#0698 Corvette C5.R

Daytona 24 Hours 2001

#2 Johnny O'Connel / Ron Fellows / Chris Kneifel / Franck Freon
1st place overall, 1st place in GTS category

#3 Dale Earnhardt / Dale Earnhardt Jr. / Andy Pilgrim / Kelly Collins
4th place overall, 2nd place in GTS category

The overall victory at the 2001 24 Hours of Daytona was not foreseeable for Ron Fellows, Chris Kneifel, Franck Fréon and Johnny o'Connell on their C5.R Corvette with starting number 2. The open prototypes dominated the first half of the race in terms of performance. However, only three prototypes remained in the lead into the night, followed by the two factory Corvettes and a Marcos in an exciting race duel. A defective servo pump throws the Marcos out of the race, the Dyson breathes its life out with a plume of white oil smoke two hours before the end of the race - but is in the lead with 26 laps - despite retiring. The #2 Corvette closes the gap and crosses the finish line as the winner, alongside sister car #3 (Pilgrim, Dale Earnhardt, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Kelly Collins) which only comes fourth.