1982 Indianapolis 500
Encyclopedia
The 66th Indianapolis 500 was held at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway
on Sunday, May 30, 1982. Gordon Johncock
, who had previously won the rain-shortened 1973 race
, was the winner. Rick Mears
finished second by a margin of 0.16 seconds, the closest finish in Indy 500 history to that point.
, driving for Penske Racing
set a new one-lap track record of 204.638 mi/h, and a record four-lap average of 204.082 mi/h. A few minutes later, he was beaten by his Penske teammate Rick Mears
. Mears secured the pole position with a four-lap average of 207.004 mi/h.
About an hour later, the time trials were marred by the horrific fatal accident of Gordon Smiley
. At 12:15 p.m., Smiley left the pits to start his qualifying run. On his second (of two) warm up lap, he approached turn three. The back-end became loose, and Smiley overcorrected. The front wheels suddenly gained traction, the car turned and crashed head-on into the outside wall at about 200 mi/h. The fuel tank exploded with a large fireflash, the car disintegrated into at least three sections, and went airborne for at least 50 feet (15.2 m). Smiley's exposed body tumbled amongst the debris for hundreds of feet through the short-chute connecting turns 3 and 4. Smiley died instantly from massive trauma inflicted by the severe impact. Nearly every bone in his body had been shattered. His helmet was pulled from his head, and the top of his skull was scalped by the debris fence and asphalt. His death was the first at Indy since 1973, and to date, the last during a qualification attempt.
The track remained closed for over two hours after the crash. The catch fencing needed repair, and a patch of asphalt was required to be paved due to the accident. After over two hours, qualifying resumed. Several cars went out over the next two hours, but none challenged the speed records set earlier in the morning. In a solemn mood, qualifying came to a quiet halt around 4:55 p.m., with just over an hour left in the session.
At the close of pole day, the field was filled to 20 cars.
was fastest of the day at 198.042 mi/h.
and Pete Halsmer
went out and quickly filled the field. Only two cars were bumped all day, and despite the track being open until 6 p.m., no drivers went out after 4:03 p.m. With two hours left in the day, Desiré Wilson
announced she would not make an attempt, and thus would not have a chance to become the second female to qualify at Indy.
started from the middle of the front row, next to pole-sitter Mears, and A.J. Foyt. As the field approached the start/finish line to start the race, Cogan suddenly swerved right, touching and bouncing off of A.J. Foyt's car. He then slid directly into the path of, and collected, Mario Andretti
. Deeper in the field, the cars started to check-up. A fast-moving Dale Whittington
nearly collected Geoff Brabham
, lost control, spun across the track and ran into the back of Roger Mears
. Both cars were eliminated. Bobby Rahal
also reported getting hit from behind, but was undamaged. The green flag had not come out, and the race was immediately red flagged.
Cogan's shocking accident took out four cars, including himself. Foyt's team was able to make repairs, and pushed his car out for the restart attempt. Meanwhile, Andretti and Foyt were furious and outspoken about their displeasure with Cogan. Andretti shunned Cogan's attempts to explain himself with a light shove.
Andretti on live radio and television made the comment:
Back in the garage area, Andretti complained about Cogan's abilities, claiming that Cogan was "looking for trouble," that he "couldn't handle the responsibilities of the front row," and that the Penske
car he was driving was "too good for him."
The commonly outspoken Foyt also chimed in during comments to ABC-TV's Chris Economaki
with:
After he had cooled off, Foyt brushed it off a little saying "the guy pulled a stupid trick" and then back in the garage area of the crash and of Cogan that:
Johnny Rutherford
and
Bobby Unser
later placed some blame of the incident on the polesitter Rick Mears
, for bringing the field down at such a slow pace. Director of competition Roger McCluskey
mentioned an overwhelming disdain from the drivers about the poor pace set at the start. Mears contended that his intentions were to keep the same pace, rather than radically speed up and slow down. Gordon Johncock
pointed out that Andretti had jumped the start, and could have avoided the spinning car of Cogan had he been lined up properly in the second row. Neither observation gained much attention.
ing" by fans and press. Cogan nearly had the dubious distinction of taking out two of the most famous American auto racing legends (Foyt
and Andretti
) on the first lap, in one move, in the biggest race of the season. The incident also further rehashed a standing feud between Penske Racing
and Patrick Racing
. A year earlier, Penske and Patrick had been the key fixtures in the controversial 1981 race
.
Cogan did not manage to win a race in 1982, and was possibly fired by Roger Penske
because of it.
The accident was never explained by the Penske team. Derrick Walker
the team manager at the time, claimed that they found "no cause" for the accident. However, several experts had reasonable opinions. Rodger Ward
, working for the IMS Radio Network
immediately believed the rear brakes locked up. It was a common practice for drivers in the turbocharged era to "ride the brakes" during warm up laps in order to engage the turbocharger. Others theorized it may have happened due to a broken CV joint or halfshaft. Fellow drivers such as Johnny Rutherford
and Gordon Johncock
suggested that due to the slow start, Cogan may have been in first gear, and when he accelerated, the back end simply car came around. Some feel that Sam Posey
on ABC-TV inadvertently may have added to the controversy when he proclaimed "absolutely no idea" to the question of how it could have happened, and saying "it was as if he turned the wheel intentionally." The comments led many to conclude, albeit unfairly, that the accident may have been entirely of Cogan's doing. As soon as he climbed from the car, Cogan was observed looking at the rear end axle, suggesting that he thought something broke.
Years later Donald Davidson
, the historian for the Indianapolis Motor Speedway
, mentioned that team driver, and the more experienced, Rick Mears
had a nearly identical accident during private testing at Michigan International Speedway
. The accident was never disclosed to the public, even though it could have vindicated Cogan. In 2009, Roger Penske
seemed to brush off ideas, stating "Cogan said something broke, I don't know whether it did or didn't."
Overall, the delay lasted over 45 minutes. Only 29 cars lined up for the second start attempt.
A. J. Foyt
took the lead at the start. It was the first time in his 25-year Indy career that he led the first lap of the race. After the hasty repairs from the Cogan incident, Foyt's car was precariously unproven, yet Foyt made no effort to "feel his car out" before charging into the lead. Meanwhile, popular second-year driver Josele Garza
barely completed the first lap, and dropped out with an oil leak.
Rick Mears
soon established himself as the fastest car in the field, and found the lead in the first half.
A. J. Foyt's day ended just short of the midway point. A failed transmission linkage prevented him from pulling out of the pits. Foyt famously climbed from the cockpit, grabbed a hammer and a screwdriver, and started pounding away at the rear mechanics of the car. His attempts were futile, and the car was wheeled back to the garage area. Foyt revealed, during an interview immediately thereafter, that the Cogan crash had damaged the car's toe in
alignment, and that it had been handling poorly all race up to that point. The 1982 race would be the final Indy 500 Foyt would lead during his driving career.
led Rick Mears
. Most of the balance of the field was eliminated, or running several laps behind. The two cars were running right together, and had developed into a late-race duel. Both drivers needed to make one final pit stop to make it to the finish.
With 18 laps to go Mears ducked into the pits. The car of Herm Johnson
slowed in front, and Mears bumped into his back wheel. The incident cost Mears several seconds. In his pit box, Mears Penske
crew proceeded to fill his car full with 40 gallons (151.4 l) of fuel, more than enough needed to make it to the finish. No tires were changed, and no repairs were necessary from hitting Johnson's car.
Two laps later, Johncock dove into the pits. He precariously diced around a backmarker and slid into his pit box. The Patrick Racing
crew conducted a timed pit stop. The team calculated the amount of fuel needed to make it to the finish. When enough fuel had flowed into the car, a pit crew member tapped the fuel man on the back with a stick, and he disengaged. Johncock pulled away, with a pit stop many seconds quicker than Mears'.
Back on the track, Johncock held a lead of more than eleven seconds. It seemed he was cruising to his second Indy victory. However, his car's handling was starting to suffer. The light fuel load he took on was exacerbating a pushing
condition.
