Lotus Consolidates INDYCAR Team Line-up to Improve 2012 Results

Photo Credit: Group Lotus

“It was clear from the start that the 2012 season was going to be a huge challenge as Lotus debuted its INDYCAR engine, but it was a challenge that Lotus was determined to meet.” Group Lotus made this admission in a statement as they dropped news Tuesday changing their first-year commitment to the IZOD INDYCAR Series.

Citing lack of resources and minimal track testing, Group Lotus was forced into making a decision under a strategic review. Realizing their regular supply of engines to five IZOD INDYCAR Series teams was spreading the engine brand's efforts too thinly on the tour, the decision was made to withdraw support from two single-car teams. Ahead of the Indianapolis 500, Lotus is cutting ties to Dreyer & Reinbold Racing as well as 2011 Indy 500 winning-team Bryan Herta Autosport.

In the official statement from Group Lotus, the engine supplier conveyed the announcement as positive move to build a stronger race weekend presence through the upcoming events in the 2012 IZOD INDYCAR Series schedule. Claudio Berro, Director of Motorsport Group Lotus, referenced the freshman effort in the North American open wheel racing series as “David versus Goliath” fight. By reducing the availability of their twin-turbocharged V-6 engine, Lotus intends to better focus their development towards an equal playing field with Chevrolet and Honda. Through the rest of the 2012 IZOD INDYCAR Series tour, Lotus will center their open wheel racing program around HVM Racing and the Lotus Dragon Racing organization. Lotus is also going to add more resources and monetary assistance to the remaining efforts in the series.

Dreyer & Reinbold Racing will run Lotus engines for the final time for the upcoming Sao Paulo Indy 300 race this Sunday. Last week, Bryan Herta Autosport announced they were going to sit out the IZOD INDYCAR Series round in Brazil so the team can focus on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway activities from mid-to-late May. While two teams are now forced to seek out new engines, Randy Bernard, CEO of the INDYCAR sanctioning body, insures the #98 Bryan Herta Autosport car as well as the #22 Dreyer & Reinbold Racing will have engine power for the Indy 500. “We support Lotus' decision and will assist Dreyer & Reinbold Racing and Bryan Herta Autosport in securing engine support for the remainder of the season” As of Wednesday, neither Bryan Herta Autosport or Dreyer & Reinbold Racing have issued an official statement in direct reaction to Lotus' decision.

Paul Tracy Drives For Five with DeFerran Dragon in 2011

Photo Credit: Chris Nagy/XSL Speed Reporter

Despite the popularity of Paul Tracy in the North American open wheel racing circuit, the 2003 Champ Car World Series champion has been without a full-time presence in the reunified INDYCAR Series. Able to pick up rides for the Indy 500 as well as the Canadian rounds in Toronto and Edmonton (tracks where his fanfare is at an understandable height), Tracy appearances through the rest of the IZOD INDYCAR schedule depended largely on substitution of other drivers. For 2011, the 42 year-old open wheel favourite will be making a few more scheduled appearances in the 17-race IZOD INDYCAR Series.

Running at least five races for the 2011 IZOD INDYCAR Series season, Paul Tracy will join the DeFerran Dragon Racing team. Debuting with the team at the Toyota Grand Prix at Long Beach, The double race at Texas Motor Speedway and the road course of Infineon Raceway at Sonoma sandwiches the two Canadian rounds of the INDYCAR tour. For the first time, Paul Tracy will also be driving the Honda Indy of Toronto and the Edmonton Indy for DeFerran Dragon Racing after competing with KV Racing Technology in 2009 and 2010. No sponsors have been announced relating to the driver/team partnership but expect the DeFerran Dragon Racing car to wear one or several prominent corporate names.

Sitting on the sidelines for the IZOD INDYCAR season opening round in St Petersburg and the upcoming race at Barber Motorsport Park starting 2011, the driving deal for Paul Tracy reactivates DeFerran Dragon Racing. Competing through 2009 and 2010 with Raphael Matos as a driver, DeFerran Dragon Racing had made plans prior to the new year after collaborating with 2003 INDYCAR champion Tony Kanaan. The deal between Kanaan and the team fell apart a month ahead of the IZOD INDYCAR season opener in St Petersburg when sponsorship prospects did not materialize. Due to the lack of finances to start the 2011 tour, team owners Gil de Ferran and Jay Penske elected to suspend operations laying off their employees.

