Team Target's IndyCar and Nascar Nextel Cup series programmes will combine this weekend in the form of a third Chip Ganassi Racing Daytona Prototype entry for the 43rd Rolex 24 at Daytona.
Team Target will bring together 2003 IndyCar series champion Scott Dixon (No 9 Target Toyota), IndyCar Racing League
teammate Darren Manning (No 10 Target Toyota) and Casey Mears (No 41 Target Dodge), who drove the team's 800hp stock car to two pole positions last year in Nascar competition.
Although Mears will be making his first Rolex Sports Car Series start, New Zealander Dixon and Manning return to the series after a podium ru to close out the 2004 season at California Speedway.
Dixon paired with 2004 Rolex champions Scott Pruett and Max Papis, and Jimmy Morales in last year's Ganassi Daytona Prototype maiden run that won the pole position and finished 10th at Daytona, will make his third Rolex series start.
"My Rolex 24 race was quite an experience last year, and I think it"ll be great to have all three Target drivers together in the No 3 Target Lexus-Riley," Dixon said.
"Both Darren and I have a little more experience now after the podium in the Rolex season finale last year, and I know Casey is going to pick it up really quickly. This is going to be a really fun event, but it's also going to be ultra competitive out there."
Manning got a feel for the Lexus-powered Daytone Prototype machine in October last year,
- NZPA
