INDY 500: Cheever stays consistent at Indy
Posted By Terry Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel
May 9, 2001Indianapolis, Ind. (May 8, 2001) -- Infiniti driver Eddie Cheever Jr. has proven to be very consistent in practice this week for the Indianapolis 500. His fifth place position on the timing charts today, with a 223.146 mph lap, makes him the only driver to place in the top five each day of the first three days of practice.
Scott Goodyear, in the No. 52 Cheever Indy Racing Infiniti, was equally competitive scoring the tenth fastest lap of the 45 driver/car combinations that went on track today. His 222.132 mph lap was his fastest speed of the three days.
Dreyer & Reinbold Racing did not practice today in order to finish building their new G Force chassis.
The fourth day of practice for the Indianapolis 500 on May 27 continues tomorrow from Noon to 7 p.m. (EDT).
QUOTES
Eddie Cheever Jr., No. 51 Excite@Home Dallara-Infiniti: "We made a lot of progress today. As usual, the Firestone tires were great, and I think the Infiniti engine is capable of running 225 mph, but our handling is lagging behind. We can't get the car to handle well in Turn 1. Two things I'm not worried about, however, are our Infiniti engine and our Firestone tires." (on his role as owner/driver and teammate Scott Goodyear): "It's very strange when you are a driver and a team owner because you go from wanting to beat everybody to trying to find the right people to build a team around. The whole Cheever Indy Racing team, with our partners Infiniti and Excite@Home and the addition of Scott Goodyear, is really coming together. The funny thing is that when Scott and I first met each other ten years ago, we didn't really like each other. I wouldn't say we hated each other or anything, but we were definitely wary of each other. I'm sure that neither one of us would have guessed that we'd be working so well together as teammates at the Indy 500. When Scott and I first discussed the possibility of him joining Cheever Indy Racing, I guaranteed him that there would be no 'number one' driver. The same equipment and the same effort that is being put forth on the #51 Excite@Home car is being applied to the #52 car, and if I can't win the 500 on May 27, I'd be more than happy to see Scott win."
Scott Goodyear, No. 52 Cheever Indy Racing Dallara-Infiniti: "We got some good running in today. We went through a lot of things with shocks and springs and bars. We found some things that worked very well for us and we ran throughout the heat of the day, which I think was also beneficial. Tomorrow I think we will just continue working on doing some things to the car to get ready for qualifying. There's more speed left in the car. We decided not to run in happy hour today just to keep some tires and some miles for the heat of the day tomorrow, when the race will be and when qualifying for us will be. We have yet to use a fresh set of sticker tires. We put a set on today, went out, and there was a yellow, and when we went back out and started to get up to speed, we had a gearbox problem. Tomorrow hopefully we'll find a bit more speed just by being able to bolt some tires on that are fresh."
PRACTICE HIGHLIGHTS
1 28T Dismore, Mark D/O/F 40.0315 224.823
2 5 Luyendyk, Arie G/O/F 40.1810 223.986
3 35 Ward, Jeff G/O/F 40.2295 223.716
4 91 Lazier, Buddy D/O/F 40.3019 223.315
*5 51 Cheever Jr, Eddie D/I/F 40.3323 223.146
6 68 Castroneves, Helio D/O/F 40.3592 222.997
7 44T Vasser, Jimmy G/O/F 40.4337 222.587
8 2T Ray, Greg D/O/F 40.4554 222.467
9 14 Salazar, Eliseo D/O/F 40.5103 222.166
*10 52 Goodyear, Scott D/I/F 40.5164 222.132
*42 51T Cheever Jr, Eddie D/I/F 42.5250 211.640
Text provided by Heather Handley
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