Rick Mears
Encyclopedia
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 (1979, 1984, 1988, 1991), and the current record-holder for pole position
s in the race with six (1979, 1982, 1986, 1988, 1989, 1991). Mears is also a three-time Indycar national champion (1979, 1981 and 1982).
, and began his racing career in off-road racing
. He switched to Indy Car racing in the late 1970s, making his debut for the small Art Sugai team, driving an Eagle-Offenhauser. His speed attracted the attention of Roger Penske
. Although at the time Penske Racing
had the services of Tom Sneva
and Mario Andretti
, Andretti was also racing in Formula One
with Lotus at the time and Penske wanted another young driver who would focus exclusively on American racing. For 1978 Mears was offered a ride in nine of the eighteen championship races, including the Indianapolis 500.
Mears qualified on the front row at Indy, but did not lead a lap and retired at 104 laps with a blown engine. Two weeks later, at the Rex Mays
150 at Milwaukee, he bounced back to win his first race. He added another win another month later at Atlanta and rounded off the year with his first road course win at Brands Hatch
as the USAC
cars made their only visit to England
. In 1979 the National Championship sanction changed from the USAC
to Championship Auto Racing Teams (CART
). At Indianapolis he won his first "500" by virtue of staying at the front of the field and taking the lead as other drivers dropped out with mechanical problems. Three wins and four seconds in the eleven CART-eligible races won Mears his first championship. His worst finish in the season was seventh in Trenton's second heat. In 1980 the ground effect
Chaparral was technologically more advanced that the other chassis. Mears finished in fourth place in the points with one win, scored at Mexico City.
1981 and 1982 were two more championship seasons for Mears. Despite facial burns during a pit fire in the 1981 Indianapolis 500
, Mears' ten wins in the two-year span were enough for another two Indycar championship titles. At the 1982 Indianapolis 500
he came within 0.16 of a second of adding a second Indy win. With less than 20 laps to go, during Mears' final pit stop, the crew filled the entire tank rather than giving him only the amount he needed to finish. The delay put him behind over 11 seconds behind Gordon Johncock
. Mears made up the difference when Johncock suffered handling problems, but failed to secure the win. The photo-finish would stand for ten years as the closest finish to an Indy 500.
For 1983 the Penske team would acquire the Pennzoil
sponsorship with its yellow paint scheme. Teammate Al Unser
took the title, the team switched to the March chassis for the 1984 Indianapolis 500 after the Penske chassis proved unsuccessful in the first two races of the year. Mears scored his second Indy win that May but suffered severe leg injuries later in the year in a crash at Sanair. The March chassis, like most contemporary open-wheel racing cars, sat the driver far forward in the nose, with little protection for the legs and feet.
In 1980 Mears had tested a Formula One
Brabham and he declined an offer. After 1984 he was slowed by the injuries to his right foot and the 1985, 1986 and 1987 years saw Mears win two races, both scored at the tri-oval
Pocono Raceway
.
In 1988, after several years using the March chassis, the Penske team utilized a new car, the PC-17, with a Chevrolet
racing engine. Mears used the new car to win the Indy 500. A year later, he took a record-setting fifth pole position at Indy, but retired from the race with mechanical problems. Emerson Fittipaldi
took the 500 and also beat Mears to the Championship in the last race at Laguna Seca, despite Mears winning that race. Also, that last race of 1989 set Mears apart from all other Indycar racers as he broke a tie with Bobby Rahal for race wins and became the most successful Indycar racer of the 1980s.
Fittipaldi joined Mears at Penske for 1990, but the year belonged to Al Unser, Jr.
, who scored six wins. 1990 would be Mears' last in the Pennzoil
paint scheme as Marlboro took over as sponsor of the team.
In 1991, For the first time in his career, Mears hit the wall at Indianapolis, during a practice session. the next day, he climbed in his backup car, and shattered the qualifying record to take his record 6th pole position. Twenty laps from the end of the 500, it looked like Mears was set to be the runner-up behind Michael Andretti
. However, when a subsequent yellow flag period erased Andretti's 15 second lead, Mears gained the lead as Andretti opted to pit for fuel. It would be a short-lived lead as Andretti passed Mears around the outside into the first turn. A lap later he returned into the lead, using the same move Andretti had. Turning up his turbocharger he then pulled away to win a fourth Indy 500, making him one of only three individuals to win the event four times. In August 1991 at Michigan he won his last race. At the 1992 Indy 500 Mears broke a wrist in a crash during practice and then crashed out of the race for the first time in his career as he could not avoid Jim Crawford
's spinning car in turn 1. He raced only four more times in 1992 and announced his retirement from racing Indycars at the Penske team's Christmas party. He had just turned 41 years old, and nobody except for his wife, Cris, and Roger Penske himself knew about it.
