Reporter staff

The auto-racing team “Team Seattle” that includes Mercer Island driver, Chris Pallis, finished 24th in what many consider the most prestigious sports car race in the United States: the Rolex 24 at Daytona. Team Seattle members raised close to a half-million dollars for Children’s Hospital racing two Porsches at an average speed of 160 mph around a track for 24 hours over the weekend of Jan. 27 and 28, in Daytona Beach, Fla.

Nearly all of the money Team Seattle raised from this year’s Rolex 24 was the result of personal per-lap pledges. Individuals pledged to donate a certain amount for every lap Team Seattle completed. Corporate sponsors like Windows Live (search engine) donated a dollar for every search directed from Team Seattle’s site.

The Team Seattle Endowment for Excellence in Cardiac Intensive Care at Children’s will receive the funds raised this year.