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1985 Michigan 500

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The debris from Andretti's crash was cleaned up for a one-lap run to the finish. Fittipaldi had the lapped cars of Tom Sneva and Johnny Rutherford between himself and Unser. When the green flag was thrown, Unser quickly got around Rutherford but had trouble passing Sneva, who was under the impression
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Early in Saturday morning's practice session, Roberto Guerrero cut a right-front tire and spun exiting turn two. Guerrero didn't hit anything. Shortly thereafter, Bobby Rahal cut a right-front tire and hit the turn two wall hard. Rahal walked away from the crash with a bruised elbow and headache. His
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The radial tires performed flawlessly during testing and the first two days of practice. Bias-ply tires had blown in the past and were viewed as a part of racing. There were questions over how the race would be handled if a backmarker crashed instead of Rahal. It was suggested that the rough surface
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Time Trials were held on Friday afternoon. After preparing his backup car, Rahal won the pole with a speed of 215.202 mph. The speed was not only a track record, but the fastest speed ever in Indy car competition. Rick Mears was second fastest at 213.720 mph. Joining Rahal and Mears on the
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NBC was displeased with CART's decision to postpone the race and the network incurred losses of $ 400,000. Rain delay losses were covered by NBC's insurance while tire-related delays were not. The matter affected their decision of broadcasting the 1986 season. 1986 was CART's final year in their TV
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For the rescheduled race, 70,000 spectators filled the stands. From his position on the middle of row one, Danny Sullivan took the lead from Rick Mears at the drop of the green flag. On lap two, Mario Andretti passed Sullivan and led the next 13 laps. Mears suffered from transmission troubles and
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Goodyear PR Director Dave Hederich explained, "There was a razor-clean cut on the shoulder (of Guerrero's tire) that looked like a classic cut caused by debris. But unfortunately, when Rahal crashed, he went into the wall with the right front tire, which mangled it so badly that we were unable to
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On a lap 82 restart, CART officials erroneously picked up Phil Krueger as the first car behind the pace car. When the green flag was waved, Krueger's slow vehicle created a road block for the faster cars. On the backstretch, Danny Ongais was clipped by another car and barrel-rolled his car four
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A four-hour meeting was held to discuss options regarding the race. Out of an abundance of caution, it was decided that the race would be delayed one week and Goodyear would return with the bias-ply tires they used at Michigan in 1984. Goodyear had tires in storage but needed the extra week to
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NBC was unable to broadcast the rescheduled race a week later as their local affiliates had already sold the air time. Attempts were made to air the race on a cable network but found it was impossible to get equipment to the track in time. The race had no television coverage.
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Practice resumed on Friday, July 26. Danny Sullivan posted the fastest speed at 211.846 mph. Driving his repaired primary car, Rahal's fastest speed was 209.400 mph. Spike Gehlhausen hit the wall but his car was able to be repaired before the race.
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While no definitive evidence could be found, some suspected that the failures might have been related to Goodyear's new radial tires. On Guerrero's car, Goodyear engineers detected a puncture but could not find any evidence of damage on Rahal's tire.
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Practice began on Thursday, July 19. Mario Andretti set the fastest speed at 215.253 mph. Bobby Rahal was second fastest at 213.270 mph. Andretti had two separate spins an hour apart in the session after hitting a bump exiting turn two.
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The first caution came out on lap 8 when third-place car Geoff Brabham spun and hit the turn three wall. Al Unser took the lead for the first time on lap 31 and established himself as the fastest car, ultimately leading 102 of the 250 laps.
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After a laboratory analysis, Goodyear engineers found nothing wrong with the tires that experienced loss of air on Guerrero's and Rahal's car. They also tested 25 other tires used by fast teams and found "nothing out of the ordinary."
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On lap 201, Emerson Fittipaldi took the lead for the first time. When he pitted on lap 211, the lead returned to Unser. Unser led the next 21 laps and pitted for fuel only with 19 laps to go, giving the lead back to Fittipaldi.
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Josele Garza led 22 laps and was running second on lap 110 when a suspension failure sent him into the wall. On lap 163, Pancho Carter blew a tire and hit the turn three wall. Carter was cut out of his damaged car but unhurt.
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he was on the lead lap. Fittipaldi led the cars back to the checkered flag to take his first Indy car victory. Unser was unable to get around Sneva and finished second. Sneva finished third, one lap down.
