If you missed it: Dreyer & Reinbold co-owners Dennis Reinbold and Robbie Buhl and the team’s 2007 driver lineup Buddy Rice and Sarah Fisher were the guests on today’s IndyCar Series teleconference.
Buhl was asked about expanding the team from one to two cars.
Q. This is the first time since 2003 that the team will be running two cars on a full time basis. Talk about the reasons behind that decision?
ROBBIE BUHL: “The reasons behind that are simple. Both Sarah, Buddy and Dennis, we all feel the same way, that as competitive as things have become in our series, when you have two cars out there you can generate that much more information. One car can go one direction, another car can go another direction, and hopefully by race time, you've developed a better, more competitive race product, the ability to overlay computer generated information in comparison to the cars.
It's a great tool for the engineers and a great tool for the drivers to exchange that information and to compare data from the information you're getting from all your on board sensors, so it's one of those tools that you look to hope to have to be competitive, and, you know, we didn't want to make the commitment of running with two cars if we couldn't do it properly, and it was always our goal. And right new we're excited about the way everything is taking shape for this year.”
Rice talked about his decision to drive for the team
Q. Buddy, tell us about your opportunity to stay in the IndyCar Series, and secondly, what it means to move to Dreyer & Reinbold Racing?
BUDDY RICE: It was something I wanted to do is stay in IndyCar racing. Some people took things out of context by my running with another series, but I felt it was important to keep myself sharp and being able to drive. I drove in another Open Wheel series and a lot of people took that different ways, but when I started talking with Dennis and Robbie, and we knew the steps they were taking to make their team more competitive. And they wanted to move up the ladder there and make sure that they were competitive and a front running team with the individuals they've brought on and the team they have. They're a long supporter of the (IndyCar Series), and to be honest, I'm excited to be back in the (IndyCar Series) on a full time basis, and I'm looking forward to being back in competitive race cars and at the Indy 500. It's the biggest race in the world, and I was fortunate to win it before, and I'd like to do it again.”
Fisher, who was confirmed for the 12 oval events, discussed racing against what could be two other female drivers.
Q. Sarah, what's the perspective of coming into the series where there might be three female drivers. Back in IRL, start of the decade, that's unheard of. Now what do you think about running with two other female drivers?
SARAH FISHER: It will be exciting for the league, because it's something they can sell and it will be great entertainment to see that happen. You know, I focus more on the individual drivers themselves and who you're competing against and, you know, it will be neat to have three drivers, that would be cool.
To find out more answers, read the complete transcript at www.indycar.com/media. Contact IndyCar Series Media Relations via the link on the homepage if you require login information.
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indycar.com media site redesigned for 2007: The re-designed media-only section of the Indy Racing League’s Web site, www.indycar.com/media is now available. This site contains general content about the IndyCar Series and Indy Pro Series, including:
• High-resolution studio photos of drivers and Indy Racing League executives for download
• IndyCar Series and Indy Pro Series logos for download
• Graphics and special event photo galleries for download
• Indy Racing League, IndyCar Series and Indy Pro Series PR contacts
• IndyCar Series track contacts
• Weekly teleconference advisories
• Transcripts of weekly teleconferences
• Indy Racing League, IndyCar Series and Indy Pro Series press releases and notebooks
• Weekly Video News Release advisories
• Driver biographies
• IMS Radio Network daily broadcast reports and event promos in MP3 format available to IMS Radio Network affiliates
Information about each event also is available, including:
• Complete event schedules
• Broadcast information
• Daily Trackside Reports, including session details and quotes
• Event Video News Release advisories
• Event logos for download
• Event press conference transcripts, including race and pole winner
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The 2007 IndyCar Series season begins under the lights with the XM Satellite Radio Indy 300 at Homestead-Miami Speedway on March 24. The race will be telecast live by ESPN2 at 8 p.m. (EST) and broadcast by the IMS Radio Network. A Spanish-language telecast of the race will be carried by ESPN Deportes. The IMS Radio Network broadcast also is carried on XM Satellite Radio and www.indycar.com. The sixth season of Indy Pro Series competition begins with the Homestead-Miami 100 on March 24 at Homestead-Miami Speedway. The race will be telecast on at 5 p.m. (EST) on March 28 by ESPN2.
