Formula One
He made his Formula One debut at age 20 in 1978. After failing to qualify in Argentina, he made the grid at Kyalami for the South African Grand Prix in a Hesketh-Ford. An engine problem forced him to retire after just eight laps. Two seasons later, he became a regular driver for the Osella team, but finished only once in ten races. Switching teams repeatedly as he tried to climb his way up the grid, Cheever had five points-scoring finishes for the Tyrrell team in 1981, and three podiums for Ligier the following year, including a second place at the 1982 Detroit Grand Prix in Detroit.
The 1983 season proved to be Cheever's high point in Formula One. He signed with the Renault team alongside Frenchman Alain Prost, both of whom were among the year's Championship favorites. Cheever earned four more podiums and 22 Championship points, but the team's disappointment after losing both the Drivers' and Constructors' titles late in the season brought about the replacement of both Cheever and Prost. In six more seasons, he never drove another truly competitive F1 car. His final podium finishes in Formula One came for Arrows in the 1988 Italian Grand Prix at Monza and at the 1989 United States Grand Prix at Phoenix; at one stage in Monza, he was almost declared the winner as Ferrari had an over sized fuel tank. The podium cost him a new pair of sunglasses for the chief mechanic. At Phoenix, he was involved in a race long battle with Riccardo Patrese for 2nd place, but then had to give way at the later stages of the race when his brakes started to fade.
In all, he participated in 143 Grands Prix, achieved 9 podiums, and scored a total of 70 championship points.
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