CONCORD, N.C. -- Chase Elliott and Jimmie Johnson have gotten in their final practices for the Rolex 24 at DAYTONA and now are in the last stages of prep work before the start of the prestigious race on Saturday.
Elliott and Johnson both are part of teams under Action Express Racing for the 24-hour race at Daytona Beach, Florida, and have spent Friday logging in last-minute practice laps. Elliott is part of the No. 31 Cadillac DPi-V.R team while Johnson will don Ally gear once again in the No. 48 Cadillac DPi-V.R. Elliott’s team will be on the pole for the start of the race, making his practice times more crucial.
“A lot of us don’t drive those cars all year long,” Elliott said. “Jumping in there in their biggest event of the year is a tough thing. I’m just going to try to learn and learn fast and hope we can make it to the end.”
Johnson had run in seven Rolex 24 events, but his last event was in 2011. He admitted teammates Simon Pagenaud, Mike Rockenfeller and Kamui Kobayashi all have more experience than him, which is why it’s important to hammer down the details before the race. Johnson said he has full faith in his three teammates due to their talent and experience. Kobayashi’s team has won the past two Rolex 24 races and Rockenfeller took home the title in 2010.
“Every lap is so helpful for all of us,” Johnson said. “We all have different things that we’re contributing to the team. For me, it’s really all about getting laps – every lap counts. … When you get into the little particulars like driver changes and communication, every rep we get is so important especially with a team that is just together for one race a year. The other teams that are here on a regular basis can just communicate and execute at such a high level, while we’re trying to sort some of that stuff out.”
Elliott will be working with Mike Conway, Pipo Derani and Felipe Nasr on the No. 31 team. He said collaborating with drivers from different backgrounds is one part of the race that made it a bucket-list item for him.
“For me, I just felt like I wanted to try different things,’’ Elliott said. “I’m still fairly young – in my 20s. I think as you get older, it just gets harder to learn new disciplines. I think while I’m at the stage I’m at, I’d like to step into other areas and learn different things.
“The more diverse you can be, the better you’ll be at the end of the day and the more equipped you’re going to be down the road. Just trying to learn as much as I can at the age I’m at. It’s a good time to do these things. I have good opportunities to go do them, so why not?”
The Rolex 24 at DAYTONA starts Saturday, Jan. 30 at 3:40 p.m ET and ends on Sunday, Jan. 31 at the same time. Its broadcast will start NBC and move between NBCSN and NBC Sports before wrapping up on NBC. Click here for a full broadcast schedule.