On the eve of the Rolex 24 At Daytona, teams had one last chance Friday to make final preparations for the year's biggest endurance race. The defending race champions have a long line of cars that will have to be passed if they are to repeat, as a technical infraction during qualifying relegated the No. 10 SunTrust Pontiac Riley to a 27th-place overall start.
From the exciting announcement of 2000 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup champion Bobby Labonte's partnership with Spirit of Daytona Racing to IndyCar Series and Champ Car stars turning their final Daytona Prototype laps before the twice-around-the-clock classic, the World Center of Racing was abuzz one day before a field of 66 cars takes the green flag for the 44th Rolex 24 At Daytona (LIVE on SPEED, 12:00 Noon ET).
Reigning NASCAR NEXTEL Cup champion Tony Stewart recorded his first Rolex Series laps in 2006 on Friday, as he will be sharing the No. 4 Howard-Boss Motorsports Pontiac Crawford with three-time Rolex 24 winners Andy Wallace and Butch Leitzinger.
"Driving with guys like this, how did I get to pull the lucky straw?" said Stewart. "This is the strongest driver lineup I've ever been a part of in the Rolex Series.
I just want to thank the entire Crawford family and Howard-Boss Motorsports for inviting me back for another year. This race will be fun."
Kyle Petty, who teams up with Boris Said and Brian Tuttle for the Rolex 24 At Daytona, likes what he sees in the Rolex Series, and hopes to drive in more races in 2006.
"In addition to the Rolex 24, I'm going to try and race here in July (Brumos Porsche 250) and at Watkins Glen in August (Crown Royal 200 at The Glen). I've wanted to race in Alabama (Barber Motorsports Park), but the weekend always conflicts with my charity race."
"Me and Bobby (Labonte) love this series," continued Petty.
"We enjoy driving here in these cars. Maybe in the future, there will be opportunities for us to get involved together in Grand American."
Labonte must have heard what Petty said, because just over an hour later, Labonte announced a multi-year partnership with Spirit of Daytona Racing, in hopes of bringing the team to championship-caliber.
"I am looking to bring my experiences to this team, and help make this team a championship effort," said Labonte. "I wanted to join a team that I felt comfortable with, and with the people at Spirit of Daytona, it was a perfect fit."
On the track, 2003 Champ Car World Series champion Paul Tracy turned the fastest lap of the day in the No.
6 Graydon Elliott Fusion Racing with MSR Lexus Riley with a 1:44.933 (122.135 mph) in the afternoon session.
Tracy will roll of from the 12th starting position when the Rolex 24 At Daytona gets underway shortly after noon on Saturday, and will share the No. 6 machine with Kenny Wilden, Mike Borkowski and Paul Mears Jr.
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