INDY 500: Day Four of Indy Practice Finds Infiniti Drivers Busy Logging Laps
Posted By Terry Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel
May 10, 2001Indianapolis, Ind. (May 9, 2001) -- Infiniti's trio of drivers were busy during the fourth day of practice for the Indy 500 completing nearly 400 miles on the 2.5-mile Indianapolis Motor Speedway -- more miles than any other day this week. The total number of practice miles recorded by Infiniti engines so far this month is 1,058 miles.
Eddie Cheever Jr. was the fastest Infiniti driver of the day with the 11th fastest speed at 221.879 mph. He was also the busiest of the Infiniti crew, driving 55 laps in the No. 51 Excite@Home Infiniti.
In the No. 52 Cheever Indy Racing Infiniti, Scott Goodyear was 13th at 221.837 mph, while Robbie Buhl was 18th at 221.365 mph in the No. 24 Team Purex/Dreyer & Reinbold Racing Infiniti.
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 took the #51 Excite@Home T-car out this afternoon and we made some gains. I think we're starting to get a handle on the handling. We had a problem yesterday in Turn 1, so that's what we focused on today and I'm very happy with how the #51 Excite@Home car is handling right now. Turn 1 has gotten very bumpy and it takes a lot of commitment to go in at 230mph. If you get one of those tank-slappers, you're screwed." On his predictions for qualifying: "I'm very confident for qualifying. I think both Scott and I have a good shot at the first two rows. These one-lap specials that guys are doing now don't count in qualifying - you've got to do four of them. This is a very hard place to qualify."
Scott Goodyear, No. 52 Cheever Indy Racing Dallara-Infiniti: "We put a few more miles on this morning and tried some things. Some of them worked, and some of them didn't. One in particular will be very helpful for qualifying and the race. We had some electrical problems this morning and didn't get a lot of running in. We're fighting a couple of things on the car. We went back out this afternoon, but had a possible drive-line problem. The next two days we'll start focusing in on speed for qualifying on Saturday."
Robbie Buhl, No. 24 Team Purex Dreyer & Reinbold Racing GForce-Infiniti: "Yesterday we had the day off, because the guys were working on our new car. It still needs some work, but it will be our primary car. We are more confident with some things that are on that car. Hopefully we will be out in that car tomorrow, since it is the car we plan to qualify. We ran the T-car (backup) again today, and ran a 221 (mph) pretty comfortably in the heat of the day. In the final hour of practice today it got pretty busy out there and with the headaches we've had, we don't need to bring anymore upon us. We are real happy with our power. We just want to get out there with our primary car and see where that thing goes."
PRACTICE HIGHLIGHTS
1 8 Sharp, Scott D/O/F 39.7988 226.137
2 33 Stewart, Tony G/O/F 39.9993 225.004
3 2T Ray, Greg D/O/F 40.2058 223.848
4 5 Luyendyk, Arie G/O/F 40.2686 223.499
5 77 Lazier, Jaques G/O/F 40.3027 223.310
6 41 Gordon, Robby D/O/F 40.3529 223.032
7 44T Vasser, Jimmy G/O/F 40.3756 222.907
8 68 Castroneves, Helio D/O/F 40.4446 222.527
9 66T de Ferran, Gil D/O/F 40.4912 222.271
10 21 Giaffone, Felipe G/O/F 40.5305 222.055
*11 51T Cheever Jr, Eddie D/I/F 40.5626 221.879
*13 52 Goodyear, Scott D/I/F 40.5704 221.837
*18 24T Buhl, Robbie G/I/F 40.6568 221.365
*22 51 Cheever Jr, Eddie D/I/F 40.7981 220.599
Text provided by Heather Handley
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