Cheever irate with young gun Scheckter

Red Bull team-mates Scheckter and Cheever started from the second row of the grid, but rookie Scheckter lost ground on the opening lap. On lap four, reigning CART champion Gil 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, sending his team-mate - and team boss - heavily into the wall.

"It was uncalled for, it was stupid and I'm beside myself," said an irate 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.

Reigning IRL champion Sam Hornish Jr led the early going in a race punctuated by caution periods, as high winds make driving conditions tricky. Jacques Lazier and Ricky Treadway have also crashed out of the race in the opening 30 laps.