Michael Valiante
Encyclopedia
Michael began racing in karting where his success earned him a full-season scholarship in the Skip Barber 2.0 Series. In his first season, Michael was both series champion and rookie of the year. Following this success he moved on the Barber Dodge Pro Series
Barber Dodge Pro Series
The Barber Pro Series was an entry-level open-wheel auto racing series from 1986 to 2003. The races were primarily on road and street courses in North America, although the schedule did sometimes include a few ovals....
and then to the Toyota Atlantic Championship.
Driving for the Lynx Racing team in 2001, Michael was able to finish eighth in the series championship despite competing in only five events. His performance impressed Lynx enough to sign him for two more seasons. 2002 was Valiante's best year in the series. He won three races and led the points going into the final round in Denver, only to struggle in the race and lose the championship to Jon Fogarty
Jon Fogarty
Jon Fogarty is an American professional auto racing driver . Fogarty currently drives the No. 99 GAINSCO Auto Insurance Daytona Prototype for GAINSCO/Bob Stallings Racing in the Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series. He won his first Grand-Am race, the 2007 Mexico City 400k, in March 2007...
. Valiante led the series early in 2003. However, his championship hopes were dashed when he missed the fourth round at Laguna Seca due to an illness. He went on to finish third in the championship and again scored three victories.
Valiante was set to make his debut in Champ Car
Champ Car
Champ Car was the name for a class and specification of open wheel cars used in American Championship Car Racing for many decades, primarily for use in the Indianapolis 500 auto race...
at California Speedway
California Speedway
Auto Club Speedway is a two-mile , low-banked, D-shaped oval superspeedway in Fontana, California which has hosted NASCAR racing annually since 1997. The track was also used for open wheel racing events until 2005. The racetrack is located near the former locations of Ontario Motor Speedway and...
in 2003, but the race was cancelled due to wildfires in the area. It was not until a year later that Michael made his first Champ Car start in Mexico City
Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez
The Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez is a race track in Mexico City, Mexico, named for the famous racing drivers Ricardo and Pedro Rodríguez. The circuit got its name shortly after it opened when Ricardo Rodríguez died in practice for the non-Championship 1962 Mexican Grand Prix...
. His second start came at Portland
Portland International Raceway
Portland International Raceway is located in Portland, Oregon, USA's, Delta Park complex on the former site of Vanport, just south of the Columbia River. It is west of a light rail station and less than a mile west of Interstate 5....
in 2005 as a one-off drive for Dale Coyne Racing
Dale Coyne Racing
Dale Coyne Racing is a motorsports team in the IndyCar Series owned by former driver Dale Coyne. It was founded in 1986 with Chicago Bears great Walter Payton as Payton/Coyne Racing. The team fields the No. 18 Acorn Stairlifts and No...
. He was not able to secure a full-time ride in the series due to his lack of financial backing.
In 2006, Michael competed full time with Finlay motorsports in the Grand-Am series, where he and co-driver Rob Finlay finished ninth in the final standings.
