Cheever Was First in Race, but Third in His Own Heart

When Eddie Cheever accepted the winner’s share of the 82nd Indianapolis 500 at Monday night’s victory banquet, a check for $1,433,000, he said it was quite a payoff for the No. 3 guy on the team.

“As an owner, the way I look at the team, I’m third in the pecking order. First is team manager Dick Caron, then crew chief Owen Snyder and then the driver.

“It was those guys, and their crew, who gave me the best running car in the race. There’s no better feeling for a race driver than knowing that he has the best car. I got that feeling by the 20th lap, so it didn’t bother me when I fell back on a bad pit stop.

“I spent the whole day passing cars. I loved it. I was incredibly quick off the corners. There wasn’t a car out there, except maybe Arie [Luyendyk] before his clutch gave out, that could run with me.”

The winner’s payout was the second largest ever, next to the $1,553,650 Luyendyk took home last year. This year’s total payoff of $8,772,150 was a record.

When Cheever heard he was getting all that money, plus another $209,400 as owner of Robby Unser’s fifth-place car, he said, “I wonder if my ex-wife will read in the papers about much I won?”

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The win was Cheever’s first at Indy, but the second for Snyder, who handled the wrenches of Rick Galles’ car when Al Unser Jr. won in 1992.

“Anytime you win here is very satisfying, but I think this might be more so because we have such a small team. With Galles we had engineers all over the place. With Eddie we don’t have an engineer. In my mind, that’s a big advantage.”

Snyder was working on Steve Kinser’s World of Outlaws car when Cheever called last November to ask him to become part of the team he was organizing as an owner-driver.

“Owen’s an oval man,” Cheever said. “It’s an art to work on cars that only make left-hand turns and that’s what he’s been doing all his life.”

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From one of the most successful group of rookies ever to race in the Indianapolis 500, third-place finisher Steve Knapp was named Bank One rookie of the year at ceremonies Monday night.

Knapp, 34, followed a recent rookie tradition by finishing in the top three. He was the only rookie on the lead lap when Eddie Cheever--a former rookie of the year--took the checkered flag. It was the sixth year in a row a rookie was on the podium, Nigel Mansell in 1993, Jacques Villeneuve in 1994, Christian Fittipaldi in 1995, Richie Hearn in 1995 and Jeff Ward last year.

“I had so much fun I could have done another 500 miles,” Knapp said as he accepted a check for $10,000. “My biggest concern right now is that this is going to come to an end and I’m going to have to go back to work.”

Knapp, who was driving in his first Indy car race, and his wife run a race-oriented company, Elite Engines, that services cars in Sports Car Club of America regional and national races.

In a remarkable display of first-year talent, four rookies finished in the top 10 and six of the eight in the top 12.

Robby Unser was fifth, Andy Michner eighth, J.J. Yeley ninth, Jimmy Kite 11th and Jack Hewitt 12th.

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Clarence Cagle, who became general manager of Indianapolis Motor Speedway when the late Tony Hulman purchased the facility in 1945 and continued in that capacity until his retirement a few years ago, said he was impressed with the atmosphere in Gasoline Alley.

“Years ago, when Mr. Hulman was alive, the 500 was a family affair,” Cagle said. “People helped each other, teams would pitch in and help those who were having trouble getting up to speed. All of that seemed to disappear the last few years when teams became more corporate oriented.

“This year, walking through the garages, I felt an atmosphere the way I remember it in the ‘50s and ‘60s. There was a feeling of cooperation, like family again.”

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Payout at Indy

What the top 10 drivers in Sunday’s Indianapolis 500 earned in prize money, as announced Monday night at the annual victory dinner (r-rookie):

1. Eddie Cheever: $1,433,000

2. Buddy Lazier: $483,200

3. r-Steve Knapp: $338,750

4. Davey Hamilton : $301,650

5. r-Robby Unser: $209,400

6. Kenny Brack: $310,750

7. John Paul Jr.: $216,350

8. r-Andy Michner: $182,050

9. r-J.J. Yeley: $198,550

10. Buzz Calkins: $248,500

Complete list C9