Max Angelelli led the Daytona 24 Hours in thick fog at three-quarters distance aboard Wayne Taylor Racing's Dallara Chevrolet. The Italian held a narrow advantage over Ryan Dalziel in the Starworks Riley Ford behind the safety car, which had been deployed earlier in the hour.
Five cars remained on the lead lap with Richard Westbrook in the Spirit of Daytona Coyote Chevrolet, Mike Rockenfeller in the similar Action Express car and Scott Pruett in the Ganassi Riley BMW, which had just pitted, filling out the remainder of the top five.
The second Ganassi entry had dropped out of contention and ran six laps down after the car was taken behind the wall in the 15th hour.
Last year's winning entry, the lead Michael Shank Racing Riley Ford, was only three laps off the lead, having dropped seven laps behind due to a first-hour delay.
The GT class was led by the AIM Autosport Ferrari 458 in the hands of Nick Longhi from the similar Scuderia Corsa car driven by Olivier Beretta.