McGehee

ROBBY MCGEHEE

RACING HIGHLIGHTS:

2004: In a late deal, Robby McGehee qualified on Bump Day for the 88th Indy 500. He earned the 33rd and last starting position with an average speed of 211.631 mph in the PDM Racing Dallara Chevrolet, sponsored by Natoli Engineering. Burger King also came on board for the race, in which McGehee finished 22nd. He completed 177 laps of the rain-shortened event, earning $202,740. It was McGehee's fifth appearance in the world's greatest auto race.

2003: McGehee made a last-minute deal to run in the 2003 Indy 500 driving a third entry for Panther Racing. He qualified 31st on Bump Day and finished 25th in the race, dropping out with steering problems that were caused when A.J. Foyt IV ran over the front end of his car while Foyt was trying to avoid a spinning Sarah Fisher.

He was unable to run any additional Indy Racing League events in 2003 due to a lack of sponsorship funds in a tight economy. Finished 33rd in points.

2002: In 2002 McGehee made headlines the way he didn't want to, as he was the first driver to test the Indianapolis Motor Speedway's revolutionary new SAFER barrier on opening day of practice for the Indy 500. The good news was that the barrier worked extremely well. Instead of suffering severe injuries in the 200 mph-plus accident, McGehee was able to try to qualify for the Indy 500 later that month in a car pieced together from parts by the Cahill Racing team. Unfortunately the team ran out of time to get the car up to speed, and McGehee and the rest of the team were left sitting on the sidelines on race day.

The Cahill team didn't enter another IRL event in 2002, leaving McGehee without a ride. He was picked up by three other teams for various IRL races on the 2002 schedule, running with the Beck Motorsports/Parsons Motorsports team; Sam Schmidt Motorsports and even Red Bull Cheever Racing. He ended up 21st in the driver standings at the end of the year.

McGehee was raring to go when the 2002 season started. He missed two races in 2001 due to the most serious accident of his career, but by the beginning of 2002 he was recovered completely.

2001:
Signed by Cahill Racing just before the season opener in 2001, McGehee's " junior" year in the Indy Racing Northern Light Series was one of ups and downs in 2001. He made his third consecutive Indy 500 in May and finished a solid 11th. Then, at the very next race, he suffered the worst accident of his career in June at Texas, breaking his left leg in 10 places, cracking ribs, separating his shoulder and suffering a concussion.

A month later, however, he was hobbling over to his car on crutches and posting two top-10 finishes, including his season best of fourth in the series' first appearance at Nashville Superspeedway.

McGehee definitely was in the spotlight when the series made its first visit to Gateway International Raceway near his hometown of St. Louis in August. Like most of his rivals, McGehee had never raced at Gateway before that weekend either, but he was still in the top 10 at the checkered, just as he was at
another new track in Kansas City, Mo., in July.

He missed two of the 13 races due to the Texas crash and ended the 2001 season in 16th place overall.

2000:
Competed in first full Indy Racing Northern Light Series season, driving for Treadway Racing. Started 14th at Casino Magic 500 at Texas Motor Speedway and led two laps before finishing a career-high second to Scott Sharp by .059 of a second, the closest margin in series history.

Led 11 laps at MCI WorldCom 200 at Phoenix International Raceway after starting a career-high fourth before an accident while leading relegated him to 24th place.

Started 12th and led two laps at Indianapolis 500 before finishing 21st due to engine problems mid-race.

Finished a career-high 12th in Northern Light Series points. Led six races for a total of 30 laps, both career-highs. Six races led tied Eddie Cheever Jr., Buddy Lazier and Mark Dismore for series lead. Surpassed $1 million in Indy Racing League career earnings.

1999:
McGehee burst upon the Indy racing scene with Conti Racing in 1999. His first appearance in an Indy car was the 1999 Indianapolis 500, where his fifth-place finish earned him Bank One Rookie of the Year honors. Climbed from 27th starting positon.

Despite missing two races in 1999, McGehee led the Sprint PCS Rookie of the Year standings by one point entering the last race of the season at Texas Motor Speedway. After qualifying eighth for the final race of 1999, an electrical problem on lap 62 handed the Rookie of the Year title to Scott Harrington by
nine points.

Started career-best eighth at Colorado Indy 200 presented by Deloitte & Touche at Pikes Peak. Led 17 laps at MBNA Mid-Atlantic 200 at Dover before finishing ninth.

1998:
Prior to competing in Indy racing, McGehee raced in the ultra-competitive U.S. Formula 2000 series, where his 1998 victories at Homestead and Atlanta earned him the runner-up position in the Road to Indy Oval Crown Series for the second consecutive year. In addition to his two victories, McGehee finished second five times to place third overall in the U.S. F2000 series. Turned lap of 137.064 mph at Atlanta, then the fastest lap ever by a U.S. F2000 car.

1997:
Runner-up in U.S. F2000 Road to Indy Oval Crown Series.
Finished seventh in overall U.S. F2000 point standings.

1994:
McGehee's racing career first gained momentum in 1994. That season he competed in the Formula Dodge series, earning three victories and nine top-three finishes.

