Vintage Indy: 1982

Posted by Iannucci | 5/03/2007 | 1 comments »
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It can’t be said it enough: it’s the Month of May. As a public service please be aware that if for any reason the news spigot gets turned down you can get your Indy fix right here with vintage Indy 500 moments. Today’s feature includes the final laps of the 1982 race, where Rick Mears closes ferociously on Gordon Johncock. At the time this was the closest finish ever with the cars finishing the race nearly side by side. Mears was thisclose to being the only five-time winner of the Greatest Spectacle in Racing.

It’s almost laughable how two years earlier Mario Andretti and Bobby Unser were debating infractions relating to the victory of that Indy 500, because this race featured as much below-the-line racing as you will ever see. Mears almost overtakes Johncock when the white flag is thrown, only to be nearly put into the infield grass in turn one. As they say, that’s racin’.

1 comments

  1. Jennifer Coomer // May 03, 2007 11:37 AM  

    That some exciting racin’ there, my friend. I always loved being able to watch Mears’ wife in her little crew suit. It’s not that I don’t like Johncock (his name makes me laugh and he won the race the years I was born), but Rick is just such a likeable guy. And wouldn’t it have been great for him to get the 5th win?