Northern Light IRL: Infiniti drivers hope to repeat at PPIR

Posted By Terry Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel

June 15, 2001

*Infiniti returns to Pikes Peak International Raceway with the goal of becoming a repeat winner at the track. Eddie Cheever Jr. won the race last year, marking Infiniti's first career Indy Racing victory.

*This will be the sixth race for the all-new Infiniti 35A engine. The new, smaller, lighter, more powerful engine has recently turned some heads. At the Texas race, Eddie Cheever Jr. led with the engine for 64 laps and, at one point, had more than a five second lead. He was collected in a three-car accident, with four laps to go, while going for the victory. At the Indianapolis 500, Robbie Buhl was a serious contender for the victory with the Infiniti 35A engine.

*Infiniti announced May 25 the signing of Formula One engine guru Bernard Dudot as the new Indy Racing program manager for Infiniti Motorsports. Since Indy, Dudot has worked closely with Infiniti teams and engineers at TWR Group.

SCHEDULE:

*The Radisson Indy 200 starts at 2 p.m. (MDT) June 17. MBNA Pole Qualifying starts at 3 p.m. (MDT) June 16. Practice sessions start at 9 a.m. (two groups) and Noon (two groups) June 16, and 10 a.m. June 17 (MDT).

TV/RADIO BROADCASTS:

*The Radisson Indy 200 will be televised live on ABC at 4 p.m. (EDT) June 17. "Indy Racing 2Day" will be televised live at 10:30 a.m. June 17 on ESPN2.

*ESPN2 will televise MBNA Pole qualifying at 6:30 p.m. (EDT) June 16.

*The Indy Racing Radio Network will broadcast a 30-minute pre-race show at 3:30 p.m. (EDT) June 17, followed by the live race broadcast at 4 p.m. (EDT).

Text provided by Heather Handley

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