports during the race.

There's a lot to this race: 55 entrants, all the new cars (Acura, Cadillac, Lexus, and Mercedes), and the all star race that this has become (Bourdais, Dixon, Gordon, Hinchcliffe, Hunter-Reay, Kanaan, Pruett, Rahal, Said, Sharp, etc.) with drivers from 22 countries.

cor123 listed a ton of relevant information in earlier post. The basics are this:

Saturday, Jan. 28 – 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. – FOX broadcast network
Saturday, Jan. 28 – 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. – FS2
Saturday, Jan. 29 – 10 p.m. to 11 p.m. – FOX Sports GO
Saturday, Jan. 29 – Sunday, Jan. 30 – 11 p.m. to 1 p.m. – FS2
Sunday, Jan. 29 – 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. – FS1

Live timing:

http://scoring.imsa.com/

Andy Blackmore's wonderful spotter's guide (the final version):

http://www.spotterguides.com/wp-conte ... /2017/01/SG_17_DAY_v1.pdf

Takes Fox all of four minutes to get Jeff Gordon on screen.

Getting ready to start. 59 degrees and cloudy, a chance of weather later.

Prototype: Cadillac #5, Cadillac #31, Oreca #13

Prototype Challenge: Oreca #38, Oreca #26, Oreca #20

GT Le Mans: Ford #66, Ford #67, Ford #68 (Corvette #3 7th in class, Corvette #4 9th in class)

GT Daytona: Ferrari #51, Ferrari #63, Aston Martin #98

Started with no problems except one of the Acuras going temporarily off into grass. The #52 Ligier prototype car has already been in the pits.

After only 10 minutes comes the first full course caution after one of the GTD Lamborghini spins into a tire barrier.

Prototype: Cadillac #5, Cadillac #31, Cadillac #10

Prototype Challenge: Oreca #81, Oreca #26, Oreca #80

GT Le Mans: Ford #66, Ferrari #62, Ford #67 (Corvette #3 4th in class, Corvette #4 7th in class)

GT Daytona: Ferrari #51, Aston Martin #98, Ferrari #63

After one hour, 36 laps in:

Prototype: Cadillac #31, Cadillac #10, Cadillac #5

Prototype Challenge: Oreca #38, Oreca #26, Oreca #88

GT Le Mans: Ford #66, Ferrari #62, Corvette #3 (Corvette #4 4th in class)

GT Daytona: Ferrari #63, Porsche #73, Lamborghini #11

Cars with significant issues: Ligier #52 prototype, BMW #24 GTLM, Lamborghini #16 GTD. The #52 car has only completed three laps.

Full course yellow: Scott Pruett has crashed the #14 Lexus RCF GTD. He's okay—the car has some major front end issues.

After one hour and 45 minutes, 58 laps in:

Prototype: now Cadillac #10 (Ricky Taylor out, Jeff Gordon in), Cadillac #5, Cadillac #31

Prototype Challenge: Oreca #38, Oreca #88, Oreca #8

GT Le Mans: still Ford #66, Ferrari #62, Corvette #3 (Corvette #4 4th in class)

GT Daytona: now Porsche #73, Lamborghini #11, Acura #93

The #52 Ligier prototype has gotten back on track. The BMW #24 GTLM is still in the pits—it looks like the Lamborghini #16 GTD has been retired.

Another full course caution (the third) as the #8 Oreca PC car turns in too soon to turn one, hits the grass, and clips an entirely innocent Porsche when it rejoins the track. Both crash hard into the tire wall—the #8 car has gotten a ten minute penalty. 112 laps in.

Prototype: now Cadillac #5, Cadillac #10, Cadillac #31

Prototype Challenge: now Oreca #38, Oreca #88, Oreca #20

GT Le Mans: still Ford #66, Ford #67, Ferrari #62 (Corvette #3 still 5th in class and Corvette #4 still 7th in class)

GT Daytona: now Audi #29, Mercedes #50, Ferrari #63

The sun has set.

We have our fourth full course caution at about 4:40 in and 153 laps. The #88 Oreca PC car pulls up in front the #31 Cadillac prototype car on the high banks. Most of the front has ripped off the #88 car.

Prototype: now Cadillac #10, Cadillac #5, Cadillac #31

Prototype Challenge: now Oreca #38, Oreca #20, Oreca #26

GT Le Mans: now Ford #66, Corvette #3, Ford #69 (Corvette #4 now 4th in class)

GT Daytona: now Acura #93, BMW #96, Audi #57

Four cars are definitely out: Lamborghini #16, BMW #24, Lexus #14, Porsche #59. Another four are more than 50 laps behind the leaders.

