29 Jan 50th Rolex 24 Race is Living up to the Hype!
The race opened with a clean start on the racetrack and a throng of excited race fans packing the infield Saturday. The festive sun-soaked event, which took more than a year of planning, lived up to hype as Grand-Am Rolex Series sports cars roared to life and took to the 3.56 mile road course right on schedule.
In the 2011 Rolex 24, there were 48 cars. This weekend 61 cars are competing, including 47 Grand Touring sedans.
This is by far the biggest field for this race seen in years. The infield is completely sold out. The fans are super excited and super stoked! The weather is great today. A high of 69 and mostly sunny skies. The race concludes on Sunday at 3:30 pm.
People are everywhere today. Race fans line the road course. The Fan Deck in the Fanzine is five deep, with parents holding young children on their shoulders. Thousands watched the green flag lap from the main grandstand.
All the car companies are represented too, with large tents and exhibits where fans collect posters, see engines, pose behind cardboard cutouts of Grand-Am and NASCAR drivers and look at the latest models.
At the Porsche and Mazda displays, fans were allowed to sit inside a car. Nearby, a slot car race tournament was taking place all afternoon Saturday.
Stay tuned for more race updates throughout today and tomorrow! Go #32!!!
This has been Car Chat with Auto Supersheild, 3m paint protection.