30 Days in May: No. 24, Robbie Buhl, 2001 Purex G Force/Infiniti

Welcome to our monthlong countdown celebrating notable drivers and cars from the history of the Indianapolis 500!

Photo credit: Indianapolis Motor Speedway

Robbie Buhl started ninth and finished 15th in the 2001 Indianapolis 500.

30 Days in May: No. 24, Robbie Buhl, 2001 Purex G Force/Infiniti. Robbie Buhl was one of the drivers who benefited from the infamous split in open-wheel racing. The former Indy Lights champion (1992) had trouble finding a good ride in CART, but the arrival of the Indy Racing League in 1996 provided an opportunity to finally show his talent.

He had success with both John Menard and Dreyer & Reinbold, winning a race for each. Buhl’s Purex machine was one of the more striking liveries of that era. In 2001, he started ninth and finished 15^th in the 500.

Buhl competed in the 500 from 1996-2003 with a best finish of sixth in 1999 driving for A.J. Foyt. The Buhl family is quite prominent in the history of his Detroit, and Buhl Sport Detroit in Corktown, the ciity’s oldest neighborhood, is very active with several initiatives, projects and businesses.