Meanwhile, Mears' fully fueled car was heavier, and handling much better. He started closing in, more than 1 second per lap. Johncock started driving very low in the turns, trying to alleviate the pushing
condition. It became clear in the waning laps that Mears was dramatically closing in on the lead. Such a circumstance was entirely unprecedented in Indy 500 history, with the exception of the 1937 race
. With only 6 other cars left running, traffic was not a factor.
Mears closed to under 3 seconds with 3 laps to go. With two laps to go, the margin was less than 1 second. Johncock's car was handling so poorly in turn 3 that he mentioned afterwards that he nearly crashed.
With one lap to go, Mears pulled alongside on the mainstretch. The cars took the white flag side-by-side. Johncock refused to give up the lead. He "chop-blocked" Mears in the first turn, and stayed ahead. Mears lost considerable momentum, but began to reel Johncock back in down the backstretch. As they exited turn four, Mears tried to slingshot pass
Johncock for the win. Johncock held off the challenge, and won by 0.16 seconds, the closest-ever in Indy 500 history to date. It would stand as the closest finish in race history for ten years.
crash on the pace lap, the cars of Cogan, Mario Andretti
, Roger Mears
, and Dale Whittington
were eliminated. When the field was lined up for a second attempt to start the race, none of the four cars joined the field. Holes were left in the grid as those four spots were left vacant, with the first two rows conspicuously holding only two cars each, and only 29 cars took the green flag.
NOTE: The #35 Intermedics Innovator team formed an alliance with Patrick Racing; George Snider
subsequently qualified the team's backup car into the race.
Indianapolis Motor Speedway
The Indianapolis Motor Speedway, located in Speedway, Indiana in the United States, is the home of the Indianapolis 500-Mile Race and the Brickyard 400....
on Sunday, May 30, 1982. Gordon Johncock
Gordon Johncock
Gordon Johncock is a former racing driver, best known as a two-time winner of the Indianapolis 500 and the 1976 USAC Marlboro Championship Trail champion. Johncock was most often simply referred to as "Gordy."...
, who had previously won the rain-shortened 1973 race
1973 Indianapolis 500
The 57th Indianapolis 500 was held at Indianapolis on Wednesday, May 30, 1973. The race was held over three days due to rain and 2 major accidents. After 133 laps , rain halted the race, and Gordon Johncock was declared the winner....
, was the winner. Rick Mears
Rick Mears
Rick Ravon Mears is a retired American race car driver. He is one of three men to have won the Indianapolis 500-Mile Race four times , and the current record-holder for pole positions in the race with six...
finished second by a margin of 0.16 seconds, the closest finish in Indy 500 history to that point.
Pole day
On pole day, Saturday May 15, Kevin CoganKevin Cogan
Kevin Cogan is a former racecar driver who drove in Formula One from to . Driving a RAM Williams in the 1980 Canadian Grand Prix, he failed to qualify, suffering the same result driving for Tyrrell at the 1981 US GP West...
, driving for Penske Racing
Penske Racing
Penske Racing is a racing team that competes in the IndyCar Series and NASCAR. They also previously competed in road racing, and Formula One. Penske Racing is a division of Penske Corporation, and is owned and chaired by Roger Penske...
set a new one-lap track record of 204.638 mi/h, and a record four-lap average of 204.082 mi/h. A few minutes later, he was beaten by his Penske teammate Rick Mears
Rick Mears
Rick Ravon Mears is a retired American race car driver. He is one of three men to have won the Indianapolis 500-Mile Race four times , and the current record-holder for pole positions in the race with six...
. Mears secured the pole position with a four-lap average of 207.004 mi/h.
About an hour later, the time trials were marred by the horrific fatal accident of Gordon Smiley
Gordon Smiley
Gordon Eugene Smiley was an American race car driver from Omaha, Nebraska who was killed in a single-car crash at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. He was inducted into the Nebraska Auto Racing Hall of Fame in 2000....
. At 12:15 p.m., Smiley left the pits to start his qualifying run. On his second (of two) warm up lap, he approached turn three. The back-end became loose, and Smiley overcorrected. The front wheels suddenly gained traction, the car turned and crashed head-on into the outside wall at about 200 mi/h. The fuel tank exploded with a large fireflash, the car disintegrated into at least three sections, and went airborne for at least 50 feet (15.2 m). Smiley's exposed body tumbled amongst the debris for hundreds of feet through the short-chute connecting turns 3 and 4. Smiley died instantly from massive trauma inflicted by the severe impact. Nearly every bone in his body had been shattered. His helmet was pulled from his head, and the top of his skull was scalped by the debris fence and asphalt. His death was the first at Indy since 1973, and to date, the last during a qualification attempt.
The track remained closed for over two hours after the crash. The catch fencing needed repair, and a patch of asphalt was required to be paved due to the accident. After over two hours, qualifying resumed. Several cars went out over the next two hours, but none challenged the speed records set earlier in the morning. In a solemn mood, qualifying came to a quiet halt around 4:55 p.m., with just over an hour left in the session.
At the close of pole day, the field was filled to 20 cars.
Second day
After the tragic circumstances of the day before, few drivers took to the track on Sunday May 16. A very uneventful day saw only a handful of cars even take practice laps. Only cars made qualifying attempts and only two were run to completion. Rain ended the session a few minutes early, and the field was filled to 22 cars.Third day
A busy day of time trials saw the field filled to 31 cars. Mike ChandlerMike Chandler
Mike Chandler , is a former driver in the CART Championship Car series. He raced in the 1980-1984 seasons, with 9 career starts, and started in the Indianapolis 500 in 1981-1983. A near head-on crash in practice for the 1984 race left him in a coma for several days and prematurely ended his career...
was fastest of the day at 198.042 mi/h.
Bump day
The field was left with two empty position at the start of the day. Several drivers intended to make attempts but few actually took to the track. Josele GarzaJosele Garza
Josele Garza is a Mexican professional race car driver. He started seven Indianapolis 500 races. Garza was the 1981 Indianapolis 500 Rookie of the Year after rolling off sixth and finishing 23rd at the age of 19...
and Pete Halsmer
Pete Halsmer
Pete Halsmer , is a former driver in the CART Championship Car series. He raced in 5 seasons , with 33 career starts, and started in the Indianapolis 500 in 1981-1982. He finished in the top five three times in the CART series, with his best finish in 2nd position in 1983 at Cleveland...
went out and quickly filled the field. Only two cars were bumped all day, and despite the track being open until 6 p.m., no drivers went out after 4:03 p.m. With two hours left in the day, Desiré Wilson
Desiré Wilson
Desiré Randall Wilson is a former racing driver from South Africa, one of only five women to have competed in Formula One. She entered one Formula One World Championship Grand Prix in 1980 with a non-works Williams FW07 prepared by Brands Hatch Racing, but failed to qualify...
announced she would not make an attempt, and thus would not have a chance to become the second female to qualify at Indy.
Kevin Cogan crash
On race day, Kevin CoganKevin Cogan
Kevin Cogan is a former racecar driver who drove in Formula One from to . Driving a RAM Williams in the 1980 Canadian Grand Prix, he failed to qualify, suffering the same result driving for Tyrrell at the 1981 US GP West...
started from the middle of the front row, next to pole-sitter Mears, and A.J. Foyt. As the field approached the start/finish line to start the race, Cogan suddenly swerved right, touching and bouncing off of A.J. Foyt's car. He then slid directly into the path of, and collected, Mario Andretti
Mario Andretti
Mario Gabriele Andretti is a retired Italian American world champion racing driver, one of the most successful Americans in the history of the sport. He is one of only two drivers to win races in Formula One, IndyCar, World Sportscar Championship and NASCAR...
. Deeper in the field, the cars started to check-up. A fast-moving Dale Whittington
Dale Whittington
Dale Whittington , was an American racecar driver.Born in Orlando, Florida as the youngest of the three Whittington brothers...
nearly collected Geoff Brabham
Geoff Brabham
Geoff Brabham is an Australian racing driver. He is the son of three-time Formula One World Champion Jack Brabham. Brabham spent the majority of his racing career in the United States. He raced successfully in CART early in his career. In ten appearances in the Indianapolis 500, with a best result...
