3:32 pm - The No. 45 finished fifteenth in GT at the 50th Rolex 24 At Daytona. Congratulations to Joerg, Patrick, Mike and Seth, the Lizards and John Wright's crew for delivering a solid racecar and ensuring that we finished this difficult race. We'll be back with you next week for our first ALMS event - the ALMS Winter Test - Feb 8 and 9.
3:22 - No. 45 came in for a final stop for fuel and he's out again quickly, still in P15.
3:17 - No. 45 P 15, No. 03 retook their position P14.
3:11 - No. 51 in the tire wall. He's pretty far off course so I expect it will stay green - just a few minutes left in the race. Doesn't affect our position.
3:05 - No. 45 moves to P14, as the No. 03 falls back with an apparent problem.
2:45 - 45 had to pit again to fix the driver radio and fuel. P15.
2:29 - No. 45 crew replaced the power steering pump, which appears to have solved the problem. Driver change to Seth Neiman. He's back out on track now, P15, I believe. I'll report that in a minute.
2:154 - Patrick heading to the garage. Problem with the power steering, but we don't yet know details
2:09- Patrick is in the pits and the crew is working to diagnose what the issue is.
2:05 - Patrick radios that he may have lost power steering. He will pit this lap.
2:01 - 90 minutes left. Patrick pits for fuel. He will stay in the car. He has moved to P8 as the No. 69 has also fallen out.
1:58 - Patrick will be in shortly for fuel.
1:52 - The No. 59, which was in P2 is in the pits for driver change. No. 44 still in the lead, No. 67 now P2, No. 63 Ferrari P3. Patrick radios in that he lost his left hand mirror and got a water pressure alarm.
1:51 - Patrick is physically just behind the No. 59 and No. 44 on track, but he's many laps down.
1:45 - The No. 67 just retook P3 overtaking the No. 63 when he went off.
1:41 - Green flag. Patrick P9.
1:38 pm - No. 45 moves to P9 (because the No. 23 has fallen out).
1:30 - Full course yellow to remove the 23 from the apron of NASCAR 3. We are getting a waveby. Not sure yet who will get the free pass.
1:28 - The No. 23 AJR Porsche (with Marco Holzer at the wheel) is stopped on course with apparent suspension damage of some sort. They were P7.
1:22 - Green flag. Patrick P10.
1:15 - Double yellow to remove debris.
1:07 pm ET - Joerg pits for driver change to Patrick Long, tires and fuel. Joerg is in P10. No. 44 is P1, No. 59 P2, No. 67 P3.
12:55 - Joerg is still P10, still going strong. P1 No. 59; P2 No. 44; P3 No. 67.
12:32 - Joerg still P10. No. 44 Magnus Porsche now in the lead. No. 67 TRG Porsche P2; No. 59 Brumos Racing Porsche P3. No. 63 Risi Ferrari P4; No. 57 Camaro P5.
12:22 - Joerg is in the pits for fuel and added water.
12:20 - Joerg is on fuel reserve, he will pit this lap. He will stay in the car.
12:12 - No. 59 - the GT leader -is in the pits.
11:59 - Green flag. Joerg is P10. He says that the No. 69 passed him under yellow, but at this point, not much we can do abou tit. That car is two laps ahead of us. No. 59 still P1.
11:47 - Full course yellow. The No. 63 was the GT free pass winner this time - he is in P4. We are still P11. Joerg is in the car.
11:45 - The No. 19 Porsche is in the tires in turn 6.
11:34 - Green flag. Joerg is now in the No. 45- I believe he will retain P11. No. 59 in the lead.
11:31 - Once again it's chaos at the waveby under yellow.
11:28 - Mike in the pits for driver change to Joerg, tires and fuel. Still yellow. Mike is P11 at the time of the pit stop.
11:15 - Full course caution to clean up debris. The No. 44 gest the lucky dog free pass on this run (they were the first car on the next lap down from the class leader). That puts them back on the same lead lap as the leader (No. 59) and P2 (No. 67). Mike Rockenfeller still in the No. 45 - he's P11 and will pit shortly.
11:02- four and a half hours left. Mike is still P11.
10:47 - No. 59 back in the lead. No 67 P2, No. 44 P3. No. 45 P11.
