Scheckter angers Cheever

South African IRL star Tomas Scheckter finished sixth in the Grand Prix of Miami at the weekend. But the 21-year-old had little reason to celebrate after his first race on an oval track. A mistake by Scheckter caused his team-mate and boss Eddie Cheever to crash into the wall – much to the dismay of the seasoned racer.

South African IRL star Tomas Scheckter finished sixth in the Grand Prix of Miami at the weekend. But the 21-year-old had little reason to celebrate after his first race on an oval track. A mistake by Scheckter caused his team-mate and boss Eddie Cheever to crash into the wall – much to the dismay of the seasoned American racer.

Reigning champion Sam Hornish Jr dominated the opening round of the American series. The Panther Racing star looked on course to win the race two laps ahead of everyone else until a sequence of late cautions allowed Penske’s Gil de Ferran and Helio Castroneves to get back on the lead lap. They finished second and third respectively.

Hornish leapt into an immediate lead from the start, but an early sequence of yellow flags disrupted his quest to pull out an advantage. Red Bull Cheever Racing Infiniti team-mates Scheckter and Cheever started from the second row of the grid, but the South African lost ground on the opening lap.

On Lap Four, reigning CART champion De Ferran passed Cheever on the inside and Scheckter attempted to follow him through, but he got sideways and clipped the former grand prix ace, causing the American’s car to hurtle into the wall.

The incident not only stranded Cheever’s car, but Scheckter stalled during a stop to check over his car and this lost him a lap to the leaders. The South African eventually recovered to finish sixth.

"It was uncalled for, it was stupid and I’m beside myself," said Cheever. "De Ferran came past me and then Tomas tried too, but he just came in too deep. We’ve been speaking about it all week, you don’t try to pass unless you’ve got the room. I would have been just as angry if he’d done this to someone else."

Scheckter had already blotted his copybook when he shunted his race car before qualifying on Friday, reported on Monday.