Indy Lights: Dorricott Racing Heads to Portland with Casey Mears Atop the Standings
17 June 1999
SUNNYVALE, Calif. - For Dorricott Racing's Casey Mears, Oriol Servia, and Philipp Peter, the 1999 PPG-Dayton Indy Lights Championship has blended it's share of "ups and downs," but the upside has forged this talented trio into one of Indy Lights most potent teams' - a team that is preparing its assault on Portland International Raceway and round five of the 12-race series, Sunday, June 20.The 38 lap/74.746 mile Indy Lights sprint is scheduled to begin at 10:30 a.m. (PT) and is the featured support race to the Budweiser/G.I. Joe's 200, presented by Texaco/Havoline, for the CART FedEx Championship Series race later that day.
Casey Mears, of Bakersfield, Calif., has maintained a relentless pursuit of his championship hopes with four consecutive top-five finishes including third place at Nazareth in round three and second place one race ago at Milwaukee in his Sooner Trailer/American Racing Custom Wheels Lola T97/20.
Mears, who is the son of legendary Off-Road World Champion and Dorricott Racing team manager Roger Mears, opened the season with back-to-back fifth place finishes at Homestead and Long Beach despite starting 12th in each race. More importantly, however, Mears is the only driver in the series who has completed every Indy Lights race lap (305) and every mile (370.122) run to date. Patience and thoughtful tactics are, in part, responsible for him leading the Indy Lights series entering Portland with 50 points.
Oriol Servia, of Pals, Catalonia, Spain, captured the pole and second place at Nazareth, and then finished fifth place at Milwaukee in the Catalonia/RACC/Elf Lola. Servia opened the year with a strong sixth place showing at Homestead and ninth place at Long Beach. His 10 points at Milwaukee moved him into fourth place overall with 36 points.
Servia is also seeking a bit of redemption as his first career race at Portland last year ended on the opening lap when he became a victim of another car's negligence. Servia, who is a veteran European F3 driver, is experienced and comfortable on permanent road circuits, and looks to bring home a better finish than his undeserved 21st place last year. Portland's resemblance to different European circuits should play well for Servia's efforts.
Philipp Peter's second round victory at Long Beach clearly demonstrated his ability to lead a field and close with a victory. Another veteran of European road courses, the Monte Carlo, Monaco, resident returns to Portland with an eye toward the podium.
Peter's first career race in Portland last year ceased before it had a chance to begin. An errant driver bumped him off course and into the wall past the first-turn chicane on the opening lap. Peter has consistently driven his Red Bull/ Remus/ESTEBE/Chicco d' Oro Lola with the front-runners on road circuits. If pre-Portland testing provides any indicator, Peter may arguably be the driver to beat at Portland. He is currently sixth place in the championship with 27 points.
ESPN2 will provide same-day coverage of the Portland Indy Lights race, Sunday, June 20, from 11:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. ET (8:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. PT).
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