Daytona 24 Hours: Allmendinger beats Dixon to head second practice
Meyer Shank's AJ Allmendinger headed second practice for the Daytona 24 Hours by more than a quarter of a second, beating Chip Ganassi Racing charge Scott Dixon to top spot
Allmendinger, driving an Acura ARX-05, lapped the 3.56-mile course in 1m34.287s, compared with six-time IndyCar champion Dixon's 1min34.562sec in the Chip Ganassi Racing Cadillac DPi-V.R.
Another two Cadillacs, those of Kamui Kobayashi of Action Express Racing and Sebastien Bourdais, driving for JDC Miller Motorsports were third and fourth fastest - the latter just a shade faster than IMSA regular Jonathan Bomarito in the Mazda RT24-P.
Filipe Albuquerque took Wayne Taylor Racing's Acura to sixth overall, beating NASCAR Cup champion Chase Elliott's Whelen-sponsored Action Express Cadillac by just under a tenth.
In LMP2, Mikkel Jensen kept PR1 Mathiasen Motorsports at the top of the times with an excellent 1m35.979s, barely 0.4s slower than the slowest DPi time.
Jensen was 0.17s ahead of Matthieu Vaxiviere in the Tower Motorsports by Starworks machine, with Alfa Romeo Formula 1 reserve Robert Kubica third for High Class Racing.
Kubica beat fellow ex-F1 driver Giedo van der Garde, driving for Racing Team Nederland, by just 0.013s.
Dylan Murry's best effort ensured Riley Motorsports again topped LMP3, this time ahead of the sister Ligier car driven by Scott Andrews.
Road To Indy rising star Rasmus Lindh was third fastest for Performance Tech Motorsports, a tenth ahead of veteran and former Prototype champion Joao Barbosa in the Sean Creech Motorsports car.
Forty7 driver Ryan Norman was the fastest Duqueine driver, just under a quarter of a second clear of Muehlner Motorsports driver Moritz Kranz.
Gianmaria Bruni caused a stir with the fastest time in GT Le Mans, driving Proton's Porsche 911 RSR-19, lapping a tenth faster than James Calado in the Risi Competizione Ferrari 488.
2020 GT Le Mans champion Antonio Garcia and stablemate Tommy Milner kept their Corvettes ahead of the BMWs - the two factions split by Murry's Riley-run Ligier.
Mirko Bortolotti finished GT Daytona's portion of the session on top, ahead of a trio of Porsche 911 GT3 Rs - Team TGM (Owen Trinkler), Team Hardpoint EBM (Katherine Legge) and Pfaff Motorsports (Laurens Vanthoor).
Daytona 24 Hours free practice 2 results
| Pos | Class | Driver | Team | Car | Gap |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | DPi | D.Cameron, O.Pla, J.P.Montoya, A.Allmendinger | Meyer Shank Racing with Curb-Agajanian | Acura | 1m34.287s |
| 2 | DPi | J.Johnson, K.Kobayashi, S.Pagenaud, M.Rockenfeller | Ally Cadillac Racing | Cadillac | 0.232s |
| 3 | DPi | R.van der Zande, K.Magnussen, S.Dixon | Cadillac Chip Ganassi Racing | Cadillac | 0.275s |
| 4 | DPi | T.Vautier, L.Duval, S.Bourdais | JDC-Miller Motorsports | Cadillac | 0.529s |
| 5 | DPi | O.Jarvis, H.Tincknell, J.Bomarito | Mazda Motorsports | Mazda | 0.549s |
| 6 | DPi | R.Taylor, F.Albuquerque, A.Rossi, H.Castroneves | Konica Minolta Acura | Acura | 0.985s |
| 7 | DPi | F.Nasr, M.Conway, P.Derani, C.Elliott | Whelen Engineering Racing | Cadillac | 1.058s |
| 8 | LMP2 | B.Keating, M.Jensen, S.Huffaker, N.Lapierre | PR1/Mathiasen Motorsports | ORECA/Gibson | 1.692s |
| 9 | LMP2 | J.Farano, G.Aubry, T.Buret, M.Vaxiviere | Tower Motorsport by Starworks | ORECA/Gibson | 1.867s |
| 10 | LMP2 | D.Andersen, F.Habsburg, A.Fjordbach, R.Kubica | High Class Racing | ORECA/Gibson | 2.566s |
| 11 | LMP2 | F.van Eerd, G.van der Garde, J.van Uitert, C.Milesi | Racing Team Nederland | ORECA/Gibson | 2.579s |
| 12 | LMP2 | R.Hodes, G.Grist, R.Van Kalmthout, B.Hanley | Dragonspeed USA | ORECA/Gibson | 2.624s |
| 13 | LMP2 | E.Lux, D.Defrancesco, F.Schiller, C.Mies | Dragonspeed USA | ORECA/Gibson | 2.799s |
| 14 | LMP2 | S.Thomas, T.Nunez, T.Merrill, M.Bell | WIN Autosport | ORECA/Gibson | 4.212s |
| 15 | LMP2 | R.Lacorte, A.Fuoco, A.Belicchi, G.Sernagiotto | Cetilar Racing | Dallara/Gibson | 4.358s |
