Jim Pace, an 18-time participant in the Rolex 24 At Daytona from 1990-2016 and overall winner at Daytona in 1996 died on Friday after contracting COVID-19.
Racing success came quickly in the Mississippi-born racers’ adventures, after starting single seater racing in 1998 he moved to sports cars soon afterwards with a class win at Daytona in 1990 in GTU in a Mazda RX-7.
He finished third in IMSA Camel Lights in 1991, winning at Road America in an Essex Racing Kudzu-Buick and won the 1994 IMSA Camel GTU championship, winning three races for Leitzinger Racing at Road Atlanta, Indianapolis Raceway Park and Laguna Seca in a Nissan 240SX.
Pace (pictured centre top) took overall honours in 1996, driving with Wayne Taylor and Scott Sharp in a Doyle Racing Olds-Riley & Scott Mk III.
He followed up his 1996 Rolex 24 victory by winning the 12 Hours of Sebring in the same car with Taylor and Eric Van de Poele.
Pace took his third victory of the season at Texas World Speedway, co-driving with Taylor. He finished ninth in the championship, scoring five podium finishes. Pace also participated with the team in the 24 Hours of Le Mans, co-driving with Taylor and Sharp.
Pace helped to sow the seeds of motorsport through his decades-long contributions at the Skip Barber Racing School, including providing coaching and advice to top talents on their way to IndyCar and sports car careers.
Racing through the decades, Pace never lost his touch for competition or feel for a car.
In more recent years, he was part of 50-Plus Racing/Highway to Help, competing to raise funds for Alzheimer’s awareness. In the 50th anniversary of the event in 2012, he co-drove with AC/DC lead singer Brian Johnson to a 12th-place finish and finished eighth in the Prototype class in both 2015 and 2016.
Pace had grown his role with Historic Sportscar Racing (HSR) in recent years, acquiring an ownership stake in 2015 as well as continuing to foster the paddock experience as a coach and mentor.
John Doonan, President of IMSA: “RACER, TEACHER, and LOYAL FRIEND. These are three simple words to describe Jim Pace and the loss our sport feels today due to his passing. When it comes to racing and driving, Jim did it all and saw it all. From a beginner to a champion… Jim counselled drivers on the path to the top after he himself rode that same journey. All of us at IMSA are devastated by losing such a great champion and friend.”
Arrangements for a service have not been made yet but a celebration of life service will be announced at a later date.
