IRL: Team Cheever Looks for Podium "Hat Trick" at Vegas
6 October 1998
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.
Eddie Cheever
"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.
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