| 16 | LMP2 | C.Ware, S.Yoluc, A.Dillon, S.Muller | RWR Eurasia | Ligier/Gibson | 5.193s |
| 17 | LMP2 | D.Merriman, K.Tilley, R.Dalziel, P-L.Chatin | Era Motorsport | ORECA/Gibson | 6.811s |
| 18 | GTLM | C.MacNeil, K.Estre, R.Lietz, G.Bruni | WeatherTech Racing | Porsche | 8.313s |
| 19 | GTLM | J.Calado, A.P.Guidi, J.Gounon, D.Rigon | Risi Competizione | Ferrari | 8.467s |
| 20 | GTLM | A.Garcia, J.Taylor, N.Catsburg | Corvette Racing | Chevrolet | 8.540s |
| 21 | GTLM | T.Milner, N.Tandy, A.Sims | Corvette Racing | Chevrolet | 8.680s |
| 22 | LMP3 | J.Cox, D.Murry, A.McCusker, J.Bleekemolen | Riley Motorsports | Ligier/Nissan | 8.888s |
| 23 | GTLM | C.De Phillippi, P.Eng, T.Glock, B.Spengler | BMW Team RLL | BMW | 8.943s |
| 24 | GTLM | J.M.Edwards, J.Krohn, A.Farfus, M.Wittmann | BMW Team RLL | BMW | 9.145s |
| 25 | LMP3 | G.Robinson, S.Pigot, S.Andrews, O.Askew | Riley Motorsports | Ligier/Nissan | 9.283s |
| 26 | LMP3 | R.Lindh, C.Cassels, M.Llarena, A.Ori | Performance Tech Motorsports | Ligier/Nissan | 9.527s |
| 27 | LMP3 | L.Willsey, J.Barbosa, W.Boyd, Y.Clairay | Sean Creech Motorsport | Ligier/Nissan | 9.637s |
| 28 | LMP3 | M.Kvamme, R.Norman, G.Chaves, T.Estep | Forty7 Motorsports | Duqueine/Nissan | 9.706s |
| 29 | LMP3 | M.Kranz, L.Horr, K.Koch, S.McAleer | Muehlner Motorsports America | Duqueine/Nissan | 9.946s |
| 30 | LMP3 | J.Bennett, G.Kurtz, C.Braun, M.McMurry | CORE Autosport | Ligier/Nissan | 10.660s |
| 31 | GTD | R.Ineichen, M.Bortolotti, S.Schothorst, M.Mapelli | GRT Grasser Racing Team | Lamborghini | 11.403s |
| 32 | GTD | T.Giovanis, O.Trinkler, H.Plumb, M.Plumb | Team TGM | Porsche | 11.646s |
| 33 | GTD | R.Ferriol, E.Bamber, K.Legge, C.Nielsen | Team Hardpoint EBM | Porsche | 11.671s |
| 34 | GTD | Z.Robichon, L.Vanthoor, L.Kern, M.Campbell | Pfaff Motorsports | Porsche | 11.781s |
| 35 | GTD | J.Potter, A.Lally, S.Pumpelly, M.Farnbacher | Magnus with Archangel | Acura | 11.874s |
| 36 | GTD | B.Sellers, M.Snow, C.Lewis, A.Caldarelli | Paul Miller Racing | Lamborghini | 11.999s |
| 37 | GTD | E.Jones, B.Curtis, R.Briscoe, M.Gomes | Scuderia Corsa | Ferrari | 12.023s |
| 38 | GTD | R.Ward, P.Ellis, I.Dontje, M.Engel | Winward Racing | Mercedes | 12.070s |
| 39 | GTD | T.Hindman, P.Long, J.Heylen, K.Bachler | Wright Motorsports | Porsche | 12.265s |
| 40 | GTD | M.Goikhberg, F.Perera, A.Costa, T.Zimmermann | GRT Grasser Racing Team | Lamborghini | 12.297s |
| 41 | GTD | A.Telitz, O.Gavin, K.Kirkwood, J.Hawksworth | Vasser Sullivan | Lexus | 12.411s |
| 42 | GTD | M.Root, C.Eastwood, B.Keating, R.Westbrook | TF Sport | Aston Martin | 12.455s |
| 43 | GTD | K.Habul, R.Marciello, M.Grenier, L.Stolz | Sun Energy 1 | Mercedes | 12.456s |
| 44 | GTD | S.Mann, N.Nielsen, D.Serra, M.Cressoni | AF Corse | Ferrari | 12.486s |
| 45 | GTD | R.Megennis, Z.Veach, T.Bell, F.Montecalvo | Vasser Sullivan | Lexus | 12.595s |
| 46 | GTD | I.James, R.De Angelis, D.Turner, R.Gunn | Heart of Racing Team | Aston Martin | 12.771s |
| 47 | GTD | A.Metni, A.Davis, J.Hildebrand, D.Yount | NTE Sport | Audi | 13.208s |
| 48 | GTD | D.Morad, M.De Quesada, B.Johnson, M.Buhk | Alegra Motorsports | Mercedes | 13.392s |
| 49 | GTD | B.Auberlen, R.Foley, A.Read, C.Herta | Turner Motorsport | BMW | - |
GTD Pro for GT3 cars to replace IMSA’s GT Le Mans class in 2022
Mazda "in strong place" for maiden Daytona 24 Hours win - Tincknell
BTCC greats rate a reimagined Super Saloons tussle
Steve Soper and Robb Gravett are two British Touring Car Championship legends who aren’t shy in reliving memories of glory days in creative ways. That’s how the new set from Scalextric – Super Saloons made for a perfect fantasy mini battle
Gran Turismo hopeful of FIA partnership, bigger World Series events in 2023
On the eve of the Gran Turismo World Series Nations Cup World Final, gaming series producer Kazunori Yamauchi clarified its current relationship with the FIA and its virtual motorsport plans for next season.
