Robbie Buhl
{{Short description|American racing driver (born 1963)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2025}}
{{Infobox racing driver
| name = Robbie Buhl
| image = File:Robbiebuhl.jpg
| imagesize =
| caption = Buhl at the 1997 Indianapolis 500
| nationality = American
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1963|9|2}}
| birth_place = Detroit, Michigan, U.S.
| death_date =
| retired = 2004
| related to =
| last series = Indy Racing League IndyCar Series
| years active = 1996–2004
| teams = Beck Motorsports
Team Menard
Sinden Racing
Tri-Star Racing
Dreyer & Reinbold Racing
| starts = 78
| wins = 2
| poles = 0
| fastest laps =
| best finish = 3rd
| year = 1996
| prev series = CART World Series
Indy Lights
Barber Saab Pro Series
| prev series years = 1993–1994
1990–1996
1989
| titles = Indy Lights
Barber Saab Pro Series
| title years = 1992
1989
| awards =
| award years =
}}
Robbie Buhl (born September 2, 1963) is an American former race car driver who competed in the Indy Racing League. He was a color commentator for the IndyCar races on Versus. In 2016, Robbie, along with his brother Tom Buhl, started [https://www.buhlsport.com Buhl Sport Detroit], a motorsports marketing company, professional race team, and teen driving program based in Detroit, MI.
Buhl's current race team, Racing4Detroit, is the first professional race team based in Detroit, and most recently ran in the 2019 Americas Rallycross Championship. He also created and acts as lead instructor of [https://www.teenstreetskills.org Teen Street Skills], an advanced teen driver training program also based and operating in Detroit.
He won the 1992 Indy Lights championship and caught the eye of John Menard's Team Menard in 1996, running as team mate to Tony Stewart for two seasons succeeding the late Scott Brayton. 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 seconds at the New Hampshire International Speedway.
Personal life
Buhl was born in Detroit but his home is Grosse Pointe Farms, Michigan. He is a graduate of Cranbrook School (now Cranbrook Kingswood School) in Bloomfield Hills. His family's 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 Company, development of vast real estate holdings (including the landmark Buhl Building in downtown Detroit), Parke-Davis (now part of drug giant Pfizer), Buhl Steel (now part of U.S. Steel), Copper and Brass Sales, Inc, (by marriage) and many other holdings. Relatives include former Detroit mayors Christian H. Buhl and Frederick Buhl. His parents reside in Grosse Pointe Farms, Harbor Springs, Michigan, and Hobe Sound, Florida.
On Easter Sunday 1999, he married former racer Scott Brayton's widow Becky.
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.
In 2007, he began a broadcasting career, joining the broadcast booth for the Indy Pro Series, now the Firestone Indy Lights Series, alongside veteran broadcaster Bob Jenkins. He would join Jenkins and Jon Beekhuis in the Versus broadcast booth for the 2009 IndyCar Series.[http://www.16thandgeorgetown.com/2009/06/q-with-analystowner-robbie-buhl.html Q&A with Robbie Buhl] It was announced on the Izod Indycar Series website he was let go by Versus for the network's IndyCar coverage and will be replaced by Wally Dallenbach Jr., who is also a color commentator for TNT's NASCAR coverage.[http://www.indycar.com/news/show/55-izod-indycar-series/48130-versus-expands-coverage-lineup/.]{{dead link|date=March 2018|bot=InternetArchiveBot|fix-attempted=yes}}
