Cadillac on track: Carmaker returns to Daytona and grabs Rolex poles

DAYTONA BEACH, Florida: In the FanZone, just outside the garage area at Daytona International Speedway, a pair of old Cadillacs sit side-by-side simply for display purposes. In their youth, the 1950 coupe and 2002 prototype were “race cars” in theory, but not exactly world-beaters. They’re serving a better purpose now.

If first impressions mean anything, things have changed for a General Motors brand generally known for luxury. Thursday (Friday in Manila) at Daytona, at the start of the Rolex 24 four-day show, Cadillac’s latest racing debut couldn’t have gone better.