As of 2010, Rick Mears continues to work as a consultant to Penske racing, the team with which he won all of his Indycar races.
He is the brother of Roger Mears
, father of off-road racer, Clint Mears, and the uncle of NASCAR
driver Casey Mears
.
Total: 3 championships, 26 victories
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
race car driver. He is one of three men to have won the Indianapolis 500-Mile Race
Indianapolis 500
The Indianapolis 500-Mile Race, also known as the Indianapolis 500, the 500 Miles at Indianapolis, the Indy 500 or The 500, is an American automobile race, held annually, typically on the last weekend in May at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Speedway, Indiana...
four times (1979, 1984, 1988, 1991), and the current record-holder for pole position
Pole position
The term "pole position", as used in motorsports, comes from the horse racing term where the number one starter starts on the inside next to the inside pole. The term made its way, along with several other customs, to auto racing. In circuit motorsports, a driver has pole position when he or she...
s in the race with six (1979, 1982, 1986, 1988, 1989, 1991). Mears is also a three-time Indycar national champion (1979, 1981 and 1982).
Biography
Mears was raised in Bakersfield, CaliforniaBakersfield, California
Bakersfield is a city near the southern end of the San Joaquin Valley in Kern County, California. It is roughly equidistant between Fresno and Los Angeles, to the north and south respectively....
, and began his racing career in off-road racing
Off-road racing
Off-road racing is a format of racing where various classes of specially modified vehicles compete in races through off-road environments.-North America:...
. He switched to Indy Car racing in the late 1970s, making his debut for the small Art Sugai team, driving an Eagle-Offenhauser. His speed attracted the attention of 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...
. Although at the time 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...
had the services of 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...
and 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...
, Andretti was also racing in Formula One
Formula One
Formula One, also known as Formula 1 or F1 and referred to officially as the FIA Formula One World Championship, is the highest class of single seater auto racing sanctioned by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile . The "formula" designation in the name refers to a set of rules with which...
with Lotus at the time and Penske wanted another young driver who would focus exclusively on American racing. For 1978 Mears was offered a ride in nine of the eighteen championship races, including the Indianapolis 500.
Mears qualified on the front row at Indy, but did not lead a lap and retired at 104 laps with a blown engine. Two weeks later, at the Rex Mays
Rex Mays
Rex Mays is a former AAA Championship Car race driver from Riverside, California. He made his Indianapolis 500 debut in 1934 and won the pole in 1935, 1936, and again in 1940 and finished second, he returned the next year and finished second again. Mays won the AAA National Championship in 1940...
150 at Milwaukee, he bounced back to win his first race. He added another win another month later at Atlanta and rounded off the year with his first road course win at Brands Hatch
Brands Hatch
Brands Hatch is a motor racing circuit near West Kingsdown in Kent, England. First used as a dirt track motorcycle circuit on farmland, it hosted 12 runnings of the British Grand Prix between 1964 and 1986 and currently holds many British and international racing events...
as the USAC
United States Automobile Club
The United States Auto Club is one of the sanctioning bodies of auto racing in the United States. From 1956 to 1979, the USAC sanctioned the United States National Championship, and from 1956 to 1997 the organization sanctioned the Indianapolis 500...
cars made their only visit to England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. In 1979 the National Championship sanction changed from the USAC
United States Automobile Club
The United States Auto Club is one of the sanctioning bodies of auto racing in the United States. From 1956 to 1979, the USAC sanctioned the United States National Championship, and from 1956 to 1997 the organization sanctioned the Indianapolis 500...
to Championship Auto Racing Teams (CART
Cart
A cart is a vehicle designed for transport, using two wheels and normally pulled by one or a pair of draught animals. A handcart is pulled or pushed by one or more people...
). At Indianapolis he won his first "500" by virtue of staying at the front of the field and taking the lead as other drivers dropped out with mechanical problems. Three wins and four seconds in the eleven CART-eligible races won Mears his first championship. His worst finish in the season was seventh in Trenton's second heat. In 1980 the ground effect
Ground effect
As it pertains to fixed wing aircraft, "ground effect" refers to the increased lift and decreased drag that an aircraft airfoil or wing generates when an aircraft is about one wingspan's length or less over the ground...