In addition to the de Ferran Dragon Racing ride, Tracy will attempt the 2011 Indianapolis 500 with Dreyer and Reinbold Racing. Wix Filters will sponsor Paul Tracy through the month of May activities at the Brickyard.

Indy Lights Driver Ana Beatriz Making IndyCar Debut in Series Opening Sao Paulo Race

Photo Credit: Christopher Nagy/XSL Speed Reporter

Not to be confessed with the supermodel, Brazilian race car driver Ana Beatriz will become her home country's first female to compete in the IZOD IndyCar Series. Entered in a third car supplied by Dreyer & Reinbold Racing, Beatriz's first IndyCar start will be extra special coming as part of a healthy Brazilian contingent at the inaugural Streets of Sao Paulo round for the IZOD IndyCar series. Ana Beatriz first race start in the major league open wheel series comes after two successful seasons in the Firestone Indy Lights Series where the talented 24-year old accomplished several significant feats.

Winning the 2008 Firestone Indy Lights Rookie of the year honour with a 3rd place overall points finish, Ana Beatriz also took victory in her first season of series competition winning at Nashville driving for Sam Schmidt Motorsports. The first female to clinch both of these auto racing goals, her 2008 season is more impressive since it would be a landmark achievement for any Indy Lights rookie. In 2009, Beatriz added a second win to her short career at the oval of Iowa Speedway. The win at Iowa Speedway in 2009 came after the Milwaukee Mile round which she was unable to participate in when her #20 Sam Schmidt Motorsports car was severely damaged in the Firestone Indy Lights Freedom 100 race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Lacking finances through 2009, this was the chief reason why Beatriz needed to sit out at Milwaukee as well as the Firestone Indy Lights season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Despite the two lost opportunities to compete in 2009, Ana Beatriz did place 8th in Firestone Indy Lights Series final points standings thanks to scoring 6 top-5 finishes for the season.

Hiring Ana Beatriz for this current one-race commitment, Dreyer & Reinbold Racing has a storied past showcasing women in motorsports spending four seasons with driver Sarah Fisher.

IZOD IndyCar: Justin Wilson has a new ride for 2010

Photo Credit: IndyCar Series


Coming as a surprise to IndyCar racing observers, Justin Wilson left the #18 Dale Coyne Racing car for a second-car with the Dreyer & Reinbold team for 2010. Set to drive the #22 car, Wilson will be joined by office furniture company Z-Line Design which sponsored the British driver through the 2009 schedule. With fellow Brit Mike Conway remaining in the Dreyer & Reinbold Racing organization after his 2009 rookie campaign, team co-owner Dennis Reinhold expressed optimism about the team's 2010 efforts. "We're excited to have Justin and Mike join us, Mike back for his second year, and obviously Justin has been in the league with a high degree of success for a long time." Reinhold said also adding that a third team could be brought to life with the right funding and driver.

Dreyer & Reinbold Racing has been in the IndyCar Series ( through earlier years known as the Indy Racing League) since 1999 and has sported driving talents such as Robbie Buhl, Sarah Fisher, and Al Unser Jr. The race team also played a part in Ryan Briscoe's career before he joined Penske Racing IndyCar operation in 2008.


Last season's IndyCar series schedule was dominated by the collective efforts of Target/Chip Ganassi and Penske Racing. Justin Wilson and the Dale Coyne Racing team were the only team succeeded in breaking the superteam stranglehold on the series winning in an upset at the Watkins Glen road course. Finishing 9th overall in the 2009 IndyCar standings, it appeared that the pairing was set to remain the same in 2010

In a teleconference, Wilson shared his thoughts on leaving his 2009 team. "It was a pretty tough call to leave Dale and move on with my career. That's not an easy decision. I just got to thank Dale and Gail (Coyne) for everything they've done. It was a great year. I have really fond memories."

With the departure of Justin Wilson and Z-Line Designs, Dale Coyne Racing is still in prime position for the 2010 IZOD IndyCar Series season. In early January, Dale Coyne Racing announced securing sponsorship from the Boy Scouts of America for 2010 for what was believed to have been a second car for the team. Graham Rahal, who has been teetering on resigning with Newman/Haas/Lanigan or entertaining other interested teams, is Dale Coyne's personal pick to fill his team's vacancy for a driver.

With the 2010 IZOD IndyCar series set to start on March 14th in Sao Paulo, Brazil, this late season game of musical chairs is occurring against a rapidly approaching green flag.