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INDIANAPOLIS, IN- News broke today that long time IZOD IndyCar team Dreyer & Reinbold Racing plans to suspend operations after this year’s Indianapolis 500 Mile Race. Fighting a lack of funding, the team plans to suspend operations after the race unless new investors or sponsorship can be found.Team Principle Dennis Reinbold, owner of Indianapolis’ Dreyer & Reinbold Automotive Group, said earlier today “It’s disappointing, obviously, but financially it has to make sense. IndyCar racing is getting more and more affordable and it needs to continue that way but we just don’t have the funds to continue past May. IndyCar racing is getting more and more affordable and it needs to continue that way but we just don’t have the funds to continue past May,” reports SpeedTV’s Robin Miller.
The modern version of Dreyer & Reinbold Racing was founded in 2000 as one of the teams using the Infiniti engine during the Indy Racing League season. The team is co-owned by Indianapolis car dealership owner Dennis Reinbold and former IRL driver Robbie Buhl. The team’s only win came in its debut race at Walt Disney World Speedway in Orlando, Florida when Robbie Buhl drove from 22nd place to take the victory.
After a disappointing start to the 2012 season with the anemic Lotus engine, DRR signed a technical agreement with Panther Racing to make use of Panther’s second Chevrolet engine lease. The team then became known as Panther/DRR.
The teams has suffered a rough start to the 2013 season, finishing 17th at St. Petersburg and 15th at Barber. Driver Oriol Servia fought back to finish 6th at the last race at Long Beach, good for 14th position in overall points.
AUGH!
Oh … my … gosh!
I got e-mail in the car on the way home tonight, and I felt gutted.
I intended to write the news and write of what a shame it is that a shrewd, calculating, intelligent, aggressive mechanical engineer/racer has lost his seat AGAIN!
I hope that Oriol wins the Indianapolis 500 and thus keeps the team afloat or enhances his ability to gain a seat in another team (IndyCar or sports car).
I know that the team surrounding Oriol is also facing unemployment, and I feel for them also. Working in IndyCar in Indianapolis or Speedway shouldn’t be such a tenuous proposition. Crying shame …
I had thought that DRR had several (satisfied?) sponsors, with custom-liveried cars (see above photo) at various races.
Again, it’s a shame that a one-car (lean-running?) team can’t stay afloat, in partnership of some sort with Panther Racing …