Buddy Rice
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Buddy Rice (born January 31, 1976 in Phoenix, Arizona) is an auto racing driver best known for winning the 2004 Indianapolis 500 as part of Rahal Letterman Racing. The race, though, was cut short 50 miles due to rain. He finished 3rd in the IRL championship that year. He was the 2000 Toyota Atlantic Series champion and had his first race in the IRL in 2002 for Red Bull Cheever Racing, and was their only driver for much of 2003 until the more experienced Alex Barron replaced him.
Out of a ride in the IRL, Rice had various options. In November 2003, he dabbled with a one-off at Homestead during a NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race, before earning the call from Bobby Rahal to at minimum substitute in the #15 Argent Mortgage Honda when Kenny Bräck was injured in a late-race crash at Texas Motor Speedway in 2003. Rice pulled the surprise in 2004 by winning the Indianapolis 500.
For 2005 he and Vitor Meira were joined by Danica Patrick. However, Rice was injured in a crash himself at Indianapolis during practice was not cleared to race. In an ironic twist of events, Bräck substituted for Rice.
The 2006 season started tragically for Rice and Danica Patrick, who withdrew immediately from the season-opening race at Homestead-Miami Speedway following the death of new Rahal Letterman Racing teammate Paul Dana in final practice. Rice started his 2006 season at St. Petersburg, Florida, in the second race. His Indianapolis 500 ended early in a crash with Helio Castroneves.
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