Indianapolis 500: Goodyear to team up with Cheever at Indy

Posted By Terry Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel

INDIANAPOLIS-- 1998 Indianapolis 500 winner Eddie Cheever Jr. confirmed Feb. 12 that fellow Brickyard ace Scott Goodyear will drive for Team Cheever at the 2001 Indianapolis 500, forming what many are calling an Indy Racing “dream team.”

Goodyear will drive the #52 Team Cheever Dallara/Infiniti/Firestone entry at the 2001 Indianapolis 500 on May 27. He also will serve as the test driver for the Infiniti Indy engine program.

“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,” Cheever said. The two-car team links two of the Indy Racing Northern Light Series’ most successful drivers. Goodyear has scored three series victories, 17 top-five finishes, and 21 top-10 results in 38 starts, while Cheever has earned four wins, 13 top-five finishes, and 23 top-10 results in 42 races.

“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,” Goodyear said.

“I believe that the Infiniti engine will be the one to have at the Indianapolis 500 this year. 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.”

Goodyear has earned two runner-up finishes - in 1992 and 1997 -- and five top-10 results in 10 Indianapolis 500 starts since 1990. Goodyear, 41, a native of Toronto, finished second in the 2000 Northern Light Series standings with one victory, one MBNA Pole, two second-place finishes and six top-10 results in nine events. Cheever, his new boss, finished third in the series standings in the #51 Excite@Home Indy Race Car.

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

Text Provided By Paul Kelly

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