IRL IndyCar Series driver and team owner Greg Ray has been added to the driving line-up of the Risi Competizione No. 30 Maserati GT-class entry for the upcoming Rolex 24 At Daytona.

It will be the first Rolex 24 appearance for Ray, who is set to co-drive with Risi Competizione regulars Anthony Lazzaro and Ralf Kelleners at this year's historic 24-hour endurance classic at Daytona. Ray first rose through the professional racing world driving in Formula 2000, Formula Atlantic and the Dayton Indy Lights series before joining the IRL IndyCar Series in 1997.

"It's an honour to drive with such a formidable team as Risi Competizione, they are dedicated to winning and are known for having the highest standards of excellence," said Ray, the 1999 IRL IndyCar Series champion and 2000 Indianapolis 500 polesitter who owns and drives the No. 13 Access Motorsports Honda-powered Indy car that will begin its second season on the IRL IndyCar Series in 2004.

"I discussed driving the 24 hours of Daytona for Giuseppe Risi many times in 2000 and was even signed to run in 2001 and 2002, but with my Indy Racing schedule and timeframes I was not able to participate until now. I'm grateful once again Giuseppe extended the offer to come and drive with Anthony and Ralf this year," said Ray.

"I've known Anthony since '92 when we raced Formula 2000 together. Anthony is an incredibly quick and precise driver, and I'm sure he'll be very instrumental in helping me become acclimated to the team and the nuances of the new Maserati GT. I'm definitely looking forward to getting back to road racing, where I cut my teeth from 1992 through 1996. Hopefully, we'll have a fantastic run at Daytona and my schedule will allow me to participate more with Risi in the future."

Risi Competizione finished second overall in last year's Rolex 24 At Daytona.

Meanwhile JMB Racing USA has announced that Paul Dana has been signed to co-drive the JMB Racing USA Ferrari 360 Modena number 11 at Daytona.

A graduate of Northwestern University with a degree in journalism, Dana, 29, comes to JMB Racing USA with ambition and determination to do well at his first ever endurance race.

Dana, a member of the prestigious Forsythe Racing Driver Development Program started his career in 1996 but already has extensive racing experience that includes many successes in Skip Barber Formula Dodge series, USF2000 series and U.S. F3 series. Last year, Dana competed in the Indy Racing League Infiniti Pro Series where he scored six top-10 finishes.

"I am blown away by the opportunity to drive in such a historic event as the Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona, and the fact that I get to do it in a Ferrari with a proven team like JMB Racing USA makes it even more unbelievable. Since I was a little kid I have dreamed of Daytona, and every kid dreams of Ferrari. I'm sure this is going to be an awesome experience and I can't wait to get started." Commented Dana. "I'm also excited to get back to road racing. Even though I have been competing recently in the IRL Menard's Infiniti Pro Series, and even though ovals are pretty intense and have their own challenges, I'm still a road racer at heart. I have missed turning right and left!"

"I think the GrandAm Rolex series is really going to take off and we are seeing evidence of that in the health of the prototype class and the quality of the GT field. My sponsors siaMOTIVE Abrasives and Roberlo Surface Technologies have chosen to invest in the series because of its strength and long-term vision. Our intention is to use this year's Daytona as a learning experience and a first step, and hopefully we'll be able to do more events with JMB Racing USA and Ferrari in the future" announced Dana, before flying to California to participate in this weekend's Infiniti Pro Series open tests.