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1998 Indy 500 winner overcomes 2 setbacks

1998 Indy 500 winner overcomes 2 setbacks
1998 Indy 500 winner overcomes 2 setbacks
1998 Indy 500 winner overcomes 2 setbacks
Posted at 4:51 PM, May 10, 2016
and last updated 2016-05-10 16:51:08-04

INDIANAPOLIS -- Most will remember 1998 as the year the Colts made a city-changing decision: Drafting Peyton Manning. 

They had the choice of either him or Ryan Leaf, and looking back at how each career worked out, Manning was the clear winner, with the now retired two-time Super Bowl champion going down as one of the greatest to ever play the game, and one of the greatest stewards for the Circle City.

And keeping track of history in 1998 was an Englishman named Donald Davidson, who became the official Indianapolis Motor Speedway historian that year.

It's believed he's the only person in the world to hold such a full-time position at a racing facility, and to this day he has an astounding ability to recite just about any Indy 500 fact off the top of his head.

For the 82nd running of the Indianapolis 500 in 1998, Donaldson could tell you all about the shortend two-week schedule. Qualifying was trimmed from four days to two, with Bill Boat on the pole.

On race day, May 24, rain fell in the morning and delayed the start for about 30 minutes.

Eddie Cheever started 17th and his day was almost over on the first lap when he touched wheels with JJ Yeley.

Cheever came across another mishap later in the race when there was an issue with his fuel hose in the pits.

Despite the challenges, Cheever led 76 laps, including the final 22, to take the checkered flag for his only Indy 500 win.

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