FYI WIRZ: Daytona Rocks 2012 Fast World with Grand-Am Testing for 50th Rolex 24

With the sound of race cars on the big track, the Daytona International Speedway is once again rumbling and roaring—and the new year is only a week old.

Testing is the agenda at DIS with an army of Grand-Am drivers preparing teams for the grueling day-and-night race known now as the Rolex 24 that will soon have 50 years of history.

DIS and Grand-Am have big reasons to celebrate the next big race, as the increasingly popular sports car sanction brings a parade of vintage cars from past victories to the track. Expert drivers from across the world gather once again to team up and win.

Drivers must prepare, but it’s hard to train for grueling shifts that consume 24 hours.

It takes many team members to field all the cars for 24 hours of on-the-edge racing.

For this application, this reporter sought the thoughts of the top stars in NASCAR and in IndyCar. Along the way, because the Rolex 24 attracts other big names the thoughts of an extreme TV star, a Hollywood star and a rock star joined in the conversation.

Dwight Drum had the privilege to speak with Juan Pablo Montoya, Jamie McMurray, Dario Franchitti, A.J Allmendinger, Michael Waltrip, Travis Pastrana, Patrick Dempsey and Brian Johnson at the Daytona International Speedway.

Montoya, McMurray and Franchitti discussed whether running the Rolex 24 helped their primary racing.

Juan Pablo Montoya (NASCAR driver No. 42 Chevrolet)

“I don’t think it does,” Montoya said. “It’s a fun race to start the year. All the drivers. Good friends. Good memories. It’s just a fun race. It’s exciting because we want to come here just to win.”

Jamie McMurray (NASCAR driver No.1 Chevrolet)

“This doesn’t have to do anything with NASCAR Cup racing other than it’s fun. It’s one of the biggest race that you can win,” McMurray said. “I’m excited to be here and nowhere else other than to be the winner of the Rolex 24.”

Dario Franchitti (IndyCar champion)

"No not really,” Franchitti said. “But we have fun doing it. It’s a bloody difficult challenge if you want to win it, but we have fun. You have to take it seriously, but we have fun.”

All drivers seem to cherish this prestigious race and were eager to comment.

A.J Allmendinger (NASCAR driver No. 22 Dodge)

“There’s a reason I always love doing this race. I think it’s the prestige of it and the way it kicks off the season here in Daytona for us Cup guys,” Allmendinger said. “It kind of gets things going.”

Drivers who become owners know the value of fielding race cars.

Michael Waltrip (NASCAR owner Micheal Waltrip Racing)

“That’s a cool car,” Waltrip said. “That opportunity didn’t present itself before the last year so I’m just really enjoying the chance and learn about a new car.”

We’re pretty happy when we’re at Daytona. We’ve won a few times down here. Winning again would be awesome.”

Some stars bring names to the Rolex 24 that complement the magnificence of the sponsor and race.

Travis Pastrana (TV extreme star)

“It’s an honor,” Pastrana said. “There’s so much history to this place and to be racing a car with Michael is really cool. The opportunity is amazing. I’ve been trying to get up to speed. We’re still a few seconds off the top guys, but we can get there.”

Patrick Dempsey (Hollywood star)

“The Rolex 24 at Daytona is great—the quality of the drivers here, the manufacturers being brought in are great for the sport of Grand–Am,” Patrick said. “We’re looking to running the 24 hours at Rolex, stay out of trouble and be there at the end.”

Brian Johnson (rock star, AC/DC guitarist)

When asked if he could compare his rock band AC/DC to a racing team Johnson responded with energy.

“Absolutely," Johnson said. “The difference with the band is that we have 47 tractor trailers and 125 crew. Still, each individual is responsible for a job. Truck driver has to be there at the right time.

Before we go on stage the crowd is roaring. Me and the boys are taking a big breath getting ready for the flag dropping. The old saying is when the flag drops the BS stops. It’s certainly true. This 24 hours is right up there with the biggest gigs I’ve ever run.

I’ve said once that I’m really pleased because most people try to live their dreams. For me I’ve outlived the dream. This is beyond dream it’s real. I’m living every minute. Walking in the pits, a team meeting this morning, It’s just magic.”

The Rolex 24 at Daytona is January 26-29 and even though few, if any, could stay up for the entire 24 hour duration; it’s worth observing how these stars compete in the race and why they have energetic comments.

Most fans couldn’t fathom not sleeping for 24 hours, but these Grand-Am cars have to race for 24 hours to win.

The Rolex 24 is a supreme mechanical and human marathon.

FYI WIRZ is the select presentation of motorsports topics by Dwight Drum at Racetake.com. Unless otherwise noted, all quotes were obtained from official release materials provided by sanctions, teams or track representatives.