Road Racing Drivers Club

Congratulations to Oriol Servia, one of the newest inductees to the RRDC!

RACER article

Posted by Shelly Paul, Servia Squad Feature Writer

IndyCar 36

You can now view Oriol's IndyCar 36 episode in it's entirety here!

Posted by Shelly Paul, Servia Squad Feature Writer

Not Being Covered (NBC)

Karbon Magazine image

Take a close look. This is what you would have seen at last weekend’s IndyCar season finale at Fontana, had Oriol Servia and the Dreyer Reinbold Racing Team actually received any televised coverage. Instead, Servia fans watching from home were relegated to 250 laps, 500 miles, following the hat (the scoring bar at the top of the television screen) just to try to figure out whether our driver was still in the race, and where the team was running.

It shouldn’t be this complicated to be a fan!

Now, I realize the team has had their share of difficulties at the last few events, topped off with radiator issues toward the latter half of the race at Fontana which forced them to pit every few laps. And I don’t expect television networks to completely divert their coverage from the race leaders to devote to those who aren’t running at the front. But why did I have to go online afterward to find out what was happening in the race?

Is it too much to ask for a shout out -- an update -- something to acknowledge the other 90% of the field (who also have fans following them and sponsors to appease)? Even the mid-race recap only went through the first half of the field, before resorting to simply naming the remaining teams and where they were running. Thanks. I’ve got that part. Remember the hat?

What about updating viewers on what kind of difficulties DRR may be experiencing, or how Katherine Legge was able to climb her way into a Top-10 finish? Where was Kevin Lee or Robin Miller? Isn’t it their job to keep us informed and shed a little light on what’s happening at the track? How about bypassing showing Power’s crash for the umpteenth time in favor of some new color commentary?

At least Servia received full due with the recent airing of IndyCar 36: Oriol Servia, where fans were provided a brief glimpse at the man behind the helmet during the Grand Prix of Baltimore. Who would have thought Oriol was such an espresso fiend?

Now, as we head into Silly Season, rumors begin to swirl. Will Servia sign on again with DRR? Signs point to yes, but only time will tell. Let’s hope for a short wait.

Posted by Shelly Paul, Servia Squad Feature Writer

Servia Sees Red at Sonoma

So if I didn’t know any better, I’d say Servia and the Panther DRR Team were checking in on the blog, as it appears they took some of the advice I offered following the race at Mid-Ohio. (Read Here)

Right off the bat, the car is red for this weekend’s GoPro Indy Grand Prix of Sonoma! Well, technically it’s got red in the paint scheme Oriol’s running for this race thanks to his sponsor, TranSystems. The livery on the DW12 also shows the same self-portrait of Salvador Dali you see depicted on Servia’s helmet. (Read More Here)

Secondly, Servia picked a fight…sort of. Oriol was in rare form over the weekend as he decided to play not one, but two rounds of bumper cars during the race. The pilot of the #22 DRR entry is known to all his peers in the paddock as a guy who is consistent, races clean and can bring the car home (and in one piece!). But this past weekend’s race found him involved in two separate incidents when he tagged cars from behind. The first incident occurred around Lap 36 when Oriol got up behind the #7 entry of James Hinchcliffe and locked his wheels, sending the GoDaddy car into a 360 spin. The second occurrence happened with just five laps to go when the DRR entry came upon the #14 A.J. Foyt entry of Mike Conway, making contact. Servia was assessed a drive-thru penalty on that second incident, dropping him to a finishing position of 19th.

While the team may have had a less than desirable outcome to the race, look at all the televised coverage they received for TranSystems! If you ask me, this is one driver who finds himself in a bit of a predicament: drive clean and consistently and remain unnoticed, or sacrifice position and get some air time. I’m glad I’m not in his shoes.

Prior to the race, we learned that DRR seems to be happy with their partnership with the Spaniard, and as long as Servia feels the same way, he may just be able to skip Silly Season and retain his ride for next year. Fingers crossed…

Posted by Shelly Paul, Servia Squad Feature Writer

"Ghost Driver" Makes Another Appearance?

So, for the benefit of all us fans watching at home, can someone in attendance this past weekend at Mid-Ohio confirm that Oriol and Panther DRR were indeed there? I’ve seen photos from the weekend, read tweets, and heard about a very respectable qualifying effort, yet when I tuned in to yesterday’s coverage on ABC, I spotted the Mecum car on one lone occasion (Lap 26).

