After days of speculation, Tomas Scheckter retained his ride with Eddie Cheever Jr.'s Red Bull Infiniti team for this weekend's Michigan 400.

But not without some changes.

"They took my crew away," said a smiling Scheckter after Friday's practice sessions at the Michigan International Speedway.

In addition, Scheckter will have a second teammate. Buddy Rice, one of the drivers originally on Cheever's short lists before the 1998 Indy 500 champion selected Scheckter as his teammate, joined Cheever's Michigan armada after completing his rookie test Tuesday at Kentucky Motor Speedway.

The trio registered the top speeds in Friday's Michigan practice but their sweep did little to end speculation regarding Cheever's plans for his two young protégé's.

"All he needs to do is very simple -- stop crashing," Cheever said in the post-practice press conference. "It's not complicated. You don't have to tell him to go fast, he just has to stop crashing because all those crashes have decimated the team this year."

It's a team that has tried a number of things to find the right chemistry for the South African second-generation open wheeler. After Scheckter collided with Cheever in the season opener, Cheever assigned veteran crew chief Owen Snyder to Scheckter's operation.

But crashes -- some his own making and others the result of mechanical failure -- have plagued Scheckter.

"That's why we thought we should try and shake things up again," explained Red Bull Cheever Racing Manager Richard Caron. "We are simply trying to find the chemistry necessary to help get Tomas to the end of a race."

The crew shuffle sends Scheckter's crew to newcomer Buddy Rice, who has been under a testing contract with Cheever since June. Cheever retains his crew and Scheckter will be assisted by Greg Beck, who had been operating a team in the IRL.

"I'm here but he's in charge," joked Beck while pointing to a Red Bull engineer. "I'm not sure what lies beyond this race. I'll work with Tomas here and then see what happens. I hope that I can bring my car back out soon so who knows."

According to Caron, Beck's weekend hiring was designed to offer an alternative for Scheckter. Beck has a wealth of experience and played a major role in leading Billy Boat and an under-funded operation to fourth in last year's standings.

"Greg is laid back," said Caron. "Maybe he will be able to turn something on up in Thomas' head to help him."

Despite perceived and real friction, the Cheever operation is still functioning. Rice has Cheever smiling and Scheckter is getting acquainted with Beck's crew.

"They are doing a good job on the car," Scheckter said "We have to get to know each other and learn the way we work. We have to get our pit stops right. "

The practice speeds closed a hectic week for Caron and his crews. Unemployed drivers from Max Papis to Tyce Carlson called inquiring about a possible seat for this weekend's race. Media speculation centered on the possible termination of Scheckter. Crews who had labored 24/7 repaired yet another damaged car while also auditioning Buddy Rice.

"Rice is the real deal," Caron said about the 26 year old. "He'll do a good job. Cool as can be though, and that's really a departure from some of the emotional guys we have here."

What remains is if Red Bull Cheever will remain a three-car team for Kentucky and beyond.

"We ran three cars at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway so we thought it would be a good opportunity to do that here also," said Cheever "Both Tomas and Buddy did a good job today. They beat the old man again, so I think the future of our team is in very good hands."