(Indianapolis, Ind.) December 4, 2012 - Panther DRR
is excited to announce that veteran driver Oriol Servia will be
returning to the team for the 2013 IZOD IndyCar Series season.
Chevrolet will continue to power the Spaniard's no. 22 car in what
will be Servia's second year with the Indianapolis-based team.
Panther DRR welcomes the consistency and is poised to build on
the momentum created during 2012. After a switch to Chevrolet
engines at the beginning of May, the team quickly showed what it
was capable of with a fourth place finish in the Indianapolis 500.
Servia followed up that performance by recording Top 5 finishes on
the street courses of Detroit and Toronto and the short oval of
Milwaukee, proving his versatility. Over the course of the season,
Servia charged through the field to pass a record 107 cars.
The accomplished racer returns to Panther DRR with nearly 25
years of racing experience and a degree in mechanical engineering.
Servia's highest career achievements include fourth place in the
2011 IZOD IndyCar Series point standings, a runner-up finish in the
battle for the 2005 Champ Car World Series title, and the 1999 Indy
Lights championship.
The strategic alliance between Panther DRR and Panther Racing
will also continue, allowing Servia to work with the no. 4 team and
driver JR Hildebrand. The partnership was formed in May and created
a competitive advantage that provided more resources to each team's
effort.
Servia and Panther DRR will return to the track for a test at
Sebring International Raceway on December 12-13, 2012. For more
information on the team, please visit
www.dreyerreinboldracing.com
Oriol Servia, Driver, No. 22 Panther DRR: "I am
very pleased to partner with DRR again in 2013. We had several
great on-track performances this past season, including our 4th
place finish at the Indianapolis 500, but we're not satisfied. Our
goal is to win that race and contend week in and week out for wins
and podiums at all races. Continuity is very important in our sport
and now we'll be able to build upon our successes in a second year
together. Off the track, I am extremely excited to continue with
DRR as I have found some of the best people I have ever worked
within this sport, including our team partners whose support make
this all happen."
Dennis Reinbold, Co-Owner, Panther DRR: "As an
organization, we have worked very hard to be in the position to
hire a talented driver whom is an appropriate fit to the
personality of our team both in and out of the car. We couldn't be
happier to have the continuity of a second year with Oriol in the
no. 22 car. We're also excited to see our ongoing increased
investment in the technical and engineering areas of our team
result in success within our off-season development program and
on-track performance next year. "
Robbie Buhl, Co-Owner, Panther DRR: "Hiring Oriol
Servia to drive the no. 22 was a no brainer. To be able to continue
building on-track momentum and a strong working relationship
between Oriol and our technical team was an opportunity we couldn't
pass up. We believe Oriol gives us the best chance for us to
win the Indianapolis 500 and compete for wins. I'd like to
personally thank Oriol, Chevy, our team partners and entire
organization for their commitment to our team."
About Panther DRR
The 2013 season will mark the 14th year of full-time
competition for Panther DRR (previously Dreyer & Reinbold
Racing), making it one of the longest tenured teams in INDYCAR.
Current co-owners Dennis Reinbold and Robbie Buhl won the first
race they competed in at the Walt Disney World Speedway in January
of 2000 with Buhl behind the wheel. The team now has over 300 race
starts in the IZOD IndyCar Series and has successfully qualified 32
cars for the Indianapolis 500. Panther DRR has the most history of
any IndyCar team as Reinbold's grandfather, the legendary "Pop"
Dreyer, built leading roadsters that raced at the Indianapolis
Motor Speedway in the 30s, 40s, and 50s.