IRL: Rice completes first Indy 500 pre-test

Indianapolis - November, 2002 - Buddy Rice of Phoenix, Ariz., successfully completed his first test at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway today driving the Red Bull Cheever Racing Infiniti-powered Dallara.

"We wanted Buddy to get in some miles at the Speedway so he could go home and think about it over the winter," team owner Eddie Cheever Jr. said. "Everything we do is geared for winning the Indianapolis 500."

Rice completed 73 laps and turned a fast speed of 223.3 mph around the 2.5-mile speedway. Weather conditions were sunny with temperatures in the mid-50s.

"I think Indy is quite exciting and challenging" Buddy Rice said. "For my first time out it was fun and fast. I really enjoyed it. I can't wait to come back and see what it is like with the rest of the field out there with me."

Rice, 26, drove five races for Red Bull Cheever Racing last season including a season-best finish of second at Michigan.

Red Bull Cheever Racing, based in Indianapolis, is the brainchild of 1998 Indy 500 champion Eddie Cheever Jr. A leader in American motorsports, the 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 and Lincoln Financial Group greatly enhance the team's resources and technology.

- cir -