2008 Dallara Panther Racing IndyLights

Dillon Battistini

It didn't take long for British driver Dillon Battistini to transition from the 2007 Asian Formula 3 champion into a race-winning driver for Panther Racing in Firestone Indy Lights. Battistini, just eight days following his signing with Panther and with less than five hours of experience on oval circuits, qualified on the front row and made a late-race pass for the lead to win his first start in the series.

The race was a great payoff for Battistini and his Panther team, after the Brit had turned down rides with several other teams to lead Panther's Indy Lights effort in 2008. With Panther's history in the series – including 10 victories, a championship finish an a runner-up in the points in 2007 – Battistini knew his best chance to someday become an IndyCar Series star was behind the wheel of a Panther car and under tutelage of Panther team owner John Barnes, who has earned a reputation for spotting young talent.

After growing up as one of Brittan's best young karting stars, Battistini had to wait to get his break in the sport, despite putting on impressive performances at every stage of his young career. Battling in his youth against some of England's best drivers, including Dan Wheldon, Justin Wilson, Oliver Gavin, Jenson Button and others, Battistini often came across the line first.

After getting a break when given a full-time opportunity in Asian Formula 3, Battistini made the most of his chances, winning five races and claiming the championship title. A test with Champ Car World Series team Minardi ÚSA followed, and then after an introduction with Panther officials, it wasn't long before Battistini was in Victory Lane of his first Firestone Indy Lights event.

Panther's IPS teams have been some of the most successful in the series' history. After a dominant championship run in 2003, Panther returned from a three-year hiatus last season with Hideki Mutoh, who won two races last season en route to the Rookie of the Year award, and runner-up finish in the championship.

In its history, Panther has won ten races and finished on the podium in over half of its 27 starts in the series. Both of Panther's former IPS drivers have graduated to the IndyCar Series, and most recently Mutoh signed with Andretti Green Racing to replace departed Indianapolis 500 and IndyCar Series champion Dario Franchitti.

Source - Panther Racing

Brent Sherman

In an era where open-wheel drivers are migrating to the world of NASCAR stock cars, Brent Sherman is following his heart and heading in the opposite direction.
Sherman, who was originally introduced to motorsports in the cockpit of an open-wheel car, signed with Panther Racing this off-season to pilot the team's Indy Pro Series car after spending the last four years in NASCAR Nationwide and Nextel Cup Series. Sherman racked up over 60 starts in the Busch Series from 2004-2007. He began the 2006 season as a full time NASCAR Nextel Cup driver with BAM Racing, and collected his career-best finish at the Daytona 500 that year, finishing 21st, ahead of fellow rookies J.J. Yeley, David Stremme, Reed Sorenson and Denny Hamlin.

After spending six years in the United States Air Force – a stint that included four years conducting combat, surveillance and instructional missions on an AWAC airplane – Sherman entered the Russell Racing school and his racing career was underway.

He competed in the Barber Dodge Pro Series and Grand Am before making the move to the NASCAR Busch Series in 2004. Last season, prior to making his move to open-wheel, Sherman won the ARCA/Re-Max event at Michigan International Speedway from the pole position.

In its history, Panther has won nine races and finished on the podium in over half of its 27 starts in the series. Both of Panther's former IPS drivers have graduated to the IndyCar Series, and most recently Mutoh signed with Andretti Green Racing to replace departed Indianapolis 500 and IndyCar Series champion Dario Franchitti.

SHERMAN BATTLES WEATHER, KEEPS IT CLEAN AND FINISHES 10TH IN INDY LIGHTS

Contact with Perera Ends Battistini's Day
In one wet and crazy race, Panther driver Brent Sherman showed his resiliency on road courses, bringing his car home in 10th position at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course. In a race that saw five full course cautions account for 10 of the 20 laps, Sherman managed to avoid contact and earn his highest finish on a non-oval circuit. Panther teammate Dillon Battistini finished the day in the 19th position, after working his way into the Top Five.

Originally starting in the 16th position, Sherman spun on the warm-up lap, putting him in the 22st spot when the green flag dropped. Avoiding trouble throughout the race, Brent maneuvered his way to 10th in the rain shortened race.

'It's good to finally bring home a Top Ten on a road course. We've been making improvements on these tracks, and it is good to see the results come. It was a crazy race out there, and I am glad that we made it through,' Sherman said of his finish. 'I spun on the warm-up and took a trip through the gravel but didn't get stuck. It was like I was off-roading. It was fun race to be a part of to say the least.'

In a scene reminiscent of the IndyCar series race on the Streets of St. Petersburg with the rain pouring down and a Panther driver running in the Top Five, driver Frank Perera again made an ill advised move, spinning and taking out Battistini. Perera previously crashed Panther driver Vitor Meira who was running fourth at the time of the contact in St. Petersburg. Dillon was poised for his fourth podium finish of the season and had worked his way around Perera into the fifth position, when the contact occurred.

'We were on our way to a good result. It would have been good for the team, but Perera hit us. He was spinning and instead of hitting the brake, he hit the gas and got into us,' Battistini said of the contact. 'I've driven in the wet before, but it was crazy out there. On the long backstretch we are probably doing 150-160 mph, and we can't see five feet in front of us. There is so much spray; it's frightening. We were coming through the field nicely, making our way up to sixth, and to that point staying out of trouble.'

In Race 1 of the Mid-Ohio 100's, Brent Sherman continued his string of consistent results on non-oval tracks, bringing his National Guard Delphi machine home in the 16th position. After starting in the 21st spot, the Panther driver managed to avoid trouble throughout the race and continued his streak of finishing every race while running at the end. Panther Teammate Dillon Battistini qualified his car in the 15th position heading into Race 1 and moved up four spots to 11th position before making contact with the No. 23 car of Logan Gomez. The subsequent vibration in the rear of his No. 15 Alex P machine caused handling problems, forcing him two laps down and into the 18th position.

Panther Racing's Firestone Indy Lights drivers will be in action again in three weeks when they head to the Kentucky Speedway for the Kentucky 100. The race will be ran on Saturday August 9th at 9:15 p.m. (ET) and air on ESPN2 August 14th at 2 p.m. (ET).

Source - Panther Racing