2012 Rolex 24

Oh, Eric's awake. I thought I was the only one.

Well, 4 AM, 11 and a half hours left to what has been an interesting race.

DP Top 5: 8, 60, 01, 5, 6
GT Top 5: 59, 44, 67, 57, 23

5:15 AM: DP Top 5 is the same, GT Top 5 changed a bit. 44 and 67 switched spots, and the 23 fell to eighth in class. 88 is now in GT Top 5.

7:30 AM: Sun is up. Eight hours left.

DP Top 5: 60, 8, 01, 6, 5
GT Top 5: 44, 59, 67, 57, 63

Wow, I'm lame. I went to bed at 10:30 last night. Woke up about an hour ago and watched some of the on-boards on SPEED.com while I listened to the MRN radio feed. My dog was "watching" it with me for awhile, but she derped out of my room.

Any fail during the night?

Race is really heating up, DP and GT battle is getting good. Caution is out again for the 19 Porsche brake fail.

Boys, Brian Johnson is getting back in the car. Gordon Smiley walking!

pepsibottle1 wrote:Any fail during the night?

Biggest one was the 99. Others were just spins.

Waltrip trash is behind the wall. Clutch problems are cited as the reason. Hopefully they won't come out and ruin an otherwise great race. The DP battle is absolutely awesome if you aren't watching at the moment. 3 way battle between the 01, 8 and the 60 although the 6 is also on the lead lap albeit 45 seconds back. I have a feeling that this race will come down to the final hour.

OMGEEZUS, DID ANYONE CATCH THAT 4 WIDE BETWEEN MCNISH AND NEGRI? Both the DP's were roadblocked by two GT cars coming into NASCAR turn 2, and before the GT guys knew what to do, Negri pushed Mcnish up the track just a little bit and both the DP's split the slower GT's which were ALSO racing for position. What a moment.

This battle is absolutely insane, it's been bumper to bumper between the two Fords (8 and 60) for the last hour. Graham Rahal has been hanging in there but the two Fords have pulled a 2.5 second gap. The Beemer is better in the infield but the Fords are killing them on the oval. Rahal has been faster though the past few laps. I smell an epic last hour battle, especially if we get another caution. Man, what a race! Turn on your TV's folks!

NASCAR, take a good hard look and what Grand Am has done with their rules package. This is what we call racing. Now not all of this can be transferred to stock car racing but at least the administration is making effective changes to promote innovation and competition. Oh gee, they aren't racing in packs or two car tangos! That's a travisty that must be corrected! And is that an engine war between BMW and Ford? We've got to even the horsepower gap and torque curves, because that's ilwegal! Look at all that manufactuer involvement? You know why? Grand Am allows manufactuers to flex themselves and create a unique package.

Starworks #2 car is stopped below the pit entrance, no yellow as workers come to the aid of the stricken Riley. 1st and 2nd place in the pits! Mcnish remains in the 8 while A.J Allmendinger comes into the 60. He will finish the race. The Starworks car get out of the pits first with the Shenk Racing car two carlengths back. Ganassi car I believe is also coming in. Correct me if I'm wrong but there is one more pit stop to go. DP battle is still bumper to bumper, as it has been for the past 2 and a half hours. Allmendinger makes a move for the lead and is now pulling on Mcnish, creating a half second gap. But wait, A.J has been slowed by a GT car and Mcnish retakes the lead! Graham Rahal trailing by 4.5 secs. Back to bumper to bumper! Action is too fast to keep track of. AJ will have a very long stint where Mcnish and Rahal are going to switch out. Brumos Porsch has a 50 sec lead in GT. I'm telling you, this is the best racing I have seen of late! I never expected it to be this close

Caution is out once again. Missed it, I was playing my guitar. But what I didnt miss was the 8 and 60 trading paint on the back straight. Ganassi takes the pit load on pit road! What a stop! They ripped off a quick one! And take note that Scott Pruett is back in the car.

This race. Insnanity.

Alta wrote:This race. Insnanity.

This is a hell of a race. I just hope they can keep it going until the end. I mean, THE FRIGGIN' DP's ARE TRADING PAINT ON THE BACK STRAIGHT! Advantage to Ganassi with Pruett in the car. And as soon as I say that, AJ takes the lead.

pepsibottle1 wrote:

Alta wrote:This race. Insnanity.

This is a hell of a race. I just hope they can keep it going until the end. I mean, THE FRIGGIN' DP's ARE TRADING PAINT ON THE BACK STRAIGHT! Advantage to Ganassi with Pruett in the car. And as soon as I say that, AJ takes the lead.

Just like when you raced for the Minardi's

Alta wrote:

pepsibottle1 wrote:

Alta wrote:This race. Insnanity.

This is a hell of a race. I just hope they can keep it going until the end. I mean, THE FRIGGIN' DP's ARE TRADING PAINT ON THE BACK STRAIGHT! Advantage to Ganassi with Pruett in the car. And as soon as I say that, AJ takes the lead.

Just like when you raced for the Minardi's

It's tough being a backmarker

CAUTION #14: WeatherTech Porsche is stopped on the bottom of Nascar 3. Suspension/axle has given up the ghost after hitting the curb on the bus stop. In car camera shows that Waltrip trash is back on the track.

Pruett clutch problems?!

Waltrip's gone off.

What a race. Now I have a flight to make.

Alright Allmendinger!

Great race, a lot of fun all around. Good way to start the racing season.

Grats Dinger and the Shenk Racing team!

If this is how Allmendinger is going to race, I expect his first Cup win this year.

Man, I picked the wrong day to do my project. From the clips that I've seen on YouTube, AJ really drove his butt off in that race. He's already showing promise and the NSCS season hasn't even started yet!

I didn't get a chance to watch this because I pretty much worked all weekend, but great to see Allmendinger get the victory. Maybe this is a sign of things to come for A.J.