By Josh Farmer

Oriol Servia has made the most of driving for an old/new team leading up to the 101st Indianapolis 500 Presented by PennGrade Motor Oil.

Oriol Servia exits Turn 1 during practice for the 101st Indianapolis 500. Photo by Walter Kuhn

A veteran of 14 teams throughout his 17-year career, Servia has been mostly a part-timer since 2013, he has driven for Rahal-Letterman-Lanigan Racing on three occasions (2009, 2014, 2015). He drove for Schmidt Peterson Motorsports last year, where he started 10th and finished 12th.

With familiarity being a theme for him, Servia feels confident as he makes his eighth Indianapolis 500.

“This year I knew what was coming,” he said. “I love all the engineers they have. I have worked with them in the past with the team or at Newman/Haas Racing. I knew Graham and I worked really well together, I love the owners, and I knew they would give us the tools we need.”

Oriol Servia waits along pit lane prior to practice for the 101st Indianapolis 500. Photo by Forrest Mellott

The 42-year-old Spaniard qualified 12th in his No. 16 Manitowoc Honda, just two spots shy of his start last year. Having started on the front row in 2011 driving for Newman/Haas Racing, Servia noted that starting up front has its benefits, but it is not a complete downer starting on the fourth row.

“I wanted to start up front but then we missed the boat on the top 9 then it’s like ‘Oh it’s no big deal, if we could start in the first row of the second group,” he said. “I’m most happy of how consistent my run was in qualifying because it just shows that the setup is using the four tires real well if you can do four laps consistently when you have zero downforce in the car.”

Oriol Servia sets sail through Turn 3 during practice for the 101st Indianapolis 500. Photo by Chris Owens

Being paired with experienced lead engineer Tom German has also bolstered Servia’s effort. German served has won the Indy 500 three times – once with Andretti Autosport and Alexander Rossi in 2016 and twice for Team Penske in 2003 and 2006 with Gil de Ferran and Sam Hornish, Jr.

German and Servia have clicked almost immediately. He cites German’s ability to get things right and his previous success at Indianapolis for a reason for this.

“I like how he has an incredible amount of common sense,” he said. “Successful winners achieve that success by using common sense and not trying to re-invent the wheel.

“We both have one goal, and that is to win, but he’s done it. Sometimes you click more than others, and I like approaches the technical side of things and he is very open with me.”

Oriol Servia and team owner Bobby Rahal chat along pit lane prior to practice for the 101st Indianapolis 500. Photo by Forrest Mellott

Servia and RLL have tended to run better when the two are together. Rahal has cited numerous times that Servia has been a benefit to the team. The two were also teammates at the legendary Newman/Haas Racing in 2009. The pair hit a stride then and have carried it throughout the years.

“He’s just a very mature guy and understands that it takes working together in order to beat the others,” he said. “He knows he can trust me and I can trust him.

“It’s just that simple. We both went through the Newman/Haas school of working which that was the secret to their success was how that team worked. We like when we see a team that works like that an obviously it’s his team and they work in a similar way with a lot of engineers from there.”