, lost control, spun across the track and ran into the back of Roger Mears
Roger Mears
Roger Mears , is a former off-road driver who also drove in the USAC and CART Championship Car series. He raced in the 1978-1984 seasons, with 31 combined career starts, and started in the 1982 and 1983 Indianapolis 500...
. Both cars were eliminated. Bobby Rahal
Bobby Rahal
Robert "Bobby" Woodward Rahal is an American auto racing driver and team owner. As a driver, he won three championships and 24 races in the CART open-wheel series, including the 1986 Indianapolis 500...
also reported getting hit from behind, but was undamaged. The green flag had not come out, and the race was immediately red flagged.
Cogan's shocking accident took out four cars, including himself. Foyt's team was able to make repairs, and pushed his car out for the restart attempt. Meanwhile, Andretti and Foyt were furious and outspoken about their displeasure with Cogan. Andretti shunned Cogan's attempts to explain himself with a light shove.
Andretti on live radio and television made the comment:
Back in the garage area, Andretti complained about Cogan's abilities, claiming that Cogan was "looking for trouble," that he "couldn't handle the responsibilities of the front row," and that the Penske
Penske Racing
Penske Racing is a racing team that competes in the IndyCar Series and NASCAR. They also previously competed in road racing, and Formula One. Penske Racing is a division of Penske Corporation, and is owned and chaired by Roger Penske...
car he was driving was "too good for him."
The commonly outspoken Foyt also chimed in during comments to ABC-TV's Chris Economaki
Chris Economaki
Christopher "Chris" Constantine Economaki is an American motorsports commentator, pit road reporter, and journalist. Chris Economaki has been given the title "The Dean of American Motorsports." Microsoft chose Economaki to author the auto racing history portion of its Encarta...
with:
After he had cooled off, Foyt brushed it off a little saying "the guy pulled a stupid trick" and then back in the garage area of the crash and of Cogan that:
Johnny Rutherford
Johnny Rutherford
For the Major League Baseball pitcher, see Johnny Rutherford . For other people with a similar name, see John RutherfordJohn Sherman Rutherford III , better known as Johnny Rutherford, and also known as "Lone Star JR" is a former U.S...
and
Bobby Unser
Bobby Unser
Robert William "Bobby" Unser is a retired U.S. automobile racer. He is the brother of Al Unser, Jerry Unser and Louie Unser, the father of Robby Unser, and the uncle of Al Unser, Jr. and Johnny Unser...
later placed some blame of the incident on the polesitter Rick Mears
Rick Mears
Rick Ravon Mears is a retired American race car driver. He is one of three men to have won the Indianapolis 500-Mile Race four times , and the current record-holder for pole positions in the race with six...
, for bringing the field down at such a slow pace. Director of competition Roger McCluskey
Roger McCluskey
Roger McCluskey was an American race car driver. He was from Tucson, Arizona.He won championship titles in three divisions of USAC -Sprints, Stocks, and Champ Cars. He won the USAC Sprint Car title in 1963 and 1966, the USAC Stock car title in 1969 and 1970. The Champ Car title in 1973...
mentioned an overwhelming disdain from the drivers about the poor pace set at the start. Mears contended that his intentions were to keep the same pace, rather than radically speed up and slow down. Gordon Johncock
Gordon Johncock
Gordon Johncock is a former racing driver, best known as a two-time winner of the Indianapolis 500 and the 1976 USAC Marlboro Championship Trail champion. Johncock was most often simply referred to as "Gordy."...
pointed out that Andretti had jumped the start, and could have avoided the spinning car of Cogan had he been lined up properly in the second row. Neither observation gained much attention.
Aftermath
Cogan quickly fell out of favor following the humiliation stemming from the accident. It was followed by a noticeable "blacklistBlacklist
A blacklist is a list or register of entities who, for one reason or another, are being denied a particular privilege, service, mobility, access or recognition. As a verb, to blacklist can mean to deny someone work in a particular field, or to ostracize a person from a certain social circle...
ing" by fans and press. Cogan nearly had the dubious distinction of taking out two of the most famous American auto racing legends (Foyt
A. J. Foyt
Anthony Joseph Foyt, Jr., or as he is universally known as in motorsports circles, A. J. Foyt , is a retired American automobile racing driver. He raced in numerous genres of motorsports. His open wheel racing includes USAC Champ cars and midget cars. He raced stock cars in NASCAR and USAC. He won...
and Andretti
Mario Andretti
Mario Gabriele Andretti is a retired Italian American world champion racing driver, one of the most successful Americans in the history of the sport. He is one of only two drivers to win races in Formula One, IndyCar, World Sportscar Championship and NASCAR...
) on the first lap, in one move, in the biggest race of the season. The incident also further rehashed a standing feud between Penske Racing
Penske Racing
Penske Racing is a racing team that competes in the IndyCar Series and NASCAR. They also previously competed in road racing, and Formula One. Penske Racing is a division of Penske Corporation, and is owned and chaired by Roger Penske...
and Patrick Racing
Patrick Racing
Patrick Racing was an auto racing team in both Champ Car and the Indy Racing League.Patrick Racing was started by Pat Patrick with the formation of CART in 1978. Patrick Racing would win three Indianapolis 500s and two CART championships, making it one of the most successful CART teams ever.In...
. A year earlier, Penske and Patrick had been the key fixtures in the controversial 1981 race
1981 Indianapolis 500
The 65th Indianapolis 500 was held at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Sunday, May 24, 1981. A hectic month of May was interrupted several times by rain. Bobby Unser took the checkered flag as the winner, with Mario Andretti second...
.
Cogan did not manage to win a race in 1982, and was possibly fired by Roger Penske
Roger Penske
Roger S. Penske is the owner of the automobile racing team Penske Racing, the Penske Corporation, and other automotive related businesses. A winning racer in the late 1950s, Penske was named 1961's Sports Car Club of America Driver of the Year by Sports Illustrated...
because of it.
The accident was never explained by the Penske team. Derrick Walker
Derrick Walker
Derrick Walker is a British auto racing team owner.-Formula One:He started in auto racing as a chief mechanic for the Brabham Formula One team from 1970 to 1975...
the team manager at the time, claimed that they found "no cause" for the accident. However, several experts had reasonable opinions. Rodger Ward
Rodger Ward
Rodger M. Ward was an American racecar driver who won the 1959 and 1962 Indianapolis 500. He also was the 1959 and 1962 USAC Championship Car champion.-Early history:...
, working for the IMS Radio Network
Indianapolis Motor Speedway Radio Network
The Indianapolis Motor Speedway Radio Network , is an in-house radio syndication arrangement which broadcasts the Indianapolis 500, IndyCar, and the Brickyard 400 to radio stations covering most of North America....
immediately believed the rear brakes locked up. It was a common practice for drivers in the turbocharged era to "ride the brakes" during warm up laps in order to engage the turbocharger. Others theorized it may have happened due to a broken CV joint or halfshaft. Fellow drivers such as Johnny Rutherford
Johnny Rutherford
For the Major League Baseball pitcher, see Johnny Rutherford . For other people with a similar name, see John RutherfordJohn Sherman Rutherford III , better known as Johnny Rutherford, and also known as "Lone Star JR" is a former U.S...
and Gordon Johncock
Gordon Johncock
Gordon Johncock is a former racing driver, best known as a two-time winner of the Indianapolis 500 and the 1976 USAC Marlboro Championship Trail champion. Johncock was most often simply referred to as "Gordy."...
suggested that due to the slow start, Cogan may have been in first gear, and when he accelerated, the back end simply car came around. Some feel that Sam Posey
Sam Posey
Sam Posey is a retired American racecar driver and sports broadcast journalist.-Driving career:...
on ABC-TV inadvertently may have added to the controversy when he proclaimed "absolutely no idea" to the question of how it could have happened, and saying "it was as if he turned the wheel intentionally." The comments led many to conclude, albeit unfairly, that the accident may have been entirely of Cogan's doing. As soon as he climbed from the car, Cogan was observed looking at the rear end axle, suggesting that he thought something broke.
