Denny Hamlin was as confused as the remainder of the racing world with final weekend’s wonky end throughout the Rolex 24 at Daytona.
On the finish of the occasion, the white flag was proven with lower than 3 minutes to go. Then, the checkered flag got here out with about one minute and 35 seconds on the clock. In different phrases, the race ended a lap too quickly attributable to human error.
Nonetheless, not one of the races appeared like they had been going to come back right down to a photograph end. Felipe Nasr within the No. 7 Porsche Penske GTP had a cushty lead on Tom Blomqvist within the No. 31 Whelen Engineering automobile.
Regardless, it was a shocking twist on the finish of the Rolex 24 at Daytona, one which left Hamlin simply as confused as the remainder of us watching the occasion.
“On TV they had been telling us the entire time, ‘There’s two to go,’ proper? In order that they’re coming off NASCAR Flip 4 and I’m pondering — pay attention, it didn’t have an effect on the result,” Hamlin said, through his Actions Detrimental podcast. “All of the finishes had been unfold — first and second had been unfold fairly a bit.
“However you’d assume, on the trigger-finger, if it’s shut, you’ve received to err on something, it’s too lengthy and never too quick.”
That’s a great level from Hamlin. You’d positively slightly the flag-stand wait a lap too lengthy than pull the checkered out a lap too early as a fan. The chief may not prefer it, however the remainder of the sphere actually would.
Alas, NASCAR will look to keep away from any related controversy over their largest race of the season within the Daytona 500 when the time comes, as Denny Hamlin appears so as to add one other trophy to his assortment.
Porsche Penske wins IMSA Rolex 24 at Daytona
Furthermore, the Rolex 24 at Daytona is a superb occasion. It’s historic, requires unbelievable endurance, and an incredible show of sports activities automobile racing. Whereas it’s at all times thrilling to see which workforce wins on the finish of the 24 hours, this 12 months was a bit of extra particular.
Like seeing Ferrari win the 24 Hours of Le Mans, seeing Penske take the win at Daytona was a very long time coming. The truth that Indy 500 winner Josef Newgarden was a part of the workforce makes it much more cool for followers.
This 12 months was a file crowd on the Rolex 24. Racing is in good arms proper now in America and it appears to be rising in recognition as soon as once more. If all of these individuals are going to prove to the IMSA season-opener, then we are able to guess they’ll present up for NASCAR.
Talking of NASCAR, this weekend is Busch Mild Conflict race weekend. It’s an exhibition, nevertheless it signifies that the season is formally right here. Two weeks to Daytona after which we’re in it full-time from February to November. Earlier than we all know it, we’ll be speaking in regards to the 2025 Rolex 24 at Daytona. Time marches on.
On3’s Jonathan Howard contributed to this text.