Chaparral was technologically more advanced that the other chassis. Mears finished in fourth place in the points with one win, scored at Mexico City.
1981 and 1982 were two more championship seasons for Mears. Despite facial burns during a pit fire in the 1981 Indianapolis 500
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...
, Mears' ten wins in the two-year span were enough for another two Indycar championship titles. At the 1982 Indianapolis 500
1982 Indianapolis 500
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...
he came within 0.16 of a second of adding a second Indy win. With less than 20 laps to go, during Mears' final pit stop, the crew filled the entire tank rather than giving him only the amount he needed to finish. The delay put him behind over 11 seconds behind 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."...
. Mears made up the difference when Johncock suffered handling problems, but failed to secure the win. The photo-finish would stand for ten years as the closest finish to an Indy 500.
For 1983 the Penske team would acquire the Pennzoil
Pennzoil
Pennzoil is an American oil company founded in Los Angeles, California in 1913. In 1955, it was acquired by Oil City, Pennsylvania company South Penn Oil, a former branch of Standard Oil. In 1963, South Penn Oil merged with Zapata Petroleum; the merged company took the Pennzoil name. During the...
sponsorship with its yellow paint scheme. Teammate 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....
took the title, the team switched to the March chassis for the 1984 Indianapolis 500 after the Penske chassis proved unsuccessful in the first two races of the year. Mears scored his second Indy win that May but suffered severe leg injuries later in the year in a crash at Sanair. The March chassis, like most contemporary open-wheel racing cars, sat the driver far forward in the nose, with little protection for the legs and feet.
In 1980 Mears had tested a Formula One
Formula One
Formula One, also known as Formula 1 or F1 and referred to officially as the FIA Formula One World Championship, is the highest class of single seater auto racing sanctioned by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile . The "formula" designation in the name refers to a set of rules with which...
Brabham and he declined an offer. After 1984 he was slowed by the injuries to his right foot and the 1985, 1986 and 1987 years saw Mears win two races, both scored at the tri-oval
Tri-oval
A tri-oval is a shape which derives its name from the two other shapes it most resembles, a triangle and an oval. Rather than meeting at sharp, definable angles as the sides of a triangle do, in a tri-oval these angles are instead rounded into smooth curves. While an oval has four turns, a...
Pocono Raceway
Pocono Raceway
Pocono Raceway also known as the Tricky Triangle, is a superspeedway located in the Pocono Mountains of Pennsylvania at Long Pond...
.
In 1988, after several years using the March chassis, the Penske team utilized a new car, the PC-17, with a Chevrolet
Chevrolet
Chevrolet , also known as Chevy , is a brand of vehicle produced by General Motors Company . Founded by Louis Chevrolet and ousted GM founder William C. Durant on November 3, 1911, General Motors acquired Chevrolet in 1918...
racing engine. Mears used the new car to win the Indy 500. A year later, he took a record-setting fifth pole position at Indy, but retired from the race with mechanical problems. Emerson Fittipaldi
Emerson Fittipaldi
Emerson Fittipaldi |São Paulo]], Brazil) is a Brazilian automobile racing driver who throughout a long and successful career won the Indianapolis 500 twice and championships in both Formula One and CART.-Early and personal life:...
took the 500 and also beat Mears to the Championship in the last race at Laguna Seca, despite Mears winning that race. Also, that last race of 1989 set Mears apart from all other Indycar racers as he broke a tie with Bobby Rahal for race wins and became the most successful Indycar racer of the 1980s.
Fittipaldi joined Mears at Penske for 1990, but the year belonged to Al Unser, Jr.
Al Unser, Jr.
Alfred Unser, Jr. , nicknamed "Little Al", "Al Junior" or simply "Junior" is a retired American race car driver and two-time Indianapolis 500 winner.-History:...
, who scored six wins. 1990 would be Mears' last in the Pennzoil
Pennzoil
Pennzoil is an American oil company founded in Los Angeles, California in 1913. In 1955, it was acquired by Oil City, Pennsylvania company South Penn Oil, a former branch of Standard Oil. In 1963, South Penn Oil merged with Zapata Petroleum; the merged company took the Pennzoil name. During the...
paint scheme as Marlboro took over as sponsor of the team.
