IRL racing info found at <http://www.teamcheever.com/>:
TV:
(Race) TNN (live), 4 p.m. (EDT) Oct. 11
Announcers: Mike Joy, Tom Sneva
Pit reporters: Ralph Sheheen, Vince Welch
RADIO:
(Race) IMS Radio Network (live), 4 p.m.
(EDT) Oct. 11. Pre-race show starts at 3:30
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TEAM CHEEVER LOOKS FOR PODIUM "HAT TRICK" AT VEGAS
Indy 500 winner, Eddie Cheever and teammate, Robby Unser look for their third podium finish in as many races at the Pep Boys IRL season finale October 5
Las Vegas, Nevada -- Coming off the momentum of Robby Unser's second place finish at Texas and Eddie Cheever's third place finish in Atlanta, Team Cheever looks to turn up the heat one more notch for a final season victory at this weekend's Las Vegas 500K at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
"This race team has been competitive all year long," commented Owner/Driver Eddie Cheever on the season. "Our finishes in Indy, Atlanta and Texas are no flukes; A Las Vegas victory would be a great way to end the season."
"As I see it, Team Cheever has two strong shots at it," added teammate Robby Unser. "If either Eddie or myself hit a snag, the other will pick up the torch for Team Cheever."
Pulling off a "hat trick" of three-in-a-row podium finishes won't be easy. More conventional in shape than the other mile and a half ovals on the Pep Boys IRL circuit, Las Vegas is unique. Windy conditions that blow sand on the course in addition to the banking size narrow the driver's focus while heightening the demands on teams to find the set up that will work.
"The banking at Charlotte or Texas give you free grip. You just don't have that at Vegas," commented Cheever. "Setting up the cars well in order to maximize what essentially is just two available lines will be our focus. If we're successful there, we will have a distinct advantage."
Though competitors on the track, the two-car team of Team Cheever is strident in sharing feedback amongst driver and crew to ensure a win. One ace in their hole may be the fact that last year's race winner is this year's Crew Chief on Cheever's #52 GForce team.
"Though I don't have any seat time here, Dane Harte really knows the set up for this track," commented Unser. "Having won the race here last year, he knows how unique this course is and the pitfalls to avoid. He'll give us a strong leg up."
Team Cheever will be focused on one other significant check for the win column this weekend. Topping off the season highlight of Cheever's Indy 500 win, Unser now has a shot at clinching of Rookie Of The Year Honors.
"I know the points say I have a strong lead, but honestly, I don't like to think about it much," commented Unser. "I just stay focused on doing my best. That's what we've done all year and it seems to work."
"We are very excited for Robby," added Cheever on Unser's success. "He and the guys have worked their guts out for this and deserve every shot at clinching it this weekend."
The Las Vegas 500K race will air live on Sunday, October 11th at 4pm EDT on TNN. Qualifying will air at 9pm on Speedvision, Saturday, October 10th.
Primary sponsorship of Team Cheever comes from Rachel's Gourmet Potato Chips and The Children's Beverage Group. Rachel's, based in Minneapolis, Minnesota, is both the manufacturer and distributor of the 9 unique flavors of Rachel's Gourmet Potato Chips. The company is publicly traded under the symbol "RLDS" and can be contacted toll free at 800-730-3700 or at their website www.rachelspotatochips.com . The Children's Beverage Group (TCBG) is the designer of the RIP-IT SIP-IT(tm) straw-in-the-pouch drinking system that began distribution nationwide in 1997. For more information, call TCBG's corporate headquarters at 847-562-4040 or visit their website at www.stockprofiles.com/tcbg . Secondary sponsors of Team Cheever include Goodyear, Menards, Sony Disc Manufacturing, All Sports Telemetry (AST), Bosch, True Grit Apparel and Pennzoil.
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OTHER SELECT INFO:
WHAT
Third annual LAS VEGAS 500K
Last of 11 races in the 1998 Pep Boys
Indy Racing League season
WHERE
Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Las Vegas
1.5-mile paved tri-oval superspeedway
WHEN
1 p.m. (PDT) Sunday, Oct. 11, 1998
DISTANCE
312 miles (500 kilometers)/208 laps
POSTED AWARDS
More than $1 million
Seven Pep Boys Indy Racing League rookies
are entered in this event:
Donnie Beechler, Steve Knapp, Andy
Michner, Stevie Reeves, Dave Steele, Brian
Tyler and Robby Unser. Beechler, Michner
and Steele are USAC open-wheel standouts.
Knapp finished third in the Indianapolis 500
this year to claim Bank One Rookie of the
Year honors. 1993 USAC midget national
champion Reeves joined the league after
competing in the NASCAR Busch Series.
Tyler is the two-time defending USAC sprint
champion, and Unser is the son of three-time
Indianapolis 500 winner Bobby Unser and an
eight-time winner of the Pikes Peak
International Hill Climb.
STATISTICS
1998 Pep Boys IRL point standings
1. Kenny Brack* 312
2. Davey Hamilton* 281
3. Tony Stewart* 271
4. Scott Sharp 254
5. Jeff Ward 243
6. Scott Goodyear 236
7. Buddy Lazier 227
8. Marco Greco 194
9. Eddie CheeverJr. 192
10. Stephan Gregoire 188
11. Billy Boat 187
12. John Paul Jr. 184
13. Arie Luyendyk 175
14. Mark Dismore 165
15. Robby Unser (Rookie) 162
1998 Pep Boys IRL money leaders
1. Eddie Cheever Jr. $1,755,500
2. Kenny Brack $1,054,500
3. Tony Stewart $961,950
4. Billy Boat $940,950
5. Buddy Lazier $911,100 |
