IRL: Back to Back Podium Finishes for Team Cheever
23 September 1998
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"We've worked hard for this all year long," said an elated Unser. "Today, we put it all together."
When the green flag dropped at today's Lone Star 500k, the barometer read 104 degrees in the pits with the track temperature climbing to an unreasonable 144 degrees. Within several laps, both drivers radioed that they were fighting "push", most likely brought on by the relentless Texan heat. After a brief and strident fight, Cheever's #51 Rachel's Gourmet Potato Chips Dallara engine gave out, 30 laps in to the race.
"The problem appears to be in the top of the engine as we didn't lose any oil. We probably lost a cylinder," explained Cheever. "We came here off a strong 3rd place finish in Atlanta. We thought we had a real chance today. It's very disappointing."
It was now Unser's race. With Crew Chief, Dane Harte, Team Owner, Eddie Cheever and the #52 Children's Beverage Group team couching from the pits, driver and crew went about the task of finding the right combination to fight the heat, find the balance and assure a strong finish. With teams falling out to tire or engine problems lap after lap, Unser kept his nose clean while the team stayed focus on a solid pit strategy.
With just 60 laps left, Unser ducked his #52 Children's Beverage Group GForce into the pits to take on the last four tires and fuel. With the field narrowed to 5 teams on the lead lap, Team Cheever gambled that they would have enough fuel to take them to the checkered flag, while the others would still need one more stop. The strategy paid off until Davey Hamilton's tire blew and the pack regrouped under yellow. With 8 laps left, Unser was unable to catch Leader John Paul Jr. and had to settle for a second placed finish.
"We fought a push all day, but found the right combination by the end," said Unser of the 208-lap race. "I have to hand it to this crew. I just can't say enough about these guys, Eddie, Dick, Clyde and the whole Team Cheever organization. They deserve this. They have strong desire to win and they've proven it here today."
With the Texas results, Indy 500 winner, Eddie Cheever holds fast at 9th in the Drivers Championship, just 2 points shy of 8th placed, Marco Greco. Unser moves up to a solid 15th place with 162 points, lengthening his lead for the Rookie Of The Year award over Brian Tyler, by 50 points.
The final race of the Pep Boys IRL season is just 3 weeks away. The Las Vegas 500 race event will take place at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, October 9-11th. The race will air live on Sunday, October 11th at 4pm EDT on TNN. Qualifying will air live on Speedvision, Saturday, October 10th at 3pm EDT.
Primary sponsorship of Team Cheever comes from Rachel's Gourmet Potato Chips and The Children's Beverage Group. Rachel's, based in Minneapolis, Minnesota, is both the manufacturer and distributor of the 9 unique flavors of Rachel's Gourmet Potato Chips. The company is publicly traded under the symbol "RLDS" and can be contacted toll free at 800-730-3700 or at their website www.rachelspotatochips.com. The Children's Beverage Group (TCBG) is the designer of the RIP-IT SIP-IT(tm) straw-in-the-pouch drinking system that began distribution nationwide in 1997. For more information, call TCBG's corporate headquarters at 847-562-4040 or visit their website at www.stockprofiles.com/tcbg. Secondary sponsors of Team Cheever include Goodyear, Menards, Sony Disc Manufacturing, All Sports Telemetry (AST), Bosch, True Grit Apparel and Pennzoil.
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