IZOD IndyCar Series driver Charlie Kimball will compete in his first Rolex 24 At Daytona in January with Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates.
Kimball, who will enter his third IZOD IndyCar Series season driving the No. 83 Novo Nordisk Chip Ganassi Racing car, will be paired with Scott Pruett, Memo Rojas and Juan Pablo Montoya in the No. 01 TELMEX/Target entry in the Daytona Prototype class. Pruett and Rojas earned their fourth GRAND-AM Daytona Prototype championship as teammates in 2012.
"I watched from the Ganassi pit stand last year and saw first-hand how much work and team effort it takes to have a good race, and I know I have great teammates in Scott Pruett, Memo Rojas and Juan Pablo Montoya," Kimball said. "I'm looking forward to getting down there for a test in a few weeks and take my first laps in the No. 01 TELMEX/Target car. I have to thank Chip Ganassi, Felix Sabates and the whole team for this opportunity. I'll be sure to make the most of it in January."
IZOD IndyCar Series champions Dario Franchitti and Scott Dixon will be joined by Jamie McMurray and Joey Hand in the No. 02 Target/TELMEX car. Franchitti is the only driver to capture the 12 Hours of Sebring, the Indianapolis 500, an IZOD IndyCar Series title and the Rolex 24 At Daytona consecutively, accomplishing the feat in less than a year in 2009.
“The Daytona 24 is something that we all do for fun,” Franchitti said. “It’s something that (team owner) Chip (Ganassi) loves to do so we all sign up to do it to give back to Chip for all that he does for us.”
Ganassi and Sabates are the only team owners in history to win three consecutive Rolex 24 At Daytona events (2006-08).
“Because it is a 24-hour race, there are so many factors that go into having success,” Ganassi said. “You need the drivers, the people, the equipment and the partners, but most importantly they all have to act as one team and that is where I think our strength lies. It is a great kickoff to our racing season.”