American open–wheel racing results
(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)Atlantic Championship
| Year | Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | Rank | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | Lynx Racing |  LBH 4 |
NAZ Firestone Indy 225 The Firestone Indy 225 was an IndyCar racing event held at Nazareth Speedway from 1987-2004. From 1987-2001, the event was sanctioned by CART. In 2002, the race switched to the Indy Racing League.... |
MIL |
 MTL Grand Prix of Montreal The Grand Prix of Montreal was an annual auto race in Montreal, Quebec on the Champ Car World Series circuit.-History:Originally known as the Molson Indy Montreal, it was first held at Sanair Super Speedway, an oval track, from 1984 through 1986... 2 |
CLE Grand Prix of Cleveland The Grand Prix of Cleveland was an open wheel automobile racing event in the Champ Car World Series, held annually at Burke Lakefront Airport in Cleveland, Ohio, United States of America. The 2006 race, held on June 25, marked the 25th anniversary of the event... |
TOR Honda Indy Toronto The Honda Indy Toronto is an annual IndyCar Series race, held in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Originally known as the Molson Indy Toronto, it was a Champ Car World Series race held annually from 1986 to 2007... 6 |
CHI |
TRR Circuit Trois-Rivières The Circuit Trois-Rivières is a street circuit located in Trois-Rivières, Quebec, Canada. The circuit has hosted American Le Mans Series, Grand-Am Rolex Series, Trans-Am series and Formula Atlantic races in the past... 4 |
ROA Champ Car Grand Prix of Road America The Champ Car Grand Prix of Road America was an open wheel car race held on the Road America circuit in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin. It was a round of the Champ Car World Series for most of Champ Car's existence, the first race being held in 1982... |
VAN Molson Indy Vancouver Molson Indy Vancouver was an annual Champ Car race held in a street circuit near B.C. Place and running past Science World in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada held in July or August from 1990 to 2004.... 2 |
HOU Grand Prix of Houston The Grand Prix of Houston was an annual auto race on the Champ Car World Series circuit. It was held in a street circuit located in downtown Houston, Texas, United States of America for four years, then returned for two years on a course laid out in the parking lot of the Reliant Park Complex... |
LS Monterey Grand Prix The Monterey Grand Prix was an auto race held at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca. The race was first held as a USAC Road Racing Championship event, following the success of the SCCA's Pebble Beach Road Races. After USAC's road racing series disbanded in 1962, the race became a non-championship race for... |
9th | 64 |
| 2002 | Lynx Racing |  MTY Tecate/Telmex Grand Prix of Monterrey The Tecate/Telmex Grand Prix of Monterrey was a round of the Champ Car World Series held on a street circuit at Fundidora Park in Monterrey, Mexico. It was first held in 2001, and it was held for the last time in 2006.-Results:-External links:*... 4 |
LBH 1 |
MIL 7 |
LS Monterey Grand Prix The Monterey Grand Prix was an auto race held at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca. The race was first held as a USAC Road Racing Championship event, following the success of the SCCA's Pebble Beach Road Races. After USAC's road racing series disbanded in 1962, the race became a non-championship race for... 5 |
POR Grand Prix of Portland The Grand Prix of Portland was a Champ Car World Series race held at Portland International Raceway in Portland, Oregon. The race has not been highly considered as an addition to the Indy Car Series, but is a likely candidate should the league desire a Pacific Northwest venue.For nearly its entire... 9 |
CHI 3 |
TOR Honda Indy Toronto The Honda Indy Toronto is an annual IndyCar Series race, held in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Originally known as the Molson Indy Toronto, it was a Champ Car World Series race held annually from 1986 to 2007... 1 |
CLE Grand Prix of Cleveland The Grand Prix of Cleveland was an open wheel automobile racing event in the Champ Car World Series, held annually at Burke Lakefront Airport in Cleveland, Ohio, United States of America. The 2006 race, held on June 25, marked the 25th anniversary of the event... 4 |
