Retired NASCAR champion Jeff Gordon to drive in Rolex 24

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (AP) Four-time NASCAR champion Jeff Gordon, who retired after the 2015 season, will drive in the Rolex 24 at Daytona for the first time in a decade.

Gordon will drive in the twice-around-the-clock endurance race next month for Wayne Taylor Racing. Gordon will share seat time in the No. 10 Cadillac with Jordan Taylor, Ricky Taylor and Max Angelelli. The team has podium finishes in each of the last four Rolex races, although its third-place showing in 2015 was later disqualified for a drive-time violation.

The Rolex opens the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar season Jan. 28-29.

Gordon's lone previous Rolex appearance came in 2007, also with Wayne Taylor Racing. He helped drive the No. 10 Pontiac with Angelelli, car owner Wayne Taylor and Jan Magnussen to a third-place result.

''When I announced I would no longer be competing full time in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, my hope was that I would get an opportunity like this to compete again in such a prestigious event - with Konica Minolta and Wayne Taylor Racing - with the hopes of winning it this time,'' said Gordon, who works as a NASCAR television analyst. ''I know that Ricky and Jordan are super-fast, and I believe it will be a very strong combination.''

The Wayne Taylor entry will compete in the prototype class. It will be one of three Cadillac DPi-V.R cars in the field. Three-time defending series champions Action Express Racing will field two Cadillacs.

Gordon has participated in private test sessions with the team in recent weeks and is expected to take part in an upcoming IMSA-sanctioned test at Daytona International Speedway in two weeks.

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