In 1991, For the first time in his career, Mears hit the wall at Indianapolis, during a practice session. the next day, he climbed in his backup car, and shattered the qualifying record to take his record 6th pole position. Twenty laps from the end of the 500, it looked like Mears was set to be the runner-up behind Michael Andretti
Michael Andretti
Michael Mario Andretti is a retired American CART and Formula One driver and owner of the Andretti Autosport team in the IndyCar Series. Andretti is the son of Mario Andretti. His son is Marco Andretti.-Early career:...
. However, when a subsequent yellow flag period erased Andretti's 15 second lead, Mears gained the lead as Andretti opted to pit for fuel. It would be a short-lived lead as Andretti passed Mears around the outside into the first turn. A lap later he returned into the lead, using the same move Andretti had. Turning up his turbocharger he then pulled away to win a fourth Indy 500, making him one of only three individuals to win the event four times. In August 1991 at Michigan he won his last race. At the 1992 Indy 500 Mears broke a wrist in a crash during practice and then crashed out of the race for the first time in his career as he could not avoid Jim Crawford
Jim Crawford (driver)
Jim Crawford was a Scottish racing driver. He first came to the racing community's notice when he borrowed Stephen Choularton's Lotus 69 and won on his first outing at Croft Racing Track in the North East of England...
's spinning car in turn 1. He raced only four more times in 1992 and announced his retirement from racing Indycars at the Penske team's Christmas party. He had just turned 41 years old, and nobody except for his wife, Cris, and Roger Penske himself knew about it.
As of 2010, Rick Mears continues to work as a consultant to Penske racing, the team with which he won all of his Indycar races.
He is the brother 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...
, father of off-road racer, Clint Mears, and the uncle of NASCAR
NASCAR
The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing is a family-owned and -operated business venture that sanctions and governs multiple auto racing sports events. It was founded by Bill France Sr. in 1947–48. As of 2009, the CEO for the company is Brian France, grandson of the late Bill France Sr...
driver Casey Mears
Casey Mears
Casey James Mears is the driver of the #13 GEICO Toyota for Germain Racing in the Sprint Cup Series. He is a former winner of the Coca-Cola 600....
.
Awards
- In 1997, he was inducted into the International Motorsports Hall of FameInternational Motorsports Hall of FameThe International Motorsports Hall of Fame is a Hall of Fame dedicated to enshrining those who have contributed the most to auto racing either as a driver, owner, developer or engineer...
. - He was inducted in the Motorsports Hall of Fame of AmericaMotorsports Hall of Fame of AmericaThe Motorsports Hall of Fame of America is a Hall of Fame and museum for American motorsports legends. It was originally located in Novi, Michigan and it moved to the Detroit Science Center in 2009.-Museum:...
in 1998.
USAC career results
| Year | Team | Wins | Points | Finish |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1976 | Art Sugai | 0 | 390 | 16th |
| 1977 | Art Sugai/Theodore Racing Theodore Racing Theodore Racing was a Formula One constructor from Hong Kong founded by real estate magnate and millionaire Teddy Yip. They participated in 51 grands prix, entering a total of 64 cars. They scored 2 championship points.-History:... |
0 | 555 | 20th |
| 1978 | Penske Racing | 3 | 2171 | 9th |
Indycar career results
(key)| Year | Team | Series | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | Rank | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1978 | Team Penske | USAC 1978 USAC Championship Car season The 1978 USAC Championship Car season consisted of 18 races, beginning in Avondale, Arizona on March 18 and concluding at the same location on October 28. The USAC National Champion was Tom Sneva and the Indianapolis 500 winner was Al Unser... |
