Oriol Servià Imbers (born 13 July 1974) is a Spanish former racing driver who competed most notably in the IndyCar Series. He raced for Dragon Racing in the 2014–15 Formula E season, and left the series prior to the 2015 Miami ePrix to become managing director for the technical and commercial partnerships of Dragon Racing. Servià holds a degree in mechanical engineering from the Polytechnic University of Catalonia. Since 2018 he also serves as pace car driver at IndyCar races outside the Indianapolis 500.
Racing career
Early career Born in Pals, Girona, Catalonia, Spain, Servià started his career in go-karts at a local kart track where he stayed until he was nineteen, before racing in several Formula Three championships. In 1998, he moved to the Dayton Indy Lights series in America. In 1999, Servià won the Indy Lights championship over closest rival Casey Mears. He had no wins that year but five runner-up finishes.
In 2000, Servià joined the PPI Motorsports team in the Champ Car series, as teammate to Cristiano da Matta. Servià moved on to race for the Sigma Autosport (for 2001), Patrick Racing (from the middle of 2002 to the end of 2003, finishing sixth in the championship that year), and Dale Coyne Racing (in 2004, scoring some of the underfunded team's best ever results) teams. Servià also practiced for the 2002 Indianapolis 500 for Walker Racing and Conquest Racing although he failed to get a car into the field.
2005–2006
After starting the 2005 season for Coyne, Servià moved to the Newman/Haas Racing team after two races to replace injured Bruno Junqueira. On 28 August 2005, Servià picked up his first-ever Champ Car victory at the Molson Indy Montreal at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in Montreal. The win was controversial, as Timo Glock, gambling on fuel, was forced to pull over and allow Servià to take the lead on the final lap after cutting the final chicane while blocking Servià a second time. Glock had been warned about an earlier unfair attempt. Servià ultimately finished as championship runner-up behind team-mate Sébastien Bourdais. In 2006 he joined PKV Racing, alongside British rookie Katherine Legge, with team co-owner Jimmy Vasser scheduled to do a partial season (although Vasser only drove in the season opener at Long Beach). Servià ended the season 11th in the standings with one podium finish, a third at Cleveland.
2007 Without a ride at the beginning of the 2007 season, Servià replaced the injured Paul Tracy at Forsythe Championship Racing. Despite little time in the new Panoz DP01 chassis, Servià earned a runner-up finish in his debut with the team. He then finished fourth in his second replacement start, which earned him a seat for the rest of the season, as he replaced teammate Mario Domínguez at Forsythe. For the season, Servià scored two podiums and four top-five finishes in eleven starts with Forsythe Racing. At San Jose, Servià earned a third place finish after leading a race high 42 laps. But on 12 September 2007, it was announced that Forsythe Championship Racing had named Mexican driver David Martínez to drive the No. 7 INDECK Cosworth/DP01/Bridgestone for the final two Champ Car World Series races of the season. Luckily for Servià in October he was named the new pilot of the No. 22 Pay By Touch PKV Racing Cosworth/DP01/Bridgestone entry replacing Tristan Gommendy for these two races, because Gommendy had some unresolved business situation. The veteran driver finished in the top ten in all but one start this season, and despite missing the season opener, finished sixth in the Series standings.
2008
On 3 January 2008, PKV Racing announced that popular Spanish driver Servià, who had finished sixth in the 2007 Champ Car World Series, would return to the series for 2008 with PKV Racing. However, following Champ Car's unification with the IndyCar Series, the team fields cars for Servià and Will Power in the unified IndyCar Series, under the KV Racing name following Dan Pettit's departure.
Servià finished eleventh at the Indianapolis 500, impressive due to his 25th place start. He stayed in the top-fifteen for most of the race. A week later, he had a remarkable run at Milwaukee. After falling back to 26th position and losing a lap early in the race due to contact with Enrique Bernoldi, he immediately regained his lap on the restart and steadily moved through the field to finish sixth. Following unsuccessful races in Iowa and Texas, Servià improved his best finish in an IRL-spec race by finishing fourth in the Detroit Indy Grand Prix. The final race of the season at the Chicagoland Speedway brought in CDW as a new sponsor.
The season finished with Servià racking up seven top-ten finishes, five top-five finishes, and a fourth place best finish.
