All four full-time Ganassi IndyCar drivers will compete in this weekend's Rolex 24 Hours
One of IndyCar racing’s most dominant teams will have all four of its star drivers competing in this weekend’s Rolex 24 at Daytona.
Chip Ganassi Racing’s foursome of six-time IndyCar champion Scott Dixon, defending IndyCar champ Alex Palou, Marcus Ericsson and seven-time NASCAR Cup champ Jimmie Johnson will all take part in the 60th running of the winter sports car classic.
All photos courtesy Chip Ganassi Racing
While Johnson will race in the No. 48 Ally Cadillac for Action Express Racing, Dixon, Palou and Ericsson will all compete for Ganassi in a pair of Cadillac DPi-V.Rs.
Dixon and Palou will join former IndyCar competitor Sébastien Bourdais and IMSA regular Renger van der Zande in CGR's No. 01 entry.
Ericsson will join Earl Bamber, Kevin Magnussen and Alex Lynn in the team’s No. 02 entry.
The only IndyCar driver from the CGR stable who will not be competing is veteran Tony Kanaan, who is expected to race just one time for the organization this year, in the 106th Running of the Indianapolis 500 in late May.
Meanwhile, for Palou, it will be his first try in the Rolex 24 and he's definitely looking forward to it.
“I’m ready for the 24 Hours with the team,” Palou said. “With the drivers, I’m sure it’s gonna be pretty awesome. I’m really, really excited. I think it’s going to be a great event.
“Just to have the chance to be in Daytona in the Cadillac DPi is amazing. Then, when you put together a team like this, it’s insane. I can relate to all of them; I know all of them have won this race before.
"I know what we want to accomplish (and) they know how to do it. It’s about learning and trying to get a nice watch in a couple of days.”
Ganassi’s regular IMSA drivers are also very excited to compete alongside their IndyCar counterparts.
“I think we stand a great chance. We got a fantastic car and fantastic team with four talented drivers in the No. 2,” said Lynn, who is competing in his first IMSA season this year. “I can’t say that I’m not hoping to try to win the big trophy and pick up a new watch.”
Longtime CGR Managing Director Mike Hull is quite bullish on this year's Rolex effort.
“Our Cadillac drivers lead by example,” Hull said. “Each have already won on the world stage. They unselfishly mirror each other’s performance on and off track. Their equal experience combined with skill set is driven through zero agenda.
“In today’s world of equal performance standards, the driver’s contribution is the ultimate separator. Our roster has eight of the very best in equal Cadillacs. Bamber, Bourdais, Ericsson, Dixon, Lynn, Magnussen and van der Zande -- this group drives as one.”
As for Johnson, while he may not be competing under the Ganassi banner this weekend, he is still is eager to add another major race victory to his lengthy overall motorsports resume.
This year will mark the ninth time Johnson has competed in the Rolex 24, and he has finished second overall on three separate occasions.
Johnson will be paired up with José María López, Kamui Kobayashi and Mike Rockenfeller in this weekend’s race.
“I'm very thankful that we came and tested in December, just to get the drivers, especially myself, the reps and up to speed so the limited laps that you get here at the Roar (last weekend's Roar Before the 24) doesn't spook you," Johnson said. "I feel very comfortable.
"We still have a little bit of work to do on the car, but from a new environment with Jose coming on board, the teamwork between the 31 and 48, we're having a lot of fun and it's a very good race team.”
The Ganassi team will be one of the top organizations to beat in this weekend’s race, which begins Saturday and finishes 24 hours later on Sunday.
CGR has six overall victories in the event, and always seems to be a contender when they enter the prestigious event.