Years later Donald Davidson
Donald Davidson (historian)
Donald Davidson is the current historian of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, the only person to hold such a position on a full-time basis for any motorsports facility in the world.-Personal history:...
, the historian for the Indianapolis Motor Speedway
Indianapolis Motor Speedway
The Indianapolis Motor Speedway, located in Speedway, Indiana in the United States, is the home of the Indianapolis 500-Mile Race and the Brickyard 400....
, mentioned that team driver, and the more experienced, Rick Mears
Rick Mears
Rick Ravon Mears is a retired American race car driver. He is one of three men to have won the Indianapolis 500-Mile Race four times , and the current record-holder for pole positions in the race with six...
had a nearly identical accident during private testing at Michigan International Speedway
Michigan International Speedway
Michigan International Speedway is a two-mile moderate-banked D-shaped superspeedway located off U.S. Highway 12 on more than in Brooklyn, in the scenic Irish Hills area of southeastern Michigan. The track is used primarily for NASCAR events. It is sometimes known as a "sister track" to Texas...
. The accident was never disclosed to the public, even though it could have vindicated Cogan. In 2009, Roger Penske
Roger Penske
Roger S. Penske is the owner of the automobile racing team Penske Racing, the Penske Corporation, and other automotive related businesses. A winning racer in the late 1950s, Penske was named 1961's Sports Car Club of America Driver of the Year by Sports Illustrated...
seemed to brush off ideas, stating "Cogan said something broke, I don't know whether it did or didn't."
Race running
USAC rules impose a minimum fuel economy of 1.8 miles per gallon for the cars, and with the two parade, one pace, and 200 race laps combined, cars are limited to 282 gallons (1,067.5 l) of methanol racing fuel, with 242 gallons (916.1 l) of fuel in the pitside fuel tanks (cars carried 40 gallons (151.4 l) of fuel). The three laps, and the aborted start, officially resulted in a loss of 5.6 gallons (21.2 l) of fuel and officials used the delay to add 5.6 gallons (21.2 l) of fuel to the tanks to each tank in order to comply with the 1.8 mpg requirements for the clean start.Overall, the delay lasted over 45 minutes. Only 29 cars lined up for the second start attempt.
A. J. Foyt
A. J. Foyt
Anthony Joseph Foyt, Jr., or as he is universally known as in motorsports circles, A. J. Foyt , is a retired American automobile racing driver. He raced in numerous genres of motorsports. His open wheel racing includes USAC Champ cars and midget cars. He raced stock cars in NASCAR and USAC. He won...
took the lead at the start. It was the first time in his 25-year Indy career that he led the first lap of the race. After the hasty repairs from the Cogan incident, Foyt's car was precariously unproven, yet Foyt made no effort to "feel his car out" before charging into the lead. Meanwhile, popular second-year driver Josele Garza
Josele Garza
Josele Garza is a Mexican professional race car driver. He started seven Indianapolis 500 races. Garza was the 1981 Indianapolis 500 Rookie of the Year after rolling off sixth and finishing 23rd at the age of 19...
barely completed the first lap, and dropped out with an oil leak.
Rick Mears
Rick Mears
Rick Ravon Mears is a retired American race car driver. He is one of three men to have won the Indianapolis 500-Mile Race four times , and the current record-holder for pole positions in the race with six...
soon established himself as the fastest car in the field, and found the lead in the first half.
A. J. Foyt's day ended just short of the midway point. A failed transmission linkage prevented him from pulling out of the pits. Foyt famously climbed from the cockpit, grabbed a hammer and a screwdriver, and started pounding away at the rear mechanics of the car. His attempts were futile, and the car was wheeled back to the garage area. Foyt revealed, during an interview immediately thereafter, that the Cogan crash had damaged the car's toe in
Toe (automotive)
In automotive engineering, toe, also known as tracking, is the symmetric angle that each wheel makes with the longitudinal axis of the vehicle, as a function of static geometry, and kinematic and compliant effects. This can be contrasted with steer, which is the antisymmetric angle, i.e. both...
alignment, and that it had been handling poorly all race up to that point. The 1982 race would be the final Indy 500 Foyt would lead during his driving career.
Finish
With less than 20 laps to go, Gordon JohncockGordon Johncock
Gordon Johncock is a former racing driver, best known as a two-time winner of the Indianapolis 500 and the 1976 USAC Marlboro Championship Trail champion. Johncock was most often simply referred to as "Gordy."...
led Rick Mears
Rick Mears
Rick Ravon Mears is a retired American race car driver. He is one of three men to have won the Indianapolis 500-Mile Race four times , and the current record-holder for pole positions in the race with six...
. Most of the balance of the field was eliminated, or running several laps behind. The two cars were running right together, and had developed into a late-race duel. Both drivers needed to make one final pit stop to make it to the finish.
With 18 laps to go Mears ducked into the pits. The car of Herm Johnson
Herm Johnson
Herm Johnson , is a former driver in the CART Championship Car series. He raced in 7 seasons , with 35 career starts, including the 1984 Indianapolis 500. He also raced at Indy in 1982, but the race was not part of CART that year...
slowed in front, and Mears bumped into his back wheel. The incident cost Mears several seconds. In his pit box, Mears Penske
Penske Racing
Penske Racing is a racing team that competes in the IndyCar Series and NASCAR. They also previously competed in road racing, and Formula One. Penske Racing is a division of Penske Corporation, and is owned and chaired by Roger Penske...
crew proceeded to fill his car full with 40 gallons (151.4 l) of fuel, more than enough needed to make it to the finish. No tires were changed, and no repairs were necessary from hitting Johnson's car.
Two laps later, Johncock dove into the pits. He precariously diced around a backmarker and slid into his pit box. The Patrick Racing
Patrick Racing
Patrick Racing was an auto racing team in both Champ Car and the Indy Racing League.Patrick Racing was started by Pat Patrick with the formation of CART in 1978. Patrick Racing would win three Indianapolis 500s and two CART championships, making it one of the most successful CART teams ever.In...
crew conducted a timed pit stop. The team calculated the amount of fuel needed to make it to the finish. When enough fuel had flowed into the car, a pit crew member tapped the fuel man on the back with a stick, and he disengaged. Johncock pulled away, with a pit stop many seconds quicker than Mears'.
Back on the track, Johncock held a lead of more than eleven seconds. It seemed he was cruising to his second Indy victory. However, his car's handling was starting to suffer. The light fuel load he took on was exacerbating a pushing
Understeer
Understeer and oversteer are vehicle dynamics terms used to describe the sensitivity of a vehicle to steering. Simply put, oversteer is what occurs when a car turns by more than the amount commanded by the driver...
condition.
Meanwhile, Mears' fully fueled car was heavier, and handling much better. He started closing in, more than 1 second per lap. Johncock started driving very low in the turns, trying to alleviate the pushing
Understeer
Understeer and oversteer are vehicle dynamics terms used to describe the sensitivity of a vehicle to steering. Simply put, oversteer is what occurs when a car turns by more than the amount commanded by the driver...
condition. It became clear in the waning laps that Mears was dramatically closing in on the lead. Such a circumstance was entirely unprecedented in Indy 500 history, with the exception of the 1937 race
1937 Indianapolis 500
The 25th International 500-Mile Sweepstakes was held at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Monday, May 31, 1937.Late in the race, Wilbur Shaw held a comfortable lead, and had lapped second place Ralph Hepburn. With about 20 laps to go, however, Shaw's car had been leaking oil, and had nearly lost...
. With only 6 other cars left running, traffic was not a factor.
Mears closed to under 3 seconds with 3 laps to go. With two laps to go, the margin was less than 1 second. Johncock's car was handling so poorly in turn 3 that he mentioned afterwards that he nearly crashed.
With one lap to go, Mears pulled alongside on the mainstretch. The cars took the white flag side-by-side. Johncock refused to give up the lead. He "chop-blocked" Mears in the first turn, and stayed ahead. Mears lost considerable momentum, but began to reel Johncock back in down the backstretch. As they exited turn four, Mears tried to slingshot pass
Drafting (racing)
Drafting or slipstreaming is a technique where two vehicles or other moving objects are caused to align in a close group reducing the overall effect of drag due to exploiting the lead object's slipstream...
