UNSER JR BEATS CHARGING GOODYEAR
“DESPITE PULLING OUT AT THE RIGHT MOMENT, GOODYEAR FELL 0.043s SHORT”
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This event had it all, even before the race. There was a tear-jerking moment as promising Philippines native Jovy Marcelo was killed in a practice crash, and a nausea-inducing moment as three-time F1 champion but Indy 500 rookie Nelson Piquet’s Menard Lola had a head-on shunt with the wall. The mangling of his legs was inevitable, but his helmet’s impact with the concrete could have made it much worse.
And then the charming and talented Roberto Guerrero earned pole but, as he led the field to the green on the parade lap, lost control while trying to warm his tyres in shockingly cold race-day temperatures and struck a barrier, putting his King Motorsports Lolabuick out before the race had even begun.
It was a portent of what was to come, as veterans and rookies alike got involved in accidents. Still, finally it looked like the since-1969 curse of the Andretti family at IMS was finally going to be broken as Michael led for 160 laps, almost as dominant as his father had been five years earlier. But like his father five years earlier, mechanical failure – in this case, a broken fuel pump with just 10 laps to go – ended his hopes in cruel fashion.
That left a duel between Al Unser Jr in Galles Racing’s unique Galmer chassis and Scott Goodyear in the Walker Racing Lola. Goodyear had failed to qualify but had taken over the car of team-mate Mike Groff, and had put in a remarkable drive from 33rd on the grid.
Before and after the final pitstops, the Canadian was heading Little Al, but tripped up on traffic with 15 laps to go, which allowed the 1990 series champion to pass him. It looked an even more crucial error once Andretti was out and this became a battle for the lead.
Following the inevitable caution, there was a seven-lap shootout – Unser with the greater experience, Goodyear with the better car but apparently uncertain how best to use it. He never figured it out and, despite pulling out of the slipstream at the right moment on the run to the chequered flag, Goodyear fell 0.043s short in the closest-ever Indy 500 finish.