For the past two races, driver Oriol Servia and the DRR Team have encountered more than their share of mechanical issues. And while the team did a great job getting the #22 entry back on track following gearbox issues at the start of the Honda Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio, Servia was relegated to running the entire race down seven laps. Yet on top of all of that, the team also posted the three quickest laps of the race. Perhaps Mecum would have gotten more exposure for their money had Servia not completed the race and could have snuck in an interview.

To combat this streak of “absenteeism” and to ensure future exposure for driver, team and sponsors, I’ve come up with a few suggestions for the DRR crew:

1. Paint the car red (no offense, Mecum). And put a bullseye on it.

2. Change your driver’s name to something inspirational that the press can have a field day with. How about Moe Tivashun?

3. Break a rule. The penalties as of late for rule infringements seem to be pretty lax versus a potential positive outcome (see Texas and Toronto).

4. Pick a fight. The media loves a good bout of in-fighting and fans appreciate a little controversy from time to time.

The IndyCar Series takes a few weeks off, but tune in again August 26th when the series returns to Sonoma, California and see if any of the above suggestions are implemented.

Posted by Shelly Paul, Servia Squad Feature Writer

Friday the 13th

Happy Birthday Oriol!

Do we have enough candles? 

Servia Cycles to a Top-Five in Toronto

Following a weekend filled with action (crashes) as the IndyCar Series took to the streets of Toronto, I can’t help but notice the stanch parallels to another athletic spectacle this time of year -- the Tour de France.

Both sports consist of highly trained and disciplined athletes, working in conjunction with their teams as they strive for a podium finish. While IndyCar drivers’ mode of propulsion is a 2.2 liter V6, and cyclists in the TDF are self-propelled, both tend to fail from time to time.

Much is the case this past weekend for the likes of Scott Dixon and James Hinchcliffe after their motors let go, seemingly without prior indication. Add to that the scores of on-track incidents we saw, and barely half the field made it through the race unscathed. Likewise, the Tour has seen several crashes mid-peloton, on stretches where you would never expect incidents to happen, forcing the early retirement of 20 riders thus far including Olympic champion Samuel Sanchez and American Tom Danielson. In both sports, many of these retirements are marked up to “racing incidents,” though it was these circumstantial happenings that also led to a top-five finish for Oriol Servia and Dreyer & Reinbold Racing on the streets of Toronto.


2012 Tour de France



If there’s one thing Servia knows, it is how to race clean. And he certainly demonstrated that again this past weekend, avoiding any on-track incidents despite running mid-pack for the bulk of the race. Much like cycling, many crashes tend to occur mid-field in IndyCar racing, so the best way to keep your nose clean in both sports is to try to run toward the front to avoid getting caught up in the tangle. While Servia himself admit that the Panther/DRR Team didn’t have the speed to be competitive in Sunday’s race, they kept the pit stops clean and rode out the race as their competition was eliminated one by one.

By the drop of the checkered flag (the race once again finished under yellow due to a late-race crash involving several teams), Servia and DRR found themselves cycled all the way up to a fifth-place finish. These unexpected results also allow the team to regain footing in the championship battle, as they currently reside 10th in the standings. Oriol has also accumulated a whopping 98 positions gained thus far in the 2012 season! Servia remarked in the post-race interviews, “I’m so happy to be on TV; it’s just awesome,” poking fun of the fact that much of his success has gone unnoticed this season as the cameras rarely capture the “ghost driver” at work.

The series takes another week off before returning to Edmonton on July 22nd, but in the meantime, head on over to the NBC Sports network and see whether Fabian Cancellara has lost the mayo journ (yellow jersey) for good and how newcomer Peter Sagan fares following three stage wins already this year.

Posted by Shelly Paul, Servia Squad Feature Writer

"Ghost Driver" Strikes Again at Milwaukee (Did You See Him?)

So as last weekend demonstrated, the Milwaukee Mile has become the resurrected phoenix, rising from the flames that the 2011 race promoters left behind.  And Andretti Sports Marketing has been the hand reaching from the sky making it all happen.  As with any new promoter, you are certain to have stumbling blocks along the way, but all in all, I have to give ASM big kudos for even attempting the feat.

