Birthdate: Sept. 2, 1963, Detroit, Mich. Residence: Grosse Pointe, Mich. Ht./Wt.: 5-9, 145 Martial Status: Single IRL Races: 6 1996 IRL Rank: 3 1996 Prize Money: $351,153 Robbie Buhl Indianapolis "500" Record (Passed Driver's Test 1993) Car Speed Qual Laps Laps Speed or Year Name Rank Speed SP FP Comp Led Reason Out --------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1996 Original Coors/Beck Motorsports 23 226.217 23 9 197 -- Running --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total: 1 Race 197
Robbie Buhl, of Grosse Pointe, Michigan, was born September 2, 1963. When he was 21, he attended the Jim Russell 10-day driving school in England. He went on to win Formula Ford races at Snetterton and Silverstone. During the next five years, from 1985-'89, he won numerous races, including the 1987 Moroso, Indianapolis Raceway Park in SCCA National Atlantic events and the 1987 Lime Rock and Road Atlanta. In 1989, he captured the Barber Saab Pro Series title where he set records for seven consecutive wins, 6 poles, 6 consecutive poles, $178,000 in earnings and 188 points.
The 90s brought more podium finishes. In 1990, he finished fourth in the American Racing Series with 113 points. In 1991, he won at Nazareth in the Indy Series, placed second at Long Beach and Toronto and third at Meadowlands. He captured the Indy Lights Series title in 1992. In 1995, he won the Detroit round of the Indy Lights Championship and established a series record for top three finishes by winning 27 out of 50 races. By the end of 1996, Buhl had worked his way up to number three in the IRL ranking.
Off track, Buhl is recognized for his role as national spokesperson for "Racing with Kids." He has raised more than $200,000 for the program and visited over 4,000 children and their families at hospitals. For his efforts, he received a commendation from the U.S. Congress.
1996-97 IRL Season Results Event FP SP Laps Reason Out IRL PTS Prize Money ------------------------------------------------------------------- True Value 200 22 13 0 Accident 13 $32,000 Las Vegas 500K 8 15 195 Running 27 $25,750 Phoenix 200 18 5 51 Accident 17 $15,600
