Rolex 24 At Daytona - Race Note 27

LAP 526 (18:11:47) - No. 3 BILL LESTER spins in the west horseshoe trying to avoid another car.

LAP 528 (18:15:19) - The lead falls slightly to 17.138 seconds.

UPDATES - No. 21 DIEGO ALESI brought the car to the garage for further repairs, perhaps the alternator this time.
The next driver in the car will be KARL REINDLER. No.57 GUNNAR JEANNETTE said he was the "filling in a DP sandwich" but is okay after the crash, which damaged his right rear and left front. The crew is working feverishly to make repairs in the garage.

LAP 529 (18:17:04) - No. 99 JIMMY VASSER takes the PONTIAC RILEY behind the wall with gearbox problems. That makes only four cars on the lead lap.

LAP 530 (18:18:50) - No. 91 JOHNNY O'CONNELL moves into fifth overall.

LAP 530 (18:20:35) - No. 9 RYAN BRISCOE pits.

LAP 531 (18:22:40) - No. 91 JOHNNY OCONNELL spins but continues on. OVERALL LEAD CHANGE as No. 01 SCOTT PRUETT pits, handing the lead off to No. 6 IAN JAMES. No. 01 JUAN PABLO MONTOYA is now in the car.

LAP 533 (18:24:26) - The top five in Daytona Prototype are No. 6 IAN JAMES, No. 23 JOEY HAND, No. 59 JOAO BARBOSA, No. 01 DARIO FRANCHITTI and No. 91 JOHHNY OCONNELL, whose car is currently in the pits with the back cowling off.

LAP 535 (18:27:55) - No. 99 JIMMY VASSER returns to action after the crew repaired a broken tooth in the gearbox. No. 60 JUSTIN WILSON moves to sixth overall. LAP 536 (18:29:46) - No. 76 RICARDO ZONTA moves into seventh after passing No. 91 JOHNNY O'CONNELL.

LAP 537 (18:31:27) - The top three Daytona Prototypes are separated by only 24.421 seconds, while No. 70 RAPHAEL MATOS continues to lead the GT class race by a lap.

LAP 538 (18:33:12) - No. 6 IAN JAMES spins on his own power but continues on. There appears to be slight damage to the car's nose. OVERALL LEAD CHANGE as No. 23 JOEY HAND and No. 59 JOAO BARBOSA take advantage of No. 6 IAN JAMES's spin and move into first and second.

LAP 541 (18:38:51) - GT leader No. 70 RAPHAEL MATOS is currently 12th overall. The top five in GT are No. 70 RAPHAEL MATOS, No. 67 ROMAN DUMAS, No. 66 ANDY LALLY, No. 64 JOHANNES VAN OVERBEEK and No. 69 LONNIE PECHNIK.

UPDATE - No. 91 JOHNNY O'CONNELL remains in the pits as the crew works on the engine.

LAP 544 (18:44:11) - FULL COURSE CAUTION for debris around the racetrack.

LAP 545 (18:46:05) - The Daytona Prototypes pitting are Nos. 21, 91, 09, 3, 23, 01, 6, 60, 77 and 76. OVERALL LEAD CHANGE as No. 59 JOAO BARBOSA takes the lead. No. 01 MEMO ROJAS moves to second place.

LAP 546 (18:50:4 6) - The pits are open for GT cars. Among the cars pitting are Nos. 74 and 17. OVERALL LEAD CHANGE as No. 59 JOAO BARBOSA takes the lead. No. 91 JOHNNY O'CONNELL returns to action.

LAP 547 (18:53:55) - The top five in Daytona Prototype are No. 59 JOAO BARBOSA, No. 01 JUAN PABLO MONTOYA, No. 6 BURT FRISSELLE, No. 23 JOEY HAND and No. 60 JUSTIN WILSON. Among the GT cars pitting are Nos. 87, 68, 38, 86, 70, 67, 07, 10, 9, 85, 66, 02 and 75.