Yet there are definitely improvements that need to be made before next year’s event (Michael Andretti himself announced prior to the race that they would be back promoting the race again over the same weekend next year).  First off, while the ticket prices were more affordable than years past, the add-ons were not.  There was much confusion at the track surrounding credentials and what exactly was needed if you wanted access beyond a grandstand seat.  And the lines already Friday at the ticket office reflected the disorganization, as it took six fans a half hour to purchase their passes as I sat and watched.  I can’t imagine the chaos that ensued on race day. 

Milwaukee Indyfest

Fans wishing to access the paddock on Friday were required to buy a general admission pass for the infield.  That general admission pass apparently granted access to all the carnival rides and snake pit area.  I think I walked past the area once just to check it out and then continued on.  After all, I was there for the racing, not all this other stuff.  And while the rides were probably a nice perk for those who chose to bring their children, it wasn’t openly advertised that the rides were free.  Yes, it stated that general admission included the rides, but a number of fans (myself included) assumed that meant access to the rides was included and should you choose to pay an additional $5, you can actually ride the ferris wheel, the bumper cars and the zip line.  And while I realize these amenities may have helped promote the event and potentially draw in an audience other than the diehard race fans, I didn’t appreciate having to spend money for access I wasn’t going to use.  I was there solely for the racing.  So let’s get on with it.

I did, however, agree with the choice this year to host the race weekend from Friday to Saturday, freeing up Father’s Day for family time.  I believe that was one of the reasons for the low attendance last year.  While some dads would love to spend a day at the track, many families already had conflicting plans.  We’ll see once the final attendance numbers come in if that is a wise choice carrying over to next year as well.

Friday found the paddock rather vacant as is typically the case earlier in the weekend.  Yet temperatures were hot which I’m sure kept some casual fans away.  With the race weekend being condensed to only two days, teams were extra busy and drivers were less accessible unless you chose to stick around well beyond dinnertime to attend the autograph session (which I did not).  Yet I realize the teams are there to work while the rest of us are there to play. 

Oriol and Panther/DRR struggled a bit with setup in Friday’s sessions, altering tire camber and changing springs.  When it came time for qualifying, the guys couldn’t find the speed to climb higher than 22^nd on the starting grid.  But due to penalties imposed on seven drivers in the field, Servia would start the race in 20^th position.

Servia in weekend practice

Race day brought with it the threat of rain, for the second year in a row, scaring off much of the walk-up attendance we may have otherwise seen at The Mile.  I was able to attend Coffee with the Champions, a brief discussion in the IndyCar Fan Zone with current and former IndyCar personnel Dario Franchitti, Johnny Rutherford (JR), Arie Luyendyk, Rick Mears and Roger Penske.  However, I wasn’t expecting it to start early and almost missed it altogether.  Afterward, I happened to catch sessions with Ed Carpenter and J.R. Hildebrand, though I didn’t see these advertised anywhere so it was just dumb luck that I happened to be in the right place at the right time.  Event after asking around Friday, staffers didn’t seem to know whether there would be any driver appearances over the weekend.  (I know, at this point some would argue that it would be very simple to just check the #MKE_Indyfest twitter feed for information, and they’d be right…except I’m still living in the stone age with a phone that barely rings and gets used more as a backup camera than anything else.)

So the rain which had been threatening all morning held off until about 30 minutes prior to race time.  Then the skies opened and fans fled for cover under the grandstands, where we spent the next hour or so praying to the sun gods to shine upon us and dry the track quickly (yes, while everyone else in the state was praying for rain, we were all praying for it to stop).  Our prayers were answered, and after an hour and a half delay, those in attendance (which appeared to be a very humble increase over the previous year) climbed back up to their seats and awaited the call to start engines.  The traditional Harley-Davidson parade, national anthem and flyover had actually been conducted in the pouring rain, so those were out of the way and we were ready to go racing!

The rain left the track green and devoid of rubber, which would play heavily into race strategy as tires would be quicker to fall off (wear down), though it also made way for more lines to run on the racing surface, allowing for a few passes on the high line.