DTM champion Sheldon van der Linde wants "bucket list" Le Mans, Bathurst outings
Sheldon van der Linde wants to tick off Le Mans 24 Hours and Bathurst 12 Hour from his bucket list after winning the 2022 DTM title with the M4 GT3.
How Red Bull's dynamic leader shaped its F1 philosophy
The death of Dietrich Mateschitz last month has not only deprived Red Bull of its visionary founder, it has shorn Formula 1 of one of its most influential benefactors. Mateschitz himself was famously media-shy, preferring to let the brand do the talking on his behalf. And, while it’s now normal to speak of Red Bull F1 titles and champions made, Mateschitz never assumed it would be easy or even possible – as ANTHONY ROWLINSON discovered during this previously unpublished interview from 2006…
The long road to convergence for sportscar racing's new golden age
The organisers of the World Endurance Championship and IMSA SportsCar Championship worked together to devise the popular new LMDh rule set. But to turn it from an idea into reality, some serious compromises were involved - both from the prospective LMDh entrants and those with existing Le Mans Hypercar projects...
How Porsche's Le Mans legend changed the game
The 956 set the bar at the dawn of Group C 40 years ago, and that mark only rose higher through the 1980s, both in the world championship and in the US. It and its successor, the longer-wheelbase 962, were voted as Autosport's greatest sportscar in 2020 - here's why
Why BMW shouldn't be overlooked on its return to prototypes
OPINION: While the focus has been on the exciting prospect of Ferrari vs Porsche at the Le Mans 24 Hours next year, BMW’s factory return to endurance racing should not be ignored. It won't be at the French classic next year as it focuses efforts on the IMSA SportsCar Championship, but could be a dark horse in 2024 when it returns to La Sarthe with the crack WRT squad
The British pair at the heart of Lexus's IMSA push
Have you heard the one about two northerners driving for a Japanese manufacturer in America’s top sportscar series? Time to sit down and talk with Jack Hawksworth and Ben Barnicoat about racing across the pond… and your accent being mistaken for Australian
Why Peugeot couldn't afford to take a Le Mans gamble in 2022
Ahead of the much-anticipated arrival of its new 9X8 Hypercar, Peugeot revealed that it would not be entering this year's Le Mans 24 Hours with its incoming machinery. Although development restrictions for homologated cars are partially responsible, the French marque can draw on its own lessons from its history in sportscars
Why two names for the same thing could cloud sportscar racing's new golden era
OPINION: The adoption by IMSA of the GTP name for its forthcoming LMDh versus Le Mans Hypercar era in 2023 appeals to fans of nostalgia - but it undermines the commonality achieved by bringing its rulebook into line with the World Endurance Championship. GTP or Hypercar, both sides should settle on a single name
Celebrating the weird and wonderful monsters of sportscar racing
Few disciplines of motorsport offer better possibilities to build a colossus of the track than sportscars. For Autosport's recent Monsters of Motorsport special issue, we picked out some of the finest (and not so fine) that have graced sportscar classics including Le Mans, Daytona and Sebring
How Castroneves and Meyer Shank conquered another US classic
Helio Castroneves continued his fine start to life with Meyer Shank Racing that netted the 2021 Indianapolis 500 victory by prevailing in last weekend's Daytona 24 Hours together with team-mates Tom Blomqvist, Oliver Jarvis and Simon Pagenaud. As Cadillac fell by the wayside, the Brazilian veteran won out in an all-Acura duel to the finish