TELMEX Chip Ganassi Racing with Félix Sabatés unveiled plans today to expand their Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series presented by Crown Royal Special Reserve program to two Daytona Prototype entries for the rest of the 2007 season. The team has reached an agreement with Finlay Motorsports to operate the No. 19 Z-Line Designs, Mission Residential, Make-A-Wish Daytona Prototype under the CGRFS umbrella.
The No. 19 Daytona Prototype will make the switch to both a Lexus powered engine and a Riley chassis, and join the No. 01 TELMEX Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates team and drivers Scott Pruett and Memo Rojas, starting April 27-29 at Virginia International Raceway for round four of the 14-race 2007 Rolex Grand Am schedule.
"I am really looking forward to this," said Team Owner Chip Ganassi. "I am very proud of the success that we have had with our Grand American entrants over the last few years and I think the addition of the No. 19 DP will only make both of our teams better. Any time you are able to field multiple entries in auto racing there are economies of scale and added efficiencies that you are able to create. I am excited."
Rob Finlay competed in his first full Rolex Series season in 2006 behind the wheel of the No.19 Make-A-Wish/Z-line Designs Daytona prototype, co-driving with young Canadian driver, Michael Valiante. Last season, the Finlay Motorsports driving duo teamed for an impressive nine top-10 finishes, including two top-five results, a podium finish in Grand-Am's first ever qualifying race at Virginia International Raceway and finished seventh overall in the Rolex Series team point standings.
"With the amazing growth of the Grand-Am series we realized that we needed to find a partner with the kind of technical resources needed to stay competitive in the series," said Finlay. "We are extremely excited about the opportunity to work with Chip Ganassi Racing and Lexus; they are without a doubt the premier organization in Grand-Am."
"This personally is an exciting opportunity for me," adds Valiante. "I think every driver wants an opportunity to drive for Chip Ganassi Racing and having an experienced teammate like Scott Pruett to work with will be invaluable on the race weekends."
The Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates's Rolex Series team is to date the most successful in Daytona Prototype history, boasting 14 wins, including two consecutive victories at the prestigious Rolex 24 at Daytona, 19 pole positions, 31 podium finishes, and two of the last three Rolex Series Daytona Prototype Championship titles since their entrance into the series in 2004.
Pruett, along with his teammate Memo Rojas find themselves leading the overall Rolex Series Team Championship in the No. 01 TELMEX Lexus-Riley, while Pruett currently remains the Driver Championship point leader with 93 markers as the series gets set for Round 4 of the 14-race schedule at Virginia International Raceway on April 29th on SPEED Channel.
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