2023 IndyCar Champion Alex Palou is set to make his second career start in the Daytona 24 Hours next weekend, swapping his Chip Ganassi single-seater for a Ganassi run Cadillac V-Series.R in the IMSA season-opener and he believes the #01 cre can “fight for a win.”
Palou’s previous start at Daytona came in the DPi era in 2022 and the Spaniard posted the fastest lap of the race en route to a 14th-place finish.
In 2024, Palou will be reunited with the same three drivers, his IndyCar teammate Scott Dixon, who will be contesting the five Endurance Cup rounds in the #01 Cadillac in IMSA this year – and full-time drivers Renger van der Zande and Sebastien Bourdais.
Dixon, van der Zande and Bourdais competed as a three-driver squad in the V-Series.R’s debut in the GTP category in last year’s edition of the Daytona enduro, finishing third overall and completing the second-most laps (198) and Palou is looking forward to helping the team get on the top step of the podium this year.
“I’m very excited to return to Daytona after competing with the team in the DPi era in 2022,” the two-time IndyCar Champion said.
“I can’t wait to get behind the wheel of the new Hybrid and it will be a great way to start the year early with such a great team and with such great teammates.
“I’ve had the privilege of racing with Scott, Sebastien and Renger and I’m sure with all the preparation and knowledge that the team has, we’ll be able to fight for a win and maybe bring home some new watches at the end of January.”
Palou’s teammates share his excitement heading into the Daytona event, with each of his three co-competitors setting their sights on a win and an all-too-valuable Rolex watch.
Dixon holds four wins (three overall) and is looking forward to taking his 21st Daytona start.
“I always look forward to Daytona; it’s a great way to kick off the season,” the New Zealander said.
“I feel like we had a really good shot last year and the car speed was really good.
“The team has done a good job in the offseason to make things a little bit smoother and better.
“The key is always to stay out of trouble and make sure you finish the 24 hours first and then hopefully have a good shot at trying to get a win.”
Two-time (one overall) Daytona winner Bourdais, set to make his 15th start added, “I am really excited to get 2024 going.
“I think the traditional start of the season with Daytona is always a fun one.
“It gathers a ton of drivers that you might not see the rest of the season, so it is a bit of an international event and gathering with a great atmosphere.
“Everybody wants to leave with a watch on their wrist.
“We finished third last year, but we felt like we were in it to win it.
“I feel like Cadillac has given us a very good car and we have a good understanding of the system.
“We feel even more prepared and with the team that we can lean on, I think we have all the necessary ingredients to go for the win.”
Two-time victor and four-time podium finisher van der Zande also brings experience to the Cadillac/Chip Ganassi Racing outfit and believes his team has the necessary ingredients to be successful.
“We have been developing this car for a year now and lately we have found a lot of set-up options that work for us,” he said.
“Reliability is the most important thing and that is certainly what Chip Ganassi Racing and Cadillac Racing bring.
“Anything can happen at Daytona, but we feel prepared with a nice blend of drivers to win this race.
“It’s the biggest race of the season, the one you want to win and a big part of a championship. We’re there to win.”
They’re there to win and they know how to win – Ganassi has won eight times and holds a record six overall victories at Daytona, with the last coming in 2015 and CGR Director of Operations Mike O’Gara wants to end the squad’s near-decade wait for a seventh triumph.
“The 01 Cadillac team is anxious to kick off the 2024 IMSA SportsCar Championship,” he said.
“We are ready to build on our Rolex 24 At Daytona success with the Cadillac V-Series.R after finishing third and fourth there in its debut race in 2023.
“It has been a few years since Chip Ganassi Racing has won overall at Daytona, but we feel confident that we can compete for another win and add to our eight victories there.
“We have been working hard in the offseason both at the racetrack testing, as well in the race shop, to be ready.
“It’s exciting to be returning with our IMSA veteran drivers Renger van der Zande and Sebastien Bourdais, and it is great to have Scott Dixon back again and then with a pleasant surprise in being able to add Alex Palou to lineup this year, as well.
“Having the opportunity to work with drivers, engineers and a crew of this caliber is an honor.”
The warm-up Roar Before the 24 event kicks off on January 19, culminating in qualifying for the Daytona 24 Hours on Sunday, January 21.
The green flag will wave for the endurance race itself at 1:40 p.m. ET on Saturday, January 27.
