January 29, 2006
After 24 hours, 11th Overall And 9th In Daytona Protoytpe Class
Canadian sensation, Michael Valiante started the 44th Running of the Rolex 24 at Daytona in the eighth position but didn't stay there long. By the end of the first lap of competition, the No. 28 Make-A-Wish/Z-Line Designs machine was running seventh. The car continued to post impressive lap times until the team experienced problems with a rear control arm bearing. Although the team was able to repair the problem, the trip to the garage cost them several laps.
Buddy Rice climbed behind the wheel and was just getting settled into the cockpit when the starter went bad forcing the team to push start the car at several points during the race. Rob Finlay took over the driving duties approximately five hours into the race, taking his first race laps at Daytona in the Daytona Prototype category.
As darkness fell, the team of four drivers (Rob Finlay, Michael Valiante, Buddy Rice and Bryan Herta) began to fight their way back until a hole in the radiator forced another unscheduled pit stop. The team's determination began to pay off during the early morning hours, reaching the top-15 by the time the sun began to rise. "It was just a typical Daytona 24 Hour race," explained Steve Cameron. "The first half of the race we had some mechanical issues to deal with but the team and drivers fought back and kept chipping away at it. Our goal was to finish in the top-10 in the Daytona Prototype category and we did that."
Valiante, Herta and Rice closed the deficit and moved the No. 28 machine into the 13th position with only a few hours remaining. Buddy Rice relinquished the driving duties on lap 710 with only 35 minutes left and Rob Finlay climbed behind the wheel and took the checkered flag in 11th position overall and 9th in the Daytona Prototype category.
Michael will next compete in Mexico City on March 4.