Career results
=American Open Wheel Racing results=
(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position)
==American Racing Series / Indy Lights==
class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; font-size:90%"
! Year ! Team ! 1 ! 2 ! 3 ! 4 ! 5 ! 6 ! 7 ! 8 ! 9 ! 10 ! 11 ! 12 ! 13 ! 14 ! Rank ! Points |
1990
! Leading Edge Motorsport |style="background:#EFCFFF;"|PHX |style="background:#CFCFFF;"|LBH |style="background:#DFDFDF;"|MIL |style="background:#EFCFFF;"|DET |style="background:#CFEAFF;"|POR |style="background:#CFEAFF;"|CLE |style="background:#DFFFDF;"|MEA |style="background:#EFCFFF;"|TOR |style="background:#DFDFDF;"|DEN |style="background:#CFEAFF;"|VAN |style="background:#DFDFDF;"|MDO |style="background:#DFDFDF;"|ROA |style="background:#DFDFDF;"|NAZ |style="background:#EFCFFF;"|LS |style="background:#DFFFDF;"|4th |style="background:#DFFFDF;"|118 |
1991
! Leading Edge Motorsport |style="background:#DFDFDF;"|LBH |style="background:#CFEAFF;"|PHX |style="background:#CFEAFF;"|MIL |style="background:#DFFFDF;"|DET |style="background:#CFEAFF;"|POR |style="background:#DFFFDF;"|CLE |style="background:#FFDF9F;"|MEA |style="background:#DFDFDF;"|TOR |style="background:#EFCFFF;"|DEN |style="background:#EFCFFF;"|MDO |style="background:#FFFFBF;"|NAZ |style="background:#EFCFFF;"|LS | | |style="background:#CFEAFF;"|6th |style="background:#CFEAFF;"|110 |
1992
! Leading Edge Motorsport |style="background:#FFDF9F;"|PHX |style="background:#FFDF9F;"|LBH |style="background:#DFDFDF;"|DET |style="background:#DFDFDF;"|POR |style="background:#FFDF9F;"|MIL |style="background:#FFDF9F;"|NHA |style="background:#DFDFDF;"|TOR |style="background:#FFDF9F;"|CLE |style="background:#DFDFDF;"|VAN |style="background:#FFDF9F;"|MDO |style="background:#FFFFBF;"|NAZ |style="background:#DFFFDF;"|LS | | |style="background:#FFFFBF;"|1st |style="background:#FFFFBF;"|186 |
1995
! Dorricott Racing |style="background:#DFFFDF;"|MIA |style="background:#DFDFDF;"|PHX |style="background:#DFDFDF;"|LBH |style="background:#FFDF9F;"|NAZ |style="background:#DFFFDF;"|MIL |style="background:#FFFFBF;"|DET |style="background:#CFCFFF;"|POR |style="background:#DFDFDF;"|TOR |style="background:#EFCFFF;"|CLE |style="background:#FFDF9F;"|NHA |style="background:#FFDF9F;"|VAN |style="background:#CFCFFF;"|LS | | |style="background:#DFDFDF;"|2nd |style="background:#DFDFDF;"|140 |
1996
! FRE Racing |MIA |LBH |NAZ |MIS |MIL |DET |POR |CLE |style="background:#CFCFFF;"|TOR |TRO |VAN |LS | | |style="background:#CFCFFF;"|26th |style="background:#CFCFFF;"|2 |
==CART==
class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; font-size:90%"
! Year ! Team ! Chassis ! Engine ! 1 ! 2 ! 3 ! 4 ! 5 ! 6 ! 7 ! 8 ! 9 ! 10 ! 11 ! 12 ! 13 ! 14 ! 15 ! 16 ! Rank ! Points ! Ref |
rowspan=2| 1993
!rowspan=2| Dale Coyne Racing !rowspan=2| Lola T92/00 |style="background:#EFCFFF;"|SRF |style="background:#EFCFFF;"|PHX |style="background:#CFEAFF;"|LBH | |style="background:#CFCFFF;"|MIL |style="background:#EFCFFF;"|DET |POR |style="background:#EFCFFF;"|CLE |TOR |MIC |NHA |style="background:#EFCFFF;"|ROA |VAN |style="background:#CFCFFF;"|MDO |style="background:#CFCFFF;"|NAZ |style="background:#CFCFFF;"|LS |rowspan=2 style="background:#CFCFFF;"|21st |rowspan=2 style="background:#CFCFFF;"|6 |
Buick 3300 V6t
| | | |style="background:#ffcfcf;"|INDY | | | | | | | | | | | | |
---|
1994
