IZOD IndyCar Series drivers Dario Franchitti, Scott Dixon and Charlie Kimball will kick off the 2013 season by running in the Rolex 24 At Daytona for Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates.

"This race is always exciting for me," said team owner Ganassi. "Because it is a 24-hour race, there are so many factors that go into having success. You need the drivers, the people, the equipment and the partners, but most importantly they all have to act as one team and that is where I think our strength lies." 

Dixon and Franchitti - who have each won the overall race title in a Chip Ganassi Racing car - will team with NASCAR driver Jamie McMurray and BMW factory driver Joey Hand in the No. 02 car.

"The Daytona 24 is something that we all do for fun," Franchitti said. "It's something that Chip (Ganassi) loves to do it so we all sign up to do it to give back to Chip for all that he does for us."

Kimball, who will make his first start in the twice-around-the-clock endurance race, will join three-time defending Rolex Sports Car Series champions Scott Pruett and Memo Rojas and NASCAR star Juan Pablo Montoya in the team's No. 01 entry.

 "It is not often when we can bring such a diverse group of drivers from NASCAR, INDYCAR, GRAND-AM and ALMS together to compete in one race," Ganassi said. "It is a great kickoff to our racing season."

Photo by F. Peirce Williams LAT Photo USA