Roar Before the 24: Five things to watch during this weekend's test before Rolex 24

Zach Dean, The Daytona Beach News-Journal
·3 min read

The Roar Before the Rolex 24 is set to go green Friday with several practice sessions on tap to kick off a busy weekend at Daytona International Speedway.

As always, there is no shortage of storylines going into this year's 60th Rolex 24, with another star-studded field set to do battle for the coveted Rolex watch.

Here are five things to watch throughout the weekend, which culminates with Sunday's 100-minute qualifying race.

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How does Jimmie Johnson look in Year 2?

OK, technically it's not Jimmie's second year in the Rolex 24, but it is his second season behind the wheel of the No. 48 Cadillac DPi, and the pressure is certainly going to ramp up this time around.

Crews prepare cars in the garage at Daytona International Speedway before the Roar Before the 24 on Thursday, Jan. 20, 2022.
Crews prepare cars in the garage at Daytona International Speedway before the Roar Before the 24 on Thursday, Jan. 20, 2022.

Johnson and the Action Express team finished second in last year's race, and three of the four drivers are back this season.

Can the seven-time NASCAR champ finally win that coveted Rolex watch? He came close last season and looked good behind the wheel, so this weekend will be a good barometer of where that team sits entering Rolex week.

Will Wayne Taylor Racing keep flexing its muscle?

Johnson and the No. 48 group, like everyone else, enters this test weekend chasing the No. 10 Wayne Taylor Racing Acura, which will be going for a record fourth straight Rolex 24 win.

The No. 10 WTR team brings back three of the four drivers from last season, and will once again be the team to beat. How that team looks this weekend could set the tone for the rest of the week.

Helio Castroneves during IMSA testing at Daytona International Speedway, Tuesday, Dec. 7, 2021.
Helio Castroneves during IMSA testing at Daytona International Speedway, Tuesday, Dec. 7, 2021.

Welcome back, Helio Castroneves!

No, Helio didn't technically go anywhere. In fact, he was the fourth member of that race-winning Wayne Taylor team last season.

This year, however, Castroneves has teamed back up with Meyer Shank Racing in the No. 60 Acura, pairing with veterans Simon Pagenaud and Oliver Jarvis.

Keep a close eye on this group throughout the weekend, because there's plenty of firepower and Rolex 24 experience on that team.

What's the traffic like?

IMSA President John Doonan said earlier this week he expects this year's 61-car field — the largest since 2014 — to play a big role this weekend and next, so look for teams to work on navigating traffic all weekend.

With 35 cars between the GT Daytona and GT Daytona Pro class, look for that field to be the most competitive. However, how the faster DPi cars get around those battles, during Sunday's qualifier and next weekend's Rolex 24, should provide plenty of drama as the clock continues to wind down.

What about the Roar and Rolex 24 weather?

If you haven't glanced at the latest 10-day forecast, you may wanna take a peak ...

While Friday's weather at the track is a pleasant 72 degrees with some clouds, things go downhill Saturday, with a high of 58 and rain showers on and off all day. Sunday's qualifier should be relatively sunny with a high of 60, but lows next Saturday night barely touch 40 degrees.

How that impacts next week's Rolex, and how teams prepare for that during Saturday's test session, where conditions should be somewhat similar, will be a storyline to follow this weekend.

This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: 5 things to watch for in Roar Before the 24 at Daytona