10:42 - Mike in the pits for fuel. Hopefully we fixed his radio. He's off for his second stint. Still P11.
10:34 - We expect Mike in about five laps.
10:29 - No. 67 takes the lead, No. 59 now P2. Mike now P11.
10:25 - No. 59 in the pits. Looks like a standard front brake pad change.
10:19 - Mike P11.
10:00 - Mike is in P12, we don't believe we have radio comms with him - we can hear him keying the mike, but can't hear him. So we'll have to be prepared for an unexpected pit visit.
9:56 - They are having trouble with Mike's radio.
9:54 - Seth is in the pits for tires, fuel, and driver change to Mike Rockenfeller. The crew will also do front brake pads. Seth was P11 at the time.
9:36 - GT leader No. 59 Brumos Porsche is in the pits. No. 67 TRG Porsche is still in P2.
9:13 - Seth is back out quickly with fuel. He should retain the same position - P11.
9:11 - Seth will pit this lap for fuel and continue for his second consecutive stint. He is P11.
8:57 am - Seth P11 in the No. 45. No. 67 takes the GT lead, No. 59 P2. No. 44 P3.
8:50 - No. 59 moves to P1 after No. 44, which had been in the lead, had a lengthy pit stop for repairs. Not sure what the issue was, but did see a large piece of undertray being pulled off. No. 67 TRG Porsche has moved to P2. Seth Neiman in the No. 45, currently P10.
8:25 - Patrick pits for driver change to Seth Neiman, tires and fuel. He was P10 at the time of the pit stop. The crew is checking brake pads - looks like they will not make a pad change on this stop.
8:06 - Race control says undertray of the No. 44 Magnus Porsche, which is in the lead, is flapping. No. 59 Brumos Porsche still close behind him in P2. Patrick is P10 in the No. 45 - he'll pit in 8 laps for driver change, fuel and tires.
7:46 - Patrick now P10.
7:38 - Patrick still going strong - times are dropping as the light improves and the track starts to warm up a bit. He radios in that he got the fuel bobble. He'll be in this lap for fuel. He'll stay in the car for his third consecutive stint.
7:21 - Patrick is the fastest GT car on track at the moment.
7:12 - Patrick P 11. No. 44 Magnus RAcing leads GT.
6:55 - Patrick in the pits for tires and fuel. He's out again quickly, now P13.
6:44 - Green flag.
6:30 - Full course caution to remove the 99. Patrick P11.
6:29 - No. 99 in the tires but still green. Patrick now P12. He's 5 laps down from the GT Leader, now No. 44 Magnus RAcing.
6:07 - Patrick Long takes over from Joerg Bergmeister. Joerg came into the pits in P13, Patrick heads out in P14. Sunrise soon!
5:26 - Joerg is P14. On deck is Patrick Long.
5:17 - Joerg back in the pits. They are changing the left rear tire.
5:14 - Joerg reported a vibration in the rear on reentry - it's getting worse, so he is pitting for us to have a look.
5:05 - Joerg got the fuel alarm, switched to reserve and will pit this lap. He will take tires and fuel and stay in the car for a third stint.
4:42 am - Joerg P 13.
4:24 am - He's out again quickly - now P 15.
4:21 - Joerg is in the pits for fuel. This will be a triple stint for him - he's just starintg to second of three. Still P 13. They will also change rear pads.
3:59 - Joerg P 13.
3:40 - Joerg is out for his stint. He's now P 14.
3:35 - Mike got the fuel bobble, switched to reserve, and will pit this lap for driver change to Joerg, tires and fuel. He is P15.
3:13 - Mike P 15.
2:55 am - Positions: P1 No. 59; P2 No. 23; P3 No. 44; P 4 No. 67; P 5 No. 57; P 6 No. 88. No. 45 P 16 after his pit stop.
2:52 - Mike Rockenfeller in the pits for fuel - he'll stay in the car; the final leg of his quadruple stint. he was P 15 at the time of the pit stop.
2:45 - No. 74 in the tires inside of Turn 2. Still green.
2:39 - Mike now P 15.
2:35 - Green flag.
2:33 - Still yellow. The GT pack is staring to pit, including leader No. 44. They are changing front brake pads. No. 45 will stay out - it will go green on this lap.
