Last year’s win not enough for Donohue

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – David Donohue was alone and nestled in the corner of Victory Lane at Daytona International Speedway for a photo shoot, watching the star drivers of Chip Ganassi Racing gobble up all the attention.

Even after winning the 24 Hours at Daytona last year, Donohue enters today’s sports car endurance race knowing he’s not the favorite.

And neither is any other driver without Ganassi stitched on the uniform.

“With the depth of the Ganassi resources,” Donohue said, “they will always be the team to beat.”

Maybe this year more than ever.

Donohue and the Brumos Racing team held off NASCAR star Juan Pablo Montoya and the star-studded lineup a year ago in the closest finish by far in the history of the event, ending Ganassi’s three-year reign atop American sports car racing’s crown jewel. That upset in the twice-around-the-clock event gives this year’s race a little added spice.

Montoya will share the driver’s seat of the No. 02 BMW Riley with fellow Indianapolis 500 winners Scott Dixon and Dario Franchitti, and NASCAR’s Jamie McMurray. And with Scott Pruett leading Ganassi’s No. 01 BMW Riley, the organization is not only aiming for one car at the top, it’s hoping for two.

“I would think that we are the favorites,” Montoya said. “I think everybody is looking to knock us off again. We won three in a row, and we finished second last year. This year, it would be nice if we had two cars in contention. It would be fun if we could make that like a 1-2 finish.”

Ganassi’s cars aren’t the only ones featuring big-name drivers crossing over to Grand-Am.

Four-time NASCAR champion Jimmie Johnson headlines the GAINSCO/Bob Stallings Racing team that has had a rough week of practice. Johnson damaged the rear of the No. 99 Chevrolet Riley on Thursday when he slammed into a wall trying to avoid a slower car.

The No. 99 car missed qualifying because of the wreck and will begin last in 45th place. The team worked overnight to get the car back on the track Friday, and Johnson said the crash shouldn’t change the way they run because the length of the race makes starting position less important.

Max Angelelli took the pole Thursday, and Ozz Negri will start outside him on the front row. The No. 02 Ganassi led by Montoya will start fourth, and the No. 01 will be fifth. Donohue will be seventh with Brumos Racing.

Johnson said that even with all he has accomplished in NASCAR, he’d like to win a 24 Hours title.

“It would be really high on my list of accomplishments because it’s so different than the rest of the stuff I run,” he said. “It’s a helluva an adventure.”

One that won’t be easy.

Most NASCAR drivers said the toughest part about weaving around the 3.56-mile road course – not including the winding infield, the NASCAR oval’s high banks and the narrow turns – is navigating through traffic. Especially with Daytona Prototypes running straightaway speeds at least 20 mph faster than the GT cars that will also be racing.

Then there’s trying to rest amid the endless endurance race. Switching drivers. The different strategy.

All things Ganassi does best.