Garage 56 project’s Le Mans livery unveiled at Daytona

The design was revealed Friday in Victory Lane at Daytona International Speedway, with dignitaries from all of the project’s collaborators – NASCAR, Chevrolet, Goodyear and Hendrick Motorsports – in attendance.

The livery – or “paint scheme” for the state-siders – features a dominant bright blue with contrasting gold accents and a pearlescent hood. Logos of the Garage 56 contributors are featured prominently, including branding for the NASCAR 75th anniversary and an American flag design up front.

The names of the three co-drivers – Jenson Button, Jimmie Johnson and Mike Rockenfeller – arc across the top of the driver-door window. The trio was officially added to the Garage 56 personnel roster on Jan. 28 during IMSA’s Rolex 24 weekend at Daytona.

The project has undergone extensive development and testing since its launch last March at Sebring International Raceway. The car intends to compete at Le Mans as a designated class of one in the June 10-11 endurance event, showcasing those innovations as an invitation-only entrant.

Some of the car’s specifications, based on the Next Gen vehicle that races in the NASCAR Cup Series, were revealed Friday as part of the design unveil. The total weight of the Garage 56 car tips the scales at 2,960 pounds, significantly less than the 3,485 pounds of the current Cup Series racer.

The G56 entry also carries project-specific Goodyear Eagle racing tires and special aerodynamic devices – dive planes, plus a more robust front splitter and rear diffuser – which have been featured on the test car. That includes a taller rear spoiler – 6 inches vs. the 4-inch spoiler on the current Cup Series configuration. The fuel cell is also larger – 32 gallons for Garage 56, compared to 20 gallons for the Cup Series.