NASCAR drivers get back on track again in Rolex 24 (cont'd)

Power deficit thwarts Montoya

Though down on power compared with the winning No. 58 Brumos Porsche Riley driven to the checkered flag by David Donohue, Juan Montoya did a masterful job of keeping his Ganassi Racing Lexus Riley at the front of the field -- until Donohue surged past him with just more than 30 minutes left in the Rolex 24.

“

It's a little unfair, but it is what it is. I think second place for this team is still a great thing.

”

JUAN MONTOYA

Montoya, who teamed with Memo Rojas and Scott Pruett, held off the No. 59 Brumos Porsche for second place.

"Being realistic, we shouldn't have even been in second place," said Montoya, who has two Rolex 24 victories on his resume. "I have to thank everybody at Chip Ganassi. They've done a tremendous job.

"The annoying thing is we brought a car with less wing than they did. We had less wing, but we had such a good handling car. But you get traffic, and they just blow by you. They get traffic, and you can't even keep up with them. It's a little unfair, but it is what it is. I think second place for this team is still a great thing."

The son of the late Mark Donohue, David Donohue, teamed with Darren Law, Buddy Rice and Antonio Garcia to give Brumos its first victory in the event since 1978.

Mears' perspective has changed

Once upon a time, Casey Mears considered himself an open-wheel driver and a road racer, but six full seasons of Sprint Cup racing have altered his perspective on the Rolex 24 Hours.

"Four years ago, I felt more like a road racer," said Mears, who teamed with Danica Patrick, Rob Finlay and Andy Wallace to overcome an electrical problem and finish eighth in his No. 2 Childress-Howard Motorsports Pontiac Crawford. "Now I feel more like a NASCAR guy coming in for the weekend.

"But it doesn't take long to find your roots."