Oriol Servia will drive the No. 4 National Guard Panther Racing car in IZOD IndyCar Series races at Texas Motor Speedway this weekend and at Iowa Speedway on June 23, the team announced.
Servia, who has worked directly with Panther through the team’s technical alliance with Dreyer & Reinbold Racing for the past year, was available after Dreyer & Reinbold Racing elected to not continue its No. 22 car program after the May 26 Indianapolis 500. Servia started 13th and finished 11th.
“Oriol has been part of our extended family for over a year now, so this will be a seamless transition for the National Guard team,” Panther managing partner John Barnes said. “We know what Oriol is capable of, and our team is always happy to add a driver that can contend at any circuit on the IndyCar schedule."
In five events this season, Servia has a high finish of fourth at Brazil (after starting 13th). He has a best finish of 15th in four starts at the 1.5-mile Texas Motor Speedway oval. At the .875-mile Iowa Speedway oval last June, Servia started 15th and finished 21st (mechanical).
“I couldn’t be more excited about this opportunity,” Servia said. “Firstly, it’s a job, but it’s with a team that I’ve been working with very closely with for the last year. Not only do I know everybody that works there, but I know the potential for the National Guard car and the performance we’ve had will give us a chance to win."
Panther is not expected to name a full-time replacement in the No. 4 car this season after the team announced the mutual termination of JR Hildebrand’s contract last week. Former Team Penske driver Ryan Briscoe drove for the team during last weekend’s Chevrolet Indy Dual in Detroit presented by Quicken Loans. He is under consideration to compete in additional IZOD IndyCar Series races that do not conflict with his other racing commitments.
The Milwaukee IndyFest on June 15 is between the races in Texas and Iowa.
“The biggest thing we want to accomplish the rest of this season is having a clear direction on who will be the driver of the No. 4 car in 2014,” Barnes said. “We’re going to take full advantage of the opening we have here to determine what is in the best interest of the National Guard and Panther Racing’s long-term future. With limited offseason testing, this is a great chance for us to get familiar with several drivers in a true race weekend scenario.
"We think the world of Servia, and we couldn’t have been happier with Ryan Briscoe last weekend in Detroit, but there may be a few others who will have a run in our car before the season ends.”