It’s a good thing Sage Karam considers himself a “Night Owl” heading into Saturday’s Rolex 24 at Daytona. The 2013 Indy Lights champion and 2014 Indianapolis 500 starter knows as the youngest driver amongst his teammates he will get the “overnight” driving shift.
He did that last year when he was competing in one of Ford EcoBoost Target Riley Daytona Prototypes for Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates and is prepared to do it again this weekend in the longest North American endurance race of the season that kicks off the 2015 auto racing calendar.
Generally, the top drivers start the race and are behind the wheel at the end of the 24 Hour contest. The other drivers have to perform well into the night and early morning hours.
“Last year I got in the car at 1 a.m. and drove until 4 a.m. and then I got back in the car again at 7 a.m. and drove another two hours,” said the driver from Nazareth, Pennsylvania. “Of course, those hours are the worst. It’s a pretty big challenge. I’ve never driven anything like that that late ever. Your internal clock is all screwed up and everything in your body is telling you that you should be asleep. Here you are going 200 miles an hour in a race car going left, going right and going around slower cars. It’s a big mental challenge but it’s our job – another day behind the wheel.”
Or, in Karam’s case, his job is the “Night Shift.”
“I think when you are behind the wheel of a race car there is a switch in your body that wakes you up,” Karem said. “I knew it was big because the inexperienced, young, new guys drive at that time and this race was a big showing point for me to get into the Ganassi stable so I performed and did my best. I knew I could drive well and I did a pretty good job. I tend to go to bed pretty late so that helps. When I’m just hanging out, I tend to stay up late.”
Karam admitted the time under yellow late at night is the biggest challenge because the cars are going to slower and it gives him time to think about his lack of sleep. But he has plenty of talent to rely upon as he shares the driving duties with former Indianapolis 500 starter Scott Pruett, current IndyCar driver Charlie Kimball and sports car driver Joey Hand in the No. 01.
Former IndyCar Series champions and Indianapolis 500 winners Scott Dixon and Tony Kanaan share the No. 02 for Ganassi Ford EcoBoost Target Riley with talented NASCAR driver Kyle Larson and former Daytona 500 and Brickyard 400 winner Jamie McMurray.
“It’s a pretty cool event – probably in the top three of the biggest and coolest races I’ve done in my career,” said the 19-year-old Karam. “The first year I didn’t really know what to expect but this year I have more of an understanding and more knowledge of what this race really is and how to approach it and what to do during the race. This year will be a better vibe and a better race for me as a whole. I’m really looking forward to getting back to it for a second year.”
Karam is confident he will be a full-time participant in the No. 8 Dallara/Chevrolet in the Verizon IndyCar Series but the deal isn’t completed with sponsorship. He recently tested with the team at Sebring, Florida and at NOLA Motorsports Park in Avondale, Louisiana.
“The tests couldn’t have gone any better for me and the team is going to work harder than ever to get me in for the full season,” Karam said. “They are on board and I’m on board. I think it will happen.”