Last weekend was an exciting one for Mike Conway. He had his best IZOD IndyCar career qualifying result at Barber Motorsports Park. The team veteran clocked the second fastest time and started on the front row for the inaugural Indy Grand Prix of Alabama. The last time Conway qualified that high was at Monaco when he was racing in Europe. The Brit brought home his second top-ten result of the season (8th Brazil, 9th Barber).
In his rookie season, Conway proved he was right at home on the road/street courses as he qualified in the fast six twice (Watkins Glen, Toronto) and scored his first podium at Infineon Raceway last year. The 26-year old hopes to continue his roll this season and put the bad luck behind him from last year's race at Long Beach. In his first start at the track, Conway started 16th and finished 21st due to contact in the start.
Justin Wilson is ready to get back to familiar ground. The veteran has had a lot of success at the famed Long Beach track and he is prepared to be one of the one's to beat this weekend. In 2008, the Englishman started on the pole for the final Champ Car race. He has competed in the Long Beach Champ Car races from 2004-2008. His best finish was second in 2006 with fourth place finishes in 2005 and 2007.
Wilson is already making a name for himself at his new team. He earned DRR's best result since team co-owner, Robbie Buhl, won in 2000 at Walt Disney World Speedway, as he came home with a 2nd place result for the organization in St. Petersburg, Florida in the IZOD IndyCar Series second round. Last week, marked the second time that he has not made it into the Firestone Fast Six as he qualified 11th for the inaugural event, but brought the car home in 7th position. He started competing in the IZOD IndyCar Series in 2008 and since then he has won on a street course (2008 Belle Isle) and a road course (2009 Watkins Glen). Wilson has also qualified in every Firestone Fast Six since 2008, except for two (2009 Edmonton, 2010 Barber), which makes a total of twelve Firestone Fast Six Qualifying sessions he has advanced to. On road and street courses, he qualified in the top-5 five times. Heading into the fourth round this weekend, Wilson is currently sitting fourth in points in the championship.
As the IZOD IndyCar Series heads into the fourth round this weekend in Long Beach, California, Dreyer & Reinbold Racing is excited to have TranSystems as the primary livery on the No. 24 car for the first time this season. TranSystems is a global engineering firm focused on delivering solutions across the entire transportation world. To achieve this, TranSystems' consulting services span all modes, including architectural, engineering and planning, management and supply chain, transportation security and transportation real estate consulting services.
Dreyer & Reinbold Racing will be on track for the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach in Long Beach, California on April 18th. The qualifying broadcast will air on Saturday, April 17th at 6:00 pm (EDT) on VERSUS. The race telecast will air live on Sunday, April 18th at 3:30 pm (EDT) on VERSUS. The race will air live on the IMS Radio Network, XM channel 145, and Sirius channel 21! 1. For more updates on the team, please visit www.dreyerreinboldracing.com.
What they have to say about the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach:
Justin Wilson, No. 22 Z-Line Designs: "I'm really looking forward to Long Beach. I think we've learned a lot over the last couple races and I think that we can both be quick there and both can challenge for the front row. That should be the target. We have the capability and we showed at Barber that we can work it out and having two cars that we can push hard the whole time. It will be good to see what happens.
Mike Conway, No. 24 TranSystems: "We should be quick at Long Beach and I'm looking forward to getting back there. We were fast at Barber and I think that we can definitely improve on what we have and move forward. We need to keep fighting for that pole position and I think it's definitely possible. It should be a good weekend."