In a spectacular start to the 60th anniversary celebrations of his legendary racing organization, Roger Penske secured a milestone victory in the first major event of the year. His Porsche Penske Motorsports team achieved a remarkable three-peat at the prestigious Rolex 24 at Daytona, cementing their place in the annals of American endurance racing history.
A Historic Achievement in Endurance Racing
The triumph marks only the third time in the 64-year history of the Rolex 24 at Daytona that a team has won three consecutive editions of this grueling competition. With this victory, Penske's squad joins the exclusive ranks of Chip Ganassi Racing and Wayne Taylor Racing as the only teams to accomplish this extraordinary feat at Daytona International Speedway. This win also represents the 21st overall victory for Porsche in this iconic event, further solidifying the German manufacturer's legacy in sports car racing.
The Brazilian Connection and Team Consistency
What makes Penske's three-year dominance particularly impressive is that each winning lineup featured different driver combinations, with Brazilian driver Felipe Nasr serving as the sole constant across all three victorious teams. Nasr, who has established himself as the team's reliable closer, extended an impressive streak that now sees Brazilian drivers contributing to winning efforts for six consecutive years at Daytona.
This Brazilian success story includes four-time Indianapolis 500 champion Helio Castroneves, who was part of the winning teams in 2021, 2022, and 2023. Nasr's latest victory came before what Daytona officials described as the largest crowd in Rolex 24 history, adding to the significance of his achievement.
A Hard-Fought Battle to the Finish
The victory did not come easily for Nasr and his team. Over the final hour of the marathon race, Nasr faced intense pressure from the Action Express Racing Cadillac, skillfully defending his position to secure the overall win. The Action Express team, owned by NASCAR and IMSA chairman Jim France, had originally qualified on pole position but faced disqualification in post-qualifying inspection.
This setback forced their No. 31 Cadillac to start last in class, but the determined lineup of Jack Aitken, Earl Bamber, Mercedes Formula 1 driver Fred Vesti, and NASCAR rising star Connor Zilisch fought their way through the field to claim second place over the demanding 24-hour period.
The Dramatic Final Stages
As Nasr and Aitken assumed closing duties for their respective teams in the race's final stages, spectators witnessed a thrilling duel. During the last 25 minutes, Aitken made several determined attempts to overtake Nasr for the lead, but the Brazilian driver masterfully defended his position at every opportunity, ultimately cruising to victory.
Nasr crossed the finish line in the overhauled No. 7 Porsche 963, sharing driving duties with teammates Julien Andlauer and Laurin Heinrich. The winning margin stood at 1 minute and .569 seconds over the pursuing Cadillac, demonstrating the competitive nature of this year's event.
Foggy Conditions and Record Delays
The race faced unprecedented challenges when foggy conditions prompted a caution period shortly before 1 a.m. This interruption lasted for a race-record 6 hours, 33 minutes, and 25 seconds, covering 120 laps of the circuit. The extended delay was so significant that even Roger Penske, known for his legendary endurance and commitment to remaining awake on the pit stand throughout the entire 24 hours, took a rare midrace break.
A Diverse and Competitive Field
The Rolex 24 at Daytona traditionally marks the unofficial beginning of the motorsports season, and this year's edition lived up to its reputation as a showcase of global racing talent. The event featured:
- 60 cars representing 12 different automobile manufacturers
- 228 drivers hailing from 32 countries
- No clear favorite entering the race, highlighting the competitive balance
In the top GTP class, the No. 24 BMW M Team WRT secured third place with drivers Sheldon van der Linde, Dries Vanthoor, Robin Frijns, and Rene Rast completing the podium. This victory establishes Penske's team as a dominant force in endurance racing as they celebrate six decades of racing excellence, while setting the stage for an exciting motorsports season ahead.
