Hour five of the 2013 Rolex 24 at Daytona started with a flurry of pit stops allowing Allan McNish driving the #2 Starworks with Alex Popow car to take the lead with a fuel only stop.
The #02 Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates was returned into the race in second, however news was not so good for the #01 car being driven by Juan Pablo Montoya being given a drive through penalty for speeding in the pit lane, dropping the #01 to third.
The battle between the #02 and #2 car was epic, with Jamie McMurray and McNish racing nose to tail, giving each other just enough room as they fought for3 laps for the leadoff the race.
The battle was suspended 19 minuites into the hour with the second full course caution of the race due to both the #00 Visit Florida Racing/Speedsource/Yellow Dragon M/S and the #27 BTE Sport cars having stopped on track and needing recovery.
During the caution period the #10 VelocityWW chose not to stop and was therefore able to move into the lead of the race with Ryan Hunter-Reay at the wheel. Allan McNish used the opportunity of a full course yellow to pit forfuel and tyres dropping the #2 Starworks car to seventh place.
Brief drama for Jan Magnussen during the caution, whilst completing pit stop he hit a stray wheel in the #57 Stevenson Motorsports car, he was able to continue with no serious damage.
The race resumed in spectacular style with Jamie McMurray fighting past Hunter-Reay for the lead, only to then have to complete a stop and hold penalty for running over pit equipment. The penalty allowed Montoya in the sister #01 car into the lead as the race progressed into its 6th hour.
The #44 Magnus Racing being driven by Nicolas Armindo was able to stabilise a lead in the GT category but as hour 5 faded the gap between the top 8 in class was just a shade over 12 seconds. The GX class remained reasonably stable with the #16 Napleton Racing Porsche still in the lead
2013 Rolex 24 at Daytona Daytona Prototype standings after 5 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 – #5 Action Express Racing – Corvette DP
5 – #99 GAINSCO/ Bob Stallings Racing – Corvette DP
2013 Rolex 24 at Daytona GT standings after 5 hours
1 – #44 Magnus Racing Porsche
2 – #24 Alex Job Racing Audi
3 – #23 Alex Job Racing – Porsche GT3 Cup
4 – #69 AIM Autosport Team FXDD with Ferrari Ferrari
5 – #59 Brumos Racing – Porsche GT3 Cup
2013 Rolex 24 at Daytona GX standings after 5 hours
1 – #16 Napleton Racing Porsche
2 – #38 BGB Motorsports Porsche
3 – #22 Bullet Racing
