The 62nd Rolex 24 at Daytona is next weekend, presenting the opportunity for drivers and teams to cement their legacy in the twice-around-the-clock endurance race at Florida’s Daytona Int’l Speedway.
Through the 62 years of the event’s rich history are plenty of records that stand tall. The race’s winningest drivers, Hurley Haywood and Scott Pruett, hold five overall victories.
While no driver in the 59-car field can top five overall wins when the checkered flag falls next Sunday afternoon, four wins is within reach for one of racing’s top stars.
Six-time NTT IndyCar Series champion Scott Dixon has collected three timepieces in the overall category since his first start in the historic event in 2004.
Dixon secured an additional Rolex watch in 2018 aboard a Ford GT in the now defunct GTLM division.
The 43-year-old will pilot Chip Ganassi Racing’s No. 01 Cadillac V-Series.R alongside IndyCar teammate and champion Alex Palou, Sebastien Bourdais and Renger van der Zande.
In GTP, Dixon enters the race as the winningest driver among all drivers in the category.
“I always look forward to Daytona; it’s a great way to kick off the season,” Dixon said. “I feel like we had a really good shot last year and the car speed was really good. The team has done a good job in the offseason to make things a little bit smoother and better.
“The key is always to stay out of trouble and make sure you finish the 24 hours first and then hopefully have a good shot at trying to get a win.”
Last year, the team came up short and finished third.
While Dixon’s last Rolex triumph came in 2020 with Wayne Taylor Racing, another Rolex watch with team owner Chip Ganassi may be on the horizon.
“We are ready to build on our Rolex 24 At Daytona success with the Cadillac V-Series.R after finishing third and fourth there in its debut race in 2023,” CGR Director of Operations, Mike O’Gara, said. “It has been a few years since Chip Ganassi Racing has won overall at Daytona, but we feel confident that we can compete for another win and add to our eight victories there.
“We have been working hard in the offseason both at the race track testing, as well in the race shop, to be ready. It’s exciting to be returning with our IMSA veteran drivers Renger van der Zande and Sebastien Bourdais, and it is great to have Scott Dixon back again and then with a pleasant surprise in being able to add Alex Palou to the lineup this year, as well.
“Having the opportunity to work with drivers, engineers and a crew of this caliber is an honor.”