A Legend In The Making: A History of Lexus In Rolex Sports Car Racing

Along about February 2004, during an IndyCar test at Phoenix, the car lowered from the top of a Ganassi hauler might as well have been landing from outer space. There it was, all bubble-topped and gull-winged, sitting in the asphalt in the middle of PIR amid a parking lot of single-seat machines and curious onlookers.

Intended for a test later in the week at Firebird, the red-and-white Lexus Riley sports car quickly drew a crowd. Other racers. Other crew members. Even the Ganassi mechanics themselves gawked at the machine, as if half-expecting a gray being with big eyes and long fingers to emerge and ask for directions to their leader.

Three years and two Rolex 24s later, nobody on Chip Ganassi’s team is gawking at the world of sports cars. That notion was put to bed long before Scott Pruett crossed the finish line with the No. 01 Lexus Riley and the team’s second consecutive triumph in the race. Given the talent behind the wheel – Pruett, Juan Pablo Montoya and Salvador Duran this time; Scott Dixon, Dan Wheldon and Casey Mears in 2006 – the two Rolex titles aren’t terribly surprising.


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SupraNeverBack - 2/2/2007 12:04:18 PM

-2 Boost

A detuned version of the robust 500hp 5.0L v8 will be used in the coming IS-F. Maybe 450hp, who knows.

jon21 - 2/2/2007 1:52:25 PM

-3 Boost

Lexus is getting better every year.

Heyhuub - 2/2/2007 2:25:50 PM

+6 Boost

Whats rolex sports car racing btw?

flozel1 - 2/2/2007 5:37:23 PM

-6 Boost

Honda is more successful than Toyota as Honda has won several F1 Constructors championships. Nothing beats F1 in terms of technical innovation.

But what I wonder is what exactly "American racing heritage" is. Who was their competition when they were supposedly earning this heritage.

trd1 - 2/2/2007 5:53:02 PM

-5 Boost

yea your so right honda is way more successful, only because they have won couple more f1 championships. look at toyota they are almost winning in everything. Was honda ever even in rally or craftsman and nascar, no!!!

flozel1 - 2/2/2007 7:42:40 PM

-7 Boost

You're right Honda did not win Nascar, Rally, or whatever.

But they don't have to. F1 is the only thing that matters.

chewy - 2/2/2007 7:37:59 PM

+3 Boost

Sorry, winning two 24 hours races in a row in what is essentially spec car racing is not the stuff that legends are made off.

Winning 6 out of 7 of the last 24 hours of Le Mans is.

(Hing Audi did that)

2JZSoarer - 2/2/2007 11:20:46 PM

-2 Boost

Toyota also won the Cranftsman truck series in 2006 with the Tundra(Todd Bodine)!!

S4cabriofoxone - 2/4/2007 3:33:11 PM

0 Boost

No, it doesn't.

And Audi and Mercedes switch off in winning DTM.

S4cabriofoxone - 2/4/2007 3:33:37 PM

-1 Boost

Hypocrite!!!

cdoke - 2/3/2007 4:44:29 PM

+6 Boost

..Well Looking things up, I must say that BMW's record at Le Mans is not exactly impressive.

Wins by Company
1. Porsche: 16
2. Ferrari: 9
3. Jaguar: 7
4. Bentley: 6 [TIE]
4. Audi: 6 [TIE]
6. Alfa Romeo: 4 [TIE]
6. Ford: 4 [TIE]

BMW is 13th along with 11 other manufacturers: they won once. I didn't know Audi has dominated it since about 2000 [minus 2003] though.

I must say though, this topic seems particularly ...erm, touchy. My experience has been that anyone who needs to insult their opponent usually doesn't have a rational point to express. Not always but usually. My two cents. Commence with the de-boosting.

chewy - 2/3/2007 6:43:10 PM

+2 Boost

Well, Lexus makes the engine for the Daytona DP and Riley makes the chassis which is shared by other teams.

S4cabriofoxone - 2/4/2007 3:31:15 PM

0 Boost

Here is Lexus's racing heritage:



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