Scheckter to replace Conway for Firestone 550 at Texas Motor Speedway
Indianapolis, IN (June 3, 2010) – Dreyer & Reinbold Racing announced today that South African driver, Tomas Scheckter, will replace Mike Conway this weekend and will drive the team’s No. 24 Roll Coater entry for the Firestone 550 at Texas Motor Speedway on Saturday.
Last Sunday, Dreyer & Reinbold Racing pilot, Mike Conway, was involved in a horrific crash during the 94th running of the Indianapolis 500. With one lap to go, the Brit collided with Ryan Hunter-Reay, who had slowed to conserve fuel in order to finish the race. Unfortunately, due to the varying speeds between the two cars resulted in Conway’s car launching into the catch-fence and disintegrating as it ran along the track.
Mike was airlifted and transported to Methodist hospital. He had surgery Sunday night to repair fractures to his lower left leg. He also has a soft tissue injury to his lower left leg and is anticipated to have another surgical procedure later this week. Additionally, Conway has a compression fracture of one of his thoracic vertebrae and is being fitted for a back brace, which he will wear for three months and will prevent him from racing. He is in excellent spirits and is on track to a speedy recovery.
“I’m feeling fine at the moment, all things considered. I’m just thankful that I came out of it alive. I want to thank all of the medical staff at Methodist Hospital, as well as the IRL safety team and all of those at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway that pulled me out of the car. They’ve all done a fantastic job. I also want to thank my parents, friends and race team for all of their support and all of those that have sent on their well wishes. I’m hoping for a speedy recover and I’m already looking forward to being back behind the wheel of a race car,” said Conway.
While Conway is out of the seat, Scheckter will step in to replace him this weekend. The South African was the sensible choice for Dreyer & Reinbold Racing as he is coming off of incredible momentum with the team from the Indianapolis 500, where he led for five laps and finished 15th overall. Not only does he have a lot of experience and a win at Texas Motor Speedway , but he ran there with DRR last year.
“We wish that Mike could be with us this weekend, but right now we are happy that he is okay and we just want him to have a speedy recovery. For us, Tomas made the most sense because we had a great run with him at this year’s Indianapolis 500, he has a ton of oval experience and we have a seat fitted for him,” stated Dennis Reinbold, Dreyer & Reinbold Racing co-owner.
Scheckter came on board with DRR last year competing at ten races for the team. He earned three top-ten finishes (6th- Iowa, 8th – Chicago, 9th- Miami). This year marked his ninth time to compete in the famed event. Scheckter started on the fourth row of the Indianapolis 500 for his first seven races until 2009, when he qualified 26th, but finished 12th. This year he started 20th, led five laps and finished 15th. His best result was 4th with Ganassi Racing in 2003. He also ranks 5th among active drivers in most laps led at Indy with 153 laps (behind Wheldon, Castroneves, Dixon and Kanaan). Scheckter also ranks 37th all time in laps led at Indy and has completed 1,492 laps in competition at Indy.
The 29 year-old native of Cape Town, South Africa made his way up the racing ladder starting out in go-karts in South Africa and then going on to compete in various racing series in Europe from 1997-2001, driving in the British Formula Vauxhall Junior Series, the Formula Nissan Championship, won the Formula Opel Euroseries, and was runner-up in the British Formula 3 Championship. In 2002, Scheckter drove for Red Bull Cheever Racing, winning his first race from pole at Michigan. That year he also won MBNA pole awards at Texas, Kansas and Michigan and was named the Bank One co-Rookie of the year at the Indianapolis 500. The veteran driver finished career-best seventh in the IndyCar Series standings for Target Chip Ganassi Racing, earning five top-five and 10 top-10 finishes and won MBNA Pole Awards at Texas and Michigan. Scheckter competed for Panther Racing in 2004 and 2005. He finished ninth in IndyCar Series standings for Panther Racing, earning three pole positions (Homestead, Texas, and Nashville) and his second career victory at Texas Motor Speedway. In 2006, he competed for Vision Racing and finished 10th in the IndyCar Series, recording nine top-10 finishes overall. He ran for Vision Racing again in 2007 finishing 10th in the IndyCar Series and recording two top-five and nine top-10 finishes. In 2008, Scheckter competed in six races for Luczo Dragon Racing.
“Firstly, I’m upset about seeing my friend and roommate for most of last year get in such a terrible accident and my thoughts are with him. I am happy that the team has chosen me to step in for him this weekend while he recovers. I have won at Texas, earned two pole positions and led over 200 laps at the track. I always love going there,” commented Scheckter.
Decisions have not been made on a driver for the remainder of the 2010 IZOD IndyCar Season. Stay tuned for more details and please visit www.dreyerreinboldracing.com for more information.
