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NorhternLight IRL: Infiniti Sweeps Top Three Spots in Practice For Pikes Peak

17 June 2000

Posted By Terry Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel

FOUNTAIN, Colo. -- Infiniti powered the top three cars in practice today in preparation for the Radisson Indy 200 on Sunday, June 18. Both Infiniti drivers, Eddie Cheever Jr. and Robbie Buhl, out-paced the rest of the field in the two practice sessions held today at the one-mile Pikes Peak International Raceway, located just south of Colorado Springs.

Eddie Cheever Jr. topped the day's speed charts with a 173.310 mph lap, posted during the second practice session in his back-up Excite@Home Infiniti. Robbie Buhl, in his second race this season with Infiniti, was second fastest of the day with a 172.794 mph lap in the No. 24 Team Purex Dreyer & Reinbold Infiniti. Cheever also held the third spot on the speed chart with a 172.654 mph lap, recorded in his primary car during the first practice session.

Television coverage of the Radisson Indy 200 includes a live broadcast on ABC at 4 p.m. (EDT) on June 18, a pre-race show on ESPN2 at 11 a.m. (EDT) on June 18, and MBNA Pole Qualifying on ESPN2 (EDT) at 5:30 p.m. on June 17.

QUOTES

Eddie Cheever Jr., No. 51 Excite@Home Dallara-Infiniti: "Both the primary and back-up #51 Excite@Home cars are running very, very well. We've had no real problems and the handling is right where we want it to be. Obviously, it's nice to be fast right away, but as always our focus is on the race. We're third in points--now we have to concentrate on leaving Pikes Peak even further ahead. It was very hectic out there today. I got to get a bead on Lazier, who's always very tough. I ran a little bit with Scott Goodyear, who's always there at the end. We seem to be very quick off the corners. The Infiniti engine seems to like this Colorado air, so we're going to make the most of it. They say that whoever wins this race always wins the championship, so if that isn't motivation enough for us, I don't know what is. (On the Infiniti engine): "Historically, this engine has raced better than it has qualified. I do not expect to be on the pole tomorrow. I'd be happy to be in the top six or seven. However, I know that once the flag drops, the torque of the engine will allow us to work our way up to the front of the field. We have put a lot of work into the Infiniti program. We picked up the program at a very important part in the growth of our company, Team Cheever, and we have fantastic partners. Everyone has worked very hard and put a lot of money and effort into the program. I believe we are getting very close to our first win with the Infiniti engine."

Robbie Buhl, No. 24 Team Purex/Dreyer & Reinbold Racing G Force-Infiniti: "I am very happy with all the hard work that Eddie has been putting in on the Infiniti motor, because it really has come a long way. When we switched over at Indianapolis for our second car, which Steve Knapp drove, we had not had any problems, any hiccups, whatsoever with the Infiniti powerplant. Practice is one thing and it is nice to be here right now, but our focus is not to be on the front row in qualifying, if that happens we're sure going to take it, but we are focusing on what we feel is going to be a good race car. Obviously, part of that is the torque of the motor once you are in traffic and in and out of the throttle. That really is the strength of the Infiniti. Hopefully we can show that on Sunday."

Frank Honsowetz, Infiniti Motorsports manager: "(What does it mean to be quickest in practice?)It tells us that we are making more progress still. We are also one, two, and three because Eddie was third quick in his other car which bodes well for us. At this point we will continue our record of trying to work as hard as we can to not have any problems. We are working on the reliability issues, horsepower of course is an issue, and currently our main focus is fuel economy. We have been racing for a long time at the top level of sports car racing with the Nissan badge. From that we understand that what we have to do is race at the front of the pack with really good teams at every single event, and wins will come. We have been real close. I think a lot of people thought we were going to win with Eddie at Orlando, and Robbie got the advantage of that. It is going to happen. I think that everybody around here believes that it is inevitable that it is going to happen soon. We are going to keep doing what we have been doing, start winning races, and keep winning races."

PRACTICE HIGHLIGHTS

*1. Eddie Cheever Jr., #51T Dallara/Infiniti, 173.310
*2. Robbie Buhl, #24 G Force/Infiniti, 172.794
*3. Eddie Cheever Jr., #51 Dallara/Infiniti, 172.654
4. Eliseo Salazar, #11 G Force/Oldsmobile,
5. Greg Ray, #1T Dallara/Oldsmobile
6. Greg Ray, #1 Dallara/Oldsmobile
7. Donnie Beechler, #98 Dallara/Oldsmobile,
8. Robby McGehee, G Force/Oldsmobile
9. Al Unser Jr., G Force/Oldsmobile
10. Jeret Schroeder, Dallara/Oldsmobile

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.