IRL: Cheever Racing Kentucky test notes 2002-09-30

Red Bull Cheever Racing kicks off winter testing at Kentucky.

SPARTA, Ky. (Oct. 1, 2002) - Red Bull Cheever Racing kicked off its winter testing program with a one-day test at Kentucky Speedway Sept. 30.

Buddy Rice completed 105 laps on the 1.5-mile tri-oval where he finished 12th earlier this year. His fastest unofficial speed was 220.8 mph in the Red Bull Cheever Racing Dallara-Infiniti-Firestone car.

"I was in Indy for the Formula One race and then we went to Kentucky to test," Rice said. "We had an excellent time. We learned a lot from some new bits we put on the car. It went very well."

Ricardo Mauricio, a 23-year-old from Sao Paulo, Brazil, joined the team for his first oval test. He successfully passed the speed phase of his Indy Racing League rookie test, completing 100 laps with a fastest unofficial speed of 220.6 mph. Mauricio has driven for the Red Bull Junior Team in the FIA International Formula 3000 series since 1999.

"I was happy to stay around a few extra days for this opportunity," said Mauricio, about the test which was postponed last Thursday because of weather. "It was brilliant. I enjoyed working with Cheever Racing and driving the Red Bull Indy car."

Red Bull Cheever Racing, based in Indianapolis, is the brainchild of 1998 Indy 500 champion Eddie Cheever Jr. A leader in American motorsports, this Indy Racing League team is built on Cheever's experience in Formula One, sports cars and open-wheel oval racing. Corporate and technical partnerships with the world's leading energy drink Red Bull, Nissan North America's Infiniti Division, TWR Group and Lincoln Financial Group greatly enhance the team's resources and technology. For more information, visit www.cheeverindyracing.com.

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