Dreyer & Reinbold Racing Tackles Texas

Dreyer & Reinbold Racing Is Ready To Tackle Texas Motor Speedway

Dreyer & Reinbold Racing is ready to conquer Texas Motor Speedway this weekend. After coming off of a bittersweet result at the Indianapolis 500 two weeks ago, the Indianapolis-based squad is rejuvenated and ready for the Firestone Twin 275s in Fort Worth, Texas this Saturday. Piloting the team's cars will be Ana Beatriz, who will drive the No. 24 Ipiranga machine, Justin Wilson, who will get behind the wheel of the No. 22 Z-Line Designs car, and Davey Hamilton will return to the No. 11 HP cockpit.

This weekend will mark Dreyer & Reinbold Racing's 17th time to compete at the 1.5-mile oval. The team has started at least one car in every race at the track since 2000. In 2001, Robbie Buhl finished team best of 3rd in 2001. DRR has led a total of 33 laps at Texas Motor Speedway.

Ana Beatriz, Dreyer & Reinbold Racing

Photo by: Eric Gilbert

The weekend off was exactly what Dreyer & Reinbold Racing needed. As soon as the checkered flag waved after the 100th Anniversary of the Indianapolis 500, the team got high behind preparing for the next race. In the time off, the team had a very successful test in Milwaukee immediately following the historic event and made some changes internally as well. Ana Beatriz, who was the second quickest overall out of all the cars that tested at the Mile last week, will now have Matt Curry, as her engineer and Robbie Buhl will remain as her strategist for the remainder of the season. Justin Wilson, who was the fifth quickest at the test, will now have Yves Touron as his engineer and Dennis Reinbold as his strategist for the No. 22 machine for the rest of the year. Before the change, Matt Curry was the engineer on Wilson's car and Yves Touron was Tracy's engineer for the Indy 500 and on the No. 24 car last season.

Now in the full oval-swing, Wilson is fully prepared to take on Texas Motor Speedway. This weekend will be the Brit's fourth time to compete at the 1.5-mile oval. In 2008, he started 23rd and finished 27th in his first start at this track. In 2009, he started 17th and finished in 15th place, earning his best result at Texas. Last year Wilson started 12th and finished in 19th position. Since joining the IZOD IndyCar Series in 2008, Wilson has recorded seven top-10 finishes (2008: Kansas-9th, Milwaukee-7th, Richmond-7th, 2009: Chicagoland-10th, Homestead-10th, 2010: Indianapolis-7th, Chicago-7th) on ovals. He has led on an oval twice, (2008--Kansas led for five laps, 2010-Indianapolis 500-led for 11 laps). Wilson's best qualifying position on an oval was 6th position at Homestead-Miami Speedway in 2010.

Making her first appearance at Texas Motor Speedway this weekend will be Brazilian Ana Beatriz. Last year, in the four IZOD IndyCar starts that she made, three of them were on an oval. The rookie's best finish on an oval was 21st for this year and last year's Indianapolis 500. Beatriz's best starting position on an oval was 15th in Miami last year. She is ready to take on the 1.5 mile oval. After a very successful test last week in Milwaukee, Beatriz is ready to continue the momentum.

After nearly 10 years of not competing at Texas Motor Speedway, Davey Hamilton is ready to get back to Texas and settle some unfinished business. In 2001 Hamilton's life changed after a crash at the circuit in which he nearly lost his feet and legs. After 21 operations and two years of rehabilitation Hamilton returned to IndyCar racing at the Indianapolis 500 in May 2007. Prior to his accident at Texas Motor Speedway, the Idaho native did a have a number of successes at the 1.5 mile oval. Prior to his accident, Hamilton has competed at the track eight times. Out of those eight starts he has finished in the top-10 five times. He earned a 3rd place finish in 1997 and a second place result in 1999.

-source: drr