Johncock for the win. Johncock held off the challenge, and won by 0.16 seconds, the closest-ever in Indy 500 history to date. It would stand as the closest finish in race history for ten years.
Starting grid
Note: Following the Kevin CoganKevin Cogan
Kevin Cogan is a former racecar driver who drove in Formula One from to . Driving a RAM Williams in the 1980 Canadian Grand Prix, he failed to qualify, suffering the same result driving for Tyrrell at the 1981 US GP West...
crash on the pace lap, the cars of Cogan, Mario Andretti
Mario Andretti
Mario Gabriele Andretti is a retired Italian American world champion racing driver, one of the most successful Americans in the history of the sport. He is one of only two drivers to win races in Formula One, IndyCar, World Sportscar Championship and NASCAR...
, Roger Mears
Roger Mears
Roger Mears , is a former off-road driver who also drove in the USAC and CART Championship Car series. He raced in the 1978-1984 seasons, with 31 combined career starts, and started in the 1982 and 1983 Indianapolis 500...
, and Dale Whittington
Dale Whittington
Dale Whittington , was an American racecar driver.Born in Orlando, Florida as the youngest of the three Whittington brothers...
were eliminated. When the field was lined up for a second attempt to start the race, none of the four cars joined the field. Holes were left in the grid as those four spots were left vacant, with the first two rows conspicuously holding only two cars each, and only 29 cars took the green flag.
| Row | Inside | Middle | Outside |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  United States Rick MearsRick Mears Rick Ravon Mears is a retired American race car driver. He is one of three men to have won the Indianapolis 500-Mile Race four times , and the current record-holder for pole positions in the race with six... |
United States Kevin Cogan Kevin Cogan Kevin Cogan is a former racecar driver who drove in Formula One from to . Driving a RAM Williams in the 1980 Canadian Grand Prix, he failed to qualify, suffering the same result driving for Tyrrell at the 1981 US GP West... |
United States A.J. Foyt |
| 2 | United States Mario Andretti Mario Andretti Mario Gabriele Andretti is a retired Italian American world champion racing driver, one of the most successful Americans in the history of the sport. He is one of only two drivers to win races in Formula One, IndyCar, World Sportscar Championship and NASCAR... |
United States Gordon Johncock Gordon Johncock Gordon Johncock is a former racing driver, best known as a two-time winner of the Indianapolis 500 and the 1976 USAC Marlboro Championship Trail champion. Johncock was most often simply referred to as "Gordy."... |
United States Bill Whittington Bill Whittington Bill Whittington is an American racing driver from Lubbock, Texas who won the 1979 24 Hours of Le Mans together with his brother Don Whittington and Klaus Ludwig in a Porsche 935. The German professional Klaus Ludwig, multiple winner at Le Mans and elsewhere, did most of the driving in the heavy... |
| 3 | United States Tom Sneva Tom Sneva Tom Sneva is a former Indy Car driver who was named to the prestigious Motorsports Hall of Fame of America in 2005. Sneva is best remembered for winning the 1983 Indianapolis 500. Nicknamed "The Gas Man," Sneva was an outstanding qualifier, winning the pole position for the Indianapolis 500 three... |
United States Don Whittington Don Whittington Reginald "Don" Whittington is a former American racing driver from Lubbock, Texas who won the 1979 24 Hours of Le Mans together with his brother Bill Whittington and Klaus Ludwig on a Porsche 935, although Ludwig, a multiple winner at Le Mans and elsewhere, did most of the driving in the heavy rain... |
United States Danny Ongais Danny Ongais Danny Ongais is a former racecar driver from the United States.He is the only native Hawaiian to compete at the Indianapolis 500... |
| 4 | United States Pancho Carter Pancho Carter Duane "Pancho" Carter, Jr. is a retired American race car driver. He is most famous for his participation in CART races.-Background:... |
United States Chip Ganassi Chip Ganassi Floyd "Chip" Ganassi, Jr is a former American racecar driver and current racecar owner.He is currently the owner and president of Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates which operates teams on the IndyCar, NASCAR and Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series circuit... |
United States Johnny Rutherford Johnny Rutherford For the Major League Baseball pitcher, see Johnny Rutherford . For other people with a similar name, see John RutherfordJohn Sherman Rutherford III , better known as Johnny Rutherford, and also known as "Lone Star JR" is a former U.S... |
| 5 | United States Danny Sullivan Danny Sullivan Daniel John "Danny" Sullivan III is a former racing driver from the United States. He is best known for winning the 1985 Indianapolis 500.-Before racing:... |
United States Herm Johnson Herm Johnson Herm Johnson , is a former driver in the CART Championship Car series. He raced in 7 seasons , with 35 career starts, including the 1984 Indianapolis 500. He also raced at Indy in 1982, but the race was not part of CART that year... |
 Mexico Héctor RebaqueHéctor Rebaque Héctor Alonso Rebaque is a former racing driver from Mexico. He participated in 58 Formula One World Championship Grands Prix, debuting on 5 June 1977. He scored a total of 13 championship points... |
| 6 | United States Al Unser Al Unser Alfred "Al" Unser is a former American automobile racing driver, the younger brother of fellow racing drivers Jerry and Bobby Unser, and father of Al Unser, Jr.... |
United States Bobby Rahal Bobby Rahal Robert "Bobby" Woodward Rahal is an American auto racing driver and team owner. As a driver, he won three championships and 24 races in the CART open-wheel series, including the 1986 Indianapolis 500... |
United States Howdy Holmes Howdy Holmes Howdy S. Holmes , is a former driver in the CART Championship Car series. He began racing in the early 1970s and was based in Stockbridge, Michigan, about northeast of Chelsea.... |
| 7 | United States Roger Mears Roger Mears Roger Mears , is a former off-road driver who also drove in the USAC and CART Championship Car series. He raced in the 1978-1984 seasons, with 31 combined career starts, and started in the 1982 and 1983 Indianapolis 500... |
 Australia Geoff BrabhamGeoff Brabham Geoff Brabham is an Australian racing driver. He is the son of three-time Formula One World Champion Jack Brabham. Brabham spent the majority of his racing career in the United States. He raced successfully in CART early in his career. In ten appearances in the Indianapolis 500, with a best result... |
Australia Dennis Firestone Dennis Firestone Dennis Firestone is a former CART driver from 1979 to 1987. He was the Rookie of the year in CART 1980 season finishing in 12th in season points, his best season. His best finish in a CART race was a pair of 5th places that year... |
| 8 | United States Mike Chandler Mike Chandler Mike Chandler , is a former driver in the CART Championship Car series. He raced in the 1980-1984 seasons, with 9 career starts, and started in the Indianapolis 500 in 1981-1983. A near head-on crash in practice for the 1984 race left him in a coma for several days and prematurely ended his career... |
United States Dale Whittington Dale Whittington Dale Whittington , was an American racecar driver.Born in Orlando, Florida as the youngest of the three Whittington brothers... |
United States Jim Hickman Jim Hickman (driver) James Franklin Hickman, II was an American racecar driver known as Jim Hickman.-Racing career:... |
| 9 | United States Johnny Parsons Johnny Parsons Johnny Parsons is an American racecar driver.-Racing family:Parsons is the son of Arza and 1950 Indianapolis 500 winner Johnnie Parsons. His parents divorced, and Johnny was raised with half-brothers Dana and Pancho Carter, the product of Arza'a marriage with Duane Carter. The Carters grew up... |
