Great piece. They really knew how to cover the race back in the old days on TV.The only good thing about Indy racing on tv now is Jack Arute, Scotty G ain't bad either. Here you see Posey in his prime, and Mears is a treasure.
I think your talking about Danny Sullivan, who in the 1985 Indy was trailing Mario Andretti...took the lead, but then spun completely around causing him to lose the lead right after he took it. He then retook the lead from Andretti and went on to win the '85 Indy 500.
One of the classiest people you will ever meet. Too bad he retired when he did, the success Penske had at Indy in '93 and '94, no doubt he would have been a 5 time winner!
He did have a chance in F1. He tested an F1 car after the 1981 season but Rick opted to stay in the states, with his family. A year later he was divorced, but I'm sure glad he stayed in the Indycars.
I know but what I meant is that I wished he would of gotten a chance to enter F1 later on in his career. Mears might of said his family was the reason why he stayed in CART but in reality I think it was more financial. I read once that Bernie offered him a ride but Mears had to find a sponsors to pay his way in which Mears disagreed.
CART teams often times had sponsors from the teams not the drivers. In F1 it seems that sponsors were through the drivers not the team.
Honestly, I'm glad Rick didn't go to F1 for many reasons. Rick is my alltime racing hero, and he probably wouldn't have done so well in F1. Rick was an above average road racer, but not an a lister. I doubt he would've had 4 Indy 500 wins if he went to F1, and he might've squeezed out a couple of podiums before returning to the states. Just my opinion, I could be wrong. Long live Rick Mears. The King of Indy. :)
I love Rick Mears too but I personally never seen him race real time on the TV or in real life. I started watching in '93 and just missed out. I wish I was born 20 years earlier so I could have seen the hay days of Mario, Rahal Sr, Al Unser, and Mears. I got to enjoy guys like Mansell, Tracy, and Bourdais but still doesn't have the same affect in many aspects.
I first attended Indy in 1980 and have attended every Indy 500 since. My 1st tix stub had Rick's picture on it. I carried that stub in my wallet for years. Rick was the absolute greatest driver and gentleman to ever suit up at Indy. He was the reason I kept going. I dearly miss him at Indy, however I am glad he went out a hero and a winner. A great American hero even though he would deny it!
Think if he hadn't of retired after 92' . . . and raced on in 93' and 94' in one-off drives . . . he very well could of been a 5 time, or maybe a *6* time Indy 500 champion. The Penske's were so dominant in those years. 1994 could of been a cake walk for Rick.
Rick Mears and his Gould Charge PC-10 are the reasons I became a racing fan. Rick is one of the greatest American racers of all time. And finally seeing that car at the Penske-Wynn showroom in Vegas was a dream come true. Thanks ChampCar4ever. I second that notion =)
Had that race ended under yellow and Michael did not have a chance to challenge him, I would agree. But Michael passed him on the restart, then Mears did the same thing to him one lap later. The fact that Andretti led all day doesn't matter. Rick put the hammer down when it mattered. Michael's race was the folling year, and he got screwed, but what a finish that was.
The Andrettis are notorious for being hard on equipment from start to finish. Rick always conserved his car until the end. There's a reason Rick has 8 wins in 500 milers and Mario has 3. Michael's car was spent by lap 180 and Rick was saving the equipment, getting set for the shootout. Never before has there been a racer at Indy like Rick Mears and there never will be.
yeah i agree, and now the drivers don't even have to conserve their equipment like ppl like Mears had to. I believe that is a true skill that is lacking in today's drivers. Drivers need to know how to drive fast, but also smart and have a car that is still running and is still performing in the closing stages of a 500 mile race. With the high reliability of the honda, dallara, drivers have no clue what it means to race smart and conservatively.
Rick is a legend and a 4 time winner but in my opinion the races in 81 and 82 stick out because of his pit fire and his lost to gordon johncock by less than a car length in 82
I met Rick Mears when I was 5 in Bakersfield at a gas station and got his autograph. He was great.
dweezler 1 year ago
Great piece. They really knew how to cover the race back in the old days on TV.The only good thing about Indy racing on tv now is Jack Arute, Scotty G ain't bad either. Here you see Posey in his prime, and Mears is a treasure.
Jorge1Jigen 1 year ago
The Andretti situation was becuase of Formula One.
