Dreyer & Reinbold Racing enters 91st Indianapolis 500 with Fisher, Rice
DRR becomes the first team to submit an entry for the 2007 Indy 500
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. - Dreyer & Reinbold Racing (DRR) announced today they
have submitted their official entries for the 91st running of the
Indianapolis 500 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway (IMS). DRR is the
first team to submit an entry for the May 27th IndyCar Series hallmark
event and will field drivers Sarah Fisher and Buddy Rice.
Three-time Most Popular Driver, Sarah Fisher, 26, will make her return to
the legendary race after sitting out the 2005 and 2006 Indy 500 races. She
will attempt to make her sixth start in the "Greatest Spectacle in Racing,"
second only to Lyn St. James for the most starts for a woman in history.
Her best start at the track came in 2002 with a ninth place starting
position when she became the fastest women to ever qualify for the Indy 500
with a speed of 229.439. Fisher will pilot the No. 5 Honda powered
Dallara.
"In 2006, I held a banner for Vitor (Meira) while working for Ignition
doing the marketing side of racing during the month of May," said Fisher,
who last competed in the Indy 500 in 2004 for Kelley Racing. "I
experienced what it felt like to not be in the drivers' seat and it made me
miss competing at Indy. Having the privilege to compete in the Indy 500 is
something you can never take for granted. It's an opportunity that very
few in this word get to try. Fortunately, Dreyer & Reinbold Racing has
given me that opportunity once again and for that I am truly thankful."
Newly signed driver Buddy Rice, 31, the 2004 Indianapolis 500 champion,
will attempt to make his fourth start at IMS this May. Rice made his first
start in the Indy 500 back in 2003 for Red Bull Cheever Racing. He will
pilot the No. 15 Honda powered Dallara. His best starting position was in
2004 when he captured the MBNA pole position while substituting for injured
Rahal Letterman Racing driver, Kenny Brack.
"It's always exciting going to Indy especially with what I was able to do
in the past," said Rice, who just returned from vacationing in Hawaii.
"I'm back with a new team and obviously with a different outlook and a
different approach than what I've had in the past couple of years. My
engineer this year is a past Indy 500 winning engineer and because I'm a
driver that has won, we know what it takes to get there. I think if we
have a very strong opening season which I anticipate happening then we
should have a very strong and competitive run at the 500 for the month of
May. It should be an exciting month for our team and should be a lot of
fun to get there and take it all in."
DRR will celebrate its seventh consecutive appearance at the Indianapolis
500 mile race, which includes qualifying every car they have entered into
the legendary race which equals 13 entries.
"It is always an exciting day when you enter cars into the Indy 500," said
Dreyer & Reinbold Racing team co-owner, Dennis Reinbold. "To be the first
to enter means that we are excited and anxious to get started, so it is
very appropriate for us as we look forward to 2007. I look forward to
driving through the tunnel every day during the month of May and looking
around at the historic track knowing that we have a unique opportunity to
be a part of the history there."
-credit: drr
