Servia lands ride for 2012

Autoracing Betting Lines

01/17/2012 - Indianapolis, IN (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Oriol Servia will drive for Dreyer & Reinbold during the 2012 IZOD IndyCar Series season, the team announced on Tuesday.

Servia finished fourth in IndyCar points last year, driving for Newman/Haas Racing. The 37-year-old Spaniard posted 11 top-10 finishes during the season, including second-place runs at New Hampshire and Baltimore.

This past season, Servia led all drivers in laps completed (2,103 of 2,011) and was the only driver to finish top-10 in the first five races. He was also one of three drivers who ran at the finish in all 17 races.

Servia lost his ride with Newman/Haas last month when the team ceased its operations for at least the upcoming season.

In 2011, Justin Wilson and Ana Beatriz were the principle drivers for DRR, which is co-owned by Dennis Reinbold and Robbie Buhl. Wilson's season was curtailed in August when he sustained injuries in a practice crash at Mid- Ohio.

"DRR is a team that I raced against since 2008, and they've always shown to be very professional at the racetrack," Servia said in a team statement. "Although I knew the owners, I didn't know them very well, to be honest. Before signing with the team, like everybody else, I did my research, and I couldn't find one individual that didn't speak highly of Dennis or Robbie, which gave me a lot of confidence.

"I went to the team's sponsor summit last week and met all of their partners that they have been involved with for many, many years, which was another clear sign that they are good people."

Servia said that he is eager to begin pre-season testing and debut DRR's new DW12 car in the March 25 IndyCar season-opening race in St. Petersburg, Florida. DRR is one of the Lotus-partner teams in IndyCar this year.

"With a new engine, new chassis and a revamped engineering department, we believe it is crucial to have a highly talented veteran driver to be able to develop these new components," Reinbold said. "Oriol has always been a smart driver and has always put himself and his team in a position to win races. We are going to have to be well-prepared to take advantage of his abilities and we look forward to the challenge."

DRR also noted in its news release that it "continues to work towards a second full-time entry for the 2012 season."

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El Duque expected to throw Tuesday

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. -- New York Mets pitcher Orlando Hernandez, sidelined at spring training because of arthritis in his neck, is expected to resume throwing on Tuesday.

Hernandez received a cortisone shot Thursday after leaving camp and returning to New York to have his neck examined. The 41-year-old right-hander is penciled in as the team's No. 2 starter behind Tom Glavine.

El Duque's health is a major issue for the Mets, who won the NL East in 2007 and came within one victory of the World Series. Their aging and unsettled rotation is a big question mark this year.

MySportsbook.com has the Mets as -110 favorites to repeat as NL East champions odds. 

Hernandez went 11-11 with a 4.66 ERA last season, including 9-7 with a 4.09 ERA in 20 starts after the Mets acquired him from Arizona in late May. But he missed the playoffs because of a torn calf muscle.

New York already is without Pedro Martinez, out until at least midseason following rotator cuff surgery. Among those competing for starting jobs are prospects Mike Pelfrey, Philip Humber and Jason Vargas, plus veterans Chan Ho Park, Jorge Sosa and Aaron Sele.

Notes: Mets manager Willie Randolph is excited about two new utility players he could have on his bench: Damion Easley and David Newhan. ''Their value is really all over the place,'' Randolph said. Easley can play anywhere in the infield and could be used as an emergency outfielder, though Randolph said he would prefer to keep the veteran in the infield. Newhan, meanwhile, can play second base, third or any outfield position for the Mets. ''I love versatility,'' Randolph said. ''I love guys that can give me options when I need them to step in.''

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