A blown tyre in the tri-oval cost Kuba Giermaziak and the MOMO/NGT Motorsport any chance of victory in the GT class, the Pole limping around with the front-left of the #30 Porsche deranged.
However, while the incident ruined his team’s chances the resultant caution helped double the number of Daytona Prototypes in the lead lap, Spirit of Daytona Racing, Michael Shank Racing’s #60 and Starworks Motorsport’s #2 all lifted back onto the lead lap after their previous problems.
For the Starworks entry the problems were as recent as the start of the hour, a punctured right-front tyre damaging the front bodywork, prompting a pitstop for repairs. In the team’s other Ford-Riley Sunoco Rolex 24 at Daytona Challenge winner Ivan Bellarosa was reportedly pushed into a spin, the final contact with the tyre wall doing heavy damage to the rear of the already delayed #8 entry.
Bellarosa’s predecessor as Sunoco Challenge winner Felipe Nasr also continued a troubled race for the #5 Action Express Racing Corvette DP, having to pit after reporting brake problems.
At the head of the field the #01 Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates BMW-Riley and the Corvette DPs of both Wayne Taylor Racing and the #9 Action Express Racing, Joao Barbosa briefly leading in the #9 as the lead trio cycled through green flag pitstops.
Also pitting under green was Anthony Lazzaro, bringing the #69 Ferrari 458 in from the lead. He would regain second when his class rivals pitted under the caution brought out by the MOMO Porsche that had taken second as he pitted.
Napleton Racing’s #16 Porsche Cayman continues to lead the depleted GX class.
2013 Rolex 24 at Daytona Daytona Prototype standings after 19 hours
1 – #01 Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates BMW-Riley
2 – #10 Wayne Taylor Racing Corvette DP
3 – #9 Action Express Racing Corvette DP
4 – #60 Michael Shank Racing Ford-Riley
5 – #2 Starworks Motorsport Ford-Riley
2013 Rolex 24 at Daytona GT standings after 19 hours
1 – #63 Scuderia Corsa Ferrari
2 – #69 AIM Autosport/FXDD with Ferrari Ferrari
3 – #44 Magnus Racing Porsche
4 – #24 Alex Job Racing Audi
5 – #23 Alex Job Racing Porsche
2013 Rolex 24 at Daytona GX standings after 19 hours
1 – #16 Napleton Racing Porsche Cayman
2 – #22 Bullet Racing Porsche Cayman GX.R
3 – #38 BGB Motorsports Porsche Cayman GX.R
