IRL: Winner of 1998 Indy 500 enters fourth season as IRL's premier Owner/Driver
18 January 2000
Posted By Terry CallahanMotorsports Editor, The Auto Channel
Eddie Cheever is one of the most experienced drivers in racing today having driven everything from Formula One to Indy Cars to stock cars in the IROC series. Although born in the United States, Cheever grew up in Italy. He drove in his first race at 13 and became the Italian and European go-kart champion. At 19, Cheever joined the famous Ferrari racing team as a test driver. Cheever advanced through the Formula series, driving Formula One from 1978 to 1989. He has driven more Grand Prix races than any other American (132 starts), including Mario Andretti and Dan Gurney.
Cheever moved to the Indy circuit in 1990, winning Rookie of the Year honors in that year's Indianapolis 500 and qualifying for a front-row starting position in the 1992 event. In addition to winning the 1998 Indianapolis 500, he also recorded the fastest race lap in Indianapolis 500 history, logging 236.103 on lap 78 in 1996. Cheever also won both the 1999 and 1997 Indy 200 at the Walt Disney World Speedway in Orlando.
Full Name: Eddie McKay Cheever, Jr. (e=mc2)
Personal: Born January 10, 1958, in Phoenix, Arizona. Family moved to Italy when Eddie was a child. Attended school in Rome. Fluent in English and Italian. Two children, Estelle, age 10, and Eddie, age 6.
Residence: Orlando and Indianapolis
Career Highlights: Winner - 1998 Indianapolis 500 (First owner/driver to win the 500 since A.J. Foyt in 1977)
Two-time Winner - Indy 200 at Walt Disney World (1997 & 1999)
Record-Holder - Fastest Race Lap in an Indianapolis 500 (1996 - 236.103 mph)
Finished 6th in season point total in 1983 Formula One Championship
Finished 3rd at the 1999 IROC season finale at Indianapolis Motor Speedway (7th overall for the season).
1999 Results:
Winner, 1999 Indy 200 at Walt Disney
World.
Winner, MCI WorldCom Long Distance Award for the
1999 season
Finished 7th overall in both the Driver and Team Standings.
2000 Overview: Eddie Cheever enters Orlando in hopes of defending his double title of the Indy 200. He will start the year with a complete new package as his #51 Indy Car package moves to a Riley & Scott chassis, Firestone Tires and the new 3.5-liter Infiniti Indy engine.
IRL Career As Owner
As owner of Team Cheever, Cheever has led his crew and teammates (Jeff Ward, Robby Unser and Wim Eyckmans) to eleven (11) Top Five finishes and seventeen (17) Top Ten finishes in thirty-three (33) team starts.
IRL Career as Driver
Cheever is tied with Buddy Lazier for with 33 career starts in the Indy Racing League (seconded only to Davey Hamilton's 34 IRL race starts). Cheever has had eight (8) Top Five finishes and sixteen (16) Top Ten Finishes.
Prize Money Earned
Cheever has earned $3,615,453.00 in Indy Racing League Prize Money placing him 4th in the category along with three other Indy 500 winners (Brack, Lazier, and Luyendyk) and 1997 IRL Champion Tony Stewart. In 1999, Cheever has received $829,500 in prize money, ranking him 5th overall in the category.
Races Won
Cheever is tied in 4th in the number of Pep Boys Indy Racing League races won in a career with three (3) victories. With his victory at the season opener at Walt Disney World Speedway, Cheever is tied in 3rd in the number of wins in 1999.
Laps Completed
In his career, Cheever has completed 5,003 laps placing him 4th overall in the laps completed category. This year, he is ranked 6th with 1,680 completed laps (out of 2,032 possible laps).
Races Led
Cheever is tied 7th in the overall number of Indy Racing League races led. In 1999, Cheever has led in five (5) different Indy Racing League events, ranking him 3rd overall in the category.
Laps Led
Cheever has led over 285 laps in his Indy Racing League career making him 9th in the category. He is ranked 7th overall this year with 111 laps led for the season to date.
Editors Note: To view hundreds of hot photos
and racing art, please visit The Racing Image
Galleries and The
Visions of Speed Art Gallery .