MEARS TAKES HIS BEST VICTORY
“THE PENSKE PILOT DIVED FOR THE APRON AND KEPT HIS FOOT IN, LAYING DOWN RUBBER”
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Rick Mears went through it all in the days leading up to what would be his penultimate appearance in the race. He suffered his first-ever crash at the Speedway during practice, when the right-rear wheel of his Penske PC20 broke, and the ensuing accident put him on his head and hurt his foot.
But come qualifying, Mears bounced back astoundingly to score his sixth pole position (still the record for Indy poles) and headed up one of the greatest front rows in Indy history, with AJ Foyt (making his 34th start) second, and Mario Andretti (making his 26th start) third.
On race day, it was the Newman/haas Racing Lola of Michael Andretti that appeared to be dominant, only ceding the lead on pitstops. But Penskes pair Emerson Fittipaldi and Mears remained a lurking threat, both constantly adjusting their cars to the evolving track.
Fittipaldi, the 1989 winner (and 1993 victor to be), retired on lap 171 with gearbox failure. Mears pitted straight after and rejoined 10s behind Michael Andretti. While he got his tyres up to temperature, that deficit extended to
13s. Andretti still needed to stop but he was able to do so under caution, and he rejoined directly behind Mears.
On the restart, John Andretti and Unser Jr, who had been heading the pack but were about to be lapped, kept well out of the way of the leaders. Mears got the initiative, but Andretti had greater momentum and, despite cold and worn tyres, went around the outside of the Penske at Turn 1 to grab the lead.
Mears, however, stayed in Andretti’s wheeltracks and, when the Newman/haas driver dived for the Turn 1 apron next time by, the Penske pilot kept his foot in it, the right rear visibly laying down rubber.
This time it was Mears who used the outside line to claim the lead. Despite Mario Andretti chugging to a halt at pit entry and causing a final yellow, son Michael had nothing left for Mears, who went on to score his record-matching fourth Indy 500 win.