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Northern Light IRL: Infiniti/Cheever Finishes Second in Thrilling Excite 500

16 October 2000

Posted By Terry Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel

Fort Worth, Tex.-- In a thrilling battle that went down to the final lap, Eddie Cheever Jr. finished second by only one-tenth of a second to winner Scott Goodyear in the Excite 500 at Texas Motor Speedway.

The result was the fifth top-five finish of the season for Team Cheever and Infiniti Indy, including a victory at Pikes Peak, Colo. earlier this season. The effort placed Cheever third in the Indy Racing Northern Light Championship.

Starting under sunny conditions, fifth and tenth on the grid, Infiniti drivers Buhl and Cheever drafted in the top-five positions for the first 100 laps of the 208-lap race. Just after the midway point, Buhl and Cheever placed second and third in a seven-car pack that was separated by only one-half second.

Cheever first took the lead of the race with the No. 51 Excite@Home Infiniti on lap 122, and led a total of 26 laps in front of the crowd of 61,100. Buhl also led two laps with his No. 24 Team Purex Dreyer & Reinbold Infiniti just before he retired on lap 149 with an engine problem. Buhl, who switched to Infiniti Indy power at the June Texas race, finished eighth in the Northern Light Championship.

The Excite 500 ended with a 10-lap dash to the finish with Cheever leading Scott Goodyear and Billy Boat. For the final two laps, Cheever and Goodyear were racing side-by-side. Goodyear pulled ahead on the final turns to take the checkered flag first by a fraction of a second. Minutes after the end of the race rain began to fall.

The 2001 Indy Racing Northern Light Series kicks off March 18 at the Phoenix International Raceway with race one of the 13-race championship.

QUOTES

Eddie Cheever Jr., No. 51 Excite@Home Dallara-Infiniti: "I had a good day today. I just wish it would have rained ten minutes ago (during the race) and not now. The way our cars are configured right now the leader is kind of a sitting duck. I thought I had it. The most anxious I have been all year was when I was waiting under the yellow for the track to go green (for the final restart). I had Goodyear behind me, who I have been working with all week, and who had been beating me all week on restarts. Those last laps with Scott you could not have separated us coming off the corner by three inches. You can only do that with a driver you trust.

"The Infiniti engine ran very, very well. I am looking forward to the new engine we have for next year. We've had a phenomenal year with Infiniti. Our goal this year was to finish well in the championship and win a race. And next year our goal will be a lot more ambitious. I still have a choice whether to use GM products or Infiniti, and I am very happy to continue our relationship with Infiniti. The biggest difference we've had this season is the backing we've had from Excite and Infiniti."

Robbie Buhl, No. 24 Team Purex/Dreyer & Reinbold Racing G Force-Infiniti: "We were really happy with the car, and we were getting good power from the Infiniti. Unfortunately, something happened with the motor. It's not how we wanted to end this season, but it looks good for us next year. Purex is back as our sponsor and Infiniti with the power. In the next 30 days we will begin focusing on our program for next year."

Frank Honsowetz, Infiniti Motorsports Manager: "The engine ran perfect in Eddie's car and the team did a great job. Eddie drove his heart out. It is very frustrating for everybody to come so close to winning and then lose it on the last lap by such a small margin. Overall, we have to be pleased with our results this year. Team Cheever earned our first win and finished third in the championship. This year is over now, and we are already working hard on next year and the introduction of the new Infiniti Indy 35A engine."

EXCITE 500 HIGHLIGHTS

1. Scott Goodyear
*2. Eddie Cheever Jr.
3. Billy Boat
4. Buddy Lazier
5. Eliseo Salazar
6. Donnie Beechler
7. Shigeaki Hattori
8. Jeff Ward
9. Buzz Calkins
10. Jaques Lazier
*18. Robbie Buhl

INDY RACING NORTHERN LIGHT SERIES CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS

1. Buddy Lazier, 290
2. Scott Goodyear, 272
*3. Eddie Cheever Jr., 257
4. Eliseo Salazar, 210
5. Mark Dismore, 202
6. Donnie Beechler, 202
7. Scott Sharp, 196
8. Robbie Buhl, 190
9. Al Unser Jr., 188
*10. Billy Boat, 181

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.