For Immediate Release
Top Ten Result for Dreyer & Reinbold Racing at the Iowa Corn Indy 250
Newton, Iowa (June 18, 2009)- A weekend off was just what the doctor ordered for Dreyer & Reinbold Racing as both drivers, Tomas Scheckter (No.23 MonaVie) and Mike Conway (No. 24 Dad's Root Beer), finished in the top ten in Newton, Iowa today. The duo finished in sixth and eighth position for the Iowa Corn Indy 250.
The Indianapolis based squad was consistently in the top ten for all of the practice sessions at Iowa Speedway this weekend. Unfortunately the weather was not on Dreyer & Reinbold Racing's side. Yesterday qualifying was cancelled due to a "weeping" track. The water was seeping up through the circuit, keeping cars from being able to run. As a result the session was cancelled and the team had to start by owners points. Tomas Scheckter, pilot of the #23 MonaVie machine started 16th today and Mike Conway, driver of the #24 Dad's Root Beer started from 19th position.
As the green flag dropped, both drivers had a flawless start. Scheckter showed that he was ready to prove the point he was unable to prove in qualifying. The South African went from 16th to 10th position in the first lap and continued to climb as the race progressed. With near perfect pit stops, Scheckter drove a good, consistent race and with ten laps to go passed Helio Castroneves to earn a sixth place result.
Experience, laps and time were the right combination for rookie Mike Conway. The Brit started 19th and he too moved his way up the field in the first lap, going from 19th to 16th position. After the first yellow he came in on lap six for fuel only. From that point on Conway just drove a solid race brining the Dad's Root Beer car home to his first top ten result of the season.
Dreyer & Reinbold Racing heads back to Indianapolis as they will have two days to prepare the cars before heading to Richmond International Raceway.
What they had to say...
Tomas Scheckter, #23 MonaVie: "It was a good race. I made up a lot of positions in the beginning and I just have to thank everybody at MonaVie. The car looks beautiful. Everyone on the team did a great job. Now we just need to go back and work a little bit harder and get the MonaVie car in victory circle."
Mike Conway, #24 Dad's Root Beer: "It was a tough race. We started from the back with what happened with qualifying yesterday. We kept it steady at the start, but even when you are trying to stay out of trouble and everything is happening around you, it makes it difficult. At the restart we just tried to gain positions, but it was hard with the bumps through one and two, because your car can get really loose, so we were just trying to hang on. Our cars were really competitive and great job to Dad's Root Beer and the guys."
Dennis Reinbold, Dreyer & Reinbold Racing co-owner: "Today it's good to get two cars in the top ten. Sixth and eighth place is a pretty good effort. We had good cars all weekend and it's really too bad that qualifying got rained out or we would have started up further in the cycle. We go to Richmond next weekend and our setups are good on short tracks, so I'm looking forward to it."
About Dreyer and Reinbold Racing
Dreyer & Reinbold Racing enters its 10th season of full-time competition in 2009, 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 IndyCar Series season-opener on the streets of St. Petersburg marked Dreyer & Reinbold Racing"s 200th series start. 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 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 the IndyCar Series can be found at www.indycar.com.
Media Contact: Elizabeth Cannon (317) 332-7260 cell ecannon@dreyerreinbold.com
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