INDY 500: Infiniti sets the pace at Indy after first weekend of practice
15 May 2000
Posted By Terry
Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel
Eddie Cheever Jr. drove his Infiniti-powered No. 51 Excite@Home car to the
top of the timing charts during the second day of practice for the
Indianapolis 500. Clocking the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in 40.74
seconds, an average speed of 220.878 mph, Cheever was not only the fastest
driver of the day, but also ran the quickest lap of the month so far.
QUOTES
Eddie Cheever Jr., No. 51 Excite@Home Infiniti: (on posting the fastest lap of the day): "It's kind of like having the best grades on the first day of school, but today was a lot of fun. Today was for the mechanics - they've worked really hard. The #51 Excite@Home car wasn't perfect - we had some push in Turn 2 - and the westerly wind was making things very tricky. The winds will actually move you over about ten feet going through the corners, and it's not a nice feeling when you're going 230mph. You have to take a deep breath and hope the car sticks all the way around. The Infiniti engine was just tremendous today, we are extremely pleased with the performance of the Firestone tires, and the #51 Excite@Home Dallara is handling very well."
PRACTICE HIGHLIGHTS
*1. Eddie Cheever Jr., 220.878, #51 Dallara-Infiniti
2. Al Unser Jr., 220.686, #3T G Force-Oldsmobile
3. Robby McGehee, 219.783, #5 G Force-Oldsmobile
4. Scott Sharp, 219.770, #8T Dallara-Oldsmobile
5. Buddy Lazier, 219.453, #91 Dallara-Oldsmobile
6. Scott Harrington, 218.956, #17 Dallara-Oldsmobile
7. Jimmy Kite, 218.443, #27 G Force-Oldsmobile
8. Stephan Gregoire, 218.401, #7 G Force-Oldsmobile
9. Davey Hamilton, 218.351, #16 G Force-Oldsmobile
10. Robby Gordon, 218.300, #1T Dallara-Oldsmobile
Text provided by Heather Handley
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