TRR Circuit Trois-Rivières The Circuit Trois-Rivières is a street circuit located in Trois-Rivières, Quebec, Canada. The circuit has hosted American Le Mans Series, Grand-Am Rolex Series, Trans-Am series and Formula Atlantic races in the past... 1 |
ROA Champ Car Grand Prix of Road America The Champ Car Grand Prix of Road America was an open wheel car race held on the Road America circuit in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin. It was a round of the Champ Car World Series for most of Champ Car's existence, the first race being held in 1982... 4 |
MTL Grand Prix of Montreal The Grand Prix of Montreal was an annual auto race in Montreal, Quebec on the Champ Car World Series circuit.-History:Originally known as the Molson Indy Montreal, it was first held at Sanair Super Speedway, an oval track, from 1984 through 1986... 7 |
DEN Centrix Financial Grand Prix of Denver The Centrix Financial Grand Prix of Denver is a former Champ Car race held on a street circuit in Denver, Colorado. A Champ Car race was first held in Denver at Centennial Park dirt oval in 1951 and 1952 under AAA sanctioning. 38 years later Champ Cars returned to Denver with a downtown... 12 |
2nd | 150 |
| 2003 | Lynx Racing | MTY Tecate/Telmex Grand Prix of Monterrey The Tecate/Telmex Grand Prix of Monterrey was a round of the Champ Car World Series held on a street circuit at Fundidora Park in Monterrey, Mexico. It was first held in 2001, and it was held for the last time in 2006.-Results:-External links:*... 1 |
LBH 4 |
MIL 11 |
LS Monterey Grand Prix The Monterey Grand Prix was an auto race held at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca. The race was first held as a USAC Road Racing Championship event, following the success of the SCCA's Pebble Beach Road Races. After USAC's road racing series disbanded in 1962, the race became a non-championship race for... Wth |
POR Grand Prix of Portland The Grand Prix of Portland was a Champ Car World Series race held at Portland International Raceway in Portland, Oregon. The race has not been highly considered as an addition to the Indy Car Series, but is a likely candidate should the league desire a Pacific Northwest venue.For nearly its entire... 3 |
CLE Grand Prix of Cleveland The Grand Prix of Cleveland was an open wheel automobile racing event in the Champ Car World Series, held annually at Burke Lakefront Airport in Cleveland, Ohio, United States of America. The 2006 race, held on June 25, marked the 25th anniversary of the event... 4 |
TOR Honda Indy Toronto The Honda Indy Toronto is an annual IndyCar Series race, held in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Originally known as the Molson Indy Toronto, it was a Champ Car World Series race held annually from 1986 to 2007... 4 |
TRR Circuit Trois-Rivières The Circuit Trois-Rivières is a street circuit located in Trois-Rivières, Quebec, Canada. The circuit has hosted American Le Mans Series, Grand-Am Rolex Series, Trans-Am series and Formula Atlantic races in the past... 3 |
MDO Honda 200 The Honda 200 at Mid-Ohio presented by Westfield Insurance is an Indy Racing League IndyCar Series race held at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in Lexington, Ohio.... 1 |
MTL Grand Prix of Montreal The Grand Prix of Montreal was an annual auto race in Montreal, Quebec on the Champ Car World Series circuit.-History:Originally known as the Molson Indy Montreal, it was first held at Sanair Super Speedway, an oval track, from 1984 through 1986... 4 |
DEN Centrix Financial Grand Prix of Denver The Centrix Financial Grand Prix of Denver is a former Champ Car race held on a street circuit in Denver, Colorado. A Champ Car race was first held in Denver at Centennial Park dirt oval in 1951 and 1952 under AAA sanctioning. 38 years later Champ Cars returned to Denver with a downtown... 2 |
MIA Grand Prix Americas The Grand Prix Americas was a joint American Le Mans Series and CART Champ Car race held in Bayfront Park, Miami, United States. The event took place in 2002 and 2003.-Results:-Toyota Atlantic history:-Champ Car:... 1 |
3rd | 161 |
Champ Car
| Year | Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | Rank | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | Walker Racing Walker Racing Walker Racing is a racing team founded by Derrick Walker in 1991 racing originally in the CART Championship Car series. Presently the team competes in the Firestone Indy Lights series.-Early success:... |
