Muscle Milk Abandons Rolex 24 Plans

Muscle Milk Pickett Racing has called off plans for a possible Daytona Prototype effort in the 50th Rolex 24 at Daytona. The California-based team, runners up in this year's American Le Mans Series LMP1 category, confirmed to SPEED.com late Wednesday that it has instead shifted its entire focus towards its ALMS program for 2012.

In September, Pickett revealed his ambitions of fielding a Chevrolet or Ford-powered Riley for the twice-around-the-clock classic, which was to be the team's first 24-hour race since its debut at Le Mans in 2008. It came at a time of uncertainty in the future of the prototype regulations in the ALMS, which have since been confirmed as remaining open to grandfathered LMP1 cars but also under more control from IMSA.

The 50th Rolex 24, scheduled for Jan. 29-30, comes less than two weeks before the ALMS' annual Winter Test at Sebring, which would have left the team little time to prepare for what's believed to be an expanded ALMS program next year. Pickett Racing is expected to announce its ALMS plans shortly, including a likely second full-season entry to go along with the purchase of a new LMP1 car.

It's believed the team is leaning towards Wirth Research's HPD ARX-03a, which Strakka Racing will also campaign in the new FIA World Endurance Championship. Speedtv.com