Rolex 24 at Daytona: Hour 18

Five and a half hours remaining in the Rolex 24.  Yours truly, missed a couple of hours from the 6AM to the 8AM hour.  Right now, the #2 ESM car is ahead with Luis Felipe Derani at the controls.  We see the #2 machine coming to pit lane.  The #2 car has just run a 27 lap stint.  The #02 Ganassi car is sixth overall.  Here too, is the #10 Corvette for Wayne Taylor Racing.  Jordan Taylor has come in and Max Angelelli is now getting strapped into the car. Angelelli is able to save fuel. 

Chris Miller leads Prototype Challenge right now.  For Roger Penske, he created a team and in 1966, they earned their first ever win of any kind, 50 years ago.  The Indycar boys love this race.  We watch the #44 Magnus Racing Audi that has led GT Daytona for a long while, and the #97 Turner BMW M6 GT3.  The factory Porsche's and the #4 Chevrolet Corvette C-7-R- have pitted.  In the #3 'Vette, Mike Rockenfeller is driving, with Tommy Milner in the sister car.  Work out your strategy, back time your fuel.

With the Michelin tires, for GTLM, they have several tire types they can use.  But, they have to also work with their allocated tires.  Now, Kevin Estre ran wide and locked a brake in turn six.  He's probably got a flat tire here.  Estre is an amazing driver, moving from McLaren to Porsche.  HHe could not turn into turn six.  So, he does not reallyhave a tire problem.  The rear left, is being examined.  The brake caliper is sitting wrong on the disc and also, there could be a problem with the driveshaft.

Dirk Werner in the BMW M6 battles Michael Christensen in the sister Porsche 911.  The #85 JDC Miller Racing Prototype Challenge car, was 20 laps up, earlier, and is now, ten laps ahead of their competition.  They are going to have to go back into the garage to get this Porsche fixed.  You cannot reverse the car into the pits.  That is against the rules.  The engine is stalling.  It does not have enough power.

Something is internally wrong, with the car.  565 laps have been completed.  2,011 miles.  We watch GT Le Mans and GT Daytona Porsche's running together.  Marco Seefried is leading GT Daytona in the #44 Magnus Racing Audi R8.  Jesse Krohn in the #96 BMW M6, gets passed by Australian V8 Supercars veteran Shane van Gisbergen.  The #73 Park Place Porsche 911 GT3 has had to go to the garage. Patrick Lindsey at the wheel. 

Fourth in GT Daytona is the #23 Porsche.  In the pit is the #72 SMP Racing Ferrari 488 GTE.  These boys arehaving some trouble.  There was smoke out of the car. AF Corse is pitting this car.  They have to go back tothe garage.  Lots of oil on the rear undeertray for the Porsche.  We see a change for the GT Daytona lead.  Shane van Gisbergen takes the lead from Marco Seefried.  van Gisbergen is a real shoe.  He can drive a V8 Supercar, or a GT3 car.