LBH 2004 Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach The 2004 Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach was the first round of the 2004 Bridgestone Presents the Champ Car World Series Powered by Ford season, held on April 18, 2004 on the streets of Long Beach, California... |
MTY 2004 Tecate/Telmex Grand Prix of Monterrey The 2004 Tecate/Telmex Grand Prix of Monterrey was the second round of the 2004 Bridgestone Presents the Champ Car World Series Powered by Ford season, held on May 23, 2004 on the streets of Fundidora Park in Monterrey, Mexico.-Qualifying results:-Race:... |
MIL 2004 Time Warner Cable Road Runner 250 The 2004 Time Warner Cable Road Runner 250 was the third round of the 2004 Bridgestone Presents the Champ Car World Series Powered by Ford season, held on June 5, 2004 at the Milwaukee Mile in West Allis, Wisconsin.-Qualifying results:-Race:... |
POR 2004 Champ Car Grand Prix of Portland The 2004 Champ Car Grand Prix of Portland was the fourth round of the 2004 Bridgestone Presents the Champ Car World Series Powered by Ford season, held on June 20, 2004 at Portland International Raceway in Portland, Oregon.-Qualifying results:- Race :... |
CLE 2004 U.S. Bank Champ Car Grand Prix of Cleveland The 2004 Champ Car Grand Prix of Cleveland was the fifth round of the 2004 Bridgestone Presents the Champ Car World Series Powered by Ford season, held on July 3, 2004 at Burke Lakefront Airport in Cleveland, Ohio.-Qualifying results:-Race:... |
TOR 2004 Molson Indy Toronto The 2004 Molson Indy Toronto was the sixth round of the 2004 Bridgestone Presents the Champ Car World Series Powered by Ford season, held on July 11, 2004 on the streets of Exhibition Place in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.-Qualifying results:-Race:... |
VAN 2004 Molson Indy Vancouver The 2004 Molson Indy Vancouver was the seventh round of the 2004 Bridgestone Presents the Champ Car World Series Powered by Ford season, held on July 25, 2004 on the streets of Concord Pacific Place in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada... |
ROA 2004 Grand Prix of Road America The 2004 Grand Prix of Road America was the eighth round of the 2004 Bridgestone Presented the Champ Car World Series Powered by Ford season, held on August 8, 2004 at Road America in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin.-Qualifying results:-Race:-Caution flags:... |
DEN 2004 Centrix Financial Grand Prix of Denver The 2004 Centrix Financial Grand Prix of Denver was the ninth round of the 2004 Bridgestone Presents the Champ Car World Series Powered by Ford season, held on August 15, 2004 on the streets of Denver, Colorado near the Pepsi Center.-Qualifying results:... |
MTL 2004 Molson Indy Montreal The 2004 Molson Indy Montreal was the tenth round of the 2004 Bridgestone Presents the Champ Car World Series Powered by Ford season, held on August 29, 2004 at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in Montreal, Quebec.-Qualifying results:-Race:-Caution flags:... |
LS 2004 Bridgestone Grand Prix of Monterey The 2004 Bridgestone Grand Prix of Monterey was the eleventh round of the 2004 Bridgestone Presents the Champ Car World Series Powered by Ford season, held on September 12, 2004 at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca in Monterey, California.-Qualifying results:... |
LVS 2004 Bridgestone 400 The 2004 Bridgestone 400 was the twelfth round of the 2004 Bridgestone Presents the Champ Car World Series Powered by Ford season, held on September 25, 2004 at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway in Las Vegas, Nevada.-Qualifying results:-Race:... |
 SRF 2004 Lexmark Indy 300 The 2004 Lexmark Indy 300 was the thirteenth and penultimate round of the 2004 Bridgestone Presents the Champ Car World Series Powered by Ford season, held on October 24, 2004 on the Streets of Surfers Paradise, Queensland, Australia.-Qualifying results:... |
MXC 2004 Gran Premio Telmex/Tecate The 2004 Gran Premio Telmex/Tecate was the fourteenth and final round of the2004 Bridgestone Presents the Champ Car World Series Powered by Ford season, held on November 7, 2004 at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez in Mexico City, Mexico... 14 |
23rd | 7 |
