DREYER & REINBOLD RACING RESTED AND READY FOR KENTUCKY
Indianapolis, IN (September 29, 2011) - Dreyer & Reinbold Racing is ready to turn their luck around this weekend in Kentucky. The DRR team has regrouped and is prepared for the 16th round of the IZOD IndyCar Series this weekend in Sparta, Kentucky. This will mark Dreyer & Reinbold Racing's 11th time to compete at the 1.5-mile oval, and piloting the DRR machines will be, Townsend Bell, who will drive the No. 22 Valspar machine, and Ana Beatriz, who will get behind the wheel of the No. 24 Ipiranga car.
The team has made huge strides and have prepared for the remaining oval events as the Indianapolis-based squad tested in Kentucky last Friday. DRR has started at least one car in every race at the track since 2000. In 2001, Sarah Fisher gave the team their first and only pole, and in 2003 their best finish was 7th position with Robbie Buhl. This will mark Beatriz's first appearance to the track in an IZOD IndyCar. Bell will be making his second start. His first start was in 2004 where he started 22nd and finished 21st.
This weekend will be Ana Beatriz's third time to compete at the 1.5-mile oval, but her first in the top level of the sport. In 2008, she started 2nd in the Firestone Indy Lights Series, but made contact with JR Hildebrand and finished 16th. In 2009, Bia started 10th in Firestone Indy Lights and finished 3rd.
With each race, Beatriz continues to prove that she is graduating from rookie status. The Brazilian has nine oval starts to tuck under her belt. Her best qualifying result on an oval was this year in Milwaukee where she started 11th on the grid. Bia's best finish on an oval was in New Hampshire this year when she finished 14th. Beatriz secured her best IZOD IndyCar career qualifying result in Sonoma with a 10th place starting spot. In July of this year, she earned her best IZOD IndyCar result in Toronto, Canada when she brought the car home in 11th place.
It was announced last week that American driver, Townsend Bell, will drive at the IZOD IndyCar Series events in Kentucky and Las Vegas. Bell will replace the injured Justin Wilson for the final two races of the season and will pilot the team's No. 22 Valspar entry for Kentucky and the No. 22 Dad's Root Beer machine in Las Vegas.
Bell will make his return to Dreyer & Reinbold Racing when he gets behind the wheel of the No. 22 machine this weekend. The California native had the opportunity to test the car at Kentucky Speedway last week. Bell drove for DRR for seven races in 2008. He was the perfect choice for the Indianapolis-based squad as he brings vast experience to the table. He got his start in go-karts before working his way up to the Barber Dodge Pro Series and then onto the Indy Lights championship where he earned Rookie of the Year honors in 2000 and the Indy Lights championship in 2001. From Indy Lights, he went onto compete in the CART series for nine races and the in FIA Formula 3000 in 2003, earning tests with BAR-Honda and Jaguar Formula One teams in the same year. Bell would then graduate to the IndyCar Series competing for various teams. In 2009, the veteran driver finished 4th in Indianapolis 500.
Dreyer & Reinbold Racing will be on track this weekend for the 16th round of the IZOD IndyCar Series in Kentucky. The race telecast will air live on Sunday, October 2nd at 2:00 pm (ET) on VERSUS. The race will also air live on the IMS Radio Network, XM channel 94, and Sirius channel 212. For more updates on the team, please visit www.dreyerreinboldracing.com.
What they have to say...
Townsend Bell, No. 22 Valspar: "The test went well from the standpoint of getting back in the car and getting comfortable with everything in the cockpit and working with Larry Curry, Matt Curry and Yves Touron, all of whom I've worked with or have known from before. I'm pretty comfortable and had an easy vibe right away. We have been working hard this week to continue to improve the car in shop and we're optimistic that we will be looking strong by the race day.
Ana Beatriz, No. 24 Ipiranga: "Kentucky is a fun track. There's not much grip, but it makes the race fun. It will be very tight and competitive and there will be a lot of passing. It will be my first time there in an IndyCar. We had a good test there last Friday and hopefully we can improve a little bit more. With each race this year, I think that I've gained more confidence and I really look forward to the last two events. The No. 24 Ipiranga crew has been working really hard this week and I think we will be strong this weekend."
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