Panther Racing's IndyCar run looks like it's over

Here's an Indianapolis 500 fact that's almost incomprehensible: Only after 11 years of competing at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, winning 15 IndyCar Series races and capturing two season championships did Panther Racing finally lead a lap in its hometown race.

Fittingly, that lap by Vitor Meira in 2008 started something special for the Decatur Township, Ind., team. For four consecutive Indy 500s, Panther finished second, and it did so with three different drivers (Meira, Dan Wheldon and JR Hildebrand).

Hildebrand came the closest to winning the 500, overtaken by Wheldon on the front straightaway in 2011 after Hildebrand banged the No. 4 car off the wall within sight of the checkered flag.

That, along with Sam Hornish's season championships in 2001 and '02, was Panther's biggest moment. Unfortunately, the team that beat Team Penske for the '02 title seems through with competition.

There hasn't been formal confirmation and there might not be even after a lawsuit against IndyCar and others is settled, but the team long led by John Barnes won't compete in next month's 500.

The familiar No. 4 car sponsored over the years by Pennzoil, Delphi and the National Guard wasn't on IndyCar's grid at last month's season-opening race in St. Petersburg, Fla., and it won't be at Sunday's race in Long Beach, Calif., either.

Panther's staff has been reduced to a minimal size, and only one chassis remains at the shop. Former Panther mechanics are working for other race teams. Doug Barnes, one of Panther's staples, will work with Martin Plowman at A.J. Foyt Racing in May.

Several IndyCar teams have already acquired Panther equipment, including two yet-to-be-announced programs for the 500. The team that will field Stefan Wilson is one of them.

It's worth noting that Panther officials decided to stop racing after the 2005 season only to return. But if this is goodbye, Panther deserves a proper sendoff.

A core piece of the original Indy Racing League, Panther made Hornish attractive to Roger Penske — they won a 500 and an IndyCar championship together in 2006 — and invigorated Wheldon's career. It also handled Hildebrand's heartbreaking IMS crash in 2011 with dignity and class.

In all, Panther fielded 22 drivers over 16 seasons, including race winners Scott Goodyear (three wins), Hornish (11) and Tomas Scheckter (one). Those who represented the National Guard describe it as a life-changing experience.

The team was founded in the fall of 1997 by Barnes, Indianapolis car dealer Gary Pedigo, San Francisco 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh, television producer Terry Lingner, current IMS president Doug Boles and former radio personality Mike Griffin.

Luyendyk Jr. recovering from crash

Arie Luyendyk Jr. thinks he could be back to racing his off-road truck by the end of the month, which seems remarkable given the crash he had last weekend in Primm, Nev.

Luyendyk was battling with Mike Jenkins in The Off-Road Championship (TORC) race when they both hit the first-turn jump at about the same time. Luyendyk's truck flew farther but took contact mid-air. The truck landed on the side of its left-side wheels, which caused a significant barrel roll.

Luyendyk's left arm apparently got wedged against the seat, breaking his collarbone. Fortunately it was a diagonal break, allowing an easier surgery Tuesday.

A camera mounted inside the driver's compartment caught the accident, which was difficult to watch as he lowered his head in obvious pain.

"I can't believe the camera didn't even miss a beat," he said.

Luyendyk said the bones are now held together by a titanium plate and four screws. The benefit to surgery is that he could return to racing sooner. His goal is the April 25-26 event in Charlotte, which is home to his sponsor.

"I might not even miss a race," he said.

Luyendyk, 32, started therapy Wednesday. Aside from being the son of the two-time Indianapolis 500 winner, he is known for being the second-place finisher in the eighth season of "The Bachelorette." He competed in his only 500 in 2006, finishing 28th.

Cavin writes for The Indianapolis Star