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Article clipped from The Indianapolis Star

Rick Mears Wins 63d '500' By ROBIN MILLER Rick Mears, rapidly becoming a master at going faster, gave a storybook ending to a fairy tale month Sunday by winning the 63d Indianapolis "500." Starting from the pole in his second try at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Mears outlasted the Unser brothers and stormed across the finish line 45 seconds ahead of A.J. Foyt to become the freshest face to make Victory Lane in : a decade. The 27-year-old sophomore sensation sailed through 200 laps in 3 hours, 8 minutes and 47 seconds to become the youngest winner here since 29-year-old Mario Andretti turned the trick in 1969. FOYT, TRYING for his fifth triumph, lost a cylinder late in the going and coasted across the line for the runner-up spot as the crowd of 350,000 cheered his effort. A.J. was the only driver besides Mears to complete the distance, as daring Danny Ongais blazed to third, Bobby Unser staggered home fourth and Mike Mosley turned in a sparkling drive for fifth. Mears, who averaged 158.899 miles an hour in Roger Penske's Gould Charge, only led 25 laps, but - as he was when offered a job with Penske two years ago - the 1 mellow Californian was in the right place at the right time when the checkered flag fell. It announced after the race that there would no traditional victory lap with Mears in the pace car because the crowds had climbed the infield fence and poured onto the track. IT APPEARED for a long time that Rick would have to be happy with third place - behind the Unsers. Al, the defending champ seeking his fourth Indy victory and fifth straight 500- mile triumph, dominated the first half of the race in Jim Hall's impressive Pennzoil Chaparral. After he had paced 85 of the first 100 circuits, his dreams of tying Foyt's win record were ended when a transmission seal failed on Lap 104. That left the top spot in Bobby U.'s experienced hands, and the two-time Indy victor was heading toward a No. 3 when his Norton Spirit began losing fourth gear with just 18 laps to go. Forced to use third gear and slow his pace to 140 mph, the elder Unser staggered home fourth in his PenskeCosworth while his young teammate capitalized on the turn of events. "I WAS RIGHT behind Bobby when he had his problem," said Rick, the 14th Related Stories And Pictures On Pages 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 13. 27, 52 And In Sports Section driver to win from the pole and the first sophomore to win since Johnnie Parsons in 1950. "And while I felt bad for him, it was hard for myself not to feel good because I knew I'd have my hands full with him those last 20 laps." Mears, an off-road racer who went from the desert to champ cars in the fall of 1976, confirmed that he was having trouble realizing how quickly he made it to the top. "It's just incredible," exclaimed the fellow who sat on the front row last May at 200 mph as a rookie. "I really can't believe all this has happened so fast; and like they say, it seems like a fairy tale." IT WAS THE second time Penske had conquered the Speedway (the late Mark Donohue did it him in 1972), and the silver-haired owner was ecstatic with the results. "I couldn't lose there for awhile," said Roger, referring to the long period of time when his machines were 1-2. "But there was no strategy as far as who would win. It was between the two of them." Before Bobby's misfortune, Mears had closed to within a few car lengths, and the stage was set for a last joint pause for fuel and a final 15-lap sprint to the checkered flag. "I'm sure] it would have been exciting, and it's too bad for the fans it didn't happen," Mears said. Basically, it was a pretty racy aftcars were moving finish (the most ernoon the customers as 17 paying, since 1960), and the dicing among Ongais, Mosley, Bobby U. and Foyt held everyone's attention. THE RACE BEGAN with Al Unser (from the outside of Row One) sneaking ahead of Tom Sneva and Mears going into the first corner. As Al moved out to a healthy advantage, Mears took Sneva, and the trio pulled away from everyone else. Johnny Rutherford, Bobby Unser and Foyt went at it for fourth pretty well until Lone Star J.R. lost fourth gear and spent 31 minutes in the pits while his Budweiser McLaren crew repaired the damage. Ongais, who took the green flag in 27th position, had charged into the top 10 20 laps were gone and was keeping the fans happy with his aggressive style behind the wheel of the InterscopePanasonic Parnelli. Al Unser was turning laps from 188 1 to 191 mph, and it appeared that the only thing that would keep him out of the winner's circle would be mechanical Unser. "But it was just one of those bad lap. Danny 0., who passed Bobby U. co-rookie got on the brakes in time to trouble. days at work. I'll say this, though, 1 that earlier on the outside, actually tagged the reduce his impact with the wall to an AND THAT'S what car is a dream." outside concrete coming off the fourth easy bump, and neither car or driver was as his brilliant yellow exactly effects rac- With his brother gone, Bobby assumed turn on the 130th go-around, breaking the injured. happened ground command and remained comfortably outside rim of his wheel in the er began smoking at the halfway point. process. Foyt, who lost a lap to the leaders Four laps later, he was done, sidelined by ahead Mears, building up a THE FIRST serious yellow light of the u when he killed his engine on a pit stop, of 12-second a broken transmission seal. spread on a couple of occasions. afternoon flashed on when Larry had a crewman stuff a pillow between his Rice "It's a shame to have something like Meanwhile, Ongais, Mosley and Foyt lost control going through the second head and the cowl on his next-to-last stop this put you out of the race," exclaimed were going at it tooth and nail, lap after corner on the 154th circuit. Last year's See MEARS Page 8 4 Star Photo By Jerry Clark Jubilation The Roger Penske crew and Mears family members react with joy front are Mears' mother, his father, an unidentified person, Mears' as Rick Mears wins his first Indianapolis "500." From left to right in wife, Dina Lynn, Penske and photographer Jim Schweiker. •LIKE A FAIRY TALE' Veterans Watch As Mears Goes By; er Parks In Victory Lane
Article from 28 May 1979The Indianapolis Star(Indianapolis, IN)
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CLIPPED BY
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