Servia found himself in a similar place to years past for the first half of the race or so, when he seems to be able to claim some clean real estate on track and runs the race “solo” for a while.  The team actually fell back a few positions on the start and it took a bit for Oriol to begin his climb through the field.  But once he started, he didn’t look back.  And by the midpoint of the race, Servia had already gained 10 positions. 

Running five wide down the front straight

The second part of the race found the DRR squad running in heavier traffic, with Tony Kanaan chomping at their bit.  Servia leans out of the cockpit, and points at his bumper sticker:  “If you can read this, you’re following too closely. Get off my wing!”  The “ghost driver,” as he has dubbed himself for climbing through the field while evading any sort of televised coverage, continued to push forward.  Fifth…fourth…up to a potential podium position.  And then came Hinch.  James Hinchcliffe was hustling the #22 Charter entry for a number of laps before making the move that would snatch the podium out from under the Spaniard.  Servia and the DRR crew would finish in fourth, just one position shy of a visit to victory circle.

While watching the race live at the track is always exciting (and quite a handful, trying to keep track of who’s running on the lead lap and who has been passed), I’m reminded after viewing the televised coverage how uneventful it can be to watch from the couch. 

Final restart

Oriol admit in a pre-race interview that the team’s transition from the Lotus to Chevy engine has been almost effortless, and he remarked, “Now we feel like we have a shot at winning like everyone else.”  I’d say given his three top-five results in four races since making the switch, he’s not far off!  Servia climbs back up to 10^th in the championship standings after slipping following his Texas DNF, and currently has accumulated 173 points.

So, will the fans return to The Mile next year?  I will!  While there are still kinks to be worked out, the Andretti Marketing folks tried to make it a welcoming event for the fans and I heard several positive remarks over the course of the weekend about staff in Andretti shirts going out of their way to be helpful.  That’s the kind of customer service that will keep the fans coming back for more, year after year.



I’d like to offer a big shout out to my fellow members of the Servia Squad too, who gather every year at The Mile.  You guys helped contribute to a great weekend!

Posted by Shelly Paul, Servia Squad Feature Writer

Electronic Issues Thwart Texas Run

Following a Top-5 finish at Michigan during the recent Chevrolet Detroit Belle Isle Grand Prix (of which I, along with many others, only caught half since ABC switched to its affiliate station after the delay caused by track surface issues), Oriol Servia and Panther DRR headed into this past weekend’s Firestone 550 at Texas 10th in the overall championship points standings. And given Servia’s record this year for his on-track passing abilities (73 positions gained this season!), his 11th place starting position was not of great concern.

The green and black Valspar entry carried with it an on-board camera this weekend, and given Oriol’s propensity for passing, viewers would have expected to see some of that fancy footwork as Servia not only gained positions on the first pit stop, but also continued the climb, working his way up as high as eighth on the grid. Yet I don’t think we saw any of that action captured on camera for our viewing pleasure.

It was following the second pit stop and around Lap 79 that Servia and the DRR crew started really seeing fallout from the car’s handling and he slipped back multiple positions to 13th. By Lap 90, Oriol pulled into the pits for an unscheduled stop and it was at that point that he radioed into his crew, telling the team that he was done. A fuel pressure alarm was going off and even though he was racing full throttle, he was not getting any speed, leading him to deduct there was an injector problem. His race was finished.

Other than a slick track from all the NASCAR rubber laid down earlier in the weekend, Oriol indicated that he was very happy with the car, but these things (injector issues) happen from time to time. Servia and the DRR squad placed 20th on a day when only the top six competitors finished the race on the lead lap. This misfortune drops Oriol to 13th in the overall standings heading into Milwaukee, the home race for much of the Servia Squad fan base.

Tune in for this weekend’s Milwaukee Indyfest held on the venerable short oval where racing will be flat-out and there is sure to be plenty of on-track action.

Posted by Shelly Paul, Servia Squad Feature Writer

Servia Takes the Heat

Read Here

Posted by Shelly Paul, Servia Squad Feature Writer

Practically a Podium

They say the track is like a woman – every day in a different mood.  And today she was not a woman scorned as demonstrated by her biting ways during the month of May’s practices.  Her temperament was not one of constant change as seen during qualifying.  Today she was just brutally hot and equally challenging to all competitors who hit the asphalt for the 96^th running of the world’s greatest spectacle in racing.

