MEXICO CITY EVENT MARKS MILESTONES FOR BOTH MICHAEL VALIANTE AND ROB FINLAY
The drivers of the No. 28 Make-A- Wish/Z-Line Designs Ford-Powered Crawford Daytona Prototype machine have more in common than their determination to win races.
This weekend’s Grand American Rolex Series event to be contested on the famed Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez race track will mark new career milestones for both Michael Valiante and Rob Finlay.
Valiante, who signed with Finlay Motorsports in October of 2005, competed in a handful of Grand American Daytona Prototype races last season for the Mooresville, North Carolina based team. Setting the fastest race lap in the Ferrari/Maserati 400 at California Speedway and leading 22 race laps, the Canadian racing sensation was a shoe-in for the team’s open seat co-driving with Rob Finlay.
And now Valiante returns to the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez facility, a venue in which he competed in his first ever Champ Car event driving for Walker Racing at the open-wheel season finale in 2004.
“I’m looking forward to Mexico,” stated Valiante. “We were quick there last season and set the third fastest race time. My teammate, Rob, is doing a great job and he’s really getting up to speed quickly in his rookie season.” The Charlotte resident competed in the Grand Am Cup Series last year, and during his first full year of professional-level competition, he finished on the podium at the season opening Rolex 24 at Daytona an accomplishment he achieved again in 2006.
Finlay also made his debut as a Rolex Series Daytona prototype driver at the season finale in Mexico City last year, co-driving with Valiante. “I’m excited about going back to Mexico City,” said Finlay.
“I competed in my first ever Daytona Prototype race at the nearly three-mile circuit last year and I look forward to returning as a full-time Daytona prototype driver.” On-track action for the Mexico City event is slated to begin on Thursday, March 2 with qualifying taking place on Friday, March 3. The 250-mile/ 100-lap/ 2 ¾ - hour main event is scheduled to take the green flag at 3:15 p.m. on Saturday, March 4.
The race will be broadcast at 8:00 p.m. on the Speed Channel.
