Roger Penske's team wins third consecutive Rolex 24 at Daytona - ESPN

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — Roger Penske opened the 60th anniversary of his team with a win in the first race of the year — a three-peat, no less, in the Rolex 24 at Daytona.

The Penske squad became the third team in the 64-year history of the most prestigious endurance race in the United States to win three in a row. His Porsche Penske Motorsports team joined Chip Ganassi Racing and Wayne Taylor Racing as the only teams to win three straight sports car races at Daytona International Speedway.

It was the 21st victory in the event for Porsche.

What's most impressive for Penske is that the team has won three years in a row with three different lineups; Brazilian driver Felipe Nasr, the Penske closer, is the only mainstay on all three entries.

Nasr's feat makes it six consecutive years that a Brazilian driver has been part of the winning team. Four-time Indianapolis 500 winner Helio Castroneves was part of the winning team in 2021, '22 and '23.

It didn't come easy for Nasr, driving in front of what Daytona officials called the largest Rolex crowd in race history, as he held off the Cadillac from Action Express Racing over the final hour to win the overall title. Action Express is owned by NASCAR and IMSA chairman Jim France, and the car originally won the pole but was disqualified in post-qualifying inspection.

That forced the No. 31 Cadillac to start last in class, and the lineup of Jack Aitken, Earl Bamber, Mercedes Formula 1 driver Fred Vesti and NASCAR rising star Connor Zilisch weaved their way to second over the 24 hours.

Nasr and Aitken closed the races for their respective teams and Aitken got several good looks at passing Nasr for the win in the final 25 minutes, but Nasr closed the door on him at every chance.

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