United States George Snider George Snider George "Ziggy" Snider is a retired American race car driver. A longtime driver in the United States Automobile Club Silver Crown series, Snider is also a 22-time starter of the Indianapolis 500, the most starts without winning the race. His best finish was eighth in the 1975 Indianapolis 500... |
United States Tony Bettenhausen Tony Bettenhausen, Jr. Tony Bettenhausen, Jr. was a Champ Car team owner and driver who died in a 2000 plane crash. He was the son of former 14-time Indianapolis 500 competitor Tony Bettenhausen and the brother of 21-time Indy racer Gary Bettenhausen. The family holds the dubious distinction of the most combined starts... |
| 10 | United States Jerry Sneva Jerry Sneva Jerry Sneva , is a former off-road driver who also drove in the USAC and CART Championship Car series. He raced in the 1977-1982 seasons, with 26 combined career starts, including the 1977-1980 and 1982 Indianapolis 500 and was named 1977 Indianapolis 500 Rookie of the Year... |
United States Chet Fillip Chet Fillip Chet Fillip , is a former driver in the CART Championship Car series. Fillip raced stock cars and a modified during his teens and early twenties at Arena Park Raceway in Lubbock, Texas. His father Marvin Fillip also raced at this track... |
United States Gary Bettenhausen Gary Bettenhausen Gary Bettenhausen is a retired American auto racing driver. He was born in Blue Island, Illinois, raised in Tinley Park, Illinois, and currently resides in Monrovia, Indiana.-Racing family:... |
| 11 | United States Tom Bigelow Tom Bigelow Tom Bigelow , USA, is a former driver in the USAC and CART Championship Car series.-Midget car racing:... |
United States Pete Halsmer Pete Halsmer Pete Halsmer , is a former driver in the CART Championship Car series. He raced in 5 seasons , with 33 career starts, and started in the Indianapolis 500 in 1981-1982. He finished in the top five three times in the CART series, with his best finish in 2nd position in 1983 at Cleveland... |
Mexico Josele Garza Josele Garza Josele Garza is a Mexican professional race car driver. He started seven Indianapolis 500 races. Garza was the 1981 Indianapolis 500 Rookie of the Year after rolling off sixth and finishing 23rd at the age of 19... |
- Yellow indicates the driver was eliminated during the Cogan crash, and did not start the race
- Green indicates the driver was involved in the Cogan crash, but managed to start the race
Results
| Finish | Start | No | Name | Qual | Rank | Laps | Led | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 5 | 20 | United States Gordon Johncock Gordon Johncock Gordon Johncock is a former racing driver, best known as a two-time winner of the Indianapolis 500 and the 1976 USAC Marlboro Championship Trail champion. Johncock was most often simply referred to as "Gordy."... |
201.884 | 5 | 200 | 57 | Running |
| 2 | 1 | 1 | United States Rick Mears Rick Mears Rick Ravon Mears is a retired American race car driver. He is one of three men to have won the Indianapolis 500-Mile Race four times , and the current record-holder for pole positions in the race with six... |
207.003 | 1 | 200 | 77 | Running |
| 3 | 10 | 3 | United States Pancho Carter Pancho Carter Duane "Pancho" Carter, Jr. is a retired American race car driver. He is most famous for his participation in CART races.-Background:... |
198.950 | 10 | 199 | 0 | Flagged |
| 4 | 7 | 7 | United States Tom Sneva Tom Sneva Tom Sneva is a former Indy Car driver who was named to the prestigious Motorsports Hall of Fame of America in 2005. Sneva is best remembered for winning the 1983 Indianapolis 500. Nicknamed "The Gas Man," Sneva was an outstanding qualifier, winning the pole position for the Indianapolis 500 three... |
201.028 | 7 | 197 | 31 | Engine |
| 5 | 16 | 10 | United States Al Unser Al Unser Alfred "Al" Unser is a former American automobile racing driver, the younger brother of fellow racing drivers Jerry and Bobby Unser, and father of Al Unser, Jr.... |
195.567 | 23 | 197 | 0 | Flagged |
| 6 | 8 | 91 | United States Don Whittington Don Whittington Reginald "Don" Whittington is a former American racing driver from Lubbock, Texas who won the 1979 24 Hours of Le Mans together with his brother Bill Whittington and Klaus Ludwig on a Porsche 935, although Ludwig, a multiple winner at Le Mans and elsewhere, did most of the driving in the heavy rain... |
200.725 | 8 | 196 | 2 | Flagged |
| 7 | 24 | 42 | United States Jim Hickman Jim Hickman (driver) James Franklin Hickman, II was an American racecar driver known as Jim Hickman.-Racing career:... |
196.217 | 18 | 189 | 0 | Flagged |
| 8 | 12 | 5 | United States Johnny Rutherford Johnny Rutherford For the Major League Baseball pitcher, see Johnny Rutherford . For other people with a similar name, see John RutherfordJohn Sherman Rutherford III , better known as Johnny Rutherford, and also known as "Lone Star JR" is a former U.S... |
197.066 | 16 | 187 | 0 | Engine |
| 9 | 14 | 28 | United States Herm Johnson Herm Johnson Herm Johnson , is a former driver in the CART Championship Car series. He raced in 7 seasons , with 35 career starts, including the 1984 Indianapolis 500. He also raced at Indy in 1982, but the race was not part of CART that year... |
195.929 | 19 | 186 | 0 | Flagged |
| 10 | 18 | 30 | United States Howdy Holmes Howdy Holmes Howdy S. Holmes , is a former driver in the CART Championship Car series. He began racing in the early 1970s and was based in Stockbridge, Michigan, about northeast of Chelsea.... |
194.469 | 32 | 186 | 0 | Flagged |
| 11 | 17 | 19 | United States Bobby Rahal Bobby Rahal Robert "Bobby" Woodward Rahal is an American auto racing driver and team owner. As a driver, he won three championships and 24 races in the CART open-wheel series, including the 1986 Indianapolis 500... |
194.700 | 29 | 174 | 0 | Engine |
| 12 | 30 | 8 | United States Gary Bettenhausen Gary Bettenhausen Gary Bettenhausen is a retired American auto racing driver. He was born in Blue Island, Illinois, raised in Tinley Park, Illinois, and currently resides in Monrovia, Indiana.-Racing family:... |
195.673 | 22 | 158 | 0 | Engine |
| 13 | 15 | 52 | Mexico Héctor Rebaque Héctor Rebaque Héctor Alonso Rebaque is a former racing driver from Mexico. He participated in 58 Formula One World Championship Grands Prix, debuting on 5 June 1977. He scored a total of 13 championship points... |
195.684 | 21 | 150 | 0 | Fire |
| 14 | 13 | 53 | United States Danny Sullivan Danny Sullivan Daniel John "Danny" Sullivan III is a former racing driver from the United States. He is best known for winning the 1985 Indianapolis 500.-Before racing:... |
196.292 | 17 | 148 | 0 | Crash T4 |
| 15 | 11 | 12 | United States Chip Ganassi Chip Ganassi Floyd "Chip" Ganassi, Jr is a former American racecar driver and current racecar owner.He is currently the owner and president of Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates which operates teams on the IndyCar, NASCAR and Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series circuit... |
197.705 | 13 | 147 | 0 | Engine |
| 16 | 6 | 94 | United States Bill Whittington Bill Whittington Bill Whittington is an American racing driver from Lubbock, Texas who won the 1979 24 Hours of Le Mans together with his brother Don Whittington and Klaus Ludwig in a Porsche 935. The German professional Klaus Ludwig, multiple winner at Le Mans and elsewhere, did most of the driving in the heavy... |
201.658 | 6 | 121 | 0 | Engine |
| 17 | 22 | 68 | United States Mike Chandler Mike Chandler Mike Chandler , is a former driver in the CART Championship Car series. He raced in the 1980-1984 seasons, with 9 career starts, and started in the Indianapolis 500 in 1981-1983. A near head-on crash in practice for the 1984 race left him in a coma for several days and prematurely ended his career... |
198.042 | 12 | 104 | 0 | Gearbox |
| 18 | 31 | 27 | United States Tom Bigelow Tom Bigelow Tom Bigelow , USA, is a former driver in the USAC and CART Championship Car series.-Midget car racing:... |
194.784 | 28 | 96 | 0 | Engine |
| 19 | 3 | 14 | United States A.J. Foyt |
203.332 | 3 | 95 | 32 | Transmission |
