DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — Engine problems gave the 24 Hours of Daytona a twist Sunday, with the Chip Ganassi Racing car that dominated the first day falling out and the organization’s second entry one of two cars on the lead lap more than 18 hours into the sports car endurance race.Scott Pruett was guiding Ganassi’s No

IRWINDALE, Calif.

Ganassi #01 moves into Daytona lead By Diego Mejia Sunday, January 31st 2010, 09:06 GMT The #02 Ganassi Riley-BMW has had to retire from the Daytona 24 Hours lead with engine failure - but the squad’s #01 challenger has jumped into the lead as the race reached its halfway point. Entering the seventh hour of the race the leading Ganassi car lost the lead as Jamie McMurray got overtaken first by the #6 Michael Shank Racing Riley-Ford driven by AJ Allmendinger, and also by the #9 Action Express Riley-Porsche of Joao Barbosa. Montoya was drafted back in the car after only an hour’s rest to drive another stint in an effort to get Ganassi back in the lead.

Ferrari alters testing programme By Pablo Elizalde Sunday, January 31st 2010, 10:52 GMT The Ferrari team has altered its testing programme for Valencia after its scheduled first run with the new car had to be cancelled due to poor weather.

Abu Dhabi wants final slot to be its own By Jonathan Noble Sunday, January 31st 2010, 11:36 GMT Abu Dhabi Grand Prix chiefs are to make a push to ensure the final slot on the Formula 1 calendar becomes their own indefinitely. The inaugural event at Yas Marina was given the season finale slot last year and, although it originally lost that prestigious place to Brazil in the provisional 2010 calendar, a reshuffle of the schedule in December saw Abu Dhabi reinstated as the final event. Having welcomed that move, Yas Marina’s CEO Richard Cregan has said his event is now keen to lobby for Abu Dhabi to retain that place for the long term.

Virgin set for Silverstone shakedown By Matt Beer Sunday, January 31st 2010, 13:25 GMT Virgin Racing will become the first of the new Formula 1 entrants to run its car on track when it shakes down the VR-01 in a private event at Silverstone at the end of next week. After launching the Cosworth-powered, Wirth Research-designed car in an online ceremony on Wednesday 3 February, the team will run the car at Silverstone on 4-5 February, prior to joining the second major Formula 1 test of the winter at Jerez the following week. The VR-01 was fired up for the first time in Wirth’s Bicester factory last night

BMW Sauber launches new C29 car By Pablo Elizalde Sunday, January 31st 2010, 13:40 GMT BMW Sauber was the third Formula 1 team to show off its new challenger for the 2010 season on Sunday, with the unveiling of the C29 at the Valencia circuit. The car, which will be powered by Ferrari engines this season, is the first machine from the Swiss squad following the exit of BMW from the sport at the end of 2009.

BMW Sauber to retain name for now By Jonathan Noble and Pablo Elizalde Sunday, January 31st 2010, 14:32 GMT BMW Sauber is not planning to change the team’s name at least before the start of the season, Peter Sauber said on Sunday. Although BMW quit Formula 1 at the end of the 2009 season, the Hinwil-based squad has retained the BMW Sauber moniker so far

Action Express leads into final hours By Diego Mejia Sunday, January 31st 2010, 15:28 GMT The leading #01 Ganassi Riley-BMW crew are facing a tough challenge in their bid to win the Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona for a fourth time, as the team chases the Action Express Riley-Porsche after 18 hours. Chip Ganassi Racing has had to work hard for victory, with a three-way battle raging into the final six hours.

Renault reveals the R30, confirms Petrov By Pablo Elizalde Sunday, January 31st 2010, 15:37 GMT The Renault Formula 1 team launched its 2010 car at the Valencia circuit on Sunday afternoon and confirmed Vitaly Petrov as its second driver. The new R30 was unveiled by Russian Petrov and team-mate Robert Kubica, who will form the all-new driver line-up of the French squad this year. Twenty-five year-old Petrov, last year’s runner-up in the GP2 series, becomes the first Russian Formula 1 driver in the history of the sport