IMSA 2022: ROLEX 24 at Daytona DPi epilogue

📷 © Luc Warnotte @ ROLEX 24 at Daytona 2022.

Outstanding debut for the 4 recruits in # 60 Meyer Shank Racing w/Curb-Agajanian Acura ARX-05 as they won the 60th edition of the ROLEX 24 at Daytona.  It was Tom Blomqvist’s first race in DPi, Oliver Jarvis was former Mazda driver, Simon Pagenaud former Ally Cadillac Racing and Hélio Castroneves won last year with Wayne Taylor Racing Acura.

📷 © Luc Warnotte @ ROLEX 24 at Daytona 2022.

The ROLEX 24 at Daytona 2022 race was very tight from start to finish as the top 4 finished within 5.615 sec., after having exchanged the lead in the closing hours and seeing all seven DPi cars in the lead during the first half of the race. 

📷 © Luc Warnotte @ ROLEX 24 at Daytona 2022.

Meyer Shank Racing's #60 Acura ARX-05 suffered a puncture, changed the engine cover after 6 hours of racing, and received a penalty for excessive speed in the pit lane. Despite those setbacks, both Acuras were lucky to refill before the last FCY and restarted first and second after both leading Cadillac DPi-V. Rs from Action Express Racing and JDC-Miller Motorsports pitted just before the restart leaving the Acuras upfront.

This happened after Tom Blomqvist took over Ricky Taylor in his #10 Acura with 68 min. to go, laying the way for Catronoves to finish first under the checkered flag, gaining his second Rolex in a row and… the 500 Miles of Indianapolis in one year!

It is Acura’s second straight Rolex 24 hours win after Wayne Taylor racing Acura won the 2021 edition.

📷 © Luc Warnotte @ ROLEX 24 at Daytona 2022.

Last year’s winners #10 Konica Minolta Acura ARX-05 driven by Filipe Albuquerque, Ricky Taylor, Alexander Rossi and Will Stevens ended 2nd, 3.028 sec. behind the winners, after Stevens had lost 2 laps in a puncture at T1 early in the race. 📷 © Luc Warnotte @ ROLEX 24 at Daytona 2022.

📷 © Luc Warnotte @ ROLEX 24 at Daytona 2022.

JDC Miller MotorSports’ #5 Cadillac DPi-V.R entry led more than 100 laps as Duval passed Derani with his #31 Action Express Racing Cadillac, with 3,5 hours to go. They had a comfortable 20 sec. lead until two FCY put them back to 4th due to the timing of their pit stops when the two Acura pitted just before the FCY. With only 30 min. after the last restart, Duval was pushed off track by #31 Cadillac being too far away to connect with the two Acura despite being the fastest car on the track. He finished 4.420 sec. behind the winning Acura. completing the podium with his teammates T. Vautier, R. Westbrook and B. Keating driving the #5 JDC Miller Motorsports Cadillac.

📷 © Luc Warnotte @ ROLEX 24 at Daytona 2022.

Pipo Derani, Mike Conway and T. Nunez were 4th with their #31 Whelen Engineering Racing Cadillac.

The evolution of a DPi during ROLEX 24 at Daytona 2022. Left during practices - Center on Saturday at sunset - Right on Sunday morning

📷 © Luc Warnotte @ ROLEX 24 at Daytona 2022. 

The #48 of Kamui Kobayashi, Jimmie Johnson, Mike Rockenfeller and José Maria Lopez finished 11th at 22 laps despite Kobayashi’s domination at the beginning of the race but had to change the rear diffuser on the Cadillac and were forced to the garage for bodywork after J. Johnson had a broken suspension due to a contact with #13 LMP3.

 Major setback for the favorites Chip Ganassi Racing Cadillac. 

📷 © Luc Warnotte @ ROLEX 24 at Daytona 2022.

#02 of Earl Bamber, Alex Lynn, Marcus Ericsson and Kevin Magnussen led the race during the night, even after a drive-through following contact with #31 Cadillac. They suffered fuel pump problems and crossed the finish line in 12th place at 27 laps.

#01 of Sébastien Bourdais, Scott Dixon, Alex Palou and Renger van der Zande held the lead for quite a while until they had to change the alternator belt and lost 40 laps. They finished 14th overall and last DPi.