Northern Light IRL: Cheever confirms Scott Goodyear as Indianapolis Teammate

Posted By Terry Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel

Indianapolis, IN - 1998 Indianapolis 500 Champion Eddie Cheever Jr. has confirmed that fellow Indy ace Scott Goodyear will campaign the #52 Team Cheever Dallara-Infiniti entry at the 2001 Indianapolis 500, forming what many experts regard as Indy Racing's 'dream team'.

"We were not planning on running two cars, but we have adjusted our plans to take advantage of Scott's exceptional record at the Indy 500," explained Cheever, who finished third overall in the 2000 Indy Racing Northern Light Series championship in the #51 Excite@Home Indy Race Car, just 15 points behind series runner-up Goodyear.

The newly expanded two-car effort allies two of Indy Racing's most successful drivers. Goodyear has scored three IRL victories, 17 top-five finishes, and 21 top-10 results in 38 starts, while Cheever has notched four Indy Racing wins, 13 top-five finishes, and 23 top-10 results in 42 races.

"Scott is a very exciting driver, and his record at 500 mile races speaks for itself. He has a great ability to stay out of trouble and be there at the end," said Cheever. "After his successful 2000 season, the opportunity to run Scott in a second Team Cheever/Infiniti entry was too good to pass up."

In a decade of Indianapolis 500 competition, Goodyear has earned two runner-up finishes, five top-10 results, and a near triumph in the 1995 event before being stripped of victory on a technicality. The 41-year-old Canadian finished second in the 2000 Northern Light Series standings, with one victory, one pole position, two second place finishes, and six top-10 results in nine events.

"I have a lot of respect for Eddie - both as a driver and a team owner - and for team manager Dick Caron and the Team Cheever crew," noted Goodyear.

"I believe that the Infiniti engine will be the one to have at the Indianapolis 500 this year," added Goodyear, who will also serve as the test driver for the Infiniti Indy engine program. "I will be focusing on the development of the new Infiniti engine to allow Team Cheever to have the best possible package when we head to Indy in May."

Text Provided By Ashleigh Higgins

Editors Note: To view hundreds of hot racing photos and art, visit The Racing Photo Museum and the Visions of Speed Art Gallery.