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CART: Dorricott/Mears Prep for Portland

16 June 1999

DORRICOTT RACING HEADS FOR PORTLAND WITH CASEY MEARS ATOP THE INDY LIGHTS STANDINGS 

        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.