The Rolex 24 at Daytona has become a proving ground for IndyCar drivers in recent years, a trend that is set to continue in the debut event for the TUDOR United SportsCar Championship.
Chip Ganassi Racing has stacked the deck for the 2014 Rolex 24 at Daytona, announcing on Friday a stacked roster that also includes several IndyCar Series regulars.
The defending Daytona champion No. 01 Ganassi Ford will once again spotlight Scott Pruett and Memo Rojas as the full-season drivers in addition to NASCAR driver Jamie McMurray returning for Daytona. But the team will also be joined by a fourth driver this season -- defending Firestone Indy Lights champion, Sage Karam.
The 02 Prototype will feature both of Ganassi's Target team drivers in Scott Dixon and Tony Kanaan. The pair will also be joined by Sprint Cup Series driver Kyle Larson and sports car veteran Marino Franchitti, the younger brother of four-time IndyCar champion Dario Franchitti.
Just like on the IndyCar side, the retirement of Dario Franchitti created some obstacles for the second Daytona Prototype for the 24-hour endurance race. Franchitti had spearheaded that team in recent seasons as had long-time Ganassi drivers Juan Pablo Montoya and Joey Hand.
Karam, Larson, Kanaan and Marino Franchitti are all new to Ganassi for the Rolex 24 although Kanaan did drive for the operation at Indianapolis during the Brickyard Grand Prix.
Ryan Hunter-Reay lands Rolex 24 ride
The 2012 IndyCar Champion, Ryan Hunter-Reay, also stated his Rolex 24 plans on Friday, announcing that he and Rob Bell will join the factory SRT Motorsports team for the TUSC extended endurance races in 2014.
Hunter-Reay rejoins the team he competed with in 2012 and will be featured in the GT category when he competes.
Other IndyCar notables announced to rides in the Rolex 24 include Sebastien Bourdais (Action Express Prototype), Simon Pagenaud (Extreme Speed Prototype), Justin Wilson (Michael Shank Prototype), Graham Rahal (Rahal Letterman Lanigan Prototype), Ryan Briscoe (Corvette Racing GT Le Mans), and Townsend Bell (Level 5 GT Daytona).