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With 12 laps to go, Steve Chassey blew an engine and brought out another caution. During the yellow, Unser pitted for fresh tires, placing him at the back of the pack for the restart.
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With seven laps remaining, Mario Andretti lost his right-front wheel assembly and crashed hard in turn four. Andretti suffered a broken collarbone and fractured hip in the crash.
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hit the turn two wall shortly after practice began when a right-rear wheel broke. Foyt had to go to a backup car. Roberto Guerrero spun exiting turn two but didn't hit anything.
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In Friday's morning practice session, Bobby Rahal crashed in turn two after hitting the same bump that affected Andretti on Thursday. Rahal's team switched to a backup car.
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In the week that followed, Arie Luyendyk's team withdrew from the race. A. J. Foyt also withdrew to compete instead in NASCAR's Talladega 500, where he finished fifth.
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stated in February 1986, "There were discussions about it but it was such a legal morass it wasn't worth going to court. The Michigan problem is buried and gone."
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suffered severe feet injuries in a crash in September 1984. Mears was only running oval races in 1985 and the Michigan 500 would mark his third race of the season.
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team worked to rebuild the car he crashed on Friday morning. Because his pole-winning car was withdrawn, Rahal would have to start from the rear of the field.
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10 cars finished the race. A record 13 caution flags for 104 laps slowed the average speed to 128.22 mph. Fittipaldi won $ 115,639 for his victory.
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contract with NBC, and NBC did not commit to televise any CART races until the spring of 1986, which included a now tape-delayed broadcast of the
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planned to broadcast the race live as they did the past four years. When the race was delayed, NBC reaired the 1984 race in its timeslot.
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Sunny with temperatures up to 85 °F (29 °C); wind speeds reaching up to 10 miles per hour (16 km/h)
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NBC considered legal action against CART to recoup the money lost. About the subject of a lawsuit, NBC executive
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victory. The race was delayed for one week over concerns about Goodyear's new radial tires.
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front row was Danny Sullivan at 211.758 mph. 27 cars posted qualifying speeds.
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withdrew from the race to compete in an IMSA event at Portland. He was replaced by
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of the Michigan track also might have contributed to the two tire failures.
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and entered Michigan still eligible to win the million dollars.
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offered a one million dollar bonus to any driver who could win
