1979 Daytona 24 Hours


3-4 February 1979 - Daytona (USA): Round 1, World Manufacturers Championship. Round 1, World Challenge for Endurance Drivers. Round 1, Endurance Triple Crown.
24 hour duration event in which 684 laps of a 3.840 miles/6.180 km circuit - 2626.560 miles/4227.031 kms were completed.
Weather: cool, dry


Pos. No. Driver / Nationality Car Entrant Laps Time/retired Grp Pos Group Grid Qual Time
1. 0 Ted Field (USA)
Danny Ongais (USA)
Hurley Haywood (USA)
Porsche 935/79 930 990 0029 Interscope Racing 684 24:00:24,870  1. GTX 8. 1:54,072 
2. 65 John Morton (USA)
Tony Adamowicz (USA)
John Cannon (CDN)*
Ferrari 365 GTB/4 16407 Otto Zipper 635 24:01:23,344  1. GTO 24. 2:05,791 
3. 11 Bruce Canepa (USA)
Rick Mears (USA)
Monte Shelton (USA)
Gregg Pickett (USA)*
Porsche 935 009 00029 Bruce Canepa 627   2. GTX 19. 2:00,386 
4. 94 Don Whittington (USA)
Bill Whittington (USA)
Jürgen Barth (D)
Preston Henn (USA)*
Porsche 935/79 930 990 0026 Whittington Brothers Racing 622   3. GTX 6. 1:49,397 
5. 7 Yoshimi Katayama (J)
Yojiro Terada (J)
Takashi Yorino (J)
Mazda RX-7 Mazda Auto Tokyo 617   1. GTU 32. 2:05,955 
6. 77 Walt Bohren (USA)
Amos Johnson (USA)
Roger Mandeville (USA)
Mazda RX-7 Mazda Auto Tokyo 615   2. GTU 34. 2:06,804 
7. 60 Rusty Bond (USA)
Ren Tilton (USA)
Porsche 911 E. J. Pruitt 612   3. GTU 50. 2:12,729 
8. 54 Tony Garcia (USA)
Juan Montalvo (C)
Alberto Vadia (USA)
Porsche Carrera Montura Racing 587   2. GTO 33. 2:06,274 
9. 98 Lance Van Every (USA)
Ash Tisdelle (USA)
Robert Overby (USA)
Porsche Carrera RSR Van Every Racing 579   3. GTO 30. 2:04,607 
10. 03 Angelo Pallavicini (CH)
Enzo Calderari (CH)
Marco Vanoli (CH)
Porsche 934 930 670 0162 Angelo Pallavicini 577   4. GTO 40. 2:09,383 
11. 75 Mike Ramirez (PR)
Manuel Villa (PR)
Luis Gordillo (PR)
Porsche 911 Mike Ramirez 560   4. GTU 49. 2:12,600 
12. 37 Honorato Espinosa (CO)
Francisco Lopez (CO)
Jorge Cortes (CO)
Porsche Carrera Luis Botero 551   5. GTO 27. 2:02,649 
13. 33 Peter Welter (USA)
Richard Aten (USA)
Jack Refenning (USA)
Porsche 911 Peter Welter 550   5. GTU 55. 2:13,905 
14. 58 Diego Febles (PR)
Phil Currin (USA)
Porsche Carrera Diego Febles 543   6. GTO 25. 2:02,178 
NRF 5 Charles Mendez (USA)
Johnny Rutherford (USA)
Paul Miller (USA)
Porsche 935 Busch Beer Racing 529 Rear suspension 4. GTX 12. 1:53,028 
NRF 27 Ray Mummery (USA)
Tom Sheehy (USA)
Luis Sereix (USA)
Porsche 911S Ray Mummery 522 Differential 6. GTU 44. 2:10,219 
NRF 62 Bill Koll (USA)
Jim Cook (USA)
Dennis Aase (USA)*
Porsche 914/6 Koll Motor Sports 511   7. GTU 39. 2:09,314 
18. 95 Stephen Bond (USA)
Philip Dann (USA)
Chevrolet Monza Stephen E. Bond 509   7. GTO 66. no time
19. 21 John Wood (USA)
Tom Bagley (USA)
Carl Shafer (USA)
Joe Chamberlain (USA)^
Chevrolet Camaro Oftedahl Racing 493   8. GTO 14. 1:57,717 
20. 42 Tom Ashby (USA)
Bill Bean (USA)
Bob Beasley (USA)
Porsche 911 Bullwinkele Racing 493   8. GTU 45. 2:10,600 
