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Panther DRR carries positive momentum into Edmonton

Coming off a top-five in Toronto, Servia and the team at aiming to move up to the podium in Edmonton.

Oriol Servia, Dreyer & Reinbold Racing Chevrolet
Oriol Servia, Dreyer & Reinbold Racing Chevrolet

Photo by: Adriano Manocchia

As Panther DRR heads into the 11th round of the 2012 IZOD IndyCar season, Hurco will be the primary for the first time on the No. 22 car of Oriol Servia for the Edmonton Indy in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada this weekend. The global industrial automation company joined the team last year as a strategic partner in which there is a fully furnished Hurco machine shop in the team's Indianapolis facility as well as the Hurco logo featured on the Panther DRR machine throughout the season.

"We are proud to have Hurco be the primary on the car this weekend. We love having the ability of the Hurco machines at our shop to keep us on the cutting edge for this new generation of racing. Our Hurco relationship gives us that advantage you look for in this sport," stated Panther DRR Co-Owner Robbie Buhl.

With the introduction of the new car this season and engine manufacturers back in IndyCar, the use of the CNC machines has been extremely beneficial to the team in this new era of racing. As a result, the relationship has continued to grow and this weekend's race will also mark the unveiling of a new look for Hurco as they roll out a new logo that will be introduced in September at the International Manufacturing Technology Show (IMTS) in Chicago.

"Our relationship with Panther DRR is an exciting part of our brand awareness campaign. We have very consistent characteristics. Our business is all about speed, precision and reliability and that's what makes it a really good fit for us. This is an exciting moment for us as we are about to launch a next generation of machines and a new logo that highlights our technology and that's what people will see with the car out in Edmonton," commented Hurco Executive Vice President of Worldwide Sales & Marketing, John Donlon.

This weekend will mark Servia's 6th start in Edmonton (three of those starts were in Champ Car from 2005-2007). He has finished no worse than sixth in first four starts at track (2005-2008). His best finish was second in 2005 and his best start was third in 2008. Last year he started 8th and finished 22nd.

Servia currently sits 10th in the championship with 215 points and just two points from 9th place.

In eight races, Servia has gained a total of 98 positions (7 positions in St. Pete to finish 16th, 13 positions in Barber to finish 13th, 7 positions in Long Beach to finish 16th, 12 positions in Brazil to finish 11th, 23 positions in Indianapolis to finish 4th, 11 positions in Detroit to finish 5th, 16 positions in Milwaukee to finish 4th and 9 positions in Toronto to finish 5th).

Since making the switch to Chevy power, Panther DRR and Oriol Servia have earned four top-five results in six races, tying with a season best of fourth place (was 4th in the Indy 500).

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.

In 12 seasons of competing in open wheel racing, Servia has 174 starts, 19 podium finishes, a win in Montreal (2005), a pole position at Surfer's Paradise (2005), 45 top-five finishes (including podiums), 85 top-10 finishes (includes top-five) and has led a total of 130 laps in his career.

Oriol Servia, No. 22 Panther DRR, on the Edmonton Indy: "It's always been great to go to Edmonton. The city of Edmonton has always supported the race and it's always exciting for us to come back. We are coming from another top-five in Toronto, so we just want to get to that podium. I think that Edmonton could be a track that hopefully fits our setup and that we can have a strong weekend."

Oriol Servia on the Edmonton circuit: "The truth is that I like the old layout better because I thought that it was more fun to drive, but with this new setup I think it is more fun for the fans because there is a lot more over-taking, so it's a balance. Ideally I would like to do the old and the new, which would be a long race track and would be perfect."

Source: Panther DRR

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