 PHX 5 |
ONT |
TWS |
TRE |
INDY 1978 Indianapolis 500 The 1978 Indianapolis 500 was held at Indianapolis on Sunday, May 28, 1978. For the first time, Mary Fendrich Hulman, widow of Tony Hulman, delivered the command for drivers to start engines.... 23 |
 MSP 2 |
MIL 1 |
POC |
MIS 22 |
ATL 1 |
TWS2 9 |
MIL2 2 |
ONT2 9 |
MIS2 |
TRE2 |
SIL Silverstone Circuit Silverstone Circuit is an English motor racing circuit next to the Northamptonshire villages of Silverstone and Whittlebury. The circuit straddles the Northamptonshire and Buckinghamshire border, with the current main circuit entry on the Buckinghamshire side... 2 |
BRH Brands Hatch Brands Hatch is a motor racing circuit near West Kingsdown in Kent, England. First used as a dirt track motorcycle circuit on farmland, it hosted 12 runnings of the British Grand Prix between 1964 and 1986 and currently holds many British and international racing events... 1 |
PHX2 |
9th | 2171 |
| 1979 | Team Penske | USAC 1979 USAC Championship Car season The 1979 USAC Championship Car season consisted of seven races, beginning in Ontario, California on March 25 and concluding in West Allis, Wisconsin on August 12. The USAC National Champion was A. J. Foyt and the Indianapolis 500 winner was Rick Mears... |
ONT |
TWS |
INDY 1979 Indianapolis 500 The 1979 Indianapolis 500 was held at Indianapolis on Sunday, May 27, 1979.The month was filled with controversy on and off the track. A court injunction was issued after USAC denied entries by the start-up CART series. During time trials, several cars were disqualified due to illegal wastegate... 1 1 |
MIL |
POC |
TWS2 |
MIL2 |
NR2 | 0 | |||||||||||
| CART | PHX 2 |
ATL1 1979 Gould Twin Dixie 125 The 1979 Gould Dixie Twin 125 was the second and third rounds of the 1979 IndyCar season, held on April 22, at Atlanta Motor Speedway, Hampton, Georgia.-Qualifying results:- Race 1 :- Race 2 :-External links:*... 2 |
ATL2 1979 Gould Twin Dixie 125 The 1979 Gould Dixie Twin 125 was the second and third rounds of the 1979 IndyCar season, held on April 22, at Atlanta Motor Speedway, Hampton, Georgia.-Qualifying results:- Race 1 :- Race 2 :-External links:*... 5 |
TRE 5 |
TRE2 7 |
MIS 4 |
MIS2 5 |
WGL 2 |
TRE3 1 |
ONT 2 |
MIS3 3 |
ATL3 1 |
PHX2 3 |
1st | 4060 | |||||||
| 1980 | Team Penske | CART | ONT 21 |
INDY 1980 Indianapolis 500 Results of the 1980 Indianapolis 500 held at Indianapolis on Sunday, May 25, 1980.-Recap:After failing in its 1979 debut, Jim Hall's radically new Chaparral chassis is driven to easy victory by Johnny Rutherford. Tom Sneva becomes the first driver to place second after starting last. He also... 5 |
MIL 5 |
POC 12 |
MDO 9 |
MIS 4 |
WGL 2 |
MIL 2 |
ONT2 3 |
MIS 3 |
 MEX 1 |
PHX 7 |
4th | 2866 | ||||||
| 1981 | Team Penske | CART | PHX 4 |
MIL |
ATL 1 |
ATL2 1 |
MIS 3 |
RIV 1 |
MIL2 2 |
MIS2 1 |
WGL 1 |
MEX 1 |
PHX2 8 |
1st | 304 | |||||||
| 1982 | Team Penske | CART | PHX 1 |
ATL 1 |
MIL 3 |
CLE 4 |
MIS 15 |
MIL 12 |
POC 1 |
RIV 1 |
ROA 5 |
MIS2 25 |
PHX2 2 |
1st | 294 | |||||||
| 1983 | Team Penske | CART | ATL 8 |
INDY 1983 Indianapolis 500 Results of the 1983 Indianapolis 500 held at Indianapolis on Sunday, May 29, 1983.-Recap:Three-time runner up Tom Sneva is stuck behind the lapped car of Al Unser, Jr., who is helping protect the lead of his father Al Unser despite being shown the blue "move-over" flag... 3 |
MIL 3 |
CLE 7 |
MIS 4 |
ROA 17 |
POC 3 |
RIV 19 |
MDO 9 |
MIS2 1 |
LSV 13 |
LS 21 |
PHX 17 |
6th | 92 | |||||
| 1984 | Team Penske | CART | LBH 21 |
PHX 18 |
INDY 1984 Indianapolis 500 Results of the 1984 Indianapolis 500 held at Indianapolis on Sunday, May 27, 1984.-Recap:An exciting first half turns dull as defending champion Tom Sneva and Mario Andretti fall out late with mechanical trouble, leaving Rick Mears the winner by over two laps. Rookies Roberto Guerrero, Al Holbert,... 1 |
