Michael Shank Racing has scored a pair of serious pros to co-drive with Ozz Negri and John Pew in the 2012 Grand Am Rolex 24 at Daytona.
NASCAR’s AJ Allmendinger and IndyCar’s Justin Wilson has signed on with MSR for the 50th-Anniversary running of North America’s longest endurance race.
Allmendinger and Wilson have driven with MSR before; this pair helped Ozz negri and teammate Mark Peterson score second in the 2006 Rolex, MSR’s best finish in the 24-hour classic to date. The pair each co-drove one of MSR’s cars in 2008, and were together again in 2011, when they finished seventh.
“I couldn’t be happier to get Justin and AJ back for the 24 this year,” said team owner Mike Shank in a press release. “We know that it takes speed, smarts, and experience to get to the podium here and having guys like Justin and AJ on board for the 24 is a big advantage. They are team players, and everyone is really focused on a big result.”
Justin Wilson started his racing career in 2001 by winning the FIA F3000 championship. He did two years in F1, then moved on to IndyCar in 2004, where he finished third in 2005 and second in the 2007 championship. This will be Wilson’s first race back since his injury in the Mid-Ohio IndyCar race in August.
“It’s great to be back,” said Wilson on his website. “Mike always does such a great job with his team and it’s a privilege to be a part of it. I did a couple of laps this morning in the car which was my first time in the new Riley and it felt great so I’m cautiously optimistic about what we can do. Hopefully it’s going to play out well for us.”
AJ Allmendinger started in IndyCar in 2004, earning five wins in 2006 before moving to NASCAR. He has been in an MSR car at every Rolex since 2006.
“It’s good to be back with Shank and with Ozz and Justin,” Allmendinger said on ajallmendinger.com. “We had our best finish (second) here driving together in 2006 and I’ve also had some good runs with John [Pew] so I feel good about the race team.
“In the short time I got to drive the car, I feel really good about the racecar. feel we’ve had a great chance to win every year but I just feel in the short amount of time we’ve had with the new Riley the car’s been really good and I think if we just keep developing it over the three day test and get it ready for the Rolex 24, I think we’re going to have a really good shot this time.”
Allmendinger, Wilson, Negri and Pew are testing the MSR Riley Ford at Daytona International Speedway at the roar Before the 24, Jan. 6–8, preparing for the 50th Anniversary Grand Am Rolex 24 at Daytona, Jan 28.