The #4 has been spun by one of the Fords—doesn't seem to have very much damage.

The #4 car lost power suddenly. Not moving and off the course. Just went full course caution for the fifth time.

Disaster. They're towing the #4 car back to the pits.

More cars having issues during the caution. Rain is start to come down more heavily.

They got the #4 going again, but they're worried the rear suspension was damaged while it was being towed.

Now the #3 is having trouble with the transmission changing gears.

At one quarter done, 187 laps in. A light to medium rain is falling. The #4 Corvette is still in the pits.

Prototype: now Cadillac #5, Cadillac #31, Cadillac #10

Prototype Challenge: still Oreca #38, Oreca #20, Oreca #26

GT Le Mans: now Ford #66, Porsche #911, BMW #19 (Corvette #3 now 9th in class)

GT Daytona: now Lexus #15, Acura #86, Audi #23

Six cars are definitely out: Lamborghini #16, BMW #24, Lexus #14, Porsche #59, Porsche #73, Ferrari #51.

Another full course caution as the #38 Oreca spins while leading class and stalls. As soon as they call the caution, the Oreca gets going again.

The #4 car has managed to get out of the pits—now many laps down and 10th in a class of 11 (42nd overall).

Many cars are having clutch and transmission issues. The prototypes have reached 200 laps.

The #31 Cadillac prototype has spent more time in the pits with a broken starter and has dropped back to 8th place. The #22 Nissan DPi prototype moves into 3rd place and onto the podium—but is still a lap down.

In GTD, the #23 Audi R8 has started to separate from the rest of the field—now about 35 seconds ahead of the second place #11 Lamborghini.

The actual fireworks are going off at Daytona.

Meanwhile, the #52 Audi R8 GTD has a right rear tire down and is limping aound the course trying to get back to pit road. The #48 Lamborghini is also having some kind of issue.

Jeff Gordon is back in the #10 Cadillac DPi prototype—in the night and in the rain. Risky, as he has little experience driving prototypes in the night and none in the rain.

The #16 Lamborghini GTD Huracan has re-entered the race—166 laps down, but already gaining a couple of places in GTD. The #70 Mazda DPi is still in the pits.

The #5 Cadillac DPi car has had a tire problem, so Gordon now leads in the #10 Cadillac DPi. The #70 Mazda DPi is still in the pits.

Eight hours completed, 246 laps in. A light rain is falling and it is 46 degrees.

Prototype: now Cadillac #10, Nissan #22, Cadillac #5

Prototype Challenge: still Oreca #38 (18th overall), Oreca #20, Oreca #26

GT Le Mans: now Ford #66 (9th overall), Ford #67, Ferrari #62 (Corvette #3 now 5th in class, Corvette #4 still 10th in class)

GT Daytona: now Porsche #54 (23rd overall), Acura #93, Mercedes #33

Five cars are definitely out (I think): BMW #24, Lexus #14, Porsche #59, Porsche #73, Ferrari #51. Two of the Orecas are down more than 80 laps.

The FOX crew has gone to sleep, so I've got the British radio crew commenting.

The #16 Lamborghini GTD spins at the bus stop and crashes hard. Seventh full course caution. 

Nine hours completed, 273 laps in. Light rain is still falling and it is now down to 45 degrees.

The remaining Lexus GTD car pulls into the pits with half of its right side missing, likely because of an exploding rear tire.

Prototype: now Nissan #22, Cadillac #10, Cadillac #5

Prototype Challenge: still Oreca #38 (18th overall), Oreca #20, Oreca #26

GT Le Mans: now Ford #66 (9th overall), Ford #69, Corvette #3 (Corvette #4 still 10th in class)

GT Daytona: now Porsche #54 (23rd overall), Acura #93, Acura #86

Six cars look like they are definitely out: BMW #24, Lexus #14, Porsche #59, Lamborghini #16, Porsche #73, Ferrari #51. Many more are wounded, some badly.

And it has just passed midnight. Good morning.

The pink #88 Oreca PC car is bottoming out on parts of the track—probably not a good sign. They've come in and the crew is peering underneath the car. One of the radio commentators "The cars not looking very well"

The #22 Nissan prototype develops a death wiggle on its out lap and get hit by one of the GTD Porsches. It is now stopped on track—the eighth full course yellow.

