Ortiz, Sweeney, who debuted with the battery tender / MCM

Bryan Ortiz and Mike Sweeney, common in the Grand-Am KONI Challenge Sports Car will make its debut in the Rolex watches Series in the No. 21 MCM Racing / Pontiac GTO.R. Battery Tender

The practice today is the first time in a Rolex Series car for Ortiz, who has yet to prove, while Sweeney tried twice in that car.

"I am excited by the opportunity to drive with Mike Sweeney and the whole team," Ortiz said. "This team is not big budgets, but have a good car, and have done very well with what we have."

Sweeney said the bank has been his fate after sitting at the end of last week at VIR KONI when their Motorsport VW GTI in April was eliminated in a fire during practice.

"We have devoted considerable time to put this deal together," Sweeney said. "This is a good car to be in our debut Rolex. The team has been strong, and be in good shape for this weekend. Look for the 'newbies' to do good."

"Ozz Negri time? (Updated Thursday at 12:45 p.m.)

Rolex Series competitors are preparing for perhaps the hottest conditions of the season for Saturday Grand Prix of Miami - "Ozz Negri time," said one.

Negri agrees.

"Look, I'm not even sweating," the Michael Shank Racing driver said.

Negri and teammate John Pew frequency karting during parking at Homestead-Miami Speedway, wearing full equipment on hot days. Both enjoy racing in the heat.

It's Going To Be Hot! (Last Thursday at 10:05 a.m.)

The equipment is discharged into the paddock at Homestead-Miami Speedway, preparing for today's practice session open 2-4:30 pm It's 87 degrees (Feels like 99!) And is expected to reach highs in the mid of the 90.

"I have no problem when it's hot and nasty," said Scott Pruett Grand-Am at the weekly Tuesday.

Taylor Takes Buoniconti for a Ride

The newly crowned Rolex replica Series GT co-champion of Leh Keen and the inauguration of the Daytona Prototype champion Terry Borcheller will be special guests on (Tuesday, 27 October) Grand-Am's weekly radio show and online.

Grand-Am is heard weekly Tuesday evening from 7-8 pm ET on Wele-1380 AM in Daytona Beach, Williams DC, Davis Wyatt and JJ O'Malley.

To listen live, visit the new website of the station, www.news1radio.net. To call with your questions, check the new studio phone number, [phone].

Keen and co-driver Dirk Werner won four of five races - three in a row - to cross into the crown of this year GT Acxiom. Charleston, SC driver also won the Bob Akin as Gentleman Driver principle of division. GT has been racing since 2005 and has six career victories.

Borcheller is the leading winner in the Rolex Series with 24 victories. He finished the 2009 season with a podium finish in KONI Challenge at VIR, moving from fifth to second place in the final laps. Borcheller won the inaugural Daytona Prototype title in 2003 and then joined car owner Forest Barber in capturing global honor in the 2004 Rolex 24 at Daytona. He has won all four Grand current morning class in the Rolex Series and KONI Challenge. Prior to racing in the Daytona Prototype Borcheller won the 2002 title and crown SRP II 2000 GT with seven wins in both seasons.

Marc Buoniconti, Miami Project to Cure Paralysis and the Buoniconti Fund to Cure Paralysis, rode with Wayne Taylor in the Pirelli replica rolex Daytona Prototype two-seat, before the recent Grand Prix of Miami at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

Buoniconti suffered a spinal cord injury in a 1985 football game while playing in the Citadel. While recovering from injuries that left him paralyzed from the neck down, he committed his energy to raising funds for the Miami Project.

"It was awesome," Buoniconti said after the walk. "You try to appreciate that when you're watching on television - and I've been involved with racing for a long time, when my dad was with the U.S. Snuff - but getting in the car and feeling like they are totally different. I say, braking and power in the corners with the G forces are more than I expected. I said to Wayne, do not worry about me.

"He said it was about 70 percent, so I can only imagine spending by 80-90 percent. Maybe I can talk to him on that for next year."

Also get a ride to Taylor was the legendary hot rod designer Chip Foose, who received a one-of-a-kind Ford Flex design to one lucky fan that morning.

Buoniconti is the son of NFL Hall of Famer Nick Buoniconti, who anchored the defense of one of the greatest football teams of all time, undefeated Super Bowl champion 1972 Miami Dolphins.