Reigning Verizon IndyCar Series champion Scott Dixon will be one of nine drivers from the series to partake in the Rolex 24 at Daytona this weekend, as the North American sports car season gets underway.
The Kiwi, who stormed to his fourth Verizon IndyCar Series crown last season, will be joined by Chip Ganassi Racing team-mate Tony Kanaan in the No. 02 Ford Ecoboost/Riley Prototype machine. The duo will once again be joined by Ganassi NASCAR drivers’ Kyle Larson and Jamie McMurray, as the quartet aim to defend their Daytona title.
Dixon and Kanaan will be joined by fellow Verizon IndyCar Series drivers’ Graham Rahal, Ryan Hunter-Reay, Sebastien Bourdais, Simon Pagenaud, Mikhail Aleshin, Jack Hawksworth and Spencer Pigot.
The 54th running of the event will consist of 24 drivers with Verizon IndyCar Series experience, including former Formula 1 ace Rubens Barrichello who has been confirmed as a late replacement in the No. 10 Konica Minolta Corvette DP for Wayne Taylor Racing alongside Max Angelelli and brothers Ricky and Jordan Taylor.
The 43-year-old enjoyed a long and colourful career in F1 with the likes of Jordan, Ferrari and Williams, most notably partnering Michael Schumacher throughout the German’s most dominant spell in the sport with the Scuderia.
Barrichello has since competed in the Verizon IndyCar Series with KV Racing Technology and the Stock Car Brasil series, where he was crowned champion in 2014. This will be the Brazilian’s third time partaking in the coveted Rolex 24 at Daytona, following participation last season and in 2013.
“I’m excited for this opportunity as the Rolex 24 has always been a race that I’ve had a great interest in,” explained Barrichello. “This is one of the most successful teams in the history of sports car racing and it’s a great pleasure to be able to race in the Rolex 24 with such a competitive team.
“If they’re not out there winning races, they always seem to be fighting to win at the end. I am looking forward to this opportunity.”
The Rolex 24 at Daytona will officially get underway with practice and qualifying on January 28th, before a final practice session the following day. The main 24-hour event will take place on January 30th.
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