DAY ONE PRACTICE NOTES/QUOTES---- Indianapolis, Indiana,
May 12, 2012
Fast Facts:
Oriol Servia
- Oriol completed 41 laps and clocked the 11th fastest speed
today (217.20 mph) in day one of practice. He was the fourth
fastest Chevy.
- Oriol Servia will be vying for his fourth start in the greatest
spectacle in racing.
- Last year, Oriol qualified on the front row for Newman/Haas
Racing. He started 3rd, finished 6th and led for 18 laps. In 2009,
Servia ran for Rahal Letterman Racing and he started 25th and
finished 26th as his day was ended early due to a mechanical issue.
In 2008, he qualified 25th for KV Racing Technology and finished
11th. In 2002, Servia practiced for the month of May and attempted
to qualify for Walker Racing, but did not make the show.
- In the last four races combined, Servia has gained a total of
39 positions (7 positions in St. Pete to finish 16th, 13 positions
in Barber to finish 13th, 7 positions in Long Beach to finish 16th,
and 12 positions in Brazil to finish 11th).
- Last year Oriol finished fourth in IZOD IndyCar Series
standings....Recorded 11 top-10 finishes, with a best of second at
New Hampshire and Baltimore....Among three drivers to be running at
the finish in all 17 races..... led all drivers in laps completed
(2,103 of 2,011)....Oriol was the only driver to finish in the top
10 in first five races of the season.
Panther DRR
- DRR has competed in the Indy 500 for the last 12 years.
Last season the team ran four cars: Davey Hamilton (SP: 15th
/ FP: 24th), Justin Wilson (SP: 19th/ FP: 16th), Ana Beatriz (SP:
32nd/ FP: 21st), Paul Tracy (SP: 24th/ FP: 25th)...2010: Justin
Wilson,Tomas Scheckter and Mike Conway all led laps for the
500-first time in DRR history for three of the four entries entered
to lead the Indy 500. Wilson (SP: 11th /FP: 7th), Scheckter (SP:
20th / FP: 15th), Ana Beatriz (SP: 21st / FP: 21st). Both Bia and
Mike had contact on the last lap of the race....2009: For the first
time in the team's history, DRR entered four cars for the 500 with
one of the entries being with Richard Petty (making it his first
Indy 500 entry). Mike Conway (SP: 27th/ FP: 18th), John Andretti
(SP: 28th / FP: 19th), Milka Duno (SP: 30th / FP: 20th), Davey
Hamilton made contact (SP: 22nd / 29th).....2008: Buddy Rice (SP:
17th/ FP: 8th), Milka Duno (SP: 27th/ FP: 19th), Townsend Bell (SP:
12th/ FP: 10th).....2007: Sarah Fisher (SP: 21st/ FP: 18th), Buddy
Rice (SP: 16th/ FP: 25th), Roger Yasukawa (SP: 23rd/ FP:
21st)....2006: Al Unser Jr (SP: 27th/ FP: 24th ---accident), Buddy
Lazier (SP: 25th/ FP: 12th)....2005: Roger Yasukawa (SP: 17th/ FP:
18th -mechanical), Jeff Buknum (SP: 21st/ FP: 22nd
-accident)....2004: Felipe Giaffone (SP: 25th/ FP: 15th), Buddy
Lazier (SP: 28th/ FP: 23rd ---fuel system)...2003: Robbie Buhl (SP:
18th/FP: 22nd-engine), Sarah Fisher (SP: 24th/
31st-engine/accident)...2002: Sarah Fisher (SP: 9th/ FP:
23rd)....2001: Robbie Buhl (SP: 9th/ FP: 15th)...2000: Robbie Buhl
(SP: 9th/ FP: 26th), Steve Knapp (SP: 27th/ FP: 19th)
- Lotus and Dreyer & Reinbold Racing reached an amicable
resolution to end their agreement. The two entities had entered
into a contract back in November for Lotus to be the team's engine
supplier in the IZOD IndyCar Series. Lotus remains completely
committed to IndyCar and has worked diligently to rise to the
challenge. Given the circumstances of the regulatory requirement to
supply multiple teams, the late timing of Lotus' entry and the
unanticipated difficulties caused by the change of ownership, Lotus
made the decision to reduce the number of cars it runs. As a
result, Dreyer & Reinbold Racing ran the Lotus engine for the
final time in Brazil.
- This week it was announced that the Indianapolis-based squad
has united with two-time IndyCar Series champion Panther Racing to
form a strategic alliance on Oriol Servia's entry for the remainder
of the 2012 season. The No. 22 Panther/DRR team will utilize
Panther's second Chevrolet engine lease and work in conjunction
with the No. 4 National Guard team and driver JR Hildebrand
beginning with this month's 96th Running of the Indianapolis
500.
Oriol Servia, No. 22 Panther DRR, on the first day of
practice for the 96th Running of the Indianapolis 500: "I'm
very, very happy about everything. I couldn't be happier on the
first day of practice. The way the team operated and the transition
into a partnership with Panther Racing and Chevy, I think couldn't
have happened more smoothly. It was the right way to start the
month of May, just step by step making sure that each step is done
the right way and that's what we did today."
Oriol Servia, on working with JR Hildebrand and the new
car on an oval: "We had never worked together before, but I
think that we both knew that we were going to have a good
relationship. You can tell with some guys more than others. He has
a lot of common sense and is a very smart young man. I feel that
it's going to work great. We are both trying to improve the car. In
general, this car on the oval feels a little funny. It's not stuck
to the ground as much as last year's car and we're running a little
slower. We have to get used to that, but from our effort, I'm very
happy."
Back on Track: Panther DRR will be back on track
tomorrow for the second day of practice for the 96th Running of the
Indianapolis 500. Qualifying will be telecast live on the NBC
Sports Network. Please visit www.dreyerreinboldracing.com
for more updates.