1982 Indianapolis 500 Explained

Race Name:66th Indianapolis 500
Race Logo:Indy500winningcar1982.JPG
Sanction:USAC
Season:1981-82 USAC season
1982 CART season
Team:Patrick Racing
Date:May 30, 1982
Winner: Gordon Johncock
Mph:162.029mi/h
Pole: Rick Mears
Pole Speed:207.004mi/h
Fast Time: Rick Mears
Rookie: Jim Hickman
Leader: Rick Mears (77)
Anthem:Louis Sudler
Back Home:Louis Sudler
Start Engines:Mary F. Hulman
Pace Car:Chevrolet Camaro Z28 coupé
Pace Driver:Jim Rathmann
Starter:Duane Sweeney[1]
Attendance:350,000[2]
Network:ABC
Rating:12.3
Share:25
Announcers:Host: Jackie Stewart
Lap-by-lap: Jim McKay
Color Analyst: Sam Posey
Previous:1981
Next:1983

The 66th Indianapolis 500 was held at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Speedway, Indiana on Sunday, May 30, 1982. Gordon Johncock, who had previously won the rain-shortened 1973 race, was the winner. Polesitter Rick Mears finished second by a margin of 0.16 seconds,[3] [4] the closest finish in Indy 500 history to that point.

In racing circles, the 1982 race is largely considered one of the best 500s in history, although it was marred by the fatal crash of Gordon Smiley during time trials. Johncock and Mears dueled over most of the final 40 laps. Johncock pulled out to a sizeable lead after his final pit stop on lap 184. But Mears dramatically began closing the gap in the waning laps. Johncock held off Mears on the final lap in a historic victory, as the raucous crowd drowned out the loud roar of the engines. The race is also remembered for a controversial crash at the start triggered by Kevin Cogan, which took out Mario Andretti, damaged the car of A. J. Foyt, and caused the crash of two other cars.

Officially the race was part of the 1981-82 USAC season, however, most of the entrants took part in the 1982 CART PPG Indy Car World Series. Championship points for the 1982 Indy 500 were not awarded towards the CART title and the race was considered a non-championship race in that series.

For the first and only time in Indy 500 history, a trio of brothers qualified for the same race. Don, Bill, and Dale Whittington all made the field, with Don finishing a strong 6th. Dale crashed out before the start, and never completed a single lap in his career. Four-time Indy winner A. J. Foyt started on the front row, celebrating his record 25th career Indy 500 start. Though he was caught up in the Cogan incident, his car was hastily repaired and he went on to lead 32 laps.

