Dreyer & Reinbold Racing is an American motor racing team in the open wheel Indy Racing League IndyCar Series, with one series win by co-owner Robbie Buhl, who owns the team with Indianapolis BMW, Infiniti, Volkswagen and Maserati dealer Dennis Reinbold.
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2000-2006
Founded in 2000, D&R was one of the few teams that consistently ran the Infiniti engine until they left the series, then switched to Chevrolet and finally to Honda in 2005. When Buhl retired from the cockpit in 2004, he placed Felipe Giaffone in the cockpit, followed by Roger Yasukawa with financial backing from Honda. With Honda backing gone for 2006, some doubted if the team would continue, as Buhl had consistently stated that if running the team did not make financial sense, he would shut it down. However, sponsorship was found and the team named 2000 series champion Buddy Lazier their primary driver. During the team's heyday in 2001 and 2002, the team often also ran a second car for Sarah Fisher. In the 2006 Indianapolis 500, the team's second car was driven by Al Unser, Jr..
The team's only win came in the 2000 season opener at Walt Disney World Speedway, when Buhl stunned the establishment with a win from the 22nd starting position. The underfunded team has struggled since to compete with the front echelon teams. In 2006 the team scored their best finish in years when Ryan Briscoe showed a great turn of speed in the wet at Watkins Glen International to get on the podium. Other good results in the season were few and far between.
2007-2008
For 2007 the team has recruited two ex-Fernandez Racing engineers and added a new sponsor. On January 31, 2007, 2004 Indianapolis 500 winner Buddy Rice and Sarah Fisher would drive for the team. Rice brought in respectable performances, finishing 9th in points with three top-five finishes. Fisher struggled to 17th place in points after playing second fiddle to the "A Team" often times being given less than par equipment. Fisher announced in late 2007 that she would leave the team due to lack of commitment from the team to her efforts.
Rice returned to the team in 2008 while the team's second car is being shared by Milka Duno and Townsend Bell, with all three drivers competing in the 2008 Indianapolis 500. Both Rice and Bell finished in the top-10 (8th and 10th respectively) while Duno finished a competitive 19th in the race.
2009
2009 will see Dreyer & Reinbold bring on a completely new driver lineup from 2008. Driving full-time is British rookie Mike Conway, who most recently competed in the GP2 Series. A second full-time entrant will again be shared between Darren Manning (two races), Milka Duno, and Tomas Scheckter. In addition, Roger Yasukawa will also return to the team for the Motegi race and possibly others. The team will also field cars for Richard Petty Motorsports driven by John Andretti and for Kingdom Racing and driver Davey Hamilton in the Indy 500.
Drivers that have competed for Dreyer & Reinbold
John Andretti (2009)- Townsend Bell (2008)
Ryan Briscoe (2006)- Jeff Bucknum (2005)
- Robbie Buhl (2000-2004)
Mike Conway (2009)
Milka Duno (2008-2009)- Sarah Fisher (2002-2003, 2006-2007)
Felipe Giaffone (2004)
Memo Gidley (2002)- Davey Hamilton (2009)
- Steve Knapp (2000)
- Buddy Lazier (2004, 2006)
- Darren Manning (2009)
- Buddy Rice (2007-2008)
Tomas Scheckter (2009)- Al Unser Jr. (2006)
- Roger Yasukawa (2005, 2007, 2009)
External links
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