Eddie Cheever

Eddie Cheever is an American former racing driver who started more Formula 1 Grands Prix than any other American before going on to win the 1998 Indianapolis 500 as both driver and team owner.

Edward McKay Cheever Jr. was born on January 10, 1958, in Phoenix, Arizona, but grew up largely in Rome, Italy, where his father took him to watch races at Monza as a boy. He won Italian and European karting titles by age 15 and progressed rapidly through Formula Three and Formula Two before making his Formula One debut in 1978 at just 20 years old. Cheever spent eleven seasons in Formula One, driving for nine different teams including Tyrrell, Ligier, Renault, Alfa Romeo, and Arrows, and started 132 Grands Prix — more than any other American driver in the sport's history. Though he never won a race, he collected nine podium finishes, including a near-miss at the 1988 Italian Grand Prix at Monza, and also won ten sports car races for Jaguar between 1986 and 1988 while still competing in Formula One. Cheever moved to the United States in 1990 to race in CART and at the Indianapolis 500, and in 1996 formed his own team, Cheever Racing, in the newly created Indy Racing League. In 1998, at the wheel of his own Dallara-Oldsmobile, Cheever won the Indianapolis 500 — the first owner-driver to do so in over 20 years — leading 76 laps to claim the biggest victory of his career. He continued competing and running his team through the mid-2000s before retiring to work as a broadcaster and commentator for IndyCar coverage.

Versatile, consistent racer across open-wheel and sports car disciplines with strong technical feedback

One of the most durable American racers in Formula One history, who later became a successful IndyCar team owner and broadcaster

• Most Formula 1 starts by an American driver (132)
• Indianapolis 500 winner (1998), as driver and team owner
• 9x F1 podium finisher