2009
Servià was sidelined for the first three races of the IndyCar Series leading into the Indianapolis 500. He signed a deal with Rahal Letterman Racing to compete in the Indianapolis 500. He qualified on the third day of qualifying at an average speed of 220.984, and finished 26th in the race after dropping out with mechanical problems.
Servià then signed on with Newman/Haas/Lanigan Racing for the Mid-Ohio race after serving as an advisor to Tony Kanaan at Andretti Green Racing.
2011
Due to sponsorship issues at Newman/Haas/Lanigan Racing, Servià sat out the 2010 IndyCar season. However, after picking up Telemundo and CDW as sponsors, Servià was able to make his return for the 2011 season. He had his best season since 2005, by finishing with three podiums, six top-fives, and eleven top-tens on his way to finishing fourth in the points.
Servià also finished runner-up in the controversial race at 2011 MoveThatBlock.com Indy 225. With just ten laps remaining, the green flag was displayed, which resulted in multiple crashes. As the race was then red flagged, with Servià in front, race control decided to reverse the order and declared Andretti Autosport deifer Ryan Hunter-Reay as the winner. Newman/Haas Racing and Chip Ganassi Racing filed protests. After a hearing on 22 August, the result was upheld and the protests denied.
Three weeks later, Servià would score his second runner-up of the season in the Baltimore Grand Prix.
2012
The 2012 season saw a change for Servià, as he moved to the Dreyer & Reinbold Racing team. The season started rough for Servià, due to the use of a Lotus motor that was not competitive compared to the Chevrolet and Honda motors. At the Indianapolis 500, the team switched to Chevrolet power, and Servià's scored his first top-ten of the season. He went on to score three more top-fives to finish thirteenth in points.
2013
Servià began the 2013 IndyCar season with the same team as last year, where he scored one top-five finish at the 2013 São Paulo Indy 300. However, his team ran into sponsorship problems following the 2013 Indianapolis 500. Servià was later signed to drive the Panther Racing National Guard car for Texas and Iowa.
2015
Servià started the 2015 Indianapolis 500 in the fifth row in thirteenth place. He was unable to complete the race after a collision with Ed Carpenter and the official results had him in 29th place. After Justin Wilson's fatal crash at the ABC Supply 500, Servià took over his car at Sonoma.
2017 In 2017, Servià was signed to a three-race deal with Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing. He raced at the 2017 Indianapolis 500, and the Detroit doubleheader, finishing 21st, twentieth, and nineteenth, respectively.
2019
Servià drove in the 103rd running of the Indy 500 race in May with Team Stange Racing who worked with Schmidt Peterson Motorsport according to their own Instagram-page as well as their website.
Career results
American open–wheel racing results (key) (Races in bold indicate pole position; races in italics indicate fastest lap)
Indy Lights Year Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 Rank Points Ref 1998 Dorricott RacingMIALBHNAZSTLMILDETPORCLETORMISTROVANLSFON7th73 1999 Dorricott RacingMIALBHNAZMILPORCLETORMISDETCHILSFON1st130