MIL 2 |
POR 10 |
MEA 10 |
CLE 4 |
MIS 3 |
ROA 4 |
POC 2 |
MDO 5 |
SAN DNS |
MIS2 |
PHX2 |
LS |
LSV |
5th | 110 | ||
| 1985 | Team Penske | CART | LBH |
INDY 1985 Indianapolis 500 The 69th Indianapolis 500 was held at Indianapolis, United States on Sunday, May 26, 1985. Due to a dramatic spin by eventual race winner Danny Sullivan, the race is known in auto racing lore as the "Spin and Win".-Recap:... 21 |
MIL 3 |
POR |
MEA |
CLE |
MIS 30 |
ROA |
POC 1 |
MDO |
SAN |
MIS2 2 |
LS |
PHX |
MIA |
10th | 51 | |||
| 1986 | Team Penske | CART | PHX 19 |
LBH 20 |
INDY 1986 Indianapolis 500 The 70th Indianapolis 500 was held at Indianapolis on Saturday, May 31, 1986. After being rained out on May 25–26, the race was rescheduled for the following weekend... 3 |
MIL 3 |
POR 16 |
MEA 19 |
CLE 4 |
TOR 8 |
MIS 12 |
POC 8 |
MDO 17 |
SAN 18 |
MIS2 8 |
ROA 3 |
LS 17 |
PHX2 20 |
MIA 3 |
8th | 89 | |
| 1987 | Team Penske | CART | LBH 9 |
PHX 20 |
INDY 1987 Indianapolis 500 The 71st Indianapolis 500 was held Sunday May 24, 1987 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. During the month of May, an unusually high 25 crashes occurred during practice and qualifying. After dominating practice, qualifying, and most of the race, leader Mario Andretti slowed with mechanical... 23 |
MIL 21 |
POR 3 |
MEA 17 |
CLE 7 |
TOR 10 |
MIS 21 |
POC 1 |
ROA 9 |
MDO 4 |
NZR 3 |
LS 3 |
MIA 5 |
5th | 102 | |||
| 1988 | Team Penske | CART | PHX 22 |
LBH 8 |
INDY 1988 Indianapolis 500 The 72nd Indianapolis 500 was held Sunday May 29, 1988 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Team Penske dominated the month, sweeping the top three starting positions with Rick Mears winning the pole position, Danny Sullivan on the inside of the front row, and Al Unser, Sr. on the outside... 1 |
MIL 1 |
POR 6 |
CLE 23 |
TOR 6 |
MEA 3 |
MIS 13 |
POC 23 |
MDO 3 |
ROA 12 |
NZR 7 |
LS 5 |
MIA 2 |
4th | 129 | |||
| 1989 | Team Penske | CART | PHX 1 |
LBH 5 |
INDY 1989 Indianapolis 500 The 73rd Indianapolis 500 was held at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Sunday, May 28, 1989. Emerson Fittipaldi became the first foreign winner of the race since 1966. Though Fittipaldi dominated most of the race, he dropped to second in the waning laps. On the 199th lap, Al Unser, Jr. was... 23 |
MIL 1 |
DET 5 |
POR 8 |
CLE 5 |
MEA 4 |
TOR 5 |
MIS 7 |
POC 2 |
MDO 6 |
ROA 3 |
NZR 2 |
LS 1 |
2nd | 186 | |||
| 1990 | Team Penske | CART | PHX 1 |
LBH 6 |
INDY 1990 Indianapolis 500 The 74th Indianapolis 500 was held at Indianapolis on Sunday, May 27, 1990. Arie Luyendyk took the lead with 32 laps to go, and earned his first-ever victory in championship-level competition... 5 |
MIL 2 |
DET 4 |
POR 5 |
CLE 8 |
MEA 2 |
TOR 12 |
MIS 14 |
DEN 7 |
VAN 4 |
MDO 7 |
ROA 3 |
NZR 2 |
LS 4 |
3rd | 168 | ||
| 1991 | Team Penske | CART |  SRF 1991 Gold Coast IndyCar Grand Prix The 1991 Gold Coast IndyCar Grand Prix was the opening round of the 1991 IndyCar season, held on 17 March 1991 on the Streets of Surfers Paradise, Australia.-Qualifying results:- Race :-External links:... 3 |
LBH 4 |
PHX 5 |
INDY 1991 Indianapolis 500 The 75th Indianapolis 500 was held at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Sunday, May 26, 1991. Rick Mears won from the pole position, becoming the third four-time winner of the Indy 500, joining A. J. Foyt and Al Unser.... 1 |
MIL 15 |
DET 5 |
POR 6 |
CLE 17 |
MEA 3 |
TOR 20 |
MIS 1 |
DEN 8 |
VAN 6 |
MDO 6 |
ROA 15 |
NZR 15 |
LS 5 |
4th | 145 | |
| 1992 | Team Penske | CART | SRF 2 |
PHX 8 |
LBH 9 |
INDY 1992 Indianapolis 500 The 76th Indianapolis 500 was held at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Sunday, May 24, 1992. The race is famous for the fierce battle in the closing laps, as race winner Al Unser, Jr... 26 |
DET |
POR 7 |
MIL 16 |
NHM 4 |
TOR |
MIS 16 |
CLE |
ROA |
VAN |
MDO |
NZR |
LS |
13th | 47 | ||
- 1 Race sanctioned by USAC, but counted in points toward both series' championships.
