IndyCar
  • Peg It on GarageMonkey
INDYCAR: D&R Hire Manning, 3G Inks Scheckter
IRL stalwarts Dreyer & Reinbold Racing confirms Darren Manning for St. Pete and Tomas Scheckter signs with Team 3G starting at Long Beach.
IZOD IndyCar Series  |  Posted April 01, 2009   Indianapolis, IN
Darren Manning (L) will make a formidable St. Pete entry for Dreyer & Reinbold. Scheckter will bring his experience to Team 3G starting at Long Beach. (LAT)
Two IndyCar Series veteran were late additions to the 2009 championship with Darren Manning being announced as Mike Conway's teammate for the opener at St. Petersburg this weekend, and well-traveled South African Tomas Scheckter confirmed his place as Stanton Barrett's teammate at Greg Beck's Team 3G, starting at Long Beach.

Darren Manning will drive the No. 23 Honda-powered Dallara in the season-opening Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg. "We are excited to be able to put a deal together, even though it is last minute, to run Darren Manning at St. Petersburg," team co-owner Dennis Reinbold said. "He's a really talented driver that will be a great teammate for (rookie) Mike (Conway) and can round out our two-car effort as we continue to build for the 2009 season."

Manning has 25 top-10 finishes in 58 IndyCar Series starts, most recently with A.J. Foyt Racing. In 2008, he posted seven top 10s in 17 races with a best of second at Watkins Glen.

"It was the Monday before the first race in St. Petersburg and I wasn't going," Manning said. "I was organizing my plans for the weekend and set my mind that I wasn't going to be driving in the 2009 IndyCar Series, and come Tuesday afternoon I get the call from Dennis to get me in the car, and it has all changed.

"It was a hectic afternoon, but I have been talking to these guys for a long time and saw what they did last year, and with what they did over the winter I could see them doing really well. Also, with Mike, he's a good guy and I know his background in Europe and he's a fellow Brit. He's a really quick driver and I think we will work well together. Hopefully, with my experience and speed at St. Petersburg, it will help the team take those steps forward."

Scheckter will join Team 3G as Stanton Barrett's teammate starting at Long Beach.

Play the new Super 7 Sweep Fantasy Racing powered by Wind Tunnel
indycar.com's avatar

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

IZOD IndyCar Series

MORE BY THIS AUTHOR
Advertising | Jobs | Feedback | FAQ | Terms of Use | NEW Privacy Policy | Ad Choices | Site Map
Fox Sports | FUEL TV | FX Network | National Geographic | IGN | AskMen
The Motor Sports Authority, SPEED and associated logos are registered trademarks of Speed Channel Inc.
All Rights Reserved © Speed Channel, Inc. 2013

All external links will open in a new browser window. SPEED.com does not endorse external sites.