Oriol Servia and the Panther DRR crew took to the track with their heads held high as they demonstrated their ability to battle with the best, taking second in Friday’s IZOD Pit Stop Competition (see previous post).  They also carried with them new sponsorship as Mecum Auctions jumped on board for the Indy 500 race.

The #22 DRR entry would be starting in 27^th position, outside of Row 9 alongside Sebastien Bourdais and one-off Wade Cunningham.  But Servia has consistently demonstrated that when it comes to ovals, he does not stay put for long.  You give him an inch and he’ll take a mile.  And he demonstrated that again today.

While we see the two Lotus entries of Simona de Silvestro and Jean Alesi get parked for lack of speed as soon as they take to the track, we again count our lucky stars that Dreyer & Reinbold Racing was able to end their partnership with Lotus in favor of a more competitive Chevy powerhouse.

Servia raced clean from the drop of the green flag, and by the first round of pit stops, had already advanced to 22^nd position.  There was speculation that the Chevy engines couldn’t trim as much fuel due to the extreme heat of the day which may lead to issues.  Oriol and the DRR crew had their own difficulties, however, as they were forced to pit again immediately following the first stop as they had a tire go down which needed replacing.  Due to this green flag stop, the team found themselves a lap down early on.  The race is long, though, and if we learned anything from watching the final lap last year, it’s that the race isn’t over until the checkered flag waves.

With that attitude, the DRR crew trudged on, and with 48 laps remaining, Servia climbed his way up to 18^th position.  From there, things really got interesting and due to a great pit strategy, the DRR boys worked all the way up to 13^th (on the lead lap!) with 25 to go.  A few late-race yellows play into the strategy here, packing up the field, and at the restart with 16 laps to go, Oriol is in 11^th place, knocking on the door of a Top-10 finish!

In two quick laps, Servia climbs three positions to 8^th.  It is here that Andretti Autosport driver Marco Andretti tries to pass the #22 entry on the low side, dipping below the white line which sends the American spinning into the outside barrier.  The incident brings out another yellow, but the restart with 7 laps to go placed Servia squarely at 6^th on the grid. 

From here Servia was still warming up and in one lap grabbed another position, moving the team up to a top-five finish.  Down 1.598 seconds with four laps to go, Oriol held on as the action was taking place amidst the leaders ahead of him.  Japanese driver Takuma Sato in a race for the lead, lost control, bringing out the yellow once more.  Oriol picked up a position in the incident, and the pace car was the first to cross the finish line.

In the end, it was an even 5/5 split between Chevy and Honda finishing in the top 10.  And the DRR squad picked up a total of 23 (!) positions from 27^th to a fourth-place finish. 

I recently read somewhere regarding racing:  “All rides are bought.  Occasionally the currency is talent.”  Such is the case with the unassuming Spaniard who nearly rewrote history in the world’s greatest race.

Posted by Shelly Paul, Servia Squad Feature Writer

The People's Champion

As is tradition, the Friday before the running of the Indianapolis 500, dubbed Carb Day, also plays host to the Pit Stop Challenge and this year was no exception.  What was new, however, was that crews from the Panther/DRR stable participated, the true dark horse(s) of the competition.

This year’s IZOD Pit Stop Challenge served its purpose to a T:  to show off the hard work, dedication and talent of the best pit crews in the IndyCar paddock.  But this year it would work a little differently; the competitors would leave their mark in a drag race format rather than just racing against the clock as in years past.  That way the crowd could easily see who the winner was right off the bat.  One thing that would not change though was the crews’ advice to their drivers:  DON’T STALL IT!

Oriol Servia and the DRR crew found themselves “pitted” against the #14 A.J. Foyt Enterprises entry of Mike Conway for the initial round.  DRR chose the inside lane which seemed to be the preferred position due to the concrete surface.  At the green, both cars were launched and after a stop of merely 13.501 seconds, Servia crossed the line first, winning the opening round.

The quarter-finals benched the DRR team against the #2 Penske entry with Ryan Briscoe at the wheel.  Servia had the faster time of the two and chose the inside lane again.  And it certainly paid off, the #22 entry crossing the line ahead of Briscoe with a quicker stop yet of 13.041 seconds.  “I like where we’re going,” commented Servia with his signature wink and a thumbs-up as the DRR pit crew advanced.  Looking at the numbers, there was only a difference of .653 between the two competing teams.

