It's back to the "office" for multiple IndyCar Series drivers this month with manufacturer testing at Sebring International Raceway in addition to preparations for the 52nd Rolex 24 At Daytona.
The Jan. 25-26 endurance race at Daytona International Speedway features IndyCar Series champions Scott Dixon, Tony Kanaan and Ryan Hunter-Reay along with four-time CART champion Sebastien Bourdais. Dixon, Kanaan and 2013 Firestone Indy Lights champion Sage Karam were announced Jan. 3 as members of the two-car Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates driver roster.
Karam, 18, of Nazareth, Pa., will join veterans Scott Pruett, Memo Rojas and NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver Jamie McMurray to co-drive the No. 01 car in the 24-hour race on the 3.56-mile circuit. Dixon, the three-time and reigning IndyCar Series champion, will co-drive the No. 02 entry with 2013 Indianapolis 500 winner and 2004 IndyCar Series champion Kanaan, Marino Franchitti and Kyle Larson.
Kanaan signed with Chip Ganassi Racing Teams for the 2014 IndyCar Series season and will drive the No. 10 Target car.
"I think Sage has a great opportunity," said Kanaan, who joined teammates for Jan. 3-5 testing of the prototype car at Daytona.
A Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates car has won the Rolex 24 At Daytona five times. Pruett and Hurley Haywood are the only five-time winners of the event. Dixon co-drove the winning entry in 2006.
Karam noted that he's continuing pursuit of a full-time IndyCar Series ride for the 2014 season that starts March 28-30 with the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg.
"It's a good showcase," team owner Chip Ganassi said. "It gives us a chance to work with him and look at him for other things."
Ryan Briscoe, who in mid-December was introduced as the driver of the No. 8 NTT DATA car for Chip Ganassi Racing Teams for the 2014 season, will be co-driving a Chevrolet Corvette C7.R at Daytona and in the 12 Hours of Sebring in mid-March. The livery of the Corvettes will be unveiled at the Detroit International Auto Show in two weeks.
It also was announced that Hunter-Reay, the 2012 IndyCar Series champion who co-drove the second-place entry in the 2013 Rolex 24 At Daytona, would return to the SRT Motorsports team to co-drive the Viper GTS-R at Daytona and in the 12 Hours of Sebring.
"I have a long history with the Riley Technologies family and am looking forward to working with the same group in 2014 to again represent SRT on the track," he said.
Wilson returns to track; Rahal drives for family team
Justin Wilson, who suffered pelvic injuries in an on-track incident in the Oct. 19 IndyCar Series finale, has been cleared to drive in the Rolex 24 At Daytona. He'll rejoin Michael Shank Racing.
"I feel great," said Wilson, who co-drove to victory in the 2012 race.
Graham Rahal, who co-drove the winning Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates entry in the 2011 race, will drive one of the two BMWs for Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing in the first round.
Other IndyCar Series drivers who have secured rides for the race include 2013 third-place championship finisher Simon Pagenaud, Bourdais, James Hinchcliffe, 2013 Sunoco Rookie of the Year Tristan Vautier, E.J. Viso, James Davison and Townsend Bell.
Drivers back in Indy and on the track; other notes
IndyCar Series drivers will be in Indianapolis on Jan. 13-15 for physicals and INDYCAR meetings for the 2014 season. Chevrolet has a manufacturer test scheduled two days later at Sebring. ... 2013 IndyCar Series race winner Charlie Kimball became engaged to be married in December as did Firestone Indy Lights race winners Stefan Wilson and Peter Dempsey. ... Kanaan will receive the BorgWarner Driver's Championship Trophy, commonly referred to as a Baby Borg, for winning the Indianapolis 500 on Jan. 15 as part of the Automotive News World Congress in Detroit. KV Racing Technology co-owners Jimmy Vasser and Kevin Kalkhoven will be presented their BorgWarner Team Owner trophies. ... The Farmer's Almanac has forecast a "dry track" for the Indianapolis 500.