A WILD RIDE AT INDY 500; UNLIKELY CHEEVER PERSEVERES.Byline: Associated Press Associated Press: see news agency. Associated Press (AP) Cooperative news agency, the oldest and largest in the U.S. and long the largest in the world. Journeyman. Also-ran. Eddie Cheever Edward "Eddie" McKay Cheever, Jr. (born January 10, 1958) is an American racing driver who raced for almost thirty years in Formula One, Sports cars, CART and the Indy Racing League, and now owns an IRL team. won't have to worry about those labels anymore. He's got a new one: Indianapolis 500 champion. And, clearly, he'll need some time to get used to it. ``I don't know Don't know (DK, DKed) "Don't know the trade." A Street expression used whenever one party lacks knowledge of a trade or receives conflicting instructions from the other party. what I'm supposed to say,'' Cheever told a cheering crowd Sunday after winning the fabled race in the Dallara-Aurora car he also owns. Cheever narrowly avoided a first-lap accident, then overcame a pit mistake at mid-race. In the end, he held off a pesky Buddy Lazier Robert Buddy Lazier is an American open-wheel racecar driver born in Vail, Colorado on 31 October, 1967. He won the 1996 Indianapolis 500 and has finished in the Top Ten in that race six times. to earn the biggest victory of his life. ``I had about 15 guardian angels "Guardian Angels" can refer to:
Cheever had only won once before, in an Indy-car race in January 1997. He took the lead in that event only after another driver crashed - one lap before rain ended the race. This time, he really earned it, coming perilously close to the wall several times in the last 10 laps. ``I was either going to win or not finish at all,'' Cheever said. ``My father told me, `If you're going to win one race in your life, win Indy.' '' Actually, his day almost ended on the first turn of the race. ``Somebody bumped me in the rear and turned me sideways,'' Cheever said. ``I thought, `I don't want it to end this way.' '' His next big problem came during a pit stop on lap 85 when the nozzle from the fuel hose stuck in his car and he nearly pulled away with it still attached. ``We got back on our game plan and Eddie used his experience all day. He was on his game,'' crew chief Owen Snyder said. Cheever's victory was also a triumph for Indianapolis Motor Speedway Indianapolis Motor Speedway, located in Speedway, Indiana (a separate town completely surrounded by Indianapolis) in the United States, is the second-oldest president Tony George
Tony George, born Anton Hulman George on December 30, 1959, is the owner of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. He is also the president of Hulman & Co. , who started the Indy Racing League The Indy Racing League, better known as IRL, is the sanctioning body of a predominantly American based open-wheel racing series. The League consists of two series, the premiere IndyCar Series in 1996 with the idea of giving second-tier teams and drivers a chance. Cheever, who took his victory lap around the 2-1/2-mile oval with George at his side, definitely falls into that category. His main sponsor is a small potato chip company that signed on two weeks ago. The Indy 500 rookie of the year Rookie of the Year may refer to:
On Sunday, Cheever's teammate was rookie Robby Unser, who finished fifth. Cheever, who started 17th in the 33-car field, is expected to take more than $1.5 million from the nearly $9 million purse when it is presented tonight at the annual victory dinner. He is the first owner-driver to win since A.J. Foyt in 1977. Cheever pulled away from Lazier, the 1996 Indy winner, after the 12th and final caution period, racing off to a 3.191-second win - about a third of the last straightaway straight·a·way adj. 1. Extending in a straight line or course without a curve or turn. 2. Unhesitating; immediate: a straightaway denial. n. . ``At the start of the race, we really went down,'' Lazier said. ``We had to make an unscheduled pit stop, but my guys never lost heart. They pushed hard, got me back into contention. We just didn't have enough for Eddie.'' The race began 40 minutes late because of early morning rain and was almost immediately under caution when J.J. Yeley spun in turn one but somehow avoided the wall. The 21-year-old stalled the engine and had to be towed, but he came back to finish ninth. Yeley was one of four rookies in the top 10. Tony Stewart, the 27-year-old Indy Racing League champion and the favorite to win his first Indy 500, started fourth and got to the lead on lap 21, passing surprising front-row starter Greg Ray. But the lead lasted only seconds as smoke and fire billowed from Stewart's vaunted vaunt v. vaunt·ed, vaunt·ing, vaunts v.tr. To speak boastfully of; brag about. v.intr. To speak boastfully; brag. See Synonyms at boast1. n. 1. Team Menard Dallara-Aurora as he sped toward the first turn on lap 22. The disgusted Stewart stopped at the exit of turn one, yanked his steering wheel from its stem, scrambled from the car, stripped off his gloves and pitched them into the empty cockpit. He then turned to the packed grandstand and raised his arms high in the air in a gesture of frustration. Transmission problems also finished two-time winner Luyendyk. He lost first gear early in the race and had to be pushed out of the pits after each stop. He was leading on lap 150 when he made a routine stop, but then he stalled on his way back to the track, done for the day. ``The clutch was a problem all day,'' said Luyendyk, who was trying to become the first repeat winner since Al Unser in 1970-71. ``It really hurt me on the restarts.'' CAPTION(S): 2 Photos PHOTO (1--Color) Eddie Cheever hoists a bottle of milk in celebration after winning the Indianapolis 500. Mike Fender/Indianapolis Star News (2--Color) A.J. Foyt agonizes after his drivers, Billy Boat and Kenny Brack n. 1. An opening caused by the parting of any solid body; a crack or breach; a flaw. Stain or brack in her sweet reputation. - J. Fletcher. 1. Salt or brackish water. , ran into trouble. Tony Valainis/Associated Press |
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