rpm.espn.com: Drivers to Watch

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Tuesday, April 3
Drivers to Watch
ESPN.com news services

Check out a short list of drivers to keep an eye on this weekend at Miami.

Billy Boat
Finished a career-best 10th in the Indy Racing Northern Lights Series last year; was a promising fifth in the first race this season at Phoenix; joined Beck Motorsports for this year.

Eddie Cheever
Matched a career-best third place finish in the points standings last year; one victory came at Pikes Peak, his fourth career IRL win; his seven top-10 finishes tied for best in the series with Northern Indy Lights champion Buddy Lazier; has earned over $4 million in his IRL career.

Airton Dare
A Miami resident who would like to perform well in front of family and friends; Rookie of the Year in 2000 started this year with a respectable 10th place finish in Phoenix; drives No. 88 car for TeamXtreme.

Mark Dismore
Did not finish the race in Phoenix due to an accident on lap 75; competing in fourth year with Kelley Racing in Indy Racing; despite being a top competitor, has just one career win to show for it, scored at the 1999 season ending race in Texas; finished fifth in the points last year after placing third in 1999; best career accomplishment was winning the Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona in 1993.

Felipe Giaffone
Rookie started season with an impressive sixth-place finish at Phoenix; early season Rookie of the Year leader with 28 points.

Davey Hamilton
The 38-year-old veteran is the only driver to start in all 44 events in Indy Racing League history; drives for Sam Schmidt Motorsports after competing for three different teams in 2000; continues to search for his first career win; finished second three times last year; just missed a top-10 finish by placing 12th in Phoenix in the opening race.

Sam Hornish Jr.
Winner of the Pennzoil Copper 200 at Phoenix International Raceway, dominated the race leading 140 laps; at 21, became the youngest driver to win an IRL event; tested well at Miami-Homestead Speedway in late February; posted lap of 26.981 seconds at 200.134 miles per hour; one of only 14 drivers to eclipse the 200 mph mark at the open test.

Buddy Lazier
The 2000 Indy Racing Northern Light Series champion started the defense of his title strong with a third-place finish at Phoenix; goal this season is to become first driver to win Light Cup and the Indianapolis 500 in the same season; first racer to surpass $6 million in IRL career earnings.

Eliseo Salazar
The native of Chile opened the 2001 Indy Racing season with a solid second place finish at Phoenix; it is a homecoming of sorts for the Miami resident; hopes to bring home a victory after posting the second-fastest speed at the open test and solidifying his claim as a top contender for the Northern Light Cup; drives the No. 14 Dallara owwned by racing legend A.J. Foyt; competed three years in Formula One, with a couple of finishes in the points; won three IMSA sports car races before turning his attention to Indy Racing.

Scott Sharp
Started 2001 well with a fourth-place finish in Phoenix last month; looks to improve his seventh place finish from last year's final IRL standings; had one win in 2000, at Texas Motor Speedway, giving him an IRL record five; drives for Kelley Racing.

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