21. 08 Terry Wolters (USA)
Nort Northam (USA)
Richard Weiss (USA)
Porsche 911 911 030 1263 Moran Construction 488   9. GTU 67. no time
22. 34 George Drolsom (USA)
Mark Greb (USA)
John Maffucci (USA)
Porsche 911 Drolsom Racing 482   10. GTU 47. 2:11,186 
NC 64 C. C. Canada (USA)
Russ Boykin (USA)
Tom Ciccone (USA)
Chevrolet Camaro Lenton B. McGill 458   9. GTO 54. 2:13,721 
NC 61 Al Cosentino (USA)
Dick Starita (USA)
Taku Akaike (J)
Craig Fisher (CDN)*
John Kelly (USA)*
Rocky Aoki (USA)*
Mazda RX-3 Alfred Cosentino 444   11. GTU 48. 2:11,757 
DNF 8 Anatoly Arutunoff (USA)
José Marina (USA)
Danny Sullivan (USA)
Billy Pryor (USA)*
Lancia Stratos Anatoly Arutunoff 439   12. GTU 53. 2:13,226 
DNF 6 Dick Barbour (USA)
Brian Redman (GB)
Paul Newman (USA)
Porsche 935/77A 930 890 0024 Dick Barbour Racing 410 Dropped valve 5. GTX 7. 1:51,625 
DNF 80 Herb Adams (USA)
Peter Frey (USA)
Louis Spoerl (USA)
Pontiac Firebird Herb Adams 408 Oil pressure 10. GTO 65. no time
DNF 17 Jim Mederer (USA)
Don Sherman (USA)
Jeff Kline (USA)
Ron Reed (USA)*
Mazda RX-7 Mederer/Oku 393   13. GTU 43. 2:10,099 
DNF 93 Dale Whittington (USA)
R. D. Whittington (USA)
Preston Henn (USA)
Bill Whittington (USA)*
Juergen Barth (D)*
Porsche 934 930 670 0173 Whittington Brothers Racing 389 Accident 11. GTO 35. 2:06,847 
DNF 71 Bill Scott (USA)
Mark Hutchins (USA)
Pierre Honegger (USA)
Porsche 911 Bill Scott 388   14. GTU 41. 2:09,451 
DNF 40 Steve Southard (USA)
William Koch (USA)
Earl Roe (USA)
Porsche 914/6 Performance Specialists 385   15. GTU 59. 2:15,466 
DNF 1 Bob Wollek (F)
Jacky Ickx (B)
Peter Gregg (USA)
Porsche 935/77A 930 890 0015 Gelo Racing Team 342 Valves 6. GTX 3. 1:47,028 
DNF 69 Klaus Bytzek (CDN)
Rudy Bartling (CDN)
Ludwig Heimrath (CDN)
Porsche Carrera Bytzek Automotive 335 Oil system 12. GTO 28. 2:03,995 
DNF 29 Billy Hagan (USA)
Hoyt Overbagh (USA)
Ron Reed (USA)
Chevrolet Monza Stratagraph 331   13. GTO 18. 1:59,994 
DNF 89 Joseph Hamilton (USA)
Rob Hoskins (USA)
Herb Forrest (USA)
Porsche 911 Hamilton House Racing 329   16. GTU 46. 2:10,618 
DNF 51 Robert Kirby (USA)
John Hotchkis (USA)
Howard Meister (USA)
Porsche Carrera Casa Blanca Fan 328   14. GTO 37. 2:08,292 
DNF 15 Alf Gebhardt (USA)
Sepp Grinbold (USA)
Bruno Beilcke (USA)*
BMW CSL Bavarian Motors International 299   15. GTO 36. 2:08,166 
DNF 81 Ernesto Soto (YV)
Francisco Romero (YV)
Oscar Notz (YV)
Porsche Carrera Performance Export 241   16. GTO 21. 2:01,072 
DNF 01 Dave White (USA)
J. Kurt Roehrig (USA)
John Hamilton (USA)
Porsche 911 D. R. Racing 223   17. GTU 38. 2:08,508 
DNF 13 Hal Shaw, Jr. (USA)
Tom Spalding (USA)
Norm Ridgely (CDN)
Porsche 935 930 670 0180 Hal Shaw Racing 222 Turbocharger 7. GTX 42. 2:09,852 
DNF 36 Ron Case (USA)
Dave Panaccione (USA)
Porsche 911 Case Racing 210   18. GTU 52. 2:13,041 
NC 53 Guy Thomas (USA)
Milton Moise (USA)
Tom Nehl (USA)
Chevrolet Camaro Guy Thomas 201   8. GTX 51. 2:12,783 
