Season Opener Marks Dreyer & Reinbold Racing's 200th Start

St.Petersburg, FL - After a long off-season, Dreyer & Reinbold Racing is eager to get back on track and show everyone what they have been working on all winter long. The Indianapolis-based squad has an array of things to be proud of heading into the IndyCar Series season opener this weekend in St. Petersburg. Sunday's race will mark the team's 200th race start as well as adding two new drivers to the stable along with the return of the No. 24 machine.

The 2009 IndyCar season also marks Dreyer & Reinbold Racing's tenth season as a successful operation. In addition, the No.24 will make its return to the team. The number was with the team in their debut days and co-owner Robbie Buhl won the outfit their first race in 2000 in Orlando at the Walt Disney World Speedway with the No.24.

Joining the team for the first time this season is rookie, Brit, Mike Conway. The Englishman spent a majority of his career in the European formula car ladder. Most recently he competed last year in the 2008 GP2 Series with Trident Racing. He was also a Honda F1 Racing test driver for the past two seasons. Conway won the prestigious British Formula 3 Championship with Räikkönen Robertson Racing in 2006. That year was also highlighted by a win in the famed Macau Grand Prix. His most recent success was winning a round at the famous streets of Monte Carlo in Monaco in the GP2 Series in 2008. In 2004, he won the Formula Renault UK Championship, and in 2005, he was recognized twice by the British Racing Drivers' Club for his achievements in Formula 3.

Another addition to the team for the weekend is Darren Manning who brings his vast experience to the table that will aid in Conway's learning curve as he visits St.Petersburg for the first time. The 33 year-old native of North Yorkshire, England made his way up the racing ladder competing in various racing series in Europe from 1993-2002 driving in Formula Vauxhall, the British F3 Championship, the Japan F3 Championship, FIA International F3000 Championship, and served as the test driver for the BAR Formula One team. In 2003, Manning drove for Walker Racing in the CART Series finishing ninth, recording three top-five finishes and a season best second in Australia. He joined Target Chip Ganassi Racing for the 2004 IndyCar Series season , where he finished 11th overall, recording eight top-10 finishes. In 2005, he made ten starts for Target Chip Ganassi Racing, recording five top-10 finishes. Manning did not compete in the IndyCar Series in 2006, but came back in 2007 with AJ Foyt Enterprises, recording two top-five finishes and five top-10 finishes, with a career best fourth at Belle Isle. The Brit joined the team again in 2008 where he had seven top-10 finishes and led two races for a total of 11 laps. Manning has a total of 58 IndyCar race starts, seven top-five and 25 top-10 finishes, and 26 laps led to tuck behind his belt.

What they have to say...

Mike Conway

"I'm ready for St.Petersburg. I basically just want to have a good weekend. I have a good feel of the car so we just need to go there with what we know and see where we end up. I think it should be good. We just need to get in sync with the circuit and learn it. I really enjoy the street circuits they are always a good challenge. The team has been very helpful and we have progressed a lot through the testing and I look forward to this weekend."

Darren Manning

"I look forward to joining the team in St. Pete. I have run well there and should have had couple of podiums the last couple of year without barring mistakes. I was running in fourth place last year, and had a gearbox failure and probably should have finished third. I think Mike and I will work well together and hopefully my experience in St.Petersburg will help him this weekend."

Darren Manning on joining DRR for the weekend: "I'm super excited. It was the Monday before the first race in St.Petersburg and I wasn't going. I was organizing my plans for the weekend and set my mind that I wasn't going to be driving in the 2009 IndyCar Series, and come Tuesday afternoon I get the call from Dennis to get me in the car, and it has all changed. It was a hectic afternoon, but I have been talking to these guys for a long time and saw what they did last year, and with what they did over the winter I could see them doing really well. Also, with Mike, he's a good guy and I know his background in Europe and he's a fellow Brit. He will be nice to work with. He's a really quick driver and I think we will work well together. Hopefully with my experience and speed at St.Petersburg, it will help the team take those steps forward," stated Darren Manning.

About Dreyer and Reinbold Racing

Dreyer & Reinbold Racing enters its 10th season of full-time competition in 2009, making it one of the longest-tenured teams in Indy Racing League competition. Current co-owners, Dennis Reinbold and Robbie Buhl, first teamed in full-time competition at the Walt Disney World Speedway in January of 2000. With Buhl behind the wheel, the two owners tasted victory in their debut race. The 2009 IndyCar Series season-opener on the streets of St. Petersburg on April 3-5 will mark Dreyer & Reinbold Racing's 200th series start. In its history, the team has boasted a championship list of alumni drivers. Besides Buhl, the team has run Indianapolis 500 winners Al Unser Jr., Buddy Lazier, and Buddy Rice, along with IndyCar Series race winner Ryan Briscoe. The team has one of the longest lines of heritage in American open-wheel racing and the Indianapolis 500 as Dennis Reinbold's grandfather, "Pop" Dreyer, built leading roadsters that raced at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway during the 30s, 40s, and 50s.

More information on the team can be found at www.dreyerreinboldracing.com.

More information on the IndyCar Series can be found at www.indycar.com.