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IRL: McGehee looks to take care of unfinished business at Pikes Peak

24 August 1999

FOUNTAIN, Colo. (Aug. 24, 1999) – If Robby McGehee and the rest of the
Energizer Motorsports camp look a little hungrier than usual at this
weekend’s Colorado Indy 200 Pep Boys Indy Racing League event, it’s for
good reason.

They feel they have some unfinished business to take care of here on the
1-mile Pikes Peak International Raceway tri-oval.

“I have a really good feeling about this race,” said the 26-year-old
McGehee, this year’s Indy 500 Rookie of the Year who was relegated to
the sidelines when the IRL paid its first visit of the season to Pikes
Peak last June.  “It was just one of those weekends the last time we
were here.  We didn’t even get to race.  This time, we’re coming to town
with all-new ’99 upgrades in place on our car, which should make a
significant difference, and we’re trying out a new (Comptech) motor
program.  I’m really excited about this one.”

After suffering through various mechanical problems in practice for last
June’s event here, McGehee didn’t even get to qualify his familiar black
#55 Energizer Motorsports Dallara/ Aurora/Firestone entry.  Relegated to
the back of the starting grid, he and the car then had an unfortunate
meeting with the PPIR wall, which brought an early end to their weekend.

McGehee got back on track at the following two events, finishing 14th at
Atlanta and ninth at Dover Downs, where he led for 17 laps.

“One way to look at it is that there’s nowhere to go but up after our
last run here at Pikes Peak,” said the St. Louis native.  “But we’re
expecting much more than that with the changes we’ve made.  We were
running well here the last time, which erased the question marks we had
about running on a short oval for the first time.  At Dover, we were
running with the leaders when we unexpectedly ran out of fuel, or else
we might have ended up in contention.  I can’t wait to get out there
this weekend.”

Practice for the Colorado Indy 200, Round 8 of 10 on the 1999 Pep Boys
Indy Racing League circuit, begins Friday (Aug. 27) with qualifying set
for Saturday (Aug. 28).  The green flag falls on Sunday (Aug. 29) at 2
p.m. MDT.  The race will be broadcast live by Fox Sports Net.  Check
local listings.

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