Backstretch Motorsports

Panther Turns Its Focus to Iowa Speedway Race Weekend

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – Panther Racing driver Vitor Meira had one of the strongest cars on the track last season during the IndyCar Series inaugural Iowa Corn Indy 250 at Iowa Speedway, where he led a total of 71 laps before a suspension failure ended a otherwise strong run in ninth position.

With the team riding higher now than they were a season ago, Meira is hopeful his team can continue its hot streak that started at the 92nd Indianapolis 500 and get his No. 4 Delphi National Guard car into victory lane. For Saturday’s Firestone Indy Lights events, Panther’s duo of Dillon Battistini and Brent Sherman will look to solidify their efforts on Iowa’s 7/8-mile oval.

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Large rookie class headed to Indianapolis
Sherman gets bonus test with Panther Racing
Viso will start month with Mini-Marathon

1. Large rookie class headed to Indianapolis: Only eight rookies have ever won the Indianapolis 500 - and that includes Ray Harroun, who won the inaugural race in 1911. This year, 13 rookies, the most since 1997, will attempt to add their name to the list that includes Graham Hill, Juan Pablo Montoya and Helio Castroneves.

The rookie class for the 92nd Indianapolis 500 will take its first laps around the 2.5-mile speedway May 4-5 when they must complete the Rookie Orientation Program, a set of four phases of 10 laps each at increasing speeds.

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