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NorthernLight IRL: Infiniti Doubles Its Chances For Victory at Texas

2 June 2000

Posted By Terry Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel

--Robbie Buhl Switches to Infiniti Indy Engine--

GARDENA, Calif.-- Robbie Buhl and Dreyer & Reinbold Racing will join Team Cheever's Eddie Cheever Jr. in using the Infiniti Indy engine at the Casino Magic 500 at Texas Motor Speedway on June 10. Both teams currently sit in the top-five of the Indy Racing Northern Light Series point standings.

"We are very pleased to have Robbie Buhl return to the Infiniti team" said Frank Honsowetz, manager, Infiniti Motorsports. "Team Purex Dreyer & Reinbold Racing is a serious contender for the Indy Racing championship, so it is quite a compliment that they have put their trust in the Infiniti Indy engine in their quest to win more races and the championship."

The rookie team made an impressive debut at the Walt Disney World Speedway by winning their first Northern Light Series race. Two other top-ten finishes at the Phoenix and Las Vegas rounds, place Robbie Buhl second in the series championship standings with 112 points, only 26 less than leader Buddy Lazier.

Dreyer & Reinbold Racing used the Infiniti Indy engine in a last-minute entry at this year's Indianapolis 500 for Steve Knapp. Knapp qualified solidly into the field after only one day of practice and took the checkered flag under power in 19th position.

"I had a chance to practice with the Infiniti engine when we were setting the car up for Steve Knapp to drive at Indy," Robbie Buhl said. "The first thing I noticed was how much torque the engine had when I was shifting gears.

"Infiniti has made several improvements to the engine in both horsepower and reliability since the last time I raced the engine," continued Buhl, who finished third with Infiniti power at the 1999 Phoenix race. "This change is not just because of our corporate connections with Infiniti, but because it is a competitive engine package."

Buhl co-owns Team Purex Dreyer & Reinbold Racing with Eric De Bord, the president of Pole Position Productions, and Dennis Reinbold, who owns two Infiniti dealerships in the Indianapolis area.

"The Infiniti Indy project shows off the fact that Infiniti builds powerful, performance-oriented luxury cars, " Dennis Reinbold said. "As an Infiniti dealer I see first hand how Infiniti's involvement in racing directly correlates to selling cars, especially in the Indianapolis market. I am pleased that we have reached the point where we will be using the Infiniti Indy engine in our racing program."

Infiniti regular, Eddie Cheever Jr., will also vie for victory in the Casino Magic 500. Until Steve Knapp drove at Indianapolis, Cheever has been the sole Infiniti entry since the June race at Texas Motor Speedway last year. He has led five of his 12 races with the powerplant, with a best finish of third at the 2000 season opener in Orlando.

Notably, Cheever is one of only three drivers (including Billy Boat and Jeret Schroeder) who have been running at the finish of every race this season. Coming off a fifth-place finish at the Indianapolis 500, Cheever is currently fifth in the Indy Racing Northern Light series point standings.

"The Excite@Home team is very hungry for its first win with the Infiniti engine, " said Eddie Cheever Jr., who will also race in the Michigan IROC event on June 10. "We have been right there at every race this year, but it just hasn't happened yet. The race fans in Texas are very enthusiastic, giving us one of our best crowds of the year. I would truly enjoy celebrating with the Texans in victory circle next Saturday night."

The Indy Racing Northern Light Series has back-to-back race weekends starting with the Casino Magic 500 at Texas Motor Speedway on June 10, which will be broadcast live on ESPN at 8 p.m. (EDT). On June 18 the Radisson Indy 200 at Pikes Peak International Raceway takes place, and will be broadcast on ABC at 4 p.m. (EDT).

Text provided by Heather Handley

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