CITGO/SAMAX - Rolex 24 18h and final
race 18h
The No. 7 CITGO/SAMAX Pontiac-powered Riley Mk XI continued to regain
position in the Rolex 24 At Daytona after a long pitstop to replace a drive
shaft during the first half of the race. All four of the team's drivers
completed stints during the third quarter of the race, with Milka Duno
starting in the 13th hour, followed by Marino Franchitti, Kevin McGarrity
and Dario Franchitti. Marino Franchitti regained 10th place and his brother
Dario added another position to sit ninth after 18 hours.
Marino Franchitti: "It's very disappointing we had the drive-shaft failure.
That's the only non-routine piece of maintenance we've had; everything else
has been running like clockwork. The engine hasn't been switched off yet --
we leave it running between pitstops, so that's a long time that it's been
running. If we can make it to the top 10, it will be good. It will just be
nice to see the checkered flag."
race position
start 6h 12h 18h
15 6 16 9
race report
time driver action
12h46 Duno in pit – driver change, tires, fuel
13h47 M Franchitti in pit – driver change, tires, fuel
14h28 10th
14h43 McGarrity in pit – driver change, tires, fuel
15h49 D Franchitti in pit – driver change, tires, fuel
16h55 Duno in pit – driver change, tires, fuel
17h1 stop/go for fueling problem
17h44 M Franchitti in pit – driver change, tires, fuel
------------------------------------
race 24h
The No. 7 CITGO/SAMAX Pontiac-powered Riley Mk XI finished eighth in the
2006 Rolex 24 At Daytona – the first 24-hour race for the new team. During
the final six hours of the race, Milka Duno, Dario Franchitti, Marino
Franchitti and Kevin McGarrity paced a strong recovery from an earlier
drive-shaft failure and a broken right-rear suspension. Only half of the 30
entered Daytona Prototypes finished the race, putting the CITGO Riley in
elite company.
Milka Duno: "It was such a great race for me! I had great co-drivers and it
was truly an equally shared effort. All four drivers had the same amount of
time behind the wheel – six hours each – which was very important to me. I
wanted to prove that I could hold my end – and I did.
"We had reached as high as second overall when a driveshaft broke Saturday
evening. The team worked very hard to make the repairs as quickly as
possible but even though everyone fought as hard as they could, we just
couldn’t get all the way back up there again.
"I was in the car at the end which gave me the honor of taking the checkered
flag – which was truly fantastic.
"All things considered I’m very happy with the result and I know that we
earned every bit of our top-10 finish. Had we not had the trouble, I’m very
confident that we would have enjoyed at least a top-five and most likely a
podium. Many thanks to CITGO, Dario, Marino, Kevin and the entire team for
their great effort!"
Marino Franchitti: "Without the half-shaft problem, which cost us 30 laps,
we would have been in the top three. That's disappointing. This is my third
Daytona 24 Hours and my first finish here. To finish in the top 10, with the
problem we had, is testament to not only the CITGO/SAMAX team, but to my
teammates Dario, Milka and Kevin."
Dario Franchitti: "I'm happy to finish. The guys had a couple of things to
overcome with a driveshaft problem – which a lot of teams had – and a
wishbone problem. Without those, we'd have been looking pretty good. I don't
think we had the ultimate pace, but we just kept pushing. I'm very happy to
have finished. We'll come back next year and try to win it."
Peter Baron, SAMAX Motorsport owner: "In roughly one month's time [since
starting the CITGO/SAMAX program], to finish eighth in this international
all-star field at one of the greatest Rolex 24 events is truly an amazing
accomplishment. We're very proud of the drivers and crew, and happy to be
part of the CITGO Racing program. It's a great group of people; I'm very
thankful for the opportunity they gave the team."
race position
start 6h 12h 18h 24h
15 6 16 9 8
race report
time driver action
17h44 M Franchitti in pit – driver change, tires, fuel
18h32 McGarrity in pit – broken right-rear
suspension; driver change, tires, fuel
19h27 D Franchitti in pit – driver change, tires, fuel
20h21 Duno in pit – driver change, tires, fuel
21h28 M Franchitti in pit – driver change, tires, fuel
22h10 McGarrity in pit – driver change, tires, fuel
23h25 Duno in pit – driver change
