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IRL: Eddie Cheever Plans to Heat up Atlanta

15 July 1999

With four races left in the season, Cheever has race victories as his chosen path to the Championship title

Atlanta, GA. - Knee deep in the extremely tight Championship race, Eddie Cheever and his #51 Children's Beverage Group/Team Cheever Dallara/Goodyear/Infiniti Indy racing team are focused on a podium finish at this weekend's Kobalt Mechanics Tools 500.,

"We are currently fourth in the Championship. At this point in the season, with things as close as they are, I guess we could shoot for conservative finishes in the top six or seven and inch our way up to the top of the points," spoke Cheever of his mid-season strategy. "But, this team thrives on wins, so, I'd rather see us approach the rest of the season going for broke, laying it all on the line at each race, and accepting no less than first. If that means two more wins this year and no championship title, then it'd be worth it."

Cheever will have his work cut out as a he fights his way to victory lane on the 1.54-mile Atlanta oval. Saturday night's race will once again be wheel to wheel combat at over 220mph with any one of the 27 starters having a shot at the win.

"I think we'll make another strong showing here," spoke Cheever, who finished 3rd in Atlanta in 1998. "But, to win in Atlanta, you must have an impeccable race. The car, the team, the engine...all in peak performance."

"You need a lot of horsepower and a lot of patience," continued Cheever. "The car must work incredibly well in a tow and hope like hell that no one miscues. You better have a lot of faith in the guy in front and the guy behind you. When you run these big tracks at 220mph, one foot from the other guy's wheel, one mistake can be a disaster for three or four cars.

The Kobalt Mechanics Tools 500, Round six of the 10-race Pep Boys Indy Racing league series, takes place Saturday, July 17th. The race starts at 730pm EDT and will be televised LIVE on Fox Sports Net. PPG Pole qualifying will air live on Speedvision on Friday, July 16th beginning at 6pm EDT.

Primary sponsorship of Team Cheever comes from The Children's Beverage Group. 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.

Editors Note: For hundreds of hot racing photos and racing art, be sure to visit The Racing ImageGalleries and the Visions of Speed Art Gallery.