| 20 | 25 | 34 | United States Johnny Parsons Johnny Parsons Johnny Parsons is an American racecar driver.-Racing family:Parsons is the son of Arza and 1950 Indianapolis 500 winner Johnnie Parsons. His parents divorced, and Johnny was raised with half-brothers Dana and Pancho Carter, the product of Arza'a marriage with Duane Carter. The Carters grew up... |
195.929 | 20 | 92 | 0 | Spin |
| 21 | 26 | 35 | United States George Snider George Snider George "Ziggy" Snider is a retired American race car driver. A longtime driver in the United States Automobile Club Silver Crown series, Snider is also a 22-time starter of the Indianapolis 500, the most starts without winning the race. His best finish was eighth in the 1975 Indianapolis 500... |
195.493 | 24 | 87 | 0 | Engine |
| 22 | 9 | 25 | United States Danny Ongais Danny Ongais Danny Ongais is a former racecar driver from the United States.He is the only native Hawaiian to compete at the Indianapolis 500... |
199.148 | 9 | 62 | 1 | Crash T2 |
| 23 | 28 | 69 | United States Jerry Sneva Jerry Sneva Jerry Sneva , is a former off-road driver who also drove in the USAC and CART Championship Car series. He raced in the 1977-1982 seasons, with 26 combined career starts, including the 1977-1980 and 1982 Indianapolis 500 and was named 1977 Indianapolis 500 Rookie of the Year... |
195.270 | 26 | 61 | 0 | Crash T2 |
| 24 | 29 | 39 | United States Chet Fillip Chet Fillip Chet Fillip , is a former driver in the CART Championship Car series. Fillip raced stock cars and a modified during his teens and early twenties at Arena Park Raceway in Lubbock, Texas. His father Marvin Fillip also raced at this track... |
194.879 | 27 | 60 | 0 | Crash T2 |
| 25 | 32 | 66 | United States Pete Halsmer Pete Halsmer Pete Halsmer , is a former driver in the CART Championship Car series. He raced in 5 seasons , with 33 career starts, and started in the Indianapolis 500 in 1981-1982. He finished in the top five three times in the CART series, with his best finish in 2nd position in 1983 at Cleveland... |
194.595 | 30 | 38 | 0 | Transmission |
| 26 | 27 | 16 | United States Tony Bettenhausen, Jr. Tony Bettenhausen, Jr. Tony Bettenhausen, Jr. was a Champ Car team owner and driver who died in a 2000 plane crash. He was the son of former 14-time Indianapolis 500 competitor Tony Bettenhausen and the brother of 21-time Indy racer Gary Bettenhausen. The family holds the dubious distinction of the most combined starts... |
195.429 | 25 | 37 | 0 | Crash FS |
| 27 | 21 | 75 | Australia Dennis Firestone Dennis Firestone Dennis Firestone is a former CART driver from 1979 to 1987. He was the Rookie of the year in CART 1980 season finishing in 12th in season points, his best season. His best finish in a CART race was a pair of 5th places that year... |
197.217 | 15 | 37 | 0 | Rear End |
| 28 | 20 | 21 | Australia Geoff Brabham Geoff Brabham Geoff Brabham is an Australian racing driver. He is the son of three-time Formula One World Champion Jack Brabham. Brabham spent the majority of his racing career in the United States. He raced successfully in CART early in his career. In ten appearances in the Indianapolis 500, with a best result... |
198.906 | 11 | 12 | 0 | Engine |
| 29 | 33 | 55 | Mexico Josele Garza Josele Garza Josele Garza is a Mexican professional race car driver. He started seven Indianapolis 500 races. Garza was the 1981 Indianapolis 500 Rookie of the Year after rolling off sixth and finishing 23rd at the age of 19... |
194.500 | 31 | 1 | 0 | Engine |
| 30 | 2 | 4 | United States Kevin Cogan Kevin Cogan Kevin Cogan is a former racecar driver who drove in Formula One from to . Driving a RAM Williams in the 1980 Canadian Grand Prix, he failed to qualify, suffering the same result driving for Tyrrell at the 1981 US GP West... |
204.082 | 2 | 0 | 0 | Crash FS |
| 31 | 4 | 40 | United States Mario Andretti Mario Andretti Mario Gabriele Andretti is a retired Italian American world champion racing driver, one of the most successful Americans in the history of the sport. He is one of only two drivers to win races in Formula One, IndyCar, World Sportscar Championship and NASCAR... |
203.172 | 4 | 0 | 0 | Crash FS |
| 32 | 19 | 31 | United States Roger Mears Roger Mears Roger Mears , is a former off-road driver who also drove in the USAC and CART Championship Car series. He raced in the 1978-1984 seasons, with 31 combined career starts, and started in the 1982 and 1983 Indianapolis 500... |
194.154 | 33 | 0 | 0 | Crash FS |
| 33 | 23 | 95 | United States Dale Whittington Dale Whittington Dale Whittington , was an American racecar driver.Born in Orlando, Florida as the youngest of the three Whittington brothers... |
197.694 | 14 | 0 | 0 | Crash FS |
Failed to Qualify
- Bill AlsupBill AlsupBill Alsup is a former race car driver. He was the first CART Rookie of the Year in 1979 and competed in the 1981 Indianapolis 500, finishing 11th. He made 57 CART & USAC Champ Car starts in his career...
(#2) - Pat Bedard (#36)
- Tom BigelowTom BigelowTom Bigelow , USA, is a former driver in the USAC and CART Championship Car series.-Midget car racing:...
(#56, #73) - Scott BraytonScott BraytonScott Everets Brayton was a race car driver from Coldwater, Michigan, on the American open-wheel circuit. He competed in 14 Indianapolis 500s, beginning with the 1981 event...
(#37) - Phil CalivaPhil CalivaPhil Caliva is an Italian-born American racing driver who competed in the CART Championship Car series from 1979 to 1984. After racing in the North American Formula Super Vee series in 1977 and 1978, he made his CART debut in 1979 driving for Spike Gehlhausen at Ontario Motor Speedway...
(#38) - Steve ChasseySteve ChasseySteve Chassey , is a former driver in the CART Championship Car series. He raced in 9 seasons , with 44 career starts, including the Indianapolis 500 in 1983, 1987, and 1988. He finished in the top ten 4 times, with his best finish in 5th position in 1981 at Watkins Glen International...
(#11, #64) - Bill Engelhart (#59)
- Dick FergusonDick FergusonDick Ferguson , is a former driver in the CART Championship Car series. He raced in the 1979-1985 and 1987-1988 seasons, with 26 career starts, including the 1980 Indianapolis 500. He finished in the top ten 5 times, with a best finish of 6th position in 1981 at Michigan.-External Links:*...
- Bob FreyBob FreyRobert C. Frey is a former American racing driver from Elyria, Ohio. He was a notable sprint car driver who won some of the country's most prestigious races when he attempted to try his hand at CART Championship Car racing in 1980. His first attempt to qualify for a race at the Pocono Raceway...
(#64) - Tom FrantzTom FrantzTom Frantz is an American former racing driver from Denver, Colorado. He made his USAC Championship Car debut in 1975 and made 6 starts with 2 11th place finish and competitive drives in every event...
(#77) - Spike GehlhausenSpike GehlhausenDaniel William "Spike" Gehlhausen , is a former driver in the USAC and CART Championship Car series. He raced in 11 seasons , with 79 combined career starts, including the Indianapolis 500 in 1976, 1978-1980, and 1984...
(#47) - Tom GloyTom GloyTom Gloy , is a former driver in the CART Championship Car series. He raced in the 1980 and 1984 seasons, with 6 career starts, including the 1984 Indianapolis 500. Despite competing in only 3 events in 1980, he finished 14th in points, a result of finishing each race in the top ten.In 1979, Gloy...
(#80) - Tom Grunnah
- Ken Hamilton (#63)
- Bob HarkeyBob HarkeyBob Harkey , is a former driver in the USAC Championship Car series. He raced in the 1963-1979 seasons, with 85 career starts, including the Indianapolis 500 in 1964, 1971 and 1973-1976...
(#79) - Hurley HaywoodHurley HaywoodHurley Haywood is an American race-car driver who won the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1977 , 1983 and 1994 and is the most successful driver at the 24 Hours of Daytona with 5 wins . He won the 12 Hours of Sebring in 1973 and 1981...
(#34) - Gary Irvin (#90)
- Jerry KarlJerry KarlJerry Karl , was a former driver in the USAC and CART Championship Car series...