CART/Champ Car Year Team No. Chassis Engine 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 Rank Points Ref 2000 PPI Motorsports 96 Reynard 2Ki Toyota RV8E V8 tMIALBHRIOMOTNZRMILDETPORCLETORMISCHIMDOROAVANLSSTLHOUSRFFON15th60 2001 Sigma Autosport 22 Lola B01/00 Ford XF V8 tMTYLBHTXSNHNZRMOTMILDETPORCLETORMISCHIMDOROAVANLAUROCHOULSSRFFON 19th 422002 PWR Championship Racing 17 Lola B02/00 Toyota RV8F V8 tMTYLBHMOTMILLSPORCHITORCLE 16th 44 Patrick Racing 20 Reynard 02iVANMDOROAMTLDENROCMIASRFFONMXC 2003 Patrick Racing Lola B02/00 Ford XFE V8 tSTPMTYLBHBRHLAUMILLSPORCLETORVANROAMDOMTLDENMIAMXCSRFFONNH 7th 108 2004 Dale Coyne Racing 11 Lola B02/00 Ford XFE V8 tLBHMTYMILPORCLETORVANROADENMTLLSLVGSRFMXC 10th 199^ 2005 Dale Coyne Racing 19 Lola B02/00 Ford XFE V8 tLBHMTY 2nd 288 Newman/Haas Racing 2MILPORCLETOREDMSJODENMTLLVGSRFMXC 2006 PKV Racing 6 Lola B02/00 Ford XFE V8 tLBHHOUMTY8 MILPORCLETOREDMSJODENMTLROASRFMXC 11th 197 2007 Forsythe Championship Racing 3 Panoz DP01 Cosworth XFE V8 t LVGLBHHOU 6th 237 7PORCLEMTTTOREDMSJOROAZOLASN PKV Racing 22SRFMXC
^ New points system implemented in 2004
IndyCar Series Year Team No. Chassis Engine 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 Rank Pts Ref 2002 Walker Racing 15 Dallara Chevrolet HMS PHX FON NAZ INDY TXS PPIR RIR KAN NSH MIS KTY GAT CHI TXS NC – 2008 KV Racing Technology 5 Honda HMS STP MOT1 KAN INDY MIL TXS IOW RIR WGL NSH MDO EDM KTY SNM DET CHI SRF2 9th 358 Panoz DP01 Cosworth LBH1 2009 Rahal Letterman Racing 17 Dallara Honda STP LBH KAN INDY MIL TXS IOW RIR WGL TOR EDM KTY 21st 115 Newman/Haas/Lanigan Racing 06 MDO SNM CHI MOTHMS 2011 Newman/Haas Racing 02 STP 4th 425 2 ALA LBH SAO INDY TXS TXS MIL IOW TOR EDM MDO NHM SNM BAL MOT KTY LVS3 2012 Dreyer & Reinbold Racing 22 Dallara DW12 Lotus STP ALA LBH SAO 13th 287 Panther/Dreyer & Reinbold Racing Chevrolet INDY DET TXS MIL IOW TOR EDM MDO SNM BAL FON 2013 STP ALA LBH SAO INDY DET DET 22nd 233 Panther Racing 4 TXS MIL IOW POC TOR TOR MDO SNM BAL HOU HOU FON 2014 Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing 16 Honda STP LBH ALA IMS INDY DET DET TXS HOU HOU POC IOW TOR TOR MDO MIL SNM FON 24th 2015 32 STP NLA LBH ALA IMS INDY DET DET TXS TOR FON MIL IOW MDO POC 32nd 46 Andretti Autosport 25 SNM 2016 Team Penske 12 Chevrolet STP PHX LBH ALA IMS 24th 72 Schmidt Peterson Motorsports 77 Honda INDY DET DET RDA IOW TOR MDO POC TXS WGL SNM 2017 Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing 16 STP LBH ALA PHX IMS INDY DET DET TXS ROA IOW TOR MDO POC GTW WGL SNM 27th 61 2018 Scuderia Corsa with Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing 64 STP PHX LBH ALA IMS INDY DET DET TXS RDA IOW TOR MDO POC GTW POR SNM 35th 27 2019 MotoGator Team Stange Racing with Arrow Schmidt Peterson Motorsports 77 STP COA ALA LBH IMS INDY DET DET TXS RDA TOR IOW MDO POC GTW POR LAG 34th 16
* Season still in progress.
1 Run on same day. 2 Non-points-paying, exhibition race. 3 The Las Vegas Indy 300 was abandoned after Dan Wheldon died from injuries sustained in a 15-car crash on lap 11.
Years Teams Races Poles Wins Top 5s Top 10s Indianapolis 500 wins Championships997300163000
Indianapolis 500 Year Chassis Engine Start Finish Team 2002 Dallara ChevroletDNQ Walker Racing Dallara InfinitiDNQ Conquest Racing 2008 Dallara Honda2511 KV Racing Technology 2009 Dallara Honda2526 Rahal Letterman Racing 2011 Dallara Honda 3 6 Newman/Haas Racing 2012 Dallara Chevrolet 27 4 Panther/Dreyer & Reinbold Racing 2013 Dallara Chevrolet 1311 Panther Dreyer & Reinbold Racing 2014 Dallara Honda 1811 Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing 2015 Dallara Honda 1329 Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing 2016 Dallara Honda 1012 Schmidt Peterson Motorsports with Marotti Racing 2017 Dallara Honda 1221 Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing 2018 Dallara Honda2617 Scuderia Corsa with RLL 2019 Dallara Honda1922 MotoGator Team Stange Racing with Arrow Schmidt Peterson
Complete Formula E results (key) (Races in bold indicate pole position; races in italics indicate fastest lap)