Franchitti and the #50 Target Chip Ganassi crew would be the competition for the Dreyer & Reinbold Racing guys for the semi-finals.  The cars take off down the straightaway and the Mecum Auctions car (sponsorship which the DRR entry just acquired in the 11^th hour for Sunday’s big race) crosses the line first with a stop of 12.655, the fastest stop of the day thus far.

So the little engine that could…would…and Servia and his DRR crew advanced to the finals, plotted against none other than one of the big boys – Target Chip Ganassi Racing’s #9 entry of Scott Dixon.  This one would be for all the marbles, and better yet, for bragging rights throughout all the paddock.  The $50,000 check won’t hurt, either.  Both drivers are strapped into their Dallaras and the red flag flashes, followed by the green.  The cars race to their marks and the crews do what they train for all year.  But at the last second, Servia’s DRR crew has difficulty with the outside rear and Dixon doesn’t wait around to lend a helping hand, crossing the line and claiming the championship.  Servia finished with a time of 17.194 which wouldn’t cut it this round. 

Yet, Servia still walks the paddock with a twinkle in his eye.  He remarked earlier in the competition that the announcers, trying to pump up the crowd, asked whether the fans were cheering for Ganassi Racing or Team Penske.  Oriol sensed a silence throughout the crowd and simply remarked that nobody was cheering for them because instead they were supporting “the people’s champion!”  I’d have to agree whole heartedly.

Posted by Shelly Paul, Servia Squad Feature Writer

Swan Song at Sao Paulo

Oriol Servia and Dreyer & Reinbold Racing’s 11th place finish at last weekend’s Sao Paulo Indy 300 was as good as a podium, considering their 23rd starting position and the fact that it was the last race that the team was (under)powered by a Lotus. That very engine nearly didn’t take the green for its swan song, as the team struggled with issues in the morning warm-up which almost prevented them from taking part in the race.

By keeping his nose clean during multiple on-track incidents involving many of his competitors, Servia was able to steadily climb his way through the field and hold on until the checkers, the last car finishing on the lead lap. He is now tied with Justin Wilson for 16th in the points standings, with a total of 64.

Rumors are already swirling that a Chevy engine may be on the way for the Brickyard (Team Barracuda - BHA, the other Lotus entry released from contract, is in talks with Honda), and given the stats so far this year, Servia and DRR have a lot to look forward to during the month of May.

Posted by Shelly Paul, Servia Squad Feature Writer

Light at the End of the Tunnel

Finally a glimmer of light as we learn today that Dreyer & Reinbold Racing has been released from its engine contract with Lotus to pursue running a Honda or Chevy powerhouse.  Along with DRR, Lotus has also released Bryan Herta Autosport from its obligations in order to more fully focus on its remaining teams.  Lotus has acknowledged that its late start with the series and limited testing has served as a big crutch to everyone involved, and finally DRR driver Oriol Servia, along with the team, has an opportunity to provide the results he has shown he is capable of in the past.

Servia and DRR will run the Lotus engine for one last race at this weekend's Sao Paulo Indy 300 in Brazil before making a switch.  We can also assume following this announcement that the official team name will return to Dreyer & Reinbold Racing, from Lotus-DRR.

What do you think?  Would you like to see Oriol Servia and DRR run a Honda or Chevy engine for the remainder of the season?

Posted by Shelly Paul, Servia Squad Feature Writer

One By One

Despite being plagued by engine troubles throughout the weekend, Oriol Servia and Lotus-DRR pulled everything together for last weekend's race at Barber Motorsports Park for the Honda Indy Grand Prix of Alabama.  Servia was delegated to starting at the rear of the field following an unauthorized engine change and a lack of adequate qualifying time.  Instead, the team used Saturday's qualifying session to shake down the car and test the newly installed powerhouse before Sunday's race.

Servia, always one to make lemonade out of lemons, slowly but steadily worked his way through the IndyCar field during the race, beginning with the opening lap and leading all the way up to the race's conclusion where he would finish in 13th position, gaining a healthy 13 spots!

