Motorsport Images
Magnussen will keep coming back to the Rolex: ‘I want that watch!’
Kevin Magnussen says he will keep coming back to the Rolex 24 until he is a race winner after coming so close on his debut at Daytona.
The former Formula 1 driver made his first appearance for Chip Ganassi Racing at the Rolex last year and was in the fight for victory before a puncture in the final 10 minutes of the race took his Cadillac DPi out of contention. Returning in the No. 02 Ganassi-run Cadillac Racing entry this year, Magnussen -- who’s teammate Sebastien Bourdais was quickest overall in final practice -- says he is hooked on the event and will ensure it remains part of his schedule until he is successful at the very least.
“Absolutely -- winning this race is one of the dreams I have, that’s why we’re here,” Magnussen told RACER. “I think we have a good shot at winning this race and if I don’t win it this year I’ll keep coming back. I want that watch!
“You know that when you’re with Cadillac and Chip Ganassi Racing that you always have a chance. I think last year, first race ever that the team had with this car, already fighting for the win, with seven minutes to go we had a puncture, but we were competitive right from the beginning. Now with a year’s experience it’s hopefully not going to be anything but better.”
Having won in Detroit and picked up four further podiums in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship last year -- his first season of sports car racing -- Magnussen says it’s an environment he’s enjoying and one that is pushing him to approach driving in a different way.
“It’s fun. I mean, I’m still learning a lot, both learning about the car and the dynamic in a sports car team in endurance racing, with teammates and the compromises that you make to help the overall performance.
“But I feel very much at home with Cadillac and Chip Ganassi Racing, had a year last year to learn things. I love it -- it’s really good fun. They know how to have fun with racing over here.”
Magnussen will share the No. 02 Cadillac Racing entry with Earl Bamber, Alex Lynn and Marcus Ericsson. Jake Galstad/Motorsport Images
Magnussen ended his F1 career in an uncompetitive Haas car, and says racing with a chance of winning in the United States has been a welcome move in his career.
“It felt very good to win (last year), it felt good to have a pole position again and more than anything just going into every race weekend and actually hoping for the win, thinking about the win and being focused on winning races.
“Often in Formula 1 I wouldn’t even be thinking about the win, it was so impossible there was no point even wasting energy and being disappointed then when you don’t win. You try and set yourself other goals that aren’t as rewarding and interesting. Even though it’s F1, anything but winning is not that interesting.”
Chris Medland
While studying Sports Journalism at the University of Central Lancashire, Chris managed to talk his way into working at the British Grand Prix in 2008 and was retained for three years before joining ESPN F1 as Assistant Editor. After three further years at ESPN, a spell as F1 Editor at Crash Media Group was followed by the major task of launching F1i.com’s English-language website and running it as Editor. Present at every race since the start of 2014, he has continued building his freelance portfolio, working with international titles. As well as writing for RACER, his broadcast work includes television appearances on F1 TV and as a presenter and reporter on North America's live radio coverage on SiriusXM.
Read Chris Medland's articles
Latest News
Comments
Comments are disabled until you accept Social Networking Cookies. Update cookie preferences
If the dialog doesn't appear, ad-blockers are often the cause; try disabling yours or see our Social Features Support.