- 2 Entries competing solely at Indianapolis not awarded points for full season.
Total: 3 championships, 26 victories
Indianapolis 500 results
| Year | Chassis | Engine | Start | Finish | Note | Team |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1977 | Eagle | Offy | Did not qualify | Sugai | ||
| 1978 | 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... |
Cosworth Cosworth Cosworth is a high performance engineering company founded in London in 1958, specialising in engines and electronics for automobile racing , mainstream automotive and defence industries... |
3rd | 23rd | Engine Failure | Penske |
| 1979 | 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... |
Cosworth Cosworth Cosworth is a high performance engineering company founded in London in 1958, specialising in engines and electronics for automobile racing , mainstream automotive and defence industries... |
1st | 1st | Running | Penske |
| 1980 | 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... |
Cosworth Cosworth Cosworth is a high performance engineering company founded in London in 1958, specialising in engines and electronics for automobile racing , mainstream automotive and defence industries... |
6th | 5th | Running | Penske |
| 1981 | 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... |
Cosworth Cosworth Cosworth is a high performance engineering company founded in London in 1958, specialising in engines and electronics for automobile racing , mainstream automotive and defence industries... |
22nd | 30th | Pit lane fire | Penske |
| 1982 | 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... |
Cosworth Cosworth Cosworth is a high performance engineering company founded in London in 1958, specialising in engines and electronics for automobile racing , mainstream automotive and defence industries... |
1st | 2nd | Running | Penske |
| 1983 | 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... |
Cosworth Cosworth Cosworth is a high performance engineering company founded in London in 1958, specialising in engines and electronics for automobile racing , mainstream automotive and defence industries... |
3rd | 3rd | Running | Penske |
| 1984 | March March Engineering March Engineering was a Formula One constructor and manufacturer of customer racing cars from the United Kingdom. Although only moderately successful in Grand Prix competition, March racing cars enjoyed much better achievement in other categories of competition including Formula Two, Formula Three,... |
Cosworth Cosworth Cosworth is a high performance engineering company founded in London in 1958, specialising in engines and electronics for automobile racing , mainstream automotive and defence industries... |
3rd | 1st | Running | Penske |
| 1985 | March March Engineering March Engineering was a Formula One constructor and manufacturer of customer racing cars from the United Kingdom. Although only moderately successful in Grand Prix competition, March racing cars enjoyed much better achievement in other categories of competition including Formula Two, Formula Three,... |
Cosworth Cosworth Cosworth is a high performance engineering company founded in London in 1958, specialising in engines and electronics for automobile racing , mainstream automotive and defence industries... |
10th | 21st | Gear linkage | Penske |
| 1986 | March March Engineering March Engineering was a Formula One constructor and manufacturer of customer racing cars from the United Kingdom. Although only moderately successful in Grand Prix competition, March racing cars enjoyed much better achievement in other categories of competition including Formula Two, Formula Three,... |
Cosworth Cosworth Cosworth is a high performance engineering company founded in London in 1958, specialising in engines and electronics for automobile racing , mainstream automotive and defence industries... |
1st | 3rd | Running | Penske |
| 1987 | March March Engineering March Engineering was a Formula One constructor and manufacturer of customer racing cars from the United Kingdom. Although only moderately successful in Grand Prix competition, March racing cars enjoyed much better achievement in other categories of competition including Formula Two, Formula Three,... |