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July 27, 1985. p. 7. 695:"Track Should Share Blame for Michigan 500 Problems" 677:"Track Should Share Blame for Michigan 500 Problems" 490:"Domino s Pizza Sets $ 1 Million Triple Crown Award" 467: 458:served as the lead anchor of the radio broadcast. 641:"Michigan 500 Field Set to Go Again on New Tires" 1042: 731:"CART Ready to Give it Another Go at Michigan" 713:"CART Ready to Give it Another Go at Michigan" 1061:Motorsport competitions in the United States 393:could only complete 7 laps, finishing last. 323: 954:"CART Has Big Purse, But TV Troubles Too" 1043: 343: 749:"CART Racers Return to Michigan 500" 199:215.202 mph (346.334 km/h) 551:"Mario Sets Dizzy Pace at Michigan" 533:"Mario Sets Dizzy Pace at Michigan" 515:"Mario Sets Dizzy Pace at Michigan" 26:1985 CART PPG Indy Car World Series 13: 587:"Rahal Recovers to Set Lap Record" 569:"Rahal Recovers to Set Lap Record" 286:As was the case in 1983 and 1984, 14: 1077: 991:"CART TV Schedule Far From Final" 1012: 975: 938: 259: 237: 215: 178: 97: 71: 1020: 997:. February 23, 1986. p. 85 983: 960:. February 27, 1986. p. 26 946: 909: 891: 873: 855: 837: 823: 805: 791: 777: 759: 741: 723: 705: 687: 669: 651: 633: 425: 128:Michigan International Speedway 22:Michigan International Speedway 923:. February 2, 1986. p. 78 863:"Fittipaldi Wins Michigan 500" 845:"Fittipaldi Wins Michigan 500" 813:"Fittipaldi Wins Michigan 500" 767:"Fittipaldi Wins Michigan 500" 659:"Bad Tires Delay Michigan 500" 623:"Bad Tires Delay Michigan 500" 615: 605:"Bad Tires Delay Michigan 500" 597: 579: 561: 543: 525: 507: 482: 1: 461: 281: 474:Weather information for the 357:reconstruct what happened." 7: 1051:1985 in American motorsport 831:"1985 Michigan 500 Results" 799:"1985 Michigan 500 Results" 785:"1985 Michigan 500 Results" 10: 1082: 494:industrydocuments.ucsf.edu 401:times. Ongais was unhurt. 361:produce 600-700 new ones. 254: 232: 210: 203: 195: 173: 166: 158: 148: 142:Permanent racing facility 138: 123: 113: 105: 96: 86: 81: 55:42.0663000°N 84.2414389°W 881:"No TV Coverage Planned" 324:Practice and Time Trials 387: 294:of 500 Mile Races: The 154:500.000 mi / 804.672 km 60:42.0663000; -84.2414389 1056:Motorsport in Michigan 292:IndyCar's Triple Crown 28:. The race was won by 312:1985 Indianapolis 500 1028:"Michigan 500 Notes" 899:"Michigan 500 Notes" 645:Muncie Evening-Press 88:Race 7 of 15 in the 344:Goodyear Withdrawal 144:2.000 mi / 3.219 km 78: 51: /  222:Emerson Fittipaldi 132:Brooklyn, Michigan 109:July 28, 1985 69: 30:Emerson Fittipaldi 1066:Michigan Indy 400 1032:Indianapolis Star 995:Indianapolis Star 921:Indianapolis Star 903:Indianapolis Star 867:Indianapolis Star 849:Indianapolis Star 817:Indianapolis Star 771:Indianapolis Star 753:Indianapolis News 735:Indianapolis Star 717:Indianapolis Star 699:Indianapolis Star 681:Indianapolis Star 555:Indianapolis Star 537:Indianapolis Star 519:Indianapolis Star 476:1985 Michigan 500 443:1986 Michigan 500 276: 275: 118:1985 Michigan 500 92: 77:1985 Michigan 500 18:1985 Michigan 500 1073: 1036: 1035: 1024: 1018: 1017: 1016: 1010: 1004: 1002: 987: 981: 980: 979: 973: 967: 965: 950: 944: 943: 942: 936: 930: 928: 913: 907: 906: 895: 889: 888: 877: 871: 870: 859: 853: 852: 841: 835: 834: 827: 821: 820: 809: 803: 802: 795: 789: 788: 781: 775: 774: 763: 757: 756: 745: 739: 738: 727: 721: 720: 709: 703: 702: 691: 685: 684: 673: 667: 666: 655: 649: 648: 637: 631: 630: 619: 613: 612: 601: 595: 594: 591:Herald-Palladium 583: 577: 576: 573:Herald-Palladium 565: 559: 558: 547: 541: 540: 529: 523: 522: 511: 505: 504: 502: 500: 486: 480: 471: 296:Indianapolis 500 264: 263: 242: 241: 220: 219: 183: 182: 101: 90:1985 CART season 87: 79: 76: 75: 68: 66: 65: 63: 62: 61: 56: 52: 49: 48: 47: 44: 1081: 1080: 1076: 1075: 1074: 1072: 1071: 1070: 1041: 1040: 1039: 1026: 1025: 1021: 1011: 1000: 998: 