NortherLight IRL: Infiniti Duo Qualifies in Top Ten For Excite 500
15 October 2000
Posted By Terry CallahanMotorsports Editor, The Auto Channel
Fort Worth, Tex. -- Both Infiniti drivers qualified in the top ten today for the Oct. 15 Excite 500 at Texas Motor Speedway.
Robbie Buhl led the Infiniti effort in the No. 24 Team Purex Dreyer & Reinbold Racing G Force, qualifying fifth fastest with a 212.340 mph lap. No. 51 Excite@Home driver, Eddie Cheever Jr., was close behind in tenth place with a 211.483 mph qualifying lap.
Infiniti-powered cars have started in the top ten at eight of nine events this season, with Robbie Buhl scoring the manufacturer's best qualifying effort of second at Pikes Peak earlier this year.
On the air: The Excite 500 at Texas Motor Speedway will be televised on ABC at 4:00 p.m. (EDT) Oct. 15. "Indy Racing 2Day" will be televised at 3:30 p.m. (EDT) Aug. 27 on ESPN2.
QUOTES
Robbie Buhl, No. 24 Team Purex/Dreyer & Reinbold Racing G Force-Infiniti: "We are very happy about our weekend so far. It was pretty much a repeat of what we did in practice this morning. We are happy with the power we are making with the Infiniti. The race is a different deal than qualifying. We want to stay in that lead group until the last 30 laps and then we'll get down to business from there."
Eddie Cheever Jr., No. 51 Excite@Home Dallara-Infiniti: "The No. 51 Excite@Home car ran well, but we didn't go as fast as we should have. We've done some full tank testing and we're happy with what we're doing. The trick here is to find the right dancing partner, him or her, and go dancing. We expect to be in traffic all day tomorrow, so we worked on running in a pack. The car is very good in traffic. But I'm not looking forward to another race like we had here in June, with everyone bunched together. I'm aiming to be out in front so I can let the other guys fight it out behind me."
QUALIFYING HIGHLIGHTS
1. Greg Ray, #1 Dallara-Oldsmobile
2. Scott Goodyear, #4 Dallara-Oldsmobile
3. Jeff Ward, #14 G Force-Oldsmobile
4. Al Unser Jr., #3 G Force-Oldsmobile
*5. Robbie Buhl, #24 G Force-Oldsmobile
6. Buddy Lazier, #91 Dallara-Oldsmobile
7. Davey Hamilton, #43 Dallara-Oldsmobile
8. Robby McGehee, #5 G Force-Oldsmobile
9. Tyce Carlson, #20 Dallara-Oldsmobile
*10. Eddie Cheever Jr., #51 Dallara-Oldsmobile
Text Provided By Heather Handley
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