Starworks Motorsports briefly moved into the lead of the Rolex 24 at Daytona through pit stop strategy, but the #01 Chip Ganassi with Felix Sabates car moved back into the lead on the hour as night descended in Florida.
The #01 Ganassi BMW-Riley had continued to lead the race as Scott Pruett maintained his strong pace to keep the Wayne Taylor Racing Corvette of Max Angelelli out of harm’s reach early in the hour.
That lead extended out to 10 seconds as Pruett lapped consistently in the 1m42s, before handing the car over to Memo Rojas halfway through the hour.
Joao Barbosa ran third for Action Express Racing as he kept former formula 1 driver Sebastien Bourdais at bay, after which Bourdais jumped to the race lead from fourth as he elected to stay in the Starworks #2 Ford-Riley.
Having held onto a two-second lead initially Rojas closed the gap and then took advantage of a better run out of the final chicane to power into the lead.
Another choosing not to make a driver change was the second Ganassi car with Dario Franchitti on board, the Scot moving up to third place and five seconds back.
The #9 Action Express Corvette is now fourth ahead of GAINSCO/Bob Stallings Racing’s Memo Gidley, the second Action Express car and Team Sahlen with Simon Pagenaud behind the wheel.
The #63 Scuderia Corsa Ferrari moved over 10 seconds ahead of the field in the GT class thanks to a fine stint by Olivier Beretta, despite a brief trip across the grass giving him a scare.
Beretta had left a three-car scrap for second lead John Edwards in his rear view mirror, with Rui Aguas and AIM Autosport Team FXDD’s Anthony Lazzaro in hot pursuit in their Ferrari 458s early in the hour before Oliver Jarvis jumped up to third in his Alex Job Racing Audi following pit stops.
NASCAR ace Clint Bowyer got behind the wheel in place of Aguas for his first stint, while elsewhere It was eventful hour for the #68 TRG Porsche thanks to two visits to the scenery for Brad Lewis.
The GX class meanwhile continues to be dominated by Porsche Cayman drivers, and continues to be a disaster for the diesel Mazdas as the #70 and #25 cars had also hit trouble, David Donohue continuing to keep Darryl O’Young’s Bullet Racing Cayman at bay for Napleton Racing.
2013 Rolex 24 at Daytona Daytona Prototype standings after 3 hours
1 – #01 Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates BMW-Riley
2 – #2 Starkworks with Alex Popow Ford Riley
3 – #02 Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates BMW-Riley
4 – #9 Action Express Racing Corvette DP
5 – #99 GAINSCO/Bob Stallings Racing Corvette DP
2013 Rolex 24 at Daytona GT standings after 3 hours
1 – #63 Scuderia Corsa Ferrari
2 – #57 Alex Job Racing Audi
3 – #24 Alex Job Racing Audi
4 – #30 MOMO/NGT Porsche GT3 Cup
5 – #44 Magnus Racing Porsche
2013 Rolex 24 at Daytona GX standings after 3 hours
1 – #16 Napleton Racing Porsche
2 – #38 BGB Motorsports Porsche
3 – #22 Bullet Racing Porsche