(#32)
- Sheldon KinserSheldon KinserSheldon Kinser , was an American race-car driver.Kinser, a Bloomington, Indiana native, died of cancer. He was a three-time USAC Sprint Car Series Champion . He also drove in the USAC and CART Championship Car series...
- Steve KrisiloffSteve KrisiloffSteve Krisiloff , is a former driver in the USAC and CART Championship Car series. He raced in the 1969–1979, 1981 and 1983 seasons, with 111 combined career starts, and started in the Indianapolis 500 all but 1969–1970...
(#34, #72) - Phil KruegerPhil KruegerPhil Krueger , is a former driver in the CART Championship Car series. He raced in 9 seasons , with 23 career starts, including the 1986 and 1988 Indianapolis 500...
(#89) - Lee KunzmanLee KunzmanLee Kunzman , is a former driver in the USAC and CART Championship Car series. He raced in the 1969, 1972–1973 and 1975-1980 seasons, with 48 combined career starts, including the 1971-1972, 1977, and 1979 Indianapolis 500...
- Bob LazierBob LazierRobert "Bob" Lazier , is an American former race car driver. He raced in the CART series in 1981 and was CART's Rookie of the Year. He had fourth-place finishes at Watkins Glen and Mexico. Lazier also competed in the 1981 Indianapolis 500, finishing 19th after a blown engine caused him to retire...
(#34) - Greg LefflerGreg LefflerGreg Leffler , is a former driver in the CART Championship Car series. He raced in the 1980-1983 seasons, with 13 career starts, including the 1980 Indianapolis 500. He finished in the top ten twice, with his best finish in 6th position in 1982 at Riverside. In 1979, Leffler was the USAC Sprint Car...
(#43) - Ray Lipper (#73)
- Al LoquastoAl LoquastoAlbert John Loquasto , was a Sicilian-Italian-American racecar driver, a descendant of Libertino lo Guasto of Serradifalco, Caltanissetta, Sicily. Surviving spouse Sandra Loquasto and son A.J. Loquasto....
(#86) - John MahlerJohn MahlerJohn Mahler , is a former open wheel race car driver in the USAC and CART Championship Car series. He raced in the 1970-1973 and 1976-1981 seasons, with 39 combined career starts, including the 1972 and 1977-1979 Indianapolis 500...
(#92) - John MartinJohn Martin (driver)John Martin , is a former driver in the USAC and CART Championship Car series. He raced in the 1970-1977 and 1979-1980 seasons, with 52 career starts, including the 1972-1976 Indianapolis 500 races. He finished in the top ten 17 times, with his best finish in 5th position at Ontario Motor...
(#17) - Jim McElreathJim McElreathJim McElreath , is a former driver in the USAC and CART Championship Car series.-Racing career:He raced in the 1961-1983 seasons, with 178 combined career starts, including 15 in the Indianapolis 500 in 1962-1970, 1973–1974, and 1977-1980. He finished in the top ten 101 times, with five victories...
(#98) - Chip MeadChip MeadHarry Talbott "Chip" Mead, Jr. was an American racing driver from Dayton, Ohio.Starting out in US Formula Super Vee, the single-seat Can-Am series, and North American Formula Atlantic in the late 70's including a 7th place points finish in the 1977 Formula Atlantic season, Mead later made 7 starts...
(#49) - Mike MosleyMike MosleyMike Mosley , was an American racecar driver.Born in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, Mosley died in an off-road vehicle accident near Riverside, California. His young son, Michael, was also riding in the van Mosley was driving, but was uninjured. He was a driver in the USAC and CART Championship Car series...
(#48) - Teddy PiletteTeddy PiletteTheodore "Teddy" Pilette is a former racing driver from Belgium. He participated in 4 Formula One World Championship Grands Prix, the first on 12 May 1974 with Bernie Ecclestone's Brabham team....
(#67 - Roger RagerRoger RagerRoger Rager , is a former driver in the USAC and CART Championship Car series.Rager wasn't quite five years old when he ran a "space ship" go-kart around the track during an intermission for a race program that included his dad, Bob, at the Nebraska State Fair in Lincoln.At age 14, Rager purchased...
(#72) - Larry RiceLarry RiceLarry Rice was an American racing driver in the USAC and CART Championship Car series. He was the 1973 USAC National midget driver's champion and won the USAC Silver Crown series in 1977 and 1981. He was inducted in the National Midget Auto Racing Hall of Fame in 1993.-Racing career:Larry's father...
- Tim RichmondTim RichmondTim Richmond was an American race car driver from Ashland, Ohio. He competed in IndyCar racing before transferring to NASCAR's Winston Cup Series . Richmond was one of the first drivers to change from open wheel racing to NASCAR stock cars full-time, which has since become an industry trend...
- Joe SaldanaJoe SaldanaJoe Saldana , is a former driver in the USAC and CART Championship Car series. He raced in the 1977-1980 seasons, with 31 combined career starts, including the 1978-1979 Indianapolis 500. He finished in the top ten 10 times, with a best finish of 6th position in 1979 at Atlanta...
(#58)
- Rusty Schmidt (#27)
- Vern SchuppanVern SchuppanVernon "Vern" Schuppan is a racing driver from Whyalla, South Australia. Schuppan drove in various categories, participating in Formula One, the Indianapolis 500 and most successfully in sports car racing.-Formula One:...
(#18, #37, #99) - Billy Scott (#88)
- Dick SimonDick SimonDick Simon is one of the oldest men to ever have raced in the Indianapolis 500. He was 55 years old during his final Indy 500 start in 1988. A multiple starter and top-ten finisher in the race, he also became a car owner, founding Dick Simon Racing helping to begin the IndyCar careers of Stéphan...
(#22) - Gordon SmileyGordon SmileyGordon Eugene Smiley was an American race car driver from Omaha, Nebraska who was killed in a single-car crash at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. He was inducted into the Nebraska Auto Racing Hall of Fame in 2000....
(#35)
NOTE: The #35 Intermedics Innovator team formed an alliance with Patrick Racing; George Snider
George Snider
George "Ziggy" Snider is a retired American race car driver. A longtime driver in the United States Automobile Club Silver Crown series, Snider is also a 22-time starter of the Indianapolis 500, the most starts without winning the race. His best finish was eighth in the 1975 Indianapolis 500...
subsequently qualified the team's backup car into the race.
- Jan SnevaJan SnevaJan J. Sneva is a former racing driver and the brother of Jerry Sneva and Indianapolis 500 winner Tom Sneva....
(#92) - Sammy SwindellSammy SwindellSamuel Alan "Sammy" Swindell is a three-time World of Outlaws champion, winning the title in 1981, 1982, and 1997, with hundreds of A-main victories to his credit. He also competed in the CART series in 1985 and 1986 and failed to qualify for the 1987 Indianapolis 500 in a March-Pontiac...
(#64) - Bobby UnserBobby UnserRobert William "Bobby" Unser is a retired U.S. automobile racer. He is the brother of Al Unser, Jerry Unser and Louie Unser, the father of Robby Unser, and the uncle of Al Unser, Jr. and Johnny Unser...
(#55) - Leroy Van Conett (#46)
- Dean VetrockDean VetrockDean Vetrock is a former American racing driver from Racine, Wisconsin. He competed primarily in the Formula 5000 series and then its successor, the F5000-based Can-Am formula...
(#71) - Rich VoglerRich VoglerRich Vogler was a champion sprint car and midget car driver. He was nicknamed "Rapid Rich". He competed in the Indianapolis 500 five times, his best finish was eighth in 1989.-Racing career:...
- Bill Vukovich IIBill Vukovich IIWilliam John Vukovich, Jr. , better known as Bill Vukovich II is a former driver in the championship car division of USAC and CART series....
(#11, #18) - Desiré WilsonDesiré WilsonDesiré Randall Wilson is a former racing driver from South Africa, one of only five women to have competed in Formula One. She entered one Formula One World Championship Grand Prix in 1980 with a non-works Williams FW07 prepared by Brands Hatch Racing, but failed to qualify...
(#33)