PERSONAL:
Born July 20, 1973 in St. Louis
Hometown: St. Louis
Residence: Chesterfield, Mo., a suburb of St. Louis
Ht./Wt.: 6-2/175
Engaged to Norma Oteham of Brownsburg, Ind.
Hobbies include golf, motorcycles and computers.
Played golf, baseball and football in high school.
Inspiration to race came from his mother, Janet, an amateur racer.
Most memorable race is the 1999 Indianapolis 500, where he won the Bank One Rookie of the Year Award.
Was graduated from the University of Mississippi in 1997 with a computer science degree and a minor in French.
At age 18 he enrolled in the Skip Barber Racing School.
Favorite food is filet mignon from Ruth's Chris Steakhouse; favorite movies are "Austin Powers" and "There's Something About Mary;" favorite actor is Mike Myers; favorite actress is Cameron Diaz; favorite charities are the Think First Foundation, the Humane Society and the Sam Schmidt Paralysis Foundation; favorite music is pop; favorite professional teams are the St. Louis Cardinals,
the St. Louis Blues and the St. Louis Rams; favorite racetracks are the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Dover Downs International Speedway and Texas Motor Speedway.
Works in the computer business when not racing.

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS:

2004

Track

Indy

Race Date

5/30/04

Speed

211.631 mph

Qualified

33

Finished

22

Laps

177

Status

Running

Winnings

$202,704

2003

Track

Indy

Race Date

5/25/03

Speed

224.493 mph

Qualified

31

Finished

25

Laps

125

Status

Steering

Winnings

$151,565

2002

Track

Homestead
Phoenix
Fontana
Nazareth
Indy
Texas 1
PPIR
Richmond
Kansas
Nashville
Michigan
Kentucky
Gateway
Chicagoland
Texas 2

Race Date

3/2/02
3/17/02
3/24/02
4/21/02
5/26/02
6/8/02
6/16/02
6/29/02
7/7/02
7/20/02
7/28/02
8/11/02
8/25/02
9/8/02
9/15/02

Speed

198.055 mph
171.332 mph
213.840 mph
167.935 mph
Did not qualify
Did not enter
169.100 mph
161.193 mph
210.878 mph
Did not enter
Did not enter
Did not enter
168.174mph
Did not enter
218.739

Qualified

14
21
22
20


20
16
22



22

11

Status

Running
Accident
Running
Running


Running
Running
Running



Running

Running

Winnings

$38,300
$32,800
$34,300
$39,900


$13,700
$30,650
$18,300



$18,500

$16,500

2001

Track
             
Phoenix    
Homestead
Atlanta
Indy
Texas 1
Pikes Peak
Richmond
Kansas
Nashville
Kentucky
Gateway
Chicagoland
Texas 2

Race Date
  
3/18/01            
4/8/01 
4/28/01 
5/27/01 
6/9/01 
6/17/01 
6/30/01 
7/8/01 
7/21/01 
8/12/01 
8/26/01 
9/2/01
9/16/01

Speed
             
172.196 mph
192.875 mph
212.510 mph
222.607 mph
210.290 mph
did not compete
did not compete
210.850 mph
197.639 mph
210.266 mph
rained out
216.102 mph
rained out

Status

Running
Running
Accident
Running
Accident
did not compete
did not compete
Running
Running
Suspension
Running
Steering arm
Engine

Winnings

$43,350
$40,200
$32,200
$290,825
$38,500
did not compete
did not compete
$44,100
$59,450
$35,600
$43,600
$32,600
$38,200

2000

Competed in first full Indy Racing Northern Light Series season, driving for Treadway Racing.
Started 14th at Casino Magic 500 at Texas Motor Speedway and led two laps before finishing a career-high second to Scott Sharp by .059 of a second, the closest margin in series history.

Led 11 laps at MCI WorldCom 200 at Phoenix International Raceway after starting a career-high fourth before an accident while leading relegated him to 24th place.

Started 12th and led two laps at Indianapolis 500 before finishing 21st due to engine problems mid-race.

Finished a career-high 12th in Northern Light Series points.

Led six races for a total of 30 laps, both career-highs. Six races led tied Eddie Cheever Jr., Buddy Lazier and Mark Dismore for series lead.

Surpassed $1 million in Indy Racing League career earnings.

1999

Made Indy Racing League debut at Indianapolis 500, finishing fifth and earning Bank One Rookie of the Year honors in Conti Racing entry. Climbed from 27th starting position.

Finished second in Sprint PCS Rookie of the Year standings, nine points behind Rookie of the Year Scott Harrington. Led rookie points, 138-137, entering season-ending Mall.com 500 at Texas.

Started career-best eighth at Colorado Indy 200 presented by Deloitte & Touche at Pikes Peak.

Led 17 laps at MBNA Mid-Atlantic 200 at Dover before finishing ninth.

Joined Treadway Racing for 2000 season.

1998

Runner-up in U.S. Formula 2000 "Road to Indy" Oval Crown Series.

Finished third in overall U.S. F2000 point standings with victories at Homestead and Atlanta. Runner-up at five races.

Turned lap of 137.064 mph at Atlanta, then the fastest lap ever by a U.S. F2000 car.

1997

Runner-up in U.S. F2000 Road to Indy Oval Crown Series.

Finished seventh in overall U.S. F2000 point standings.

1994

Earned three victories and posted nine top-three finishes in Formula Dodge series.