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INDY LIGHTS: Dorricott Racing, Fontana Pre-Race Notes and Quotes

30 October 1999

Posted By Terry Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel

Bob Dorricott: "I suspect this will be a very interesting, if not exciting, race to watch after what we were able to accomplish at Michigan. Everyone will be trying to be part of the train. Im also in the unusual position of waiting for the season to conclude in the hope it has not been a dream."

Philipp Peter: "I'm looking forward for Fontana especially after winning at Michigan. I know it wont be easy but we have a strong car. We also have the chemistry and experience as a team to run well on this track. There is still a championship to be decided but that doesnt directly concern me. Im racing to win. The better or luckier between Oriol and Casey will win the Indy Lights title. What matters overall is Dorricott Racing, as a team, is leaving Fontana with the Indy Lights championship. As an aside from this weekend, I was fortunate to have a test with PacWest a few weeks ago and it went well. I sincerely wish to express my gratitude to the PacWest organization, Bruce McCaw, John Anderson, and Mercedes for the opportunity. Of course, I'm happy to have been the quickest of the four drivers tested that week.

Casey Mears: "It's always great to race at Fontana. I feel like its a home track since California is my home. Fontana represents close racing. You really have to use your head when competing on a superspeedway of this magnitude. Drafting will work to your advantage if youre willing to work it. Hopefully, Ill leave Fontana with a win particularly after coming so very close at Michigan."

All three Dorricott Racing drivers were offered a test day with the PacWest CART FedEx Champ car team in early October. The tests were conducted at Putnam Raceway Park, outside of Indianapolis, Ind.

Mears is the only driver in Indy Lights who has completed every Indy Lights race lap (635) and every mile (947.202) run this season.

Peter is second place in Indy Lights for consistent finishes with 944.198 miles and 633 laps completed. Servia rounds out the top-three finishers with 629 laps and 936.258 miles.

Servia and Mears are the top contenders for the coveted "winner-take-all" $10,000 Bosch Platinum+4 Speedway Challenge. After five of six rounds, Mears holds a 13 point lead over Servia, 70-57. Scott Dixon is third with 48 points and remains the only other driver in mathematical contention.

Servia is the 1999 Sea-Doo/Ski-Doo Pole Award winner. The award is presented to the Indy Lights driver who wins the most pole positions in a single season. Servia heads the leader board entering Fontana with three pole positions at Nazareth, Portland, and Detroit.

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