Rolex 24 at Daytona sees 3 crashes in first hour: 'This race is already goofy'
Daytona International Speedway is famous for "The Big One," a giant field-consuming crash that wipes out multiple drivers.
No need to wait for the Daytona 500. The Rolex 24 saw plenty of wrecks before the 24-hour endurance race could finish hour 1. Race fans had plenty to say about all the action on social media (when they could find the race after a basketball game).
Misha Golkhberg drove the No. 78 Forte Racing Lamborghini into a tire barrier after losing grip entering the backstretch chicane ("the bus stop"). The crash put the IMSA opener into an early caution.
Tire barrier crash at the Rolex 24 pic.twitter.com/1qUJpjiNvs
— Skewcar (@Skewcar) January 27, 2024
It was the first of three crashes to highlight the first hour of the race. Shortly afterward, three LMP2 cars slid off course in the spot but were largely unharmed and continued. But as that was sorting itself out, the No. 14 Lexus driven by Mike Conway came together with an LPM2 car as they entered the infield course with a pack of cars.
Then at the end of the second hour of the event, Steven Thomas lost control in the No. 11 Oreca and slammed the wall coming out of the Le Mans chicane.
The wrecking got started even before the actual racing did. On Saturday morning, in a bit of irony, the safety car got into a nasty crash on the course.
Safety car for the Rolex 24 pic.twitter.com/DSoo9K2L0N
— Skewcar (@Skewcar) January 27, 2024
There were still about 4 hours to go until the green flag waved.
Fans react to crashes at Rolex 24 2024
Here's a sampling of reaction on social media to the crash-filled start of the 2024 Rolex 24:
Happy Rolex 24 to all that celebrate
This race is already goofy— Justin Melillo (@justinmelillo) January 27, 2024
First hour of the Rolex 24 pic.twitter.com/vqLBzKDovB
— Rik (@Riktor52) January 27, 2024
Take a shot for every caution in the Rolex 24
— Fifth Gear (@NotFifthGear) January 27, 2024
if i was in the rolex 24 i would simply not crash in the first hour
— Ashley 🐹🍜 (@ashleypantera28) January 27, 2024
The Rolex 24 is imploding
— Joseph Taylor (@JoeyTaylorRacin) January 27, 2024
Expensive start to the Rolex 24.
— Josh (@Warsher) January 27, 2024
Of course the one time i watch the Rolex 24 becomes a wreckfest #rolex24
— Driver 1 (D1) #KB43VER (@Driver_1bhyt) January 27, 2024
Just got home from work and turned on the Rolex 24 what on earth has happened immediately I see 2 crashes happening instantly including the lead car in GTD Pro the #14 Lexus absolute Chaos #Rolex24
— Ryan Dyer (@RyanDyer99) January 27, 2024
Just, oh ... 21 hours to go.
Ken Willis and Ryan Pritt of the Daytona Beach News-Journal contributed to this report.
This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: Fans react to crashes early in Rolex 24 2024 at Daytona