TEC | 2001 Season History

Earnhardt History
2001 Season
IROC Round 1: Daytona

Earnhardt and Eddie Cheever lead the field through the tri-oval during the pace lap.

News Article:

Earnhardt sent into infield grass, Jarrett scores IROC win
By Jim Utter

Daytona Beach, Fla. (February 16, 2001)
There was something for everyone in the International Race of Champions series opener Friday at Daytona International Speedway.

There was a first-time winner in the series, as Dale Jarrett held off Winston Cup teammate Ricky Rudd by .014 seconds to win the 40-lap season-opener.

There was vintage Dale Earnhardt, who led much of the race, and then was bumped aside and sent into the infield grass by Indy Racing League driver Eddie Cheever on the next-to-last lap.

And finally, after Jarrett had secured his win, there was confrontation.

Earnhardt drove his green-colored Pontiac Firebird up behind Cheever's on the backstretch on the cool-down lap and sent it for a spin. Once the two returned to pit road, Earnhardt climbed from his car, walked over to Cheever's and the two ended up in an embrace.

"Incredible," Jarrett called it.

"(Cheever's) an idiot," said Rudd.

In any case, Jarrett said he took advantage of Earnhardt's misfortune. "Earnhardt made a great save. If that had been anyone else they would have wrecked and probably be outside of this race track, but he held that car down. That (incident) allowed me to catch up, and when the others got side-by-side, I had a really good run and got by Kenny Brack," Jarrett said.

"Down the backstretch, I kept close to the inside and then going into (Turns) 3 and 4, it was a battle with my teammate Ricky Rudd. We bumped a couple times, but it was great to get this first IROC win."

Rudd was far less forgiving of the raucous final laps, especially the driving ability of Cheever.

"When Cheever and Earnhardt got into it, that's what set the stage, really," Rudd said. "I guess Cheever whupped up on Earnhardt and spun him through the dirt and then he came looking for me, I think. He really cost us the race. He kept beating the side of my car in so bad, he allowed (Jarrett) to come up there.

"Cheever was more worried about me than the guys behind him and allowed Dale to win the race."

Only seven of the 12 cars were running up to speed at the end of the race. Tony Stewart, substituting for Gil de Ferran, developed engine problems and was forced to pit early. Jeff Green blew an engine, ending his day early as well.

The only accident of the race took out the cars of Jeff Burton, Buddy Lazier and Mark Dismore. Burton appeared to lose control of his car entering the frontstretch, barely missed clipping Earnhardt, and instead slammed into the wall and collected the cars of Dismore and Lazier.

The race was halted at Lap 26 while debris was cleaned from the track and the remaining cars were checked by IROC officials. Caution laps don't count toward the total, so the race resumed about 10 minutes later on Lap 27.

The remaining drivers ran close together until Cheever's contact with Earnhardt, which helped Jarrett to move up into position for the win. After the race, Cheever apologized for his move, but grew agitated when peppered continuously with questions from the media about the incident.

"I can't say anything more than I'm sorry," Cheever said. "When we get to Talladega (the series' next race in April), I'll owe Earnhardt. If he gets hung out (in the draft), which he rarely does, I guess I'll get in there and help him."

News Article:

Earnhardt gets back at Cheever after IROC incident
By Mike Fish

Daytona Beach, Fla. (February 16, 2001)
Leaning against a golf cart outside his motor home, Dale Earnhardt laughed and played nice. Just a few minutes earlier he was the feisty "Intimidator" as he tapped the back of Eddie Cheever's silver Pontiac Firebird and launched him into a wild spin.

It was a not-so-subtle payback after the checkered flag for the International Race of Champions (IROC). The NASCAR crowd roared its approval as Earnhardt went after the outsider, offering a hero's welcome as he walked through the garage area following the race won by Dale Jarrett.

Cheever, a veteran Indy car racer, steamed Earnhardt when he slammed the side of his car twice, forcing him dangerously down to the grass infield two laps from the finish. Instead of chasing victory, Earnhardt pulled his car back on the track and settled for a seventh-place showing.

"I wanted to let him know I was still around," said Earnhardt, smiling. "That he didn't knock me all the way out."

The swift retaliation seemed to surprise only Cheever.

"I was still ticked off because I just lost a race I thought I was going to win," said Cheever, third behind Jarrett and Ricky Rudd. "He still owes me one, I guess -- and he's old enough to remember."

The first chance will be when the IROC series stops April 21 at Talladega Speedway, where all eyes will be on the two drivers. The series pits the best of NASCAR's Winston Cup and Busch Series against the IRL and CART's best.

After the opening race, the NASCAR drivers sang Earnhardt's praise for his ability to prevent what could have been a serious wreck. Ricky Rudd took Cheever to task for his rough driving. "The guy's an idiot," he said. "They ought to sit down and talk to him."

Along pit row after Friday's race, Earnhardt hopped out of car and sought out Cheever to rehash the incidents. It wasn't too heated, though Earnhardt took exception to being slammed a second time. They exchanged a friendly hug and headed off in their separate ways.

Cheever probably diffused the situation by taking blame for the incident.

"I was sitting in the car and this six-foot guy with a mustache that we've all come to know as 'The Intimidator' came up and I thought, 'I'm not even going to get to throw a punch here,'" said Cheever, later. "I made a mistake and apologized for it. It was totally, absolutely my fault. How many times do you want me to say I'm sorry?"

Once was enough for Earnhardt, sort of.

"He said he didn't mean to do it," Earnhardt said. "I'll watch the replay and then decide ... I just hate to lose. It's bragging rights and all."

Diecast:

A limited edition 1/24-scale diecast of Dale Earnhardt's 2001 IROC car was produced by Action Racing Collectibles. Click here for more information.

Photos:

Earnhardt's IROC ride on pit road before the green flag.

Earnhardt with Eddie Cheever and Jeff Burton before the race.

The IROC drivers salute Earnhardt at Talladega with the missing man formation on the pace lap.