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Scott Sharp’s ESM team wins Rolex as Corvettes thrill crowd

Winning drivers of the IMSA 24-hour auto race, from left, Luis Felipe Derani, of Brazil, Scott Sharp, Ed Brown and Joannes van Overbeek, celebrate with champagne at Daytona International Speedway, Sunday, Jan. 31, 2016, in Daytona Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)
Winning drivers of the IMSA 24-hour auto race, from left, Luis Felipe Derani, of Brazil, Scott Sharp, Ed Brown and Joannes van Overbeek, celebrate with champagne at Daytona International Speedway, Sunday, Jan. 31, 2016, in Daytona Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux) Winning drivers of the IMSA 24-hour auto race, from left, Luis Felipe Derani, of Brazil, Scott Sharp, Ed Brown and Joannes van Overbeek, celebrate with champagne at Daytona International Speedway, Sunday, Jan. 31, 2016, in Daytona Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)

By Associated Press 4 min read

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (AP) – One by one the top contenders in the Rolex 24 at Daytona fell victim to the bumps and breaks of a twice-around-the-clock endurance race.

Defending champion Chip Ganassi Racing had a brake issue that took the “star car” out of contention before the halfway mark. Michael Shank Racing blew an engine while leading the race. Then Action Express Racing headed to the garage while leading because of a broken axel with just under four hours remaining.

It left only two cars on the lead lap Sunday and Scott Sharp and his Tequila Patron Extreme Speed Motorsports had Wayne Taylor Racing covered.

Luis Felipe Derani, a Brazilian in his first career sports car race in the United States, closed out the win for ESM with a 26-second victory over Taylor’s battered crew. Although the Taylor entry has completed every lap since 2013, the Corvette on Sunday lacked the speed that ESM had in its Honda-powered Ligier.

Plus, Jordan Taylor’s driving duties were limited because of two infections he’s been battling for two weeks. Older brother, Ricky, was sick to his stomach at the end of his final stint and Max Angelelli was taken to a local hospital after the race for treatment. No details were given about Angelelli’s issue, but the Taylors had thought fumes were seeping into the car in the waning hours of the race.