95 Continental Wont start...

[Lodogg2221]

1995 Lincoln Continental, was running fine, parked it, then wouldnt start.
Made odd noise when turning over, which sounded like possible bad starter, so it got a new starter and battery.
No change.
It was clicking like bad batt or starter again.
It was suggested to try to hold the gas pedal to the floor, and when we did that, it started and began to race. Shut it down, and tried again with the same result (did not hold pedal again) just clicking.

Its sat a few days since then, and when we tried it again today, same thing. Except this time when holding the pedal to the floor, it backfired.
Did not try it further.

Any ideas?
It was running fine, and then all of a sudden it quit!