Indianapolis, IN (June 24, 2010) - Dreyer & Reinbold Racing announced today that Canadian driver, Paul Tracy, will replace the injured Mike Conway next weekend. He will drive the team’s No. 24 Honda Indy Toronto / Dreyer & Reinbold Racing / Dallara entry for the Camping World GP at The Glen on Sunday, July 4th.
Dreyer & Reinbold Racing
During the 94th running of the Indianapolis 500, Dreyer & Reinbold Racing pilot, Mike Conway, was involved in a big crash. With one lap to go, the Brit collided with Ryan Hunter-Reay, who had slowed to conserve fuel in order to finish the race. Unfortunately, due to the varying speeds between the two cars, Conway’s machine launched into the catch-fence and disintegrated as it ran along the track. As a result, Mike was transported via helicopter to Methodist hospital where he was released a week later. He had surgery that night to repair fractures to his lower left leg. Additionally, Conway has a compression fracture of one of his thoracic vertebrae and was fitted for a back brace, which he will wear for three months and will prevent him from racing. He is in excellent spirits and is back home in the UK recovering.
While Conway is out of the seat, Tracy will step in to replace him next weekend. The Canadian was the sensible choice for Dreyer & Reinbold Racing as not only does he have experience at the famed track, over his entire career, he has competed in 270 Indy car-type events.
Tracy, the 2003 Champ Car World Series champion, will be making his ninth IZOD IndyCar start and his second start at Watkins Glen International. He is one of the most successful drivers in the history of open-wheel racing with 31 career victories. Next weekend the Canadian native will be sponsored by Honda Indy Toronto and wheel manufacturer Motegi Racing for the famed event.
This will mark Tracy’s first time to drive for the team and Dreyer & Reinbold Racing couldn’t be more excited to have him on board. “We are very happy to have Paul drive for us this weekend. He’s a great driver and a big personality and we are thrilled to have him driving for us in Watkins Glen. We were extremely strong there last year and with Paul’s racing experience and him being teamed up with Justin Wilson, we feel that we’ll have an extremely strong package for the weekend. We obviously wish that Mike could be with us, but we just want him to have a quick recovery. Paul was a perfect fit and we couldn’t be happier to have him behind the wheel,” commented Dreyer & Reinbold Racing Co-Owner, Robbie Buhl.
Tracy, now in his 20th season, has had a storied career that has made him one of the top drivers in open-wheel racing. He is among the top-10 in almost every Champ Car career statistical category including wins, 31 (tied for seventh all-time), poles, 25 (ninth all-time), and laps led, 4,238 (sixth all-time).
Over the last 20 years, Tracy has earned 75 career podium performances, 102 top-five finishes and 144 top-10 showings in 270 starts (262 in Champ Car and eight in IZODIndyCar, tied for seventh all-time). In the 15 seasons in which Tracy has competed in over 80 percent of the races, he has finished in the top-10 in the championship standings 10 times including eight times in the top-five, four in the top-three and captured the championship in 2003.
“I feel great. It’s obviously a good feeling to get more races, especially being able to race at the Glen and building up momentum before going into the Canadian events. It’s also great to have the support of Honda Indy Toronto and Motegi Racing for this race as well. I’m really excited about working with Robbie Buhl again and to get to work with Dreyer & Reinbold Racing. I’ve known Robbie from our early days in racing back when we competed against each other in the Indy Lights Series. It’s very exciting to branch out with another team I haven’t been with before and I’m looking forward to a good weekend,” commented Tracy.
Decisions have not been made on a driver for the remainder of the 2010 IZOD IndyCar season. Stay tuned for more details and please visit www.dreyerreinboldracing.com for more information.
About Motegi Racing:
Motegi Racing wheels are purpose-built for professional-level competition in drifting and road racing as well as available for street applications. Motegi Racing wheels have the perfect blend of attitude, performance and style with the latest technology and finishes. For more information on Motegi Racing please visit www.motegiracing.com.
About Dreyer & Reinbold Racing:
Dreyer & Reinbold Racing is entering its 11th season of full-time competition in 2010, 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 IZOD IndyCar Series season-opener on the streets of St.Petersburg marked Dreyer & Reinbold Racing”s 200th series start. DRR now has over 250 starts to tuck under its belt and has qualified a total of 27 cars for the Indianapolis 500. 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 IZOD 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 Paul Tracy can be found at www.paultracy.com.
More information on the IZOD IndyCar Series can be found at www.indycar.com.
- Dreyer & Reinbold Racing, Press Release