Daytona 24 Hour Six Report

DAYTONA, FL (January 31, 1998) - The sun has fallen and so have the temperatures as the Rolex 24 continues into darkness. At 5:52 all the cars were ordered to have their headlights on. Once darkness falls, the only sensation, other than the awesome roar of engines, is that of speed. Pure speed.

It's often hard to tell the cars apart at night, except for the engine sound. The leading Ferrari of the Scandia team screams as it reaches the end of the front straight. In second, the Dyson team's Riley and Scott doesn't have the distinctive sound of the Ferrari. It's a bit harder to find at night.

The teams have problems telling the cars apart too. They add reflective tape and brightly colored lights so they can spot their cars as they approach the pits. A few teams have added neons lights shaped in the car's number.

One of the cars that is easlily identified because of its wild body shape is the Panoz. The car has been nicknamed the Batmobile by the local press. The number 99 car runs third overall, only two laps behind the leader. Early in the race, the two Panoz cars ran nose to tail, leading GT1.

The number five Panoz was involved in an early incident during a caution period. The car was hit from behind and spent an hour and a half making repairs. The car is 42 laps behind the GT1 leader.

At the end of six hours, the top five are:

CAN-AM 3 CA, Papis/Evns/Dalms/Wlk/Felw, Ferrari 333 SP, 20 CA, Leitzinger/Paul/Schroeder, Riley & Scott, 30 CA, Mortti/Theys/Lyndyk/Baldi, Ferrari 333 SP, 36 CA, Matws/Pace/Waddl/Salazar, Riley & Scott, 16 CA, Weaver/EFR/Dyson, Riley & Scott,

GT1 99 GT1, Brbhm/Brnrd/Davies/Bundy, Panoz GTR, 38 GT1, Boutsen/Pilgrim/Kelleners, Porsche 911 GT1, 01 GT1, McNsh/Sllvn/Mllr/Alz/Mllr, Porsche 911 GT1, 74 GT1, Robns/Bldwn/Hoerr/Goodng, Oldsmobile Aurora, 00 GT1, Bouct/Golrd/Rosnbld/Ahrle, Porsche 911 GT1,

GT2 97 GT2, Kitchak/Seiler/Roslr/Zadr, Porsche 911 GT2, 98 GT2, Konrad/Schumchr/Ham/Nearn, Porsche 911 GT2, 71 GT3, Worth/Ted/Vtcci/Sansn/Lst, Mazda RX-7, 50 GT2, McGln/Opnhmr/Blbch/Jsn/Js, Porsche 911T, 05 GT2, Iketani/Ishihara, Porsche 911 GT2,

GT3 41 GT3, Cerv/Wagnr/Colns/Baseng, Porsche 911 RSR, 10 GT3, Auberlen/Duez/Said/DeRad, BMW M3, 07 GT3, Mrshl/Gald/Cobb/Kng/Chmbr, Porsche 911, 75 GT3, Schmd/Schmd/Bngm/Smth/Del, Porsche RSR, 09 GT3, Conway/Flis/Van Cleef, Mitsubishi Eclipse,

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