Buddy Rice

Buddy Rice ( born January 31, 1976 in Phoenix, Arizona) is an American race car driver. He was champion of the 2000 Atlantic Championship. He joined intermittently from 2002 to 2011 in the IndyCar Series. He won there in 2004, the Indianapolis 500 His best overall placement in the IndyCar Series was the third place in 2004.

Career

Rice began his motorsport career in 1989 in karting, where he was active until 1995. In the further course of his career, Rice participated in some karting. In 1996 he moved to Formula racing and took part in a race in the U.S. Formula Ford. In 1997, he entered fully in this championship and was fourth overall.

In 1998, Rice in the Atlantic Championship. With a win, he finished his first season in seventh place overall. In 1999, he remained in the Atlantic Championship. Although he did not win a race, but improved with a total of four podium finishes in fifth place in the championship. 2000 graduated from Rice his third season in the Atlantic Championship. For starting DSTP Motorsports he chose for himself five races and won the championship in front of Dan Wheldon. Rice stood at ten out of twelve races on the podium.

After a season without racing Rice graduated from racing again. He made his debut in the Grand-Am Sports Car Series and returned for five races in the Atlantic Championship in which he was 17, back.

In August 2002, Rice made ​​his debut in the Indy Racing League (IRL ). For Red Bull Cheever Racing, he completed his first race in Brooklyn. Originally it was intended to replace Tomas Scheckter, who had fallen after several collisions with the team boss and colleagues Eddie Cheever in disgrace. Cheever but had to use due to his contract Scheckter. Therefore, the team began a third car for Rice and gave him the best equipment and the best mechanics of the team. Nevertheless, Scheckter won the race ahead of Rice, who finished in second in his first race on the podium. Rice completed five races, including four times in the top ten drivers to the finish. In the overall standings, he was 22

2003 Rice kept his cockpit at Red Bull Cheever Racing. The championship had been renamed in the meantime in the IndyCar Series. His team put in this season only one vehicle. Rice reached four top - 10 finishes and has three races left in the season by the more experienced Alex Barron replaced. In the championship Rice was 16

2004 Rice moved to Rahal Letterman Racing. He replaced Kenny Bräck there, which turned out due to injury after an accident in the season finale in 2003. For the third race Rice received with Vitor Meira again a teammate. Rice scored his first victory at the Indianapolis 500. He competed in the prestigious race from pole position and led the most laps on it. In the further course of the season was followed by two more victories in Kansas City and Brooklyn. With each race he finished, he came in the top ten pilots to the finish. He completed the championship as the best American pilot from third place.

2005 Rice received with Danica Patrick another teammate, as Rahal Letterman Racing began three cars. Rice scored two podium finishes and ended the season as the worst pilot of his team on the 15 championship course. At the Indianapolis 500, he had an injury sidelined and was replaced by his predecessor Bräck. In 2006, retired from the first race in Homestead, as their new teammate Paul Dana was killed in an accident in training Rice and Patrick. Jeff Simmons was then completed the team. Rice could not keep up with Patrick again and finished one place ahead Simmons the season on the 15 championship course. In addition, Rice took part in a Champ Car race for Forsythe Racing.

2007 Rice moved to Dreyer & Reinbold Racing, where he was teammate of Sarah Fisher. Unlike Fisher Rice scored regularly top 10 ranking and finished the season with a fourth place as best result from ninth place in the championship. In addition, Rice participated in two race weekends of the A1 Grand Prix, but remained, in contrast to his successor Jonathan Summerton without points. 2008 Rice remained in the IndyCar Series for Dreyer & Reinbold Racing. With a fourth place as best result he was 16th in the driver standings. Team Intern he sat down opposite his teammates Townsend Bell and Milka Duno, the cockpit shared by.

After Rice had participated in two races in the Grand-Am Sports Car Series in 2007 and 2008, he joined in 2009 to six races of this series. He succeeded to win along with David Donohue, Antonio Garcia and Darren Law in the 24- hour race at Daytona. In 2010, he participated in twelve races in the Grand-Am Sports Car Series.

2011 Rice returned to the IndyCar Series. He received at Panther Racing at first a cockpit for the Indianapolis 500 and was then also taken for the last two races of the season under contract. He finished the season in 34th place overall. In addition, Rice participated in a race in the Grand-Am Sports Car Series.

Personal

Rice is married and has one daughter.

Statistics

Career stations

  • 2002: Grand-Am Sports Car Series, SRP ( 16th place)
  • 2003: IndyCar Series (No. 16)
  • 2004: IndyCar Series ( 3rd place)
  • 2005: IndyCar Series (No. 15)
  • 2006: IndyCar Series (No. 15)
  • 2006: Champ Car ( No. 23 )
  • 2007: IndyCar Series (No. 9)
  • 2007: Grand-Am Sports Car Series, DP ( number 64 )
  • 2008: A1 Grand Prix
  • 2008: IndyCar Series (No. 16)
  • 2008: Grand-Am Sports Car Series, DP ( No. 39 )
  • 2009: Grand-Am Sports Car Series, DP ( No. 25 )
  • 2010: Grand-Am Sports Car Series, DP ( 16th place)
  • 2011: IndyCar Series ( No. 34 )
  • 2011: Grand-Am Sports Car Series, DP

Individual results in the IndyCar Series

( Legend)

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