! Lola T93/00 |style="background:#EFCFFF;"|SRF |PHX |style="background:#EFCFFF;"|LBH |INDY |MIL |DET |POR |CLE |TOR |MIC |MDO |NHA |VAN |ROA |NAZ |LS |style="background:#CFCFFF;"|41st |style="background:#CFCFFF;"|0 |
==IRL IndyCar Series==
class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; font-size:90%"
! Year ! Team ! Chassis ! No. ! Engine ! 1 ! 2 ! 3 ! 4 ! 5 ! 6 ! 7 ! 8 ! 9 ! 10 ! 11 ! 12 ! 13 ! 14 ! 15 ! 16 ! Rank ! Points ! Ref |
rowspan=2| 1996
!rowspan=1| Beck Motorsports ! Reynard 94i{{Tooltip|1|Round 1}} !rowspan=3| 54 |style="background:#FFDF9F;"|WDW | |style="background:#CFEAFF;"|INDY | | | | | | | | | | | | | |rowspan=2 style="background:#FFDF9F;"| 3rd |rowspan=2 style="background:#FFDF9F;"| 240 |
rowspan=1| Zunne Group Racing
! Lola T94 | |style="background:#EFCFFF;"|PHX | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
---|
rowspan=2| 1996-1997
! Lola T94/00 |style="background:#EFCFFF;"|NHM |style="background:#CFEAFF;"|LVS |WDW | | | | | | | | | | | | | |rowspan=2 style="background:#CFCFFF;"| 13th |rowspan=2 style="background:#CFCFFF;"| 170 |
rowspan=3| Team Menard
! G-Force GF01 !rowspan=3| 3 !rowspan=3| Oldsmobile Aurora V8 | | | |style="background:#EFCFFF;"|PHX |style="background:#CFEAFF;"|INDY |style="background:#EFCFFF;"|TXS |PPI |CLT |style="background:#FFFFBF;"|NH2 |style="background:#FFDF9F;"|LV2 | | | | | | |
rowspan=2| 1998
! G-Force GF01B |style="background:#EFCFFF;"|WDW | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |rowspan=2 style="background:#CFCFFF;"| 17th |rowspan=2 style="background:#CFCFFF;"| 174 |
Dallara IR8
| |style="background:#CFCFFF;"|PHX |style="background:#EFCFFF;"|INDY |style="background:#CFEAFF;"|TXS |style="background:#CFEAFF;"|NHM |DOV |CLT |style="background:#DFDFDF;"|PPI |style="background:#EFCFFF;"|ATL |style="background:#CFEAFF;"|TX2 |style="background:#CFEAFF;"|LVS | | | | | |
rowspan=3| 1999
!rowspan=3| Dallara IR9 ! 44 |style="background:#CFCFFF;"|WDW |style="background:#FFDF9F;"|PHX |CLT |style="background:#DFC484;"|INDY | | | | | | | | | | | | |rowspan=3 style="background:#CFCFFF;"| 22nd |rowspan=3 style="background:#CFCFFF;"| 114 |
A. J. Foyt Enterprises
! 84 !rowspan=3| Oldsmobile Aurora V8 | | | |style="background:#CFEAFF;"|INDY |TXS |PPI |ATL |DOV |PP2 | | | | | | | |
Tri-Star Motorsports
! 22 | | | | | | | | | |style="background:#FFDF9F;"|LVS |style="background:#EFCFFF;"|TX2 | | | | | |
rowspan=2| 2000
!rowspan=6| Dreyer & Reinbold Racing !rowspan=2| G-Force GF05 !rowspan=6| 24 |style="background:#FFFFBF;"|WDW |style="background:#CFEAFF;"|PHX |style="background:#DFFFDF;"|LVS |style="background:#EFCFFF;"|INDY | | | | | | | | | | | | |rowspan=2 style="background:#CFEAFF;"| 8th |rowspan=2 style="background:#CFEAFF;"| 190 |
rowspan=3| Infiniti VRH35ADE V8
| | | | |style="background:#CFCFFF;"|TXS |style="background:#EFCFFF;"|PPI |style="background:#CFEAFF;"|ATL |style="background:#CFCFFF;"|KTY |style="background:#EFCFFF;"|TX2 | | | | | | | |
2001
! G-Force GF05B |style="background:#CFCFFF;"|PHX |style="background:#EFCFFF;"|HMS |style="background:#EFCFFF;"|ATL |style="background:#CFCFFF;"|INDY |style="background:#EFCFFF;"|TXS |style="background:#FFDF9F;"|PPI |style="background:#CFEAFF;"|RIR |style="background:#EFCFFF;"|KAN |style="background:#EFCFFF;"|NSH |style="background:#EFCFFF;"|KTY |style="background:#DFFFDF;"|STL |style="background:#EFCFFF;"|CHI |style="background:#FFDF9F;"|TX2 | | | |style="background:#CFCFFF;"| 12th |style="background:#CFCFFF;"| 237 |
2002