| 2005 | Dale Coyne Racing Dale Coyne Racing Dale Coyne Racing is a motorsports team in the IndyCar Series owned by former driver Dale Coyne. It was founded in 1986 with Chicago Bears great Walter Payton as Payton/Coyne Racing. The team fields the No. 18 Acorn Stairlifts and No... |
LBH 2005 Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach The 2005 Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach was the first round of the 2005 Bridgestone Presents the Champ Car World Series Powered by Ford season, held on April 10, 2005 on the streets of Long Beach, California... |
MTY 2005 Tecate/Telmex Grand Prix of Monterrey The 2005 Tecate/Telmex Monterrey Grand Prix was the second round of the 2005 Bridgestone Presents the Champ Car World Series Powered by Ford season, held on May 22, 2005 on the streets of Fundidora Park in Monterrey, Mexico. Sébastien Bourdais was the polesitter and the race winner was Bruno... |
MIL 2005 Time Warner Cable Road Runner 225 The 2005 Time Warner Cable Road Runner 225 was the third round of the 2005 Bridgestone Presents the Champ Car World Series Powered by Ford season, held on June 4, 2005 at the Milwaukee Mile in West Allis, Wisconsin. Jimmy Vasser was the pole sitter while Paul Tracy won the race... |
POR 2005 G.I. Joe's Champ Car Grand Prix of Portland The 2005 G.I. Joe's Presents the Champ Car Grand Prix of Portland was the fourth round of the 2005 Bridgestone Presents the Champ Car World Series Powered by Ford season, held on June 19, 2005 at the Portland International Raceway in Portland, Oregon. The pole sitter was Justin Wilson and the race... 11 |
CLE 2005 Grand Prix of Cleveland The 2005 Champ Car Grand Prix of Cleveland was the fifth round of the 2005 Bridgestone Presents the Champ Car World Series Powered by Ford season, held on June 26, 2005 at Burke Lakefront Airport in Cleveland, Ohio. Due to the controversy at the 2005 United States Grand Prix at Indianapolis, any... |
TOR 2005 Molson Indy Toronto The 2005 Molson Indy Toronto was the sixth round of the 2005 Bridgestone Presents the Champ Car World Series Powered by Ford season, held on July 10, 2005 on the streets of Exhibition Place in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Sébastien Bourdais was the pole sitter and Justin Wilson won the race... |
EDM 2005 West Edmonton Mall Grand Prix of Edmonton The 2005 West Edmonton Mall Grand Prix of Edmonton was the seventh round of the 2005 Bridgestone Presents the Champ Car World Series Powered by Ford season, held on July 17, 2005 at Finning International Speedway, a temporary course laid out at Edmonton City Centre Airport in Edmonton, Alberta,... |
SJO 2005 Taylor Woodrow Grand Prix of San Jose The 2005 Taylor Woodrow Grand Prix of San Jose was the eighth round of the 2005 Bridgestone Presents the Champ Car World Series Powered by Ford season, held on July 31, 2005 on the streets of San Jose, California. Sébastien Bourdais swept both the pole and the race win... |
DEN 2005 Centrix Financial Grand Prix of Denver The 2005 Centrix Financial Grand Prix of Denver was the ninth round of the 2005 Bridgestone Presents the Champ Car World Series Powered by Ford season, held on August 14, 2005 on the streets of Denver, Colorado near the Pepsi Center... |
MTL 2005 Molson Indy Montreal The 2005 Molson Indy Montreal was the tenth round of the 2005 Bridgestone Presents the Champ Car World Series Powered by Ford season, held on August 28, 2005 at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Sébastien Bourdais was the polesitter and Oriol Servià won the race... |
LVS 2005 Hurricane Relief 400 The 2005 Hurricane Relief 400 was the eleventh round of the 2005 Bridgestone Presents the Champ Car World Series Powered by Ford season, held on September 24, 2005 at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway in Las Vegas, Nevada. Sébastien Bourdais swept the pole and the race victory... |
SRF 2005 Lexmark Indy 300 The 2005 Lexmark Indy 300 was the twelfth and penultimate round of the 2005 Bridgestone Presents the Champ Car World Series Powered by Ford season, held on 22 October 2005 on the Streets of Surfers Paradise, Australia. Sébastien Bourdais won the race and also clinched his second consecutive Champ... |
MXC 2005 Gran Premio Telmex/Tecate The 2005 Gran Premio Telmex/Tecate was the thirteenth and final round of the2005 Bridgestone Presents the Champ Car World Series Powered by Ford season, held on November 6, 2005 at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez in Mexico City, Mexico... |
25th | 10 |