January 28 2011 Last updated at 06:03 PM ET
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- The reigning NASCAR and IZOD IndyCar Series champions highlight a star-studded field for the Rolex 24 at Daytona, the Grand-Am Series' season-opener at Daytona International Speedway this weekend.
But it's one of sports car's more traditional names, Porsche, that both five-time NASCAR champ Jimmie Johnson and two-time IndyCar champ Dario Franchitti will be chasing when the green flag drops at 3:30 p.m. (ET) Saturday.
German Jorg Bergmeister will start the No. 45 Flying Lizard Motorsports Porsche from the pole Saturday in the twice-around-the clock event that has again attracted a Who's Who list of auto racing greats.
Three Indy 500 winners, defending Daytona 500 winner Jamie McMurray (above left) and a potent mix of current and former NASCAR, IndyCar and Formula One drivers are giving it a go against the best sports car drivers in the world on the 3.56-mile Daytona road course.
Johnson and McMurray are trying to join Mario Andretti and A.J. Foyt as the only drivers to win a Daytona 500 and Rolex 24 crown. Johnson will co-drive with former series champs Alex Gurney and Jon Fogarty in the No. 99 GAINSCO Chevrolet and will start 10th in the marquee Daytona Prototype class. They were fastest in Friday's final practice.
McMurray is part of an two-car wonder lineup for three-time Rolex winner Chip Ganassi Racing. He'll co-drive the No. 02 BMW with three IndyCar Series champs, Scott Dixon, Franchitti and open-wheel-to-NASCAR convert Juan Pablo Montoya (above, center, chatting with Memo Rojas). They will start fifth among the 18 prototypes .
The other Ganassi car features defending Grand-Am Series champs Scott Pruett and Memo Rojas along with Ganassi's newest IndyCar driver Graham Rahal and sports car veteran Joey Hand. It will roll off third.
There are 11 NASCAR and seven full-time IndyCar drivers in the field, including fourth-generation racer Jeffrey Earnhardt -- grandson of seven-time champion Dale Earnhardt. They take a lot of pride in testing their road course skills against the sports car regulars.
Yet despite a recent influx of NASCAR drivers who have tried to win this race, Casey Mears' victory with Ganassi in 2006 marked the first time a full-time NASCAR driver has won overall. Montoya was part of the winning Ganassi effort the next year, giving stock car drivers only two wins in the 49-year history of the Rolex.
The defending winners are Joao Barbosa, Terry Borcheller, Ryan Dalziel and Mike Rockenfeller, who gave Porsche its second consecutive and record 22nd overall victory.
"I'm excited," said Johnson, who has a pair of runner-up efforts (2005, 2008) in six Rolex starts. "I feel that the way I can contribute to the team, and my confidence in what I can provide, I feel more buttoned up than I ever have for this event.
"I am very comfortable with the team, being back for the fourth year now, and just feel good about it. Very much at home, very comfortable and looking forward to more practice laps and the race."
Also trying to make a name for himself in one of sports car's biggest races is actor Patrick Dempsey, star of ABC's 'Grey's Anatomy' television drama. This is Dempsey's fourth Rolex 24 start. His previous best finish was 13th last year. He's driving the No. 40 Visit Florida-sponsored Mazda RX-8 in the GT production class and will start 31st overall in the 50-car field, 15th in class.
Dominik Farnbacher inherited the pole position for the GT class after his TRG teammate Andy Lally had his GT pole-winning Porsche GT3 disqualified for a small infraction during inspection.
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