Ten hours completed, 302 laps in. The rain is picking up a little and it is now 44 degrees.

Prototype: now Cadillac #10, Cadillac #5, Multimatic/Riley #90

Prototype Challenge: still Oreca #38 (18th overall), Oreca #20, Oreca #26

GT Le Mans: now Ford #66 (9th overall), Ford #69, Ferrari #62 (Corvette #3 now 4th in class, Corvette #4 still 10th in class)

GT Daytona: now Acura #93 (23rd overall), Audi #29, Acura #86

Seven cars look like they are definitely out: BMW #24, Lexus #14, Porsche #59, Lamborghini #16, Porsche #73, Ferrari #51, Mazda #70. A few more should join this list in the next couple of hours.

The #22 Nissan prototype is still falling down the order as we go back to green.

The #26 Oreca PC spins a full 360 degrees, but doesn't hit anything.

Eleven hours completed, 325 laps in. Still raining, still 44 degrees.

Prototype: now Cadillac #10, Multimatic/Riley #90, Cadillac #5

Prototype Challenge: still Oreca #38 (18th overall), Oreca #20, Oreca #26

GT Le Mans: now Ford #66 (8th overall), Ford #69, Porsche #911 (Corvette #3 now 8th in class, Corvette #4 still 10th in class)

GT Daytona: now Acura #93 (21st overall), Acura #86, Audi #57

Seven cars look like they are definitely out: BMW #24, Lexus #14, Porsche #59, Lamborghini #16, Porsche #73, Ferrari #51, Mazda #70.

I'm going to sleep for a few hours—I must not be as young as I used to be ...

I'm back ...

... overnight, the Ford #67 and the Porsche #54 have spun and crashed.

Sixteen hours completed, eight hours to go, 442 laps in. It has recently rained hard and is still in the mid 40s. We've been in a full course yellow for about 85 minutes as IMSA tries to make the track at least a little bit drier.

Prototype: now Multimatic/Riley #90, Cadillac 10, Cadillac #5

Prototype Challenge: still Oreca #38 (18th overall), Oreca #20, Oreca #26

GT Le Mans: now Ford #66 (5th overall), Ford #68, Porsche #912 (Corvette #3 now 7th in class, Corvette #4 now 9th in class)

GT Daytona: now Acura #86 (21st overall), Mercedes #33, Audi #57

Eight cars look like they are definitely out: BMW #24, Lexus #14, Porsche #59, Lamborghini #16, Porsche #73, Ferrari #51, Mazda #70, Porsche #54. Many more little resemble the shiny and complete vehicles that started the race.

And the #88 Oreca PC car has spun and crashed again, backing into one of the Armco barrier. It heads back to the garage to fix as much possible of the rear bodywork.

Finally back to green with about 7 hours and 25 minutes to go. It is getting lighter but there's absolutely no sign of sun.

The FOX crew came back on at 7:00 AM—Justin Bell is already soaked as he walks the pits.

Quote:

Thank you, Marcus - the best of intentions ...

Pit stops starting for the GTLM cars—for a brief shining moment the #3 car is leading class.

One of the Lamborghini GTD cars punts one of the Aston Martin GTD cars.

A long stint of excellent driving from Gavin has moved the #4 car up about ten places overall, but still many laps down.

The #20 Oreca PC has spun and collected the wall—back to the garage.

The #88 Oreca PC car spins and crashes yet again. No caution.

The same car spins and crashes again in the same place on the following lap. If there were a mercy rule at Daytona, I think that team would have been allowed to retire.

Scott Sharp hits a Continental barrier with the #2 car in the grass and pushes it onto the track. No caution—yet. Next the remaining Lexus spins; full course caution (the 15th).

Nineteen hours completed, five hours to go, 520 laps in. The track is drying and the ambient temp is now 47 degrees.

Prototype: now Cadillac #5, Cadillac #10, Multimatic/Riley #90

Prototype Challenge: still Oreca #38 (17th overall), Oreca #20, Oreca #26

GT Le Mans: now Ford #66 (5th overall), Ferrari #62, Porsche #912 (Corvette #3 now 6th in class, Corvette #4 still 9th in class)

GT Daytona: now Ferrari #63 (19th overall), Acura #93, Mercedes #33

Nine cars look like they are out: BMW #24, Lexus #14, Porsche #59, Lamborghini #16, Porsche #73, Ferrari #51, Porsche #54, Mercedes #50, Lamborghini #21. Three more are more than 100 laps down.