! G-Force GF05C |style="background:#EFCFFF;"|HMS |style="background:#EFCFFF;"|PHX |style="background:#FFFFFF;"|FON |NZR |style="background:#CFCFFF;"|INDY |style="background:#EFCFFF;"|TXS |style="background:#EFCFFF;"|PPI |style="background:#CFCFFF;"|RIR |style="background:#EFCFFF;"|KAN |style="background:#EFCFFF;"|NSH |style="background:#EFCFFF;"|MIS |style="background:#CFEAFF;"|KTY |style="background:#CFEAFF;"|STL |style="background:#EFCFFF;"|CHI |style="background:#EFCFFF;"|TX2 | |style="background:#CFCFFF;"| 17th |style="background:#CFCFFF;"| 177 |
2003
! Dallara IR-03 |style="background:#EFCFFF;"|HMS |style="background:#CFCFFF;"|PHX |style="background:#CFEAFF;"|MOT |style="background:#EFCFFF;"|INDY |style="background:#EFCFFF;"|TXS |style="background:#CFCFFF;"|PPI |style="background:#CFCFFF;"|RIR |style="background:#CFCFFF;"|KAN |style="background:#EFCFFF;"|NSH |style="background:#CFCFFF;"|MIS |style="background:#CFCFFF;"|STL |style="background:#CFEAFF;"|KTY |style="background:#CFEAFF;"|NZR |style="background:#CFEAFF;"|CHI |style="background:#CFCFFF;"|FON |style="background:#CFCFFF;"|TX2 |style="background:#CFCFFF;"| 14th |style="background:#CFCFFF;"| 261 |
2004
! Dallara IR-04 |style="background:#CFEAFF;"|HMS |style="background:#EFCFFF;"|PHX |style="background:#EFCFFF;"|MOT |INDY |TXS |RIR |KAN |NSH |MIL |MIS |KTY |PPI |NZR |CHI |FON |TX2 |style="background:#CFCFFF;"| 24th |style="background:#CFCFFF;"| 44 |
class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; font-size:95%"
! Years ! Teams ! Races ! Poles ! Wins ! Podiums ! Top 10s ! Indianapolis 500 ! Championships |
9
|6 |78 |0 |2 |7 |19 |0 |0 |
==Indianapolis 500==
class="wikitable" style="font-size: 95%;" |
Year
! Chassis ! Engine ! Start ! Finish ! Team |
---|
1993
| Lola T92/00 |colspan=2|Practice Crash |
1996
| Lola T94/00 |align=center| 23 |align=center style="background:#CFEAFF;"| 9 |
1997
| G-Force GF01 |align=center| 4 |align=center style="background:#CFEAFF;"| 8 |
1998
| Dallara IR8 |align=center| 5 |align=center style="background:#EFCFFF;"| 31 |
1999
| Dallara IR9 |align=center| 32 |align=center style="background:#CFEAFF;"| 6 |
2000
| G-Force GF05 |align=center| 9 |align=center style="background:#EFCFFF;"| 26 |
2001
| G-Force GF05B |align=center| 9 |align=center style="background:#CFCFFF;"| 15 |
2002
| G-Force GF05C |align=center| 2 |align=center style="background:#CFCFFF;"| 16 |
2003
| Dallara IR-03 |align=center| 22 |align=center style="background:#EFCFFF;"| 23 |
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{DriverDB driver|robbie-buhl}}
{{S-start}}
{{S-sports}}
{{Succession box|title=Barber Saab Pro Series Champion|before=Bruce Feldman|after=Rob Wilson|years=1989}}
{{Succession box|title=Indy Lights Champion|before=Éric Bachelart|after=Bryan Herta|years=1992}}
{{s-end}}
{{Dreyer & Reinbold Racing}}
{{Team Menard}}
{{Beck Motorsports}}
{{A. J. Foyt Racing}}
{{Dale Coyne Racing}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Buhl, Robbie}}
Category:Cranbrook Educational Community alumni
Category:IndyCar Series drivers
Category:Indianapolis 500 drivers
Category:IndyCar Series team owners
Category:Indy Lights champions
Category:SCCA Formula Super Vee drivers
Category:Motorsport announcers
Category:Trans-Am Series drivers
Category:Racing drivers from Detroit
Category:Barber Pro Series drivers
Category:People from Grosse Pointe Farms, Michigan
Category:Sportspeople from Wayne County, Michigan
Category:Dreyer & Reinbold Racing drivers
Category:Dale Coyne Racing drivers