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INDYCAR: Sharp, Patron, and Panther for Indy
2001 Indy 500 pole sitter Scott Sharp will make his return to the Brickyard in May when he and sponsor Patron partner with Panther Racing.
Marshall Pruett  |  Posted April 09, 2009   Danbury, CT
The paint scheme will be freshened up a bit, but Sharp's distinctive Patron colors will fly again at the Indy 500 in a second Panther Racing entry. (LAT)
1996 Series co-champion and 2001 Indy 500 pole sitter Scott Sharp will make his return to the Brickyard in May when he and sponsor Patron partner with Panther Racing.

Now in his second season in the American Le Mans Series with the Patron Highcroft Acura factory program, Sharp will bring the lessons learned from his high-tech LMP1 sportscar and apply them to his oval racing experience.

"I've done a lot of laps at Indy and run a lot of laps in the Dallara so hopefully after a year and a half out of those cars it will be a bit like getting back on an old bike and it will all come back to me pretty quickly. Being away for a while and getting the chance to work with such a high technology car like the Acura ARX-02a I think has really fine-tuned my development skills as a driver.

"It will be very interesting to get back into the Indy car and see if I subconsciously start to approach it a little bit differently as a driver. I think every time you step aboard a race car you learn something. I've learned quite a lot in the past year and a half. A lot of that pertains to road courses, but I am sure it has sharpened my game quite a bit. I'm sure I will be able to apply what I have learned – particularly in regards to my focus and approach to the Indy car."

After his move from the IndyCar Series, the draw of the Indy 500 is still something sharp can't resist. He also has some unfinished business to attend to.

"The Indianapolis Motor Speedway and the Indy 500 are easily my favorite track and favorite race. It is the one race you think about every day of the year. Indy is a track that I have always been totally comfortable on and at some time during the month I've always gone really well there – whether it be practice, qualifying or part of the race itself. I've never been able to put it all together to get the race finish I am after but hopefully this new deal with Panther will give me the best chance to do that."

His ALMS team boss has supported Sharp's Indy 500 return from the outset. A few Patron Highcroft team members will also play a role in Sharp's Indy program.

"Duncan (Dayton) has been fantastic. He was part of a lot of these early Indy discussions and I think smartly he has wanted to keep his eye on the ball with the LMP1 championship at the moment. We have quite an opportunity over there with Patrón and Acura – a new car to develop and a championship to win. There are a lot of eggs in that basket over there but Duncan is still keen on experiencing the Indy 500 and we have a few of our guys at Patrón Highcroft with a lot of IndyCar experience.
After a hiatus from the 500 in 2008, Sharp's back to handle some unfinished business. (LAT)

"It will be great to get a couple of our Highcroft guys to come across and assist me at Panther. Duncan will be there himself as well. Both Patrón and myself have a fantastic relationship with Highcroft and it is great to see everything so open. A big thank you goes to all the guys on the Highcroft team as well."

If there's one issue to contend with, it's a possible qualifying conflict between the Month of May and the American Le Mans Series calendars.

"I'll be able to stay the entire first week of practice and the plan is to try to post a time and be through with qualifying on the first day, if not the first weekend if everything goes smoothly. If I get in on the first day that allows us to use the second day to work on race set up. The second week of course I will be committed to the fourth round of the American Le Mans Series with Patrón Highcroft Racing at Salt Lake City. Obviously the goal is to get into the race on day one. Qualifying has certainly gotten pretty exciting in the past couple of years and we'll certainly look at back-up plans if we need to."
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Marshall Pruett

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