Robbie Buhl
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Robbie Buhl (born September 2, 1963 in Detroit) is a former IndyCar Series competitor.
He won the 1992 Indy Lights championship and caught the eye of John Menard in 1996, running as team mate to Tony Stewart for two seasons. (Buhl had succeeded the late Scott Brayton, and later married his widow.) He scored his first win in what was once the closest finish in series history when he beat ex-MasterCard Lola F1 driver Vincenzo Sospiri by 0.064 of a second at the New Hampshire International Speedway. He started his own team, Dreyer & Reinbold Racing, in 2000 and stunned the establishment with a win from 22nd on the grid the season opener at Walt Disney World Speedway. Mild to moderate success followed the next few seasons and he retired as a driver prior to the 2004 Indianapolis 500. Robbie is a Founder and key Supporter of "Racing for Kids", a charitable foundation established to assist chronically ill children. Robbie makes a point of visiting sick children at hospitals on each stop of the circuit, bringing a bit of cheer to their lives in the process. He is also the co-owner of IndyCar series team Dreyer & Reinbold Racing.
Buhl hails from Grosse Pointe Farms, Michigan, one of the wealthiest enclaves in the US. His family is one of the oldest of "old money" -"social register" Detroit society families. Their wealth stems from 19th/early 20th century manufacturing and real estate development and the industrialization of Detroit in the period 1850-1950. Family holdings included Buhl Stamping, Buhl Aircraft manufacturing, development of vast real estate holdings (including the landmark Buhl Building in downtown Detroit), Parke Davis (now part of drug giant Pfizer) , Copper and Brass Sales, Inc, (by marriage) and many other holdings. His parents reside in Grosse Pointe Farms, Harbor Springs, Michigan, and Hobe Sound, Florida.
[edit] Indy 500 results
| Year | Chassis | Engine | Start | Finish |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1993 | Lola | Buick | Practice Crash | |
| 1996 | Lola | Ford-Cosworth | 23rd | 9th |
| 1997 | G-Force | Oldsmobile | 4th | 8th |
| 1998 | Dallara | Oldsmobile | 5th | 31st |
| 1999 | Dallara | Oldsmobile | 32nd | 6th |
| 2000 | G-Force | Oldsmobile | 9th | 26th |
| 2001 | G-Force | Infiniti | 9th | 15th |
| 2002 | G-Force | Infiniti | 2nd | 16th |
| 2003 | Dallara | Chevrolet | 22nd | 23rd |
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