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INDY 500: Eddie Cheever crashes in practice at Indy

14 May 2000

Posted By Terry Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel

It was a dramatic opening day for Infiniti Indy and Team Cheever. Eddie Cheever Jr., the only Infiniti driver to go on track today, crashed his backup car and less than an hour later took out his primary car and posted the fourth fastest lap of the day.

Eddie Cheever ran 10 laps in the No. 51T Excite@Home Infiniti, before a mechanical problem caused the car to spin into the turn two wall. About 45 minutes later, the team pulled out the No. 51 car, and Cheever was immediately up to speed, running several laps around the 2.5-mile Indianapolis Motor Speedway in the 216 mph average range. Completing 18 laps, he ended the day fourth quickest with a 216.775 mph lap.

QUOTES

Eddie Cheever Jr., No. 51 Excite@Home Infiniti: (About Accident)"I was actually on my way into the pits. (Chief mechanic) Owen (Snyder) had radioed the lap before for me to come in, and I had not heard his urgency. So I thought I'd go one more. It appears that a rear caliper was catching. I was already down to 180(mph) when I went to brake, the caliper must have caught on the rear tire. We were very lucky to get through today without completely destroying a car."

PRACTICE HIGHLIGHTS

1. 3T, Al Unser Jr., 217.226, G Force-Olds
2. 7, Stephan Gregoire, 217.036, G Force-Olds
3. 91, Buddy Lazier, 216.809, Dallara-Olds
*4. 51, Eddie Cheever Jr., 216.775, Dallara-Infiniti
5. 17, Scott Harrington, 216.469, Dallara-Olds
6. 18T, Sam Hornish Jr., 216.078, G Force-Olds
7. 20T, Tyce Carlson, 215.536, Dallara-Olds
8. 16, Davey Hamilton, 214.833, G Force-Olds
9. 8T, Scott Sharp, 214.633, Dallara-Olds
10. 27, Jimmy Kite, 214.592, G Force-Olds
*13. 51T, Eddie Cheever Jr., 213.379, Dallara-Infiniti

Text Provided By Heather Handley

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