Scots set the pace at Daytona 24 posted in MSPOR05 | 01 | 2013

SCOTS RACERS FILLED two of the top five places after the first official test session for the Daytona 24 Hours in Florida.

American AJ Allmendinger topped the timesheets in his Riley-Ford, clocking 1min 42.918secs on the 3.56-mile track. Bathgate's Dario Franchitti (pictured) was third-fastest, just 0.069s back.

"I think it shows just how close he race is going to be," the three-time Indy500 winner and four-time IndyCar champ said today.

"We've won here before, and it would be the perfect way to start the season by winning America's Blue Riband event again."

Franchitti, was pipped by second in testing by his Ganassi Racing team-mate, F1 grand Prix winner Juan Pablo Montoya.

Daytona 24 Hours date for Scots

And while Allmendinger's team-mate Michael Valiante was fourth, Scots Allan McNish and Ryan Dalziel teamed-up to clock the fifth-fastest time.

The Starworks duo, who finished less than six second behind race winner Allmendinger last year, clocked a best time of 1:43.461s.

"We came very, very close last year," Dalziel, the FIA LMP2 World Champ from Wishaw said, "and we're determined to go one step further this year."

Dumfries racer McNish, meanwhile, is determined to add a Daytona 24 Hours victory to his impressive list of achievements.

"It's one of the very few main titles I don't have on my CV yet," the double Le Mans 24-Hours winner admitted, "but we're certainly looking good to challenge again this year."

Tomorrow's final test day is the last time the teams will run before qualifying for the 24-hours race which runs over January 26/27.

Bentley's 202mph GTC Speed Cabriolet

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Jim McGill