The Level 5 Motorsports Ferrari races through the infield at the Daytona International Speedway. [Jack Webster Photo]
The Level 5 Motorsports Ferrari crosses the finish line in the Rolex24 at Daytona. [Jack Webster Photo]
Nighttime racing at Daytona with the Level 5 Ferarri. [Jack Webster Photo]
In the hours after the checkered flag flew in the 52nd Rolex 24 at Daytona, the Level 5 Motorsports #555 Ferrari went from winners to having the win stripped away to being reinstated as winners in the opening race of the new Tudor United SportsCar Championship series.
After a late race caution brought the field back together for a ten minute race to the finish of the twenty-four hour event, the Level 5 Motorsports Ferrari 458 Italia driven by Alessandro Pier Guidi and the Flying Lizard Motorsports Audi R8 LMS driven by Markus Winkelhock put on a show in the final laps. When Pier Guidi went off course in the “bus stop” portion of the course, Winkelhock drove past to take the lead. Pier Guidi’s Ferrari caught back up on the highbanks and retook the lead as the white flag flew.
In the two drivers entered the infield portion of the course on the final lap, Winkelhock drove to the right and raced into the high-speed left-hand turn number four side by side with the Ferrari. As they exited the turn, Winkelhock ran out of track and ran off course as Pier Guidi streaked away to a 1.293 second lead at the checkers.
While the two racecars did not look like they touched, IMSA race director viewed the incident poorly for Pier Guidi and assessed the Ferrari with a time penalty for avoidable contact, which in the rule book does not need for actual contact to take place. The incident was later reviewed by IMSA supervisory officials and overturned.
“The way the rule book states it is that the race director is the chief executive of the competition and that his decision is the first decision,” said Scot Elkins, IMSA vice president of competition and technical regulations. “And if anything seems different or seems to need review, then we gather the group of supervisory officials and take a look at that decision, and that’s exactly what we did here.”
So, hours after the checkers flew and fans left the track – Level 5 Motorsports won the Rolex24.
“It’s bittersweet that we weren’t part of the podium ceremony,” said Level 5 driver Bill Sweedler. “But frankly it is exciting that IMSA really took a look at what actually happened, which was incredible racing in the last five minutes of this race, and Alessandro not only drove an incredibly clean race but didn’t give up, and frankly that’s what I believe IMSA and the Tudor United SportsCar series is going to be all about as we move forward. While it’s bittersweet we weren’t there, the fact is the winning team is now declared the winner. I think that’s the right thing that needs to happen.”
The driver that initially took the checkers wrapped up the event, happy to have the victory returned to the team.
“It was really an exciting two last laps of the race,” said Pier Guidi. “After 24 hours we were so tired, but we never give up. Now I am here finally, and I am so happy and proud to have won the 24 Hours at Daytona.”
John Wiedemann is the owner, editor and developer of the RacingNation.com website.
A motorsports fan from his earliest memories, John started going to local short tracks and the Milwaukee Mile with his parents, brother and sister. John enjoys drivers racing side by side and battling for the same piece of real estate on the racetrack as much as he appreciates the technical aspects of the sport.
2014 Rolex 24FeaturedFerrariLevel 5 Motorsports