Cosworth Cosworth Cosworth is a high performance engineering company founded in London in 1958, specialising in engines and electronics for automobile racing , mainstream automotive and defence industries... |
3rd | 23rd | Ignition | Penske |
| 1988 | 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... |
Chevrolet Chevrolet Chevrolet , also known as Chevy , is a brand of vehicle produced by General Motors Company . Founded by Louis Chevrolet and ousted GM founder William C. Durant on November 3, 1911, General Motors acquired Chevrolet in 1918... |
1st | 1st | Running | Penske |
| 1989 | 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... |
Chevrolet Chevrolet Chevrolet , also known as Chevy , is a brand of vehicle produced by General Motors Company . Founded by Louis Chevrolet and ousted GM founder William C. Durant on November 3, 1911, General Motors acquired Chevrolet in 1918... |
1st | 23rd | Engine failure | Penske |
| 1990 | 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... |
Chevrolet Chevrolet Chevrolet , also known as Chevy , is a brand of vehicle produced by General Motors Company . Founded by Louis Chevrolet and ousted GM founder William C. Durant on November 3, 1911, General Motors acquired Chevrolet in 1918... |
2nd | 5th | Running | Penske |
| 1991 | 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... |
Chevrolet Chevrolet Chevrolet , also known as Chevy , is a brand of vehicle produced by General Motors Company . Founded by Louis Chevrolet and ousted GM founder William C. Durant on November 3, 1911, General Motors acquired Chevrolet in 1918... |
1st | 1st | Running | Penske |
| 1992 | 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... |
Chevrolet Chevrolet Chevrolet , also known as Chevy , is a brand of vehicle produced by General Motors Company . Founded by Louis Chevrolet and ousted GM founder William C. Durant on November 3, 1911, General Motors acquired Chevrolet in 1918... |
9th | 26th | Crash | Penske |
Indy 500 Qualifying Results
| Year | Att # | Date | Time | Qual Day |
Car # | Laps | Qual Time |
Qual Speed |
Rank | Start | Comment |
| 1977 | 85 | 05-22 | 16:02 | 4 | 90 | 1 | — | — | — | — | PULLED OFF |
| 1977 | 96 | 05-22 | 17:21 | 4 | 90 | 2 | — | — | — | — | WAVED OFF |
| 1978 | 10 | 05-20 | 12:13 | 1 | 71 | 4 | 2:59.9300 | 200.078 | 4 | 3 | |
| 1979 | 34 | 05-13 | 16:39 | 1 | 9 | 4 | 3:05.8200 | 193.736 | 1 | 1 | |
| 1980 | 1 | 05-10 | 11:05 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 3:12.0100 | 187.490 | 7 | 6 | |
| 1981 | 34 | 05-16 | 13:41 | 1 | 6 | 2 | — | — | — | — | PULLED OFF |
| 1981 | 53 | 05-16 | 15:52 | 2 | 68 | 4 | 3:05.5500 | 194.018 | 10 | 22 | |
| 1982 | 2 | 05-15 | 11:09 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 2:53.9100 | 207.004 | 1 | 1 | |
| 1983 | 7 | 05-21 | 11:39 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 2:56.2110 | 204.301 | 3 | 3 | |
| 1984 | 2 | 05-12 | 12:25 | 1 | 6 | 4 | 2:53.2040 | 207.847 | 3 | 3 | |
| 1985 | 29 | 05-11 | 17:10 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 2:51.5950 | 209.796 | 10 | 10 | |
| 1986 | 9 | 05-10 | 12:40 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 2:46.0300 | 216.828 | 1 | 1 | |
| 1987 | 3 | 05-09 | 11:19 | 1 | 81T | 4 | 2:50.2390 | 211.467 | 3 | 3 | |
| 1988 | 23 | 05-14 | 13:58 | 1 | 5 | 4 | 2:44.2350 | 219.198 | 1 | 1 | |
| 1989 | 20 | 05-14 | 14:09 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 2:40.7970 | 223.885 | 1 | 1 | |
| 1990 | 6 | 05-13 | 16:57 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 2:40.5600 | 224.215 | 2 | 2 | |
| 1991 | 16 | 05-11 | 12:51 | 1 | 3T | 4 | 2:40.6330 | 224.113 | 2 | 1 | |
| 1992 | 21 | 05-09 | 17:48 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 2:40.2890 | 224.594 | 10 | 9 |
Trivia
- Mears has seven of the top ten best Indianapolis 500 five-year qualifying streaks in the 200 mi/h era.
- Mears has the top six best Indianapolis 500 ten-year qualifying streaks in the 200 mi/h era.