Cheever

	Rice

BROOKLYN, Mich. -- Buddy Rice has a helmet, a suit and an impressive Indy Racing League debut. Now he's wondering what it's going to take be a full-time driver.

Rice finished second Sunday in the Michigan Indy 400 while driving for Red Bull Cheever Racing as part of a one-race deal.

"I'm not guaranteed anything," Rice said. "All this does it just maybe help my credibility. The biggest excuses I keep hearing is that I don't have money and I've never been in a race. I still don't have the money. Obviously, I showed I can race."

Rice, the 2000 Toyota Atlantic champion, started in the front row along with teammate Tomas Scheckter. He held his own throughout the race, leading 15 laps and staying among the top five.

"I've got a helmet. I've got a suit. That's all I got," he said.

Rice said will meet with team owner Eddie Cheever Jr. to discuss future driving possibilities.

"I have no idea what I'm going to do," Cheever said, though he did indicate that there might be an opening for Rice. "We will run three cars from here on out."

Historic day

	Fisher

Sarah Fisher put her name in the Michigan International Speedway record books with her eighth-place finish, the best result by a woman in an open-wheel event at the track.

The previous best was 13th by Janet Gutherie in July 1976.

However, it's not a career-best finish for Fisher, who was second last year in Homestead, Fla.

"It makes it easy on the driver when the car is so good," said Fisher, who raced at MIS for the first time.

"I had a lot of fun. I was able to race with the top guys in points for the first time in three years."

Fisher brought fans to their feet when she took over the lead on lap 185 and battled for the front for the next six laps. She ended up leading four laps, the first time she has led laps this season.

"When you pass people, they could be a girl or boy, doesn't matter," race winner Tomas Scheckter said.

Up, up and away

	Ward

Jeff Ward was examined at the infield hospital and released after hitting the wall going into the fourth turn on the 95th lap.

"I filled up with fuel and had cold tires," Ward said. "We were trying to make up some time. The car was good the first lap out. Then I was going flat out into turn 3. The full fuel tanks seemed to bottom me out and I skipped up the track. When you're running a high line you have no room to save it."

Spark plugs