The team also donned a new livery over the weekend, as Servia carried the green and blue colors of Charter.  You can expect the Dallara to return to its normal black and gold livery by the next round in two weeks.  (http://twitpic.com/94gs61)

Servia currently stands 18th in the championship standings following Round 2 with a total of 31 points.  The next race is in two weeks as the IndyCar Series takes to the streets of Long Beach.

Posted by Shelly Paul, Servia Squad Feature Writer

Hefty Penalty

Oriol Servia enters this weekend's qualifying at Barber Motorsports Park with a heavy penalty due to engine troubles.  Read here for more.

Posted by Shelly Paul, Servia Squad Feature Writer

Initial Impressions

The more things change, the more they stay the same.  As another IndyCar season commences, I can’t help but be reminded of a little organization some of you may remember known as Championship Auto Racing Teams, aka CART.  Remember the turbocharged engines -- oh, the sweet, sweet turbochargers?  Check!  Remember the competition between engine manufacturers?  Check!  While a lot of internet forums out there criticize CART/Champ Car fans for “holding onto a dead sport,” I just say to them, “what goes around, comes around.” 

Following the season opener at St. Petersburg, it’s obvious that the series is already experiencing some growing pains.  And none are so glaring as those seen by the teams which are still coping with an underperforming engine package (Hint: any team which now has Lotus in its title).  Click here for additional comments on engine supply and development.

Following this past weekend’s Honda Indy Grand Prix of St. Petersburg, the storyline seems to be more about the new chassis/engine package than about who was actually leading the field (and rightfully so).  And accompanying these changes this season are some wins and losses:

·         Win:  the new engines sound great!  The high-pitched whines have been replaced by a thundering presence which will make even the casual fan sit up and take note.  Now if only the reliability were there as well.

·         Loss:  while change can be a positive thing, the new chassis design is still taking criticism from many.  Though safety and handling issues are being addressed bit by bit, some may say that (at the rear anyway) the chassis no longer resembles an open-wheel racecar.

·         Win:  safety issues are being addressed.  Following the loss of Dan Wheldon, safety is again brought to the forefront in a sport where the drivers risk their lives every time they take to the track.

·         Win:  the new camera angles introduced will provide audiences with a keen new perspective of what it is like to ride onboard one of these technical Trojans.  Now, if only they were utilized more during the broadcast, programming would be greatly enhanced.

All in all, it wasn’t a bad start to the season (provided you weren’t cheering for a Lotus driver – which pretty much excludes anyone reading this blog), and Helio’s tribute to Dan Wheldon upon his win was very touching.

We are treated to Round 2 this weekend from scenic Barber Motorsports Park in Birmingham, Alabama as the DW 12s take to the 16-turn, 2.38 mile road course.

Posted by Shelly Paul, Servia Squad Feature Writer

Working Out the Kinks

Following the first practice sessions of the 2012 IndyCar season on Friday, one can't help but notice the glaring gap which again exists in the race of engine manufacturers, in particular that of Lotus versus Chevy and Honda. 

They say that nice guys finish last (not that Will Power isn't one of the nicest guys in the paddock), and that seems to be glaringly apparent already this weekend when looking at Team Lotus drivers Oriol Servia, Alex Tagliani, Simona de Silvestro, Sebastien Bourdais and Katherine Legge who, up to this point in the weekend anyway, have demonstrated that they are severely handicapped from the rest of the field due to Lotus's late-stage development.

What does that mean for Servia who finished fourth in last year's championship standings?  It means that for the time being, until Lotus can catch up in development, he's going to have to use his proven ability to race smart, avoid on-track incidents, and bring the Lotus-DRR machine home in one piece to bank points slowly but surely. 

Stay tuned this weekend as the new DW12 Dallara IndyCars take to the track at St. Petersburg for Round 1 in what will most certainly be an interesting season!

Posted by Shelly Paul, Servia Squad Feature Writer

The Eagle Has Landed!

Read the details at RACER here.

Also, show some love for Servia's new team at the Dreyer & Reinbold Racing website here!

Posted by Shelly Paul, Servia Squad Feature Writer

Servia Ready to Sign

Is Oriol Servia ready to sign with his newest team for the 2012 IndyCar season?  Read Robin Miller's remarks here and then stay tuned to IndyCar.com for the official announcement!

Posted by Shelly Paul, Servia Squad Feature Writer