January 3, 2006
Finlay Motorsports Announced Line Up For Rolex 24 At Daytona.
Joining owner/driver Rob Finlay and Canadian sensation Michael Valiante in the No. 28 Make-A-Wish/Z-Line Designs Ford-powered Crawford Daytona Prototype will be open wheel veterans Bryan Herta and Buddy Rice. Herta, a regular in the Indy Racing League, finished eighth in the IRL Championship picking up a win at Michigan International Speedway.
The 2004 Indianapolis 500 winner, Buddy Rice also likes the team's chances of becoming the next Rolex 24 winner. "Finlay Motorsports just seemed like an easy fit for me," explained Rice. "I've worked with several of the guys on the team before and I've even raced with a few of the drivers. I was looking for a team to race with that I felt had a good shot at winning the 24 and I think this might just be that team." In only its second year of competition, Finlay Motorsports has already proved that they have what it takes to challenge for the championship, scoring 11 top-five finishes, three podiums, one pole and walking away with a victory in Mexico City last season.
Finlay and Steve Cameron, President of Finlay Motorsports are extremely enthusiastic about their team's chances of taking home the Crown Jewel of American sports car racing, the Rolex 24 at Daytona.
"I think that we've managed to put together a competitive line up," said Cameron. "Both cars have a realistic opportunity to challenge for the win. I'm excited to be working with drivers that have achieved so much in racing and it's nice to have worked with them all in some stage or another."