AutoRockinRacing94 2 years ago
I heard this guy had an incredible moment where he spinned at Indy at a very high speed but went on driving, is it true?
fran812 2 years ago
I think your talking about Danny Sullivan, who in the 1985 Indy was trailing Mario Andretti...took the lead, but then spun completely around causing him to lose the lead right after he took it. He then retook the lead from Andretti and went on to win the '85 Indy 500.
pajasa62 2 years ago
One of the classiest people you will ever meet. Too bad he retired when he did, the success Penske had at Indy in '93 and '94, no doubt he would have been a 5 time winner!
markko17 3 years ago 2
Rick Mears is the Best! ! ! Only one can overcome Mears ... Mears himself! ! ! Excelente Video ! ! ! Thanks ! ! !
jollybossvf84 3 years ago
a legend
cbowman61 3 years ago
rick mears is a god.
btw can you blame him for "failing" to qualify a PINK car lol jk. :P
mightycowhero 3 years ago
I loved Rick Mears in CART but I wished he would of gotten his chance in F1.
fordfocusonme 3 years ago
He did have a chance in F1. He tested an F1 car after the 1981 season but Rick opted to stay in the states, with his family. A year later he was divorced, but I'm sure glad he stayed in the Indycars.
-SAVATS
MiniCHAMP7 3 years ago
I know but what I meant is that I wished he would of gotten a chance to enter F1 later on in his career. Mears might of said his family was the reason why he stayed in CART but in reality I think it was more financial. I read once that Bernie offered him a ride but Mears had to find a sponsors to pay his way in which Mears disagreed.
CART teams often times had sponsors from the teams not the drivers. In F1 it seems that sponsors were through the drivers not the team.
fordfocusonme 3 years ago
Honestly, I'm glad Rick didn't go to F1 for many reasons. Rick is my alltime racing hero, and he probably wouldn't have done so well in F1. Rick was an above average road racer, but not an a lister. I doubt he would've had 4 Indy 500 wins if he went to F1, and he might've squeezed out a couple of podiums before returning to the states. Just my opinion, I could be wrong. Long live Rick Mears. The King of Indy. :)
-SAVATS
MiniCHAMP7 3 years ago
I love Rick Mears too but I personally never seen him race real time on the TV or in real life. I started watching in '93 and just missed out. I wish I was born 20 years earlier so I could have seen the hay days of Mario, Rahal Sr, Al Unser, and Mears. I got to enjoy guys like Mansell, Tracy, and Bourdais but still doesn't have the same affect in many aspects.
fordfocusonme 3 years ago
I first attended Indy in 1980 and have attended every Indy 500 since. My 1st tix stub had Rick's picture on it. I carried that stub in my wallet for years. Rick was the absolute greatest driver and gentleman to ever suit up at Indy. He was the reason I kept going. I dearly miss him at Indy, however I am glad he went out a hero and a winner. A great American hero even though he would deny it!
mhnoller 3 years ago
I think that 1992 crash was the last straw for Mears..14 years at Indy is a reletively short career
dpate23 3 years ago
I agree.
Dietpepsivanilla 3 years ago
Think if he hadn't of retired after 92' . . . and raced on in 93' and 94' in one-off drives . . . he very well could of been a 5 time, or maybe a *6* time Indy 500 champion. The Penske's were so dominant in those years. 1994 could of been a cake walk for Rick.
BlueFox284 4 years ago
Rick Mears and his Gould Charge PC-10 are the reasons I became a racing fan. Rick is one of the greatest American racers of all time. And finally seeing that car at the Penske-Wynn showroom in Vegas was a dream come true. Thanks ChampCar4ever. I second that notion =)
pandapc 4 years ago
I don't think rick should have won in 91.. that was Michael's race... same with 92
hoyadestroya85 4 years ago
Had that race ended under yellow and Michael did not have a chance to challenge him, I would agree. But Michael passed him on the restart, then Mears did the same thing to him one lap later. The fact that Andretti led all day doesn't matter. Rick put the hammer down when it mattered. Michael's race was the folling year, and he got screwed, but what a finish that was.
GoldSilverLead 4 years ago
The Andrettis are notorious for being hard on equipment from start to finish. Rick always conserved his car until the end. There's a reason Rick has 8 wins in 500 milers and Mario has 3. Michael's car was spent by lap 180 and Rick was saving the equipment, getting set for the shootout. Never before has there been a racer at Indy like Rick Mears and there never will be.
-SAVATS
MiniCHAMP7 3 years ago
yeah i agree, and now the drivers don't even have to conserve their equipment like ppl like Mears had to. I believe that is a true skill that is lacking in today's drivers. Drivers need to know how to drive fast, but also smart and have a car that is still running and is still performing in the closing stages of a 500 mile race. With the high reliability of the honda, dallara, drivers have no clue what it means to race smart and conservatively.
jbracer86 2 years ago
Best driver at Indy, period. Rick is indeed the man.
BlueFox284 4 years ago
Rick is a legend and a 4 time winner but in my opinion the races in 81 and 82 stick out because of his pit fire and his lost to gordon johncock by less than a car length in 82
sir945 4 years ago
He is not only my favorite driver of all time, but he is also my favorite person.
maryForMears 4 years ago
Rick Mears is the man. I have never had a hero as big as the mears. He was and always will be my favorite. Mears I love you!!!
thejimshow 4 years ago