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The 1981 race is also remembered for the horrifying crash of Danny Ongais, and a major pit fire involving Rick Mears. Ongais was critically injured, and Mears suffered burns, but both drivers would recover. Another massive pit fire occurred later in the season at the Michigan 500. This prompted new rules and standards be put in place regarding ...
Mears was born in Wichita, Kansas and raised in Bakersfield, California. [2] [3] He began his racing career in off-road racing.In 1976, he was recommended by a representative of Bill Simpson's helmet company, and Simpson gave him a ride at the USAC Champ Car's California 500 on an old Eagle-Offenhauser, finishing 8th.
The race was red-flagged for 97 minutes while fire damage was cleaned and fire equipment was replaced. It was the third pit fire in two months, following a fire in Rick Mears's pit during the Indianapolis 500 and a previous fire for Herm Johnson at Milwaukee. After the restart, Tom Sneva ran in close company with Mike Mosley. Mosley took the ...
The penalty put Rick Mears in control, and Luyendyk almost a lap down. With 20 laps to go, a caution bunched the field, and allowed Luyendyk one last chance at Mears. Luyendyk was no match, however, and Mears claimed victory, sweeping both the Indianapolis 500 and Michigan 500, the final two wins of
Gordon Johncock leads Rick Mears in the closing stages of the race. On a restart with 40 laps to go, Gordon Johncock came up to speed faster and passed Rick Mears for the lead on the backstretch. Tom Sneva and Pancho Carter were both about a lap behind, battling for 3rd-4th. Most of the other cars were eliminated, or running several laps behind.
Defending champion and defending pole winner Rick Mears was the first driver out to qualify at 11:00 a.m., and he set the early pace at 187.490 mph (301.736 km/h). An hour later, Spike Gehlhausen (188.344 mph (303.110 km/h)) knocked Mears off the top spot.
A view of flames and giant smoke over the sky as a fire erupted at Moss Landing Power Plant on Thursday that located on Pacific Coast Highway in Moss Landing of Monterey Bay, CA, Jan. 17, 2025.
The PPG Indy Car World Series Drivers' Champion was Rick Mears despite missing Round 2 at Milwaukee due to injuries sustained in the Indianapolis 500. Rookie of the Year was Bob Lazier . After the disagreement with the USAC during the previous season, the 65th Indianapolis 500 was not part of the Series, however no competing race was scheduled ...