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INDIANAPOLIS (June 5, 2013)- Oriol Servia returns to IZOD IndyCar Series action this weekend at Texas Motor Speedway as the pilot of the #4 National Guard Chevrolet of Panther Racing. Servia previously competed this season with Panther-Dreyer & Reinbold Racing in the #22 entry before a lack of funds caused the car to be parked after the Indianapolis 500 Mile Race. Servia finished P11 in this year’s 500 and currently sits 18th in standings, having missed both races of the Duel in Detroit. Following the 500, Servia was 9th in points. Also, Dale Coyne Racing has announced that Pippa Mann will take control of the #18 car for the Firestone 550 this weekend at Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth, Texas. Pippa previously drove the #63 CyclopsGear Honda for Dale Coyne Racing in the Indianapolis 500 Mile Race. Pippa finished P30 in her second Indianapolis 500 Mile Race after making slight contact with the wall exiting a turn. She suffered bent suspension pieces, forcing an early exit from the event.Panther Racing is not expected to name a full time replacement for J.R. Hildebrand in the #4 National Guard Chevrolet. Instead, they are expected to use a number of drivers to fill the entry for the rest of the season. Ryan Briscoe took control for the Dual in Detroit, finishing 21st and 13th. Hildebrand was released from his duties following a Lap 4 crash in this year’s 500, the culmination of poor finishes to start the 2013 season. Servia is a veteran driver who excels when placed in tough situations. he finished 4th overall in points for the 2011 season in an underfunded Newman-Haas racing ride. Last year, he salvaged a 13th place finish in standings after being saddled with the horribly uncompetitive Lotus engine prior to the Indianapolis 500 Mile Race.
“After the Indy 500, I knew that overall our month of May had gone well, and that there was a chance I might have the opportunity to get back in a car for the Texas race. However, I wasn’t sure whether it was going to happen or not until everything got confirmed this past weekend while the team was in Detroit” says Mann on the opportunity to get back in a ride. “Texas Motor Speedway actually has some pretty special memories for me, because it was the venue of my first ever Indycar outing. That test with Conquest Racing led to my first Indy 500 in 2011, so I’m really looking forward to going back there for the race this weekend. I know driving the DW12 will be pretty different from the last time I drove at that track, but the Cyclops Gear car was great at Indy and I’m definitely ready to be reunited with her in Texas!”
Pippa has made four career IZOD IndyCar Series starts with a best result of 20 at the 2011 Indianapolis 500 Mile Race for Conquest Racing. She later attempted the MoveThatBlock.com 300 at New Hampshire later in the season, but did not start due to an injury suffered in a practice crash. She finished in 22nd place at Kentucky later in the season, and was involved in the 15 car crash at Las Vegas Motor Speedway that resulted in the death of Two-Time Indianapolis 500 Mile Race Champion and IZOD IndyCar Series Champion Dan Wheldon.
The Firestone 550 is this Saturday night at Texas Motor Speedway. The race begins at 8:40pm EDT on ABC.
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