2:22 - Mike gets the wave-by, so we'll regain a lap. I believe we will now be just four laps down from the GT leader, the No. 44. It's really confusing with the cautions and wavebys - everyone is having trouble figuring out where they are supposed to be. Still P 17.
2:11 - Double yellow. Not sure of the reason. Mike P 17.
1:54 - Mike is in the pits for fuel only. He will stay in the car for another stint. He is P 17.
1:40 - Mike is nearing the end of his double stint but will stay in the car for an additional stint to allow the other drivers to rest.
1:19 - Mike radios in that he hit some curbing in the chicane - might be some damage, but so far seems OK.
1:08 - Mike is back out on track - I believe he'll be P 17 - will confirm that in a moment. No he is P18.
1:05 - the crew determines they need to do new brake pads. They will replace them now.
1:05 am - Mike P 16. He is in the pits for fuel tires, and stay in the car for a double stint.
12:48 - No. 44 Magnus has the GT lead. No. 45 P 18.
12:26 - No. 57 received a stop and go penalty for passing the pace car earlier in the race. They are in the lead. No. 66 TRG Porsche in P9 has a problem - not sure of the details on that. No. 23 AJR Porsche will take the lead, when the No. 57 comes in for the penalty.
12:19 - Mike heads out again - P 19 I believe. No. 57 Stevenson Motorsports in the GT lead.
12:18 - Driver change to Mike Rockenfeller.
12:12 - P17. Seth will pit shortly for driver change to Mike Rockenfeller.
11:51 - All is well. Temperature starting to drop here but still much warmer than last year!
11:30 - Seth in the pits for fuel. P16. No. 59 Brumos Racing Porsche is leading GT.
10:57 - Seth P15.
10:48 - Green flag.
10:41 - Patrick in the pits for driver change, tires and fuel. Seth Neiman back in the Porsche. Still yellow. Seth is out again still in P13.
10:32 - Patrick P13. Yellow flag. Patrick will get the pass around - he's the first car on the "next" lap (one lap down from the class leader) - so he will get the lucky dog pass around (I am not sure I quite understand this new rule). So he had been two laps down, now will be just one lap down on the GT leader, which is the No. 44Magnus Racing Porche.
10:14 - Green flag.
10:00 - Patrick P 13. Yellow flag.
9:47 - Patrick up to P12 and regained one lap on the wave by so he is now just one lap down on the GT leader. Still yellow.
9:38 - No. 74 in the tire wall. Double yellow.
9:28 - Incident between cars 12 and 34 - one lost a tire, not sure about the cause. Both are slow on course.
9:18 - Green flag. We have an alignment issue as a result of the earlier contact. Patrick P13. The engineers are discussing options to resolve it.
9:07 - Full course caution to remove a disabled car from the course. I think we'll get a pass around which will help us regain some of the ground lost during the incident with the No. 76.
9:06 pm - AFter an early pit stop and driver change to Patrick Long, the No. 45 now P16. No apparent damage after contact with the No. 76
8:56 - We've lost radio communications with the No. 45 and will bring him in. He and the No. 76 made light contact - and damaged the left rear.
8:38 - Seth in P8 after the stop.
8:30 - Joerg is in the pits for driver change to Seth Neiman, tires and fuel. He was P2 at the time of the stop, with No. 59 Brumos Porsche still in the lead.
8:05 - Green flag - Joerg P2. Marc Lieb in the No. 59 is P1.
7:42 - Still yellow as they remove the No. 41 is put on a roll back. Joerg now back to P2 as the field after the rest of the GT field completed their pit stop.No. 59 Brumos Porsche with Marc Lieb is P1.
7:36 - Big crash in the bust stop - looks like the 41 Porsche and a second car. Full course caution.
7:27 - Joerg pits for fuel. He was P2 at the time of the pit stop.
7:26 - Chief strategist Thomas Blam radios in for Joerg to pit for fuel.
7:21 - Joerg, in P2, putting pressure on Andy Lally (GT leader) in the No. 44 Magnus Racing Porsche. Joerg will be in the pits for scheduled stop in 2 or 3 laps.
