Karam Completes a Series of Firsts at Daytona

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (AP) – Sage Karam had a race filled with firsts.

Just not the one that mattered: finishing first.

The Indy Lights champion competed in his first Rolex 24 at Daytona with the defending race winning car from Chip Ganassi Racing. He joked a win would give him a Rolex watch to wear to his prom.

But the team was plagued with problems and eliminated from contention before Karam ever got behind the wheel.

So the 18-year-old instead settled for crossing off a number of achievements on his resume.

It was his first international race, his first race in a car with a roof, and the first time he’s had to make pit stops. His two stints in the cockpit also marked the longest stretches Karam has competed in a paid race.