Dreyer & Reinbold Racing has announced that American driver, J.R. Hildebrand, will join the team in Mid-Ohio and Sonoma. Hildebrand will replace the injured Mike Conway for Mid-Ohio and, should the Briton be cleared to race in Sonoma, Hildebrand will drive a third D&R entry in Sonoma.

Said Dreyer & Reinbold co-owner Dennis Reinbold: “We are extremely excited about putting J.R. in our car at Mid-Ohio and Sonoma. He adds another dimension to our program and we are happy to have him on board for those events.  We will be testing him at Sonoma next month and we are excited to get him acclimated to the car. 

"J.R. was a very talented Indy Lights driver, having won the championship, and we are excited to be the team that he makes his IZOD IndyCar Series debut with.”

Hildebrand will make his debut IZOD IndyCar appearance at Mid-Ohio on Aug. 8, and then at his home race in Sonoma on Aug. 22. The Sausalito, Calif., native will step up to the IZOD IndyCar Series after competing in the Firestone Indy Lights category for the last two seasons. Some of his accomplishments include winning the 2009 Firestone Indy Lights Championship, the Formula Ford 2000 Championship, winning the SCCA Formula Russell Championship and the Jim Russell Sprint Car Series Championship to name a few.

Last season he recorded four wins, 11 top-five finishes and five pole positions in Firestone Indy Lights, taking home the series title. He also participated in a three-day test with the Force India F1 Team.

Hildebrand commented: “First off, I'm really excited to join Dreyer & Reinbold Racing for my first races in the IZOD IndyCar Series at Mid-Ohio and Sonoma.  It's under unfortunate circumstances because of Mike and I wish him well, but it will be great to be racing with D&R.  They've shown great pace all season and I'm going to try to push myself toward being at the front.  I'm also looking forward to being teammates with Justin Wilson. I think it will be a great opportunity all around."

Following Tomas Scheckter's confirmation at the team in next week's Honda Indy Toronto, D&R has yet to announce who will partner Wilson at Edmonton. The No. 24's occupant for the four oval races at the end of the season will be Conway, should he be cleared to drive.