DNF 06 Al Levenson (USA)
Gary Baker (USA)
Lanny Hester (USA)
Chevrolet Corvette Al Levenson 197   17. GTO 57. 2:14,960 
DNF 23 Charlie Kemp (USA)
Carson Baird (USA)
Kees Nierop (USA)
Ford Mustang Cobra II Charlie Kemp 168   9. GTX 10. 1:56,726 
DNF 3 Martino Finotto (I)
Carlo Facetti (I)
Gianpiero Moretti (I)
Porsche 935 930 770 0911 Jolly Club - Sportwagen Racing Team 164 Engine 10. GTX 1. 1:46,113 
DNF 4 Reinhold Jöst (D)
Rolf Stommelen (D)
Volkert Merl (D)
Porsche 935J 930 890 0014 LM Joest Porsche 162 Engine 11. GTX 4. 1:47,907 
DNF 90 Rick Kump (USA)
Bob Lee (USA)
Sam Miller (USA)
AMC AMX Bob's Speed Products 156   18. GTO 56. 2:14,460 
DNF 12 Gerry Wellik (USA)
Tom Bagley (USA)
Joe Chamberlain (USA)
John Wood (USA)^
Chevrolet Camaro Gordon Oftedahl 147   19. GTO 26. 2:02,578 
DNF 56 Craig Carter (USA)
Murray Edwards (CDN)
Richard Valentine (USA)
Chevrolet Camaro Peerless Racing 144   20. GTO 17. 1:59,423 
DNF 2 Manfred Schurti (FL)
John Fitzpatrick (GB)
Bob Wollek (F)
Porsche 935/77A 930 890 0020 Gelo Racing Team 135 Valves 12. GTX 2. 1:46,746 
DNF 57 John Tremblay (USA)
Bob Lapp (USA)
Datsun 240Z John Tremblay 118 Gearbox 19. GTU 63. no time
DNF 9 Bob Akin (USA)
Rob McFarlin (USA)
Roy Woods (USA)
Porsche 935 930 770 0910 Dick Barbour Racing 117 Engine 13. GTX 9. 1:54,500 
DNF 66 Jean-Claude Andruet (F)
Spartaco Dini (I)
Claude Ballot-Léna (F)
Ferrari 512 BB 26681 Charles Pozzi - JMS 103 Withdrawn after Delaunay's accident 14. GTX 15. 1:58,780 
DNF 67 Claude Ballot-Léna (F)
Michel Leclére (F)
Jean-Claude Andruet (F)
Ferrari 512 BB 26685 Charles Pozzi - JMS 101 Withdrawn after Delaunay's accident 15. GTX 13. 1:57,376 
DNF 24 Graham Shaw (USA)
Don Yenko (USA)
Jerry Thompson (USA)
Chevrolet Monza Graham Shaw 86   16. GTX 62. no time
DNF 38 Bonky Fernandez (PR)
Chiqui Soldevilla (PR)
Tato Ferrer (PR)
Armando Gonzalez (PR)*
Porsche Carrera RSR Boricua Racing 73   21. GTO 20. 2:00,948 
DNF 68 Bob Tullius (USA)
Jean-Pierre Delaunay (F)
Pat Bedard (USA)
Jacques Guerin (F)*
Ferrari 512 BB 26683 North American Racing Team 72 Accident 17. GTX 16. 1:58,823 
DNF 43 Bill McDill (USA)
Stephen Behr (USA)
Chevrolet Camaro Mike Meldeau 59   18. GTX 31. 2:05,621 
DNF 46 Mauricio DeNarvaez (CO)
Albert Naon (USA)
Pedro DeNarvaez (CO)
Porsche Carrera de Narvaez Racing 46   22. GTO 23. 2:01,586 
DNF 07 Dave Cowart (USA)
David McClain (USA)
Kenper Miller (USA)
Porsche Carrera Morrison's 35   23. GTO 22. 2:01,412 
DNF 00 Preston Henn (USA)
Ted Field (USA)^
Danny Ongais (USA)^
Porsche 935/77A 930 890 0019 Interscope Racing 29 Accident 19. GTX 11. 1:52,807 
DNF 14 Steve Griswold (USA)
Steve Earle (USA)^
Rick Knoop (USA)^
Wolfgang Nachsel (USA)*
BMW CSL Bavarian Motors International 25 Cooling system 20. GTX 61. no time
DNF 96 Gary Wonzer (USA)
Robert Whitaker (USA)^
George Van Arsdale (USA)^
Richard C. Hughes (USA)^
Triumph GT-6 Gary Wonzer 20 Electrics 20. GTU 60. 2:16,117 
