CART: Townsend Bell Lands Test Opportunity With Patrick Racing
Posted By Terry Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel
August 12, 2001LEXINGTON, Ohio (Aug. 12, 2000) - Bob Dorricott and U. E. "Pat" Patrick announced today that Dorricott Racing's Townsend Bell, of San Luis Obispo, Calif., has been selected to test with Patrick Racing Monday, Aug. 13, at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course.
Bell, 26, is driver of the Dorricott Racing-prepared DirecWay Lola in the Dayton Indy Lights Championship, the official development series of the CART FedEx Championship. Bell enters this weekend's eighth round of the 12-race series leading by 20 points over his closest challenger and teammate, Damien Faulkner, of Ireland, 105-85.
"I am extremely pleased that Pat is giving Townsend this opportunity to demonstrate his talents with Patrick Racing," said Dorricott.
Patrick Racing General Manager Jim McGee, a renowned evaluator of driving talent who has worked with nine national champions, will direct the test. In addition, Champ Car veteran Jimmy Vasser will be on hand.
"Townsend is a talented, up and coming young driver," said Patrick. "He has earned the test with our team and we are pleased to be able to provide him the opportunity. Patrick Racing is very happy with our current driver line-up featuring Roberto Moreno and Jimmy Vasser, but we are always on the lookout for new talent. This is not the first time we have tested a young driver, nor will it be the last."
Patrick Racing is in its 29th year of motorsports competition and is one of the most successful teams in Champ Car racing. The team has captured 44 victories, three Indianapolis 500 wins, and two national championships (1976 - Gordon Johncock and 1989 - Emerson Fittipaldi).
Dorricott Racing is a year-round professional motorsports organization with its race shop located in Bakersfield, Calif., and its corporate office based in Sunnyvale, Calif. Race results, team, and sponsor information are available on Dorricott Racing's official web site, http://www.dorricottracing.com.
Text provided by James Hyneman
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