7:12 - OK my data comms appear to have stabilized here - radio is live and should be OK - it may still be up and down for a while - if you lose connection, just refresh. Here's the direct link http://bit.ly/AifbrW (shortened)
7:08 pm - Joerg got bumped in right rear by another GT car earlier - he just radioed it in. Car seems to be OK.
7:00 - Joerg overtook the No. 66 to take P2.
6:55 - Joerg now P3. I asked Mike Rockenfeller about his stint: “I just tried to take it very easy on the car because we are so early in the race. The car feels fine; we have some understeer and we hope the track will come towards us over the race. We have a good race car; I think we’ll be ready when it comes time to race Sunday morning. We just need to run clean and we have a good chance. “
6:45 - Joerg P8.
6:44 - Joerg out quickly in the No. 45, now in P9 after the stop.
6:40 - Mike is in the pits unexpectedly, after he hit the fuel reserve just before pit entrance. Crew was ready for him - driver change to Joerg.
6:33 - Mike P4, No. 66 P3, No. 44 P2.
6:30 - At the three-hour mark, Mike now P3. No. 66 TRG Porsche overtook to take P2. No. 44 Magnus RAcing Porsche P4.
6:20 - Mike still P2. No. 88 P1; No. 45 P2; No. 66 P3. Mike is under 3 seconds back from the No. 88 Camaro and gaining. The No. 66 TRG Porsche (with Patrick Pilet at the wheel) is just behind Mike and closing in on the No. 45.
6:07 pm - Mike now P2. P1 No. 88; P3 No. 42. P4 No. 66
6:04 pm - Green flag. Mike P3. No. 42 P1; No. 88 P2; No. 45 P3; No. 66 P4; No. 59 P5.
6:01- Mike now P3 after the latest round of stops under yellow. Still yellow.
5:58 - Mike in the pits for a fuel top up - still yellow. He was P7 at the time of the pit stop.
5:50 - Full course yellow.
5:47 - No. 4 Magnus Racing Porsche stopped on course after a spin. Mike moves to P7.
5:40 - Mike now P8.
5:38 - Green flag.
5:40 - Mike now P8.
5:38 - Green flag.
5:35 - Mike pits for a fuel top up - still yellow.
5:31 pm Full course caution - No. 74 stopped on course. We will stop for fuel only.
5:25 - Green flag. Mike is P3. No passing allowed until the cars pass start/finish on the restart.
5:23 - still yellow.
5:18 - yellow flag. A lot of confusion under this yellow about the waveby. No. 23 now the leader. No. 59 P2; No. 45 P3; No. 44 P4.
5:09 - Full course yellow. Not sure why. We have lost power in our pits. Positions: P1 No. 57; P2 No. 23; P3 No. 59 ; P4 No. 45; P5 No. 17.
5:01 - Patrick in the pits for driver change to Mike Rockenfeller, tires and fuel. It’s a tight fit in pit lane with cars pitted both in front and in back of him.. He was P3 at the time of the stop. I’ll report positions in a minute. We got out ahead of the No. 59, who also pitted at the same time.
4:56 - No. 57 pitted, No. 44 moves to P4. Positions: P1 No. 23; P2 No. 59; P3 No. 45; P4 No. 44; P 5 No. 26.
4:52 - Patrick P3. P1 No. 23; P2 No. 59; P3 No. 45; P 4 No. 57; P 5 No. 17. Patrick will pit shortly for driver change to Mike Rockenfeller.
4:43 - No. 57 is close on Patrick’s tail.
4:29 - Patrick P3. P2 No. 23; P 2 No. 59.
4:22 - Patrick currently fastest Posche on track. He’s stuck behind a slower GT car that is one lap down. He’s P3. P1 No. 23; P2 No. 59; P3 No. 45.
4:21 - Patrick P3.
4:09 pm Patrick P 6 - (passed by No. 17 Porsche)
4:12 - Patrick p4 - passed 17. Got the bobble - he will be in the next lap for fuel.
3:47 - Patrick P5. He reports that the car is unstable.
3:30 pm ET - Green flag. Patrick held P4 at the start.
3:24 pm ET - Cars are rolling for their pace laps.
Patrick Long is in the No. 45 Porsche. He is fourth on the grid.

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