DNF 48 Frank Leary (USA)
Casey Mollett (USA)^
Steve Cook (USA)^
Datsun 240Z Frank Leary 13 Cooling system 21. GTU 58. 2:15,453 
DNF 18 John Paul (USA)
Al Holbert (USA)^
Michael Keyser (USA)^
Gianpiero Moretti (I)*
Porsche 935 JLP-1 JLP-1 J.L.P. Racing 12 Electrics 21. GTX 5. 1:48,426 
DNF 79 Bob Bergstrom (USA)
Brad Frisselle (USA)^
Mazda RX-7 Sports Ltd. Racing 9 Suspension 22. GTU 64. no time
DNF 73 Clark Howey (USA)
Dale Koch (USA)^
Tracy Wolf (USA)^
Chevrolet Camaro Clark Howey 4   22. GTX 29. 2:04,328 
DNS 63 Al Cosentino (USA)
Craig Fisher (CDN)
Stephen Behr (USA)*
Taku Akaike (J)*
Dick Starita (USA)*
Mazda RX-3 Alfred Cosentino       GTU   no time
DNS 78 Ken Williams (USA)
Wiley Doran (USA)
Neil Upchurch (USA)
Datsun 240Z Associated Speed & Performance       GTU   no time
DNS T Yoshimi Katayama (J)
Yojiro Terada (J)
Takashi Yorino (J)
Walt Bohren (USA)
Jim Downing (USA)
Roger Mandeville (USA)
Mazda RX-7 Mazda Auto Tokyo       GTU   no time
DNA 04 Rick Thompkins (USA)
Dave Heinz (USA)
Tom Cochran (USA)
Chevrolet Corvette Rick Thompkins       GTO    
DNA 05 Cliff Gottlob (USA)
Danny Terrill (USA)
Chevrolet Corvette Cliff Gottlob            
DNA 20 Vince DiLella (USA)
Manuel Cueto (USA)
Jose Fernandez (USA)
Porsche 914/6 Vince DiLella       GTU    
DNA 22 Dale Kreider (USA)
Bruce Davidson (USA)
Chevrolet Corvette Dale Kreider       GTO    
DNA 25 Robert LaMay (USA)
Larry Parker (USA)
Ford Mustang II Larry Parker            
DNA 31 Hiram Cruz (USA)
Juan Lopez (DR)
Mandy Gonzalez (PR)
Porsche 911 Hiram Cruz       GTU    
DNA 35 Pedro DeNarvaez (CO)
Luis Botero (CO)
Henning Buff (CO)
Porsche Carrera Luis Botero            
DNA 44 Kent Murry (USA)
George Van Arsdale (USA)
Richard Weiss (USA)
Porsche 911 Sud Porsche Racing       GTU    
DNA 45 Jan Chudziak (USA)
Paul Cloutier (USA)
Lou Timolat (USA)
Mazda RX-3 Paul Cloutier       GTU    
DNA 83 Harro Zitza (USA)
John Belperche (USA)
Doug Zitza (USA)
Porsche 914/6 Zotz Garage       GTU    
DNA 85 John Hulen (USA)
Ron Coupland (USA)
Bob Speakman (USA)
Porsche 914/6 John E. Hulen       GTU    
DNA 86 Tom Ross (USA)
William Kull (USA)
James Southard (USA)
Ford Pinto Tom Ross       GTX    
DNA 87 Charles Gano (USA)
Earle Moffitt (USA)
Robert Uiterwyk (USA)
Chevrolet Corvette Uiterwyk/Moffitt            
DNA 88 Dave Yerger (USA)
Dario Orlando (USA)
Tony Cassata (USA)
Alfa Romeo GTV Dave Yerger       GTU    

 
Winning Time: 24h00m24.87, 109.409 mph/176.076 kph
Fastest Lap: Peter Gregg #1 (Porsche 935-77A), 1m49.477, 126.273 mph/203.217 kph

 
* Driver entered for car, but never drove it at meeting
^ Driver practiced car, but did not race it
RES - Reserve (Practiced, on standy-by for start)
REE - Reserve Entry
DNA - Did Not Arrive
DNS - Did Not Start
DNF - Did Not Finish
DNP - Did Not Practice
NC - Not Classified
DSQ - Disqualified
NRF - Not Running At Finish
NAC - Not Accepted
REJ - Rejected (Did not pass scrutineering)