Bell to Replace Enge in Michigan
Townsend Bell has been drafted in by Panther Racing to replace the injured Tomas Enge for this weekend's IRL race at Michigan
It's the second consecutive year the team have called upon Bell, after they dropped Brit Mark Taylor midway through 2004. Bell recorded five top ten finishes in his ten starts for the team.
The team will run a three-car operation this weekend. Buddy Lazier, who filled in for Enge at the last round at Milwaukee, was already scheduled to run at Michigan in the third car.
"It's great to be back," Bell said. "I've been following the races this season and I know all the Panther boys will make me feel right at home. I was sitting on the beach last year when Panther gave me a call, and I was pleasantly surprised that an opportunity came my way again this year.
"I hope Tomas Enge makes a full recovery, because he has learned what it takes to be competitive in the IRL and I know how badly he wants to get back in this car."
Enge suffered small fractures to his T-12 and L-1 vertebrae when a rear suspension failure caused him to crash into the wall during the Nashville race two weeks ago.
The Czech driver will be re-evaluated next week and is expected to be cleared in time for the August 14 race at the Kentucky Speedway.
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