Wheldon Out, Hildlebrand In At Panther
JR Hildebrand
By Andrew Cutler
December 15 2010
The first rookie driver for 2011 has been announced in the IndyCar ranks. After two winless seasons, Panther Racing and Dan Wheldon have parted ways and 2009 Indy Lights champion JR Hildbrand has been brought in as his replacement.
After claiming the 2009 Firestone Indy Lights title, the 22 year-old Californian picked up whatever occaional rides that he could this past year, driving at Mid-Ohio and Sonoma for Dryer & Reinbold, as well as contesting in the ALMS Series for Genoa Racing at Sebring and Long Beach. Back in December of 2009 Hildebrand also participated in three days of testing with the Force India F1 squad.
Panther Racing boss John Barnes says that JR was always on his radar as a possible driver candidate, and so he was offered a chance to test with the team last week at Phoenix International Racway, where he easily lived up to expectations. "We tested him at Phoenix last week and brought along my friend Al Unser Jr. to help us with the evaluation, and all of us knew by lunchtime of the first day that we'd found the next driver of the No. 4 car. We know we all have a lot of hard work ahead of us, but our expectations are very high for the 2011 season.”
As of right now, there is now word on what Dan Wheldon's plans for 2011 are. As a former series and Indy champion (both comming in 2005), the Englishman should still be able to land a quality ride at a competitive team but, in the current economic environment, probably not at the kind of pay to which he has here-to-fore been accustomed to.
In other driver news, Newan-Haas Racing is testing this week at Sebring Indternational Raceway, splitting the driving duties between long-time CART/CCWS/IndyCar veteran Oriol Servia and this year's Indy Lights championship runner-up, James Hinchcliffe: Both are auditioning for a ride with the squad in 2011. It is unclear at this time whether Newman-Haas is merely looking to replace their '09/'10 pilot, Hideki Mutoh, or are considering running a two car operation next season.
And finally, tomorrow Ganassi Racing will hold a press conference at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway where - according to a long-standing rumor - they will announce the formation of a 'satelite' team, run out of the shop that houses the squad of National Hot Rod Association (the top drag racing series in the U.S.) legend Don Prudhome. The squad will almost certianly run Graham Rahal, a rising star in the series who brings his own sponsorship financing with him. It has also been suggested that the may announce a second car, to be piloted by Indy Lights veteran Charlie Kimbal.
There is no mention of this as of yet, but I would expect that www.indycar.com will carry a live video feed of the press conference as it happens, so check in over there tomorrow for a start time and a link.
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I hope the series continues to improve and TV coverage also continues to upgrade itself as well.
Maybe F1 and Indy car will slowly morph into being a more alike in the car aspect and in format.
With Austin on the horizon the interest should improve and an international link of sorts could be adopted.
Maybe its only pie in the sky wishes, but I feel the two organizations could benefit each other.
sessions
Besides, after having a Brazilian (Meira) and then an Englishman behind the wheel, I'm betting that the Guard was probably wanting to have an actual American driver representing them.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2010:12:17:14:01:02 by IndyAndy.