Symmetric Media Video Production

A light rain began to fall shortly after midnight. Whether to put on rain tires is always a difficult choice. Making a pit stop at the wrong time can cost you precious seconds; you can easily loose your position if your timing is off. Dry tires have no tread to grab the wet track. The longer you postpone putting on rain tires, the greater the chance of sliding off the track.

Around 1AM, a car lost control and crashed into a guardrail. Officials stopped the race to tow the car and fix the broken guardrail, delaying the race for little over an hour. More rain fell in an hour before sunrise, causing all sorts of problems on the track.

The sun was out by 9AM, with 4.5 hours left in the race. Car 64 worked its way to position 3, eventually claiming a podium finish in that position. All TRG cars finished the race.

I had a blast covering this race. 24 Hours of Daytona is the longest race held in America. Most are only 2 hours and 45 minutes. I prefer long endurance races like these - the challenge of a team enduring over 600 laps.


The night brings rain.


Bruises won't stop this car.


Rain tires for a slick track.


One tube for fuel, the other for vapor. Talk about Full Service...


The sun is out, the track is drying, and several hours left to go.


Pit crew taking a break. Each one of those tires cost $500!


A Playboy indeed.


Driver being assisted with exiting the car.


Car 64 places 3rd in the GT class.


JLowe Racing/TRG at the podium, accepting the 3rd place trophy for the GT class.


Jim Lowe and Jim Pace.


One of the stars of the day: Juan Montoya. He is the first driver to win both the Indy 500 and the Rolex 24 at Daytona.


Ganassi Racing team takes takes first place in Daytona Prototype class and overall victory in the race. Trophy awarded by legend Richard Petty.


The CITGO Daytona Prototype car wins second, and Milka Duno makes history as the highest placing female driver in the 45 year history of the 24 hours of Daytona.

Photos by Mike Paunovich, Symmetric Media