Rolex 24: Hour 4

Our prayers are with both drivers in this wreck between the International horseshoe and the kink.  The race is under a red flag right now, as the clock continues to run.  Memo Gidley was placed on a stretcher, and into the ambulance.  He has been taken straight to the hospital, not the infield medical center.  We are praying for him to pull through this.  The race will get back underway.  But, we still worry about the health of our friends and drivers, Matteo Malucelli, and Memo Gidley.

The cars are moving again.  But, hopefully there will be no mechanical issues or heat soak.  Don't draw any conclusions.  We need more information.  Right now, every driver must continue taking risks, and also weighing risk and reward.  What is the strategy?  The tire temperatures are stone cold.  Lock any fear or concern out of your mind, and keep racing.  The field is being regrouped under this red flag.  There's a long, long way to go.

The cars are beginning to roll.  Michael Valiante is tenth overall in Prototype.  We'll see what the order is as the race resumes.  Fabien Giroix is behind the wheel of the #9 Action Express Corvette.  Antonio Garcia is in the #3 Corvette.  Bryce Miller is in the Paul Miller Racing Audi R8.  There are a lot of new pieces of technology to help with seeing where cars are at night.  Play the strategy.  The pit lane is closed.  But, when it opens, there will be many pit stops.

The sun is dropping down, and there will be driver changes.  There has been debris scattered all over the place.  Tire changes will be allowed.  Also, cars in the garage will be able to be repaired.  You cannot work on a car under red flag conditions.  When darkness comes, the race's complexion will change entirely.  The lap times in GT LM are incredibly close.  The incident with the #46 Audi R8 at the start, was due to a half shaft failure.

Rob Huff is the World Touring Car champion.  He's driving well in this race, and for the first time in 14 years, running with a full face helmet.  Huff just won the Thunder Hill 25 Hours, with an Audi R8 and Rotec Racing, just before Christmas.  He also ran the Dubai 24 Hours, and after this race, he'll run the Bathurst 12 Hours.  Now, the officials will letg the cars roll across the timing line, and then, the cars will be sent on their way.

Cars begin to move, and we're ready for a restart.