989: 988: 984: 974: 963: 961: 952: 951: 947: 937: 926: 924: 915: 914: 910: 897: 896: 892: 879: 878: 874: 861: 860: 856: 843: 842: 838: 829: 828: 824: 811: 810: 806: 797: 796: 792: 783: 782: 778: 765: 764: 760: 747: 746: 742: 729: 728: 724: 711: 710: 706: 693: 692: 688: 675: 674: 670: 657: 656: 652: 639: 638: 634: 621: 620: 616: 603: 602: 598: 585: 584: 580: 567: 566: 562: 549: 548: 544: 531: 530: 526: 513: 512: 508: 498: 496: 488: 487: 483: 479:at Wunderground 472: 468: 464: 428: 390: 346: 326: 284: 279: 258: 236: 214: 177: 153: 143: 134:, United States 70: 59: 57: 53: 50: 45: 42: 40: 38: 37: 12: 11: 5: 1079: 1069: 1068: 1063: 1058: 1053: 1038: 1037: 1019: 1007:Newspapers.com 982: 970:Newspapers.com 945: 933:Newspapers.com 908: 890: 885:Palladium Item 872: 854: 836: 822: 804: 790: 776: 758: 740: 722: 704: 686: 668: 663:Palladium Item 650: 632: 627:Palladium Item 614: 609:Palladium Item 596: 578: 560: 542: 524: 506: 481: 465: 463: 460: 427: 424: 389: 386: 345: 342: 325: 322: 308:Danny Sullivan 288:Domino's Pizza 283: 280: 278:Motor car race 277: 274: 273: 256: 252: 251: 234: 230: 229: 226:Patrick Racing 212: 208: 207: 201: 200: 197: 193: 192: 175: 171: 170: 164: 163: 160: 156: 155: 150: 146: 145: 140: 136: 135: 125: 121: 120: 115: 111: 110: 107: 103: 102: 94: 93: 84: 83: 9: 6: 4: 3: 2: 1078: 1067: 1064: 1062: 1059: 1057: 1054: 1052: 1049: 1048: 1046: 1033: 1029: 1023: 1015: 1008: 996: 992: 986: 978: 971: 959: 955: 949: 941: 934: 922: 918: 912: 904: 900: 894: 886: 882: 876: 868: 864: 858: 850: 846: 840: 832: 826: 818: 814: 808: 800: 794: 786: 780: 772: 768: 762: 754: 750: 744: 736: 732: 726: 718: 714: 708: 700: 696: 690: 682: 678: 672: 664: 660: 654: 646: 642: 636: 628: 624: 618: 610: 606: 600: 592: 588: 582: 574: 570: 564: 556: 552: 546: 538: 534: 528: 520: 516: 510: 495: 491: 485: 478: 477: 470: 466: 459: 457: 453: 451: 446: 444: 438: 434: 432: 423: 420: 416: 413: 410: 406: 402: 398: 394: 385: 381: 379: 375: 370: 366: 362: 358: 354: 350: 341: 337: 334: 332: 321: 319: 315: 313: 309: 305: 301: 297: 293: 289: 271: 267: 262: 257: 253: 249: 245: 240: 235: 231: 227: 223: 218: 213: 209: 206: 202: 198: 194: 190: 186: 181: 176: 172: 169: 168:Pole position 165: 161: 157: 151: 147: 141: 137: 133: 129: 126: 122: 119: 116: 114:Official name 112: 108: 104: 100: 95: 91: 85: 80: 74: 67: 64: 46:84°14′29.18″W 43:42°03′58.68″N 35: 31: 27: 23: 19: 1031: 1022: 1005:– via 999:. 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Foyt 318:Rick Mears 304:Pocono 500 282:Background 189:Truesports 499:August 3, 456:Paul Page 266:Tom Sneva 16:The  310:won the 244:Al Unser 152:250 laps 149:Distance 124:Location 34:Indy Car 268: ( 246: ( 224: ( 187: ( 159:Weather 302:, and 233:Second 205:Podium 174:Driver 139:Course 255:Third 211:First 1003:2024 966:2024 929:2024 501:2021 388:Race 196:Time 106:Date 445:. 431:NBC 1047:: 1030:. 993:. 956:. 919:. 901:. 883:. 865:. 847:. 815:. 769:. 751:. 733:. 715:. 697:. 679:. 661:. 643:. 625:. 607:. 589:. 571:. 553:. 535:. 517:. 492:. 380:. 306:. 298:, 130:, 1009:. 972:. 935:. 833:. 801:. 787:. 503:. 272:) 250:) 228:) 191:)

Index

Michigan International Speedway
1985 CART PPG Indy Car World Series
Emerson Fittipaldi
Indy Car
42°03′58.68″N 84°14′29.18″W / 42.0663000°N 84.2414389°W / 42.0663000; -84.2414389
United States
1985 CART season

1985 Michigan 500
Michigan International Speedway
Brooklyn, Michigan
Pole position
United States
Bobby Rahal
Truesports
Podium
Brazil
Emerson Fittipaldi
Patrick Racing
United States
Al Unser
Team Penske
United States
Tom Sneva
Curb Racing
Domino's Pizza
IndyCar's Triple Crown
Indianapolis 500
Michigan 500
Pocono 500

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