INDY 500: Goodyear and Cheever make steady progress in practice at Indy

Posted By Terry Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel

May 10, 2001

Indianapolis, IN (May 9, 2001) - Cheever Indy Racing teammates Eddie Cheever Jr. and Scott Goodyear continued to make steady progress during the fourth day of practice for the Indianapolis 500 scheduled for May 27, with both drivers posting fast laps above 221 mph. Cheever toured the 2.5-mile Brickyard oval at 221.879 mph in his #51 Excite@Home Infiniti, while two-time Indy 500 runner-up Goodyear posted a top speed of 221.837 mph in his #52 Cheever Indy Racing entry.

Eddie Cheever Jr: #51 Excite@Home Indy Race Car
Position: 11th Speed: 221.879 mph Time: 40.5626 seconds

Cheever (on Wednesday practice): "We tried a totally different set-up today so we were throwing some stuff in the air trying to make it work. 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 at."

Scott Goodyear: #52 Cheever Indy Racing Infiniti
Position: 13th Speed: 221. 837 mph Time: 40.5704 seconds

Goodyear (on Wednesday practice): "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."

On Cheever Indy Racing and its equipment package: "The guys on the Cheever Indy Racing team are doing a great job and everything is coming together very well. The Infiniti 35A is good, strong, and reliable. The Firestone tires are working well through all the different conditions we've had over the past couple of days, from windy and cold first thing in the morning to the high heat of the afternoon."

Dane Harte, Crew Chief, #52 Cheever Indy Racing Infiniti: "The team is working really well for as new as it is, and Scott and I are working very well together. The communication is really good. We've got a new bunch of guys and it usually takes a bit of time to gel, but for us, it didn't take any time at all."

Text provided by Ashleigh Higgins

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