Rice

INDIANAPOLIS -- Buddy Rice has signed a multiyear contract with Red Bull Cheever Racing to drive in the IRL.

"We are pleased to officially sign Buddy," team owner Eddie Cheever Jr. said. "Buddy demonstrated last season that he is professional, fast and able to lead this team into the future. It doesn't hurt that he is one of the top American drivers, either."

Rice, 26, joined Red Bull Cheever Racing in July for the Michigan race, where he finished second. In his five races with the team, Rice completed every lap of every race. He finished among the top 10 in four of his five races with the team.

"I am really happy to be with Red Bull Cheever Racing, it's an excellent team," Rice said. "It was the next obvious step to my short run with them last season. This is the opportunity I have been waiting for. I am pumped to get the 2003 championship started."

Rice competed in the Toyota Atlantic series from 1998 to 2000, winning the championship in 2000. He started racing go-karts at age 11, winning several national titles.

Cheever also ran cars for himself and Tomas Scheckter last season. Scheckter left the team before the end of the year.