Back to green with about 4 hours and 35 minutes to go.

Angelelli goes to point on the restart lap in the #10 Cadillac DPi. He starts to pull away from #5 Cadillac DPi and than spins. Now the two cars are tightly together again.

Cars are slowly beginning to switch from the rain tires to the slicks.

Twenty hours completed, four hours to go, 544 laps in. The track is drying and the ambient temp is now 48 degrees.

Prototype: now Multimatic/Riley #90, Cadillac #10, Cadillac #5

Prototype Challenge: still Oreca #38 (17th overall), Oreca #20, Oreca #26

GT Le Mans: now Ford #66 (5th overall), Ferrari #62, Corvette #3 (Corvette #4 still 9th in class)

GT Daytona: now Acura #93 (19th overall), Mercedes #33, Acura #86 (amazing run for the new NSX)

Nine cars look like they are out: BMW #24, Lexus #14, Porsche #59, Lamborghini #16, Porsche #73, Ferrari #51, Porsche #54, Mercedes #50, Lamborghini #21. Three more are more than 100 laps down.

Our 16th full course caution as the #8 Oreca PC car spins again.

Then, the #55 Mazda DPi car catches on fire as it enters the pits. Spencer Pigot is out—he's okay.

Also, if I didn't want to stay up for the whole race, I could have played a Jeff Gordon interview drinking game. He's been on a lot, as FOX frantically cross-promotes ...

... a few minutes later, the #26 Oreca PC car spins. Yet another full course yellow.

A full course caution (the 18th) as the #81 Oreca prototype loses its rear wing, slams the wall, and spins into the infield with about 2 hours and 55 minutes left.

Green with 2 hours 40 minutes to go.

Two and a half hours left, 584 laps in.

Prototype: still Cadillac #10 [Jordan Taylor], Cadillac #5 [Christian Fittipaldi], Multimatic/Riley #90 [Rene Rast]

Prototype Challenge: a change—Oreca #38 (15th overall), Oreca #26, Oreca #20

GT Le Mans: now Ford #66 (5th overall), Corvette #3, Ford #68 (Corvette #4 still 9th in class)

GT Daytona: now Ferrari #63 (18th overall), Audi #29, Mercedes #33

Ten cars look like they are out: BMW #24, Lexus #14, Porsche #59, Lamborghini #16, Porsche #73, Ferrari #51, Porsche #54, Mercedes #50, Lamborghini #21, Mazda #55. Four more cars are more than 100 laps down. I'm actually suprised that more cars haven't been retired.

One hour and 35 minutes remain, 610 laps in.

Prototype: now Cadillac #5 [Filipe Albuquerque], Cadillac #10 [Ricky Taylor], Multimatic/Riley #90 [Rene Rast]

Prototype Challenge: still Oreca #38 (14th overall), Oreca #26, Oreca #20

GT Le Mans: now Ford #66 (5th overall), Corvette #3, Ferrari #62 (Corvette #4 still 9th in class)

GT Daytona: now Mercedes #33 (18th overall), Acura #93, Audi #29

Ten cars look like they are out: BMW #24, Lexus #14, Porsche #59, Lamborghini #16, Porsche #73, Ferrari #51, Porsche #54, Mercedes #50, Lamborghini #21, Mazda #55. It looks like the #63 Ferrari GTD car is also likely done. Four more cars are more than 100 laps down.

Green again with 49 minutes to go.

Three minutes later, the hood on the #15 Lexus just randomly pops up with Jack Hawksworth in the car. They've got it to the pits safely and are working on it.

Green with 21 minutes left.

Drama—every class but PC is tight. So far, the #5 Cadillac is holding off the #10 Cadillac in prototype and the #66 Ford is holding off the #911 Porsche in GTLM. 11  minutes remain.

The Cadillac #10 car win after moving the Cadillac #5 car on the second to last lap.

The Ford #66 car wins GTLM. Corvette places 4th and 9th in class. The #3 car did itself proud and the #4 recovered as best as could be expected.

Podiums

Prototype: now Cadillac #10, Cadillac #5, Multimatic/Riley #90

Prototype Challenge: Oreca #38 (15th overall), Oreca #26, Oreca #20

GT Le Mans: Ford #66 (5th overall), Porsche #911, Ferrari #62

GT Daytona: Porsche #28 (18th overall), Audi #29, Mercedes #33

Here is the Press Relase: