F1Weekly Podcast # 1018
Play Podcast: 11-14-23f1weekly1018mp3
NASIR AND THE HOST ARE PREPARING AND DECORATING THE F1W WEEKLY STUDIOS, TO PREPARE FOR THE LAS VEGAS FESTIVITIES! NOSE FIRMLY ON THE MOTORSPORTS MONDIAL GRINDSTONE, WITH AN OVER THE TOP INTERVIEW… A DRIVER WHO DROVE FOR THE FRENCH, ITALIANS, THE BRITISH AND AFTER THAT WON THE INDY 500! EDDIE CHEEVER HIMSELF!
Started in karts, and raced for almost 30 years in F1, Sports Cars, CART and IRL. Won the Italian and European karting championships at age 15. Raced in both F3 and F2. From ’78 through ’89, ran 143 F1 races, more than any other American, scoring nine podiums and 70 championship points.
Was teammate to Alain Prost at Renault in ’83. Moved to Indy cars in ’90 taking both Indy 500 and CART Rookie of the Year honors. Formed his own IRL team in ’97 and won the ’98 Indy 500 as both owner and driver. Cheever is currently an analyst for ABC’s Indy 500 telecast.
Before winning the 1998 Indy 500 in a car he both owned and drove, Cheever was a rising star in Formula 1, one of the few Americans in the world’s top series since Hall of Famers Phil Hill, Dan Gurney, Mario Andretti and others made their marks in the 1960s and ‘70s. Raised in Rome, Cheever got noticed at 15 when he won the Italian and European karting championships. He started 132 F1 races from 1978 through 1989, more than any other American.
Eddie Cheever at Laguna Seca, 1991 | Fresh out of Formula 1,
His best finishes were seconds at the 1982 Detroit Grand Prix and 1983 Canadian Grand Prix. Cheever found greater success in endurance racing, where he won multiple races for the factory Lancia and Jaguar teams. He relocated to the US in 1990 to drive for Hall of Famer Chip Ganassi.
After driving for Ganassi, Team Menard and A.J. Foyt in CART and IRL, Cheever started his own team, which scored five wins in all, including Indy. As of 2019, he still owns the Speedway’s fastest race lap, 236.103 mph (1996).