Franchitti and Dalziel rivals for one Day

SCOTS racers Dario Franchitti and Ryan Dalziel will go head to head in this weekend's Daytona 24-hour race in Florida, the season opener in the Grand-Am Championship.

For Bathgate ace Franchitti the Daytona outing is his only scheduled race in sportscars this year but 27-year-old Wishaw driver Dalziel is contesting the entire series.

Franchitti said: "At the moment, after this I'll be concentrating on retaining the IndyCar title I won last year."

The 36-year-old will start today's race from fourth on the grid in his Ganassi Riley-BMW.

He added: "It would be terrific to win it again and make it two wins in three outings, but it's going to be tough. It's a long, long race and the competition this year is very high."

Franchitti, who won the race in 2008, will be partnered at the 3.56-mile Daytona circuit by Indy champs and Indy500 winners Juan Pablo Montoya and Scott Dixon, plus Nascar driver Jamie McMurray.

Dalziel, who starts eighth for the Action Express Racing team, is equally confident he can improve on his second-place finish in the race and win this weekend in his Riley-Porsche Prototype.

He said: "Being runner-up in 2007 I know what it takes to get to the podium.

"I know we have everything in this team to give us the best chance not just of getting on the podium, but of winning the race."

Dalziel will be partnered by Americans Terry Borcheller, Joao Barbosa and Mike Rockenfeller.