Notes and References

  1. Book: Fox, Jack C.. The Illustrated History of the Indianapolis 500 1911-1994. Carl Hungness Publishing. 4th. 1994. 22. en. 0-915088-05-3.
  2. News: Johncock hangs on ti win '500' by a nose. Robin. Miller. Robin Miller (journalist). The Indianapolis Star. 1. Newspapers.com. May 31, 1982. June 2, 2017.
  3. News: How they finished. The Indianapolis Star. 1. Newspapers.com. May 31, 1982. August 2, 2022.
  4. News: Official Prize List, Times and Averages for the 1982 "500" Mile Race. Indianapolis Motor Speedway. 1983 Indianapolis 500 Media Guide. doctorindy.com. August 2, 2022.
  5. https://www.nytimes.com/1981/07/27/sports/foyt-s-condition-good.html Foyt's Condition Good
  6. News: Foyt Heads Indy 500 Field. AP. April 20, 1982. Herald and Review. 2017-08-19. B3. en. Newspapers.com.
  7. The Talk of Gasoline Alley - 1070-AM WIBC, May 2, 2005
  8. News: USAC revises rules and renews pacts. The Indianapolis Star. 24. Newspapers.com. February 2, 1982. July 26, 2018.
  9. News: Speedway Tries To Erase Fire. Indianapolis News. 46. Newspapers.com. May 28, 1982. September 3, 2024.
  10. News: Duckworth here to see Cosworth's 'swan song'?. The Indianapolis Star. 53. Newspapers.com. May 24, 1981. May 16, 2018.
  11. News: Modified Cosworth approved by USAC. The Indianapolis Star. 24. Newspapers.com. August 1, 1981. May 16, 2018.
  12. News: Even rain can't dampen joy over USAC's Cosworth ruling. Robin. Miller. Robin Miller (journalist). The Indianapolis Star. 25. Newspapers.com. August 3, 1981. May 16, 2018.
  13. Book: Olvey, Steve. Rapid Response: My Inside Story as a Motor Racing Life-Saver . Haynes Publishing UK. 98–99. 184425982X.
  14. "Rapid Response" (pp 98-99) by Dr. Steve Olvey, Indycar Medical Director between 1979 and 2003
  15. Book: Olvey, Steve. Rapid Response: My Inside Story as a Motor Racing Life-Saver . Haynes Publishing UK. 98–99. 184425982X.
  16. News: 4 drivers test out at 200. The Indianapolis Star. Kurt. Freudenthal. 33. Newspapers.com. May 28, 1982. September 2, 2024.
  17. News: Miller sweetens pot in Pit Stop Contest. The Indianapolis Star. 46. Newspapers.com. May 14, 1982. September 2, 2024.
  18. News: These guys love the pits. The Indianapolis Star. 16. Newspapers.com. May 28, 1982. September 2, 2024.
  19. News: Mears' crew to split $20,000. The Indianapolis Star. 34. Newspapers.com. May 28, 1982. September 2, 2024.
  20. News: 1982 Indianapolis 500 Daily Trackside Report. Indianapolis Motor Speedway. 1982-05-30. 2008-07-23. 2008-05-15. https://web.archive.org/web/20080515204050/http://www.indy500.com/images/stats/pdfs/dtr/1982.pdf. dead.
  21. 1982 Indianapolis 500 broadcast, ESPN Classic, May 2006
  22. News: '82 crash turned promising young driver into 500 pariah. The Indianapolis Star. Curt. Cavin. May 21, 2015. June 1, 2015.
  23. [Bob Varsha]
  24. Indianapolis 500: The 80's A Decade for the Ages - Collector's Edition DVD
  25. 1982 Indianapolis 500 radio broadcast, May 30, 1982
  26. Web site: By . 1986-06-01 . RUNNER-UP ROLE REMOVES CLOUD OVER COGAN FROM 1982 ACCIDENT . 2024-08-19 . Orlando Sentinel . en-US.
  27. 1982 Indianapolis 500 television broadcast, ABC Sports, May 30, 1982
  28. News: There's Never Been A Four-Time Winner---Before . Foyt, A.J. . Neely, William . A.J.: The Life of America's Greatest Race Car Driver . Warner Books . 1983 . 229–230.
  29. "All night race party," WIBC 1070-AM, May 30, 2004
  30. "The Talk of Gasoline Alley" - WIBC, May 22, 2006
  31. The Talk of Gasoline Alley - 1070-AM WIBC, May 9, 2007
  32. News: Centennial Era Moments - '82 Indy 500 Start. IndianapolisMotorSpeedway.com. 2009-01-26. 2009-01-17.
  33. Web site: Cavin . Curt . '82 crash turned promising young driver into 500 pariah . 2024-08-19 . The Indianapolis Star . en-US.
  34. Web site: Jack Rhoades Obituary - Myers-Reed Dignity Memorial Chapel Columbus IN. obits.dignitymemorial.com. 2017-08-19.
  35. Web site: Hoffman Auto Racing - USAC Sprint Car Team. hoffmanracing.com. 2017-08-19.
  36. News: 1982 Indianapolis 500. 2017-06-12. Motor Sport Magazine. 2017-08-19. en.
  37. Web site: 05/30/1982 race: Indianapolis 500 (USAC) - Racing-Reference.info. racing-reference.info. 2017-08-19.
  38. News: 1982 Paint Schemes. 2016-02-22. The Open Wheel. 2017-08-19. en-US.
  39. News: In 1982 Variety Ruled At Indianapolis - RacingNation.com. 2015-01-16. RacingNation.com. 2017-08-19. en-US.
  40. News: Johncock's Mother Died. Reading Eagle. 1982-06-01. 2012-05-07.
  41. News: Indy victory great, but.... https://archive.today/20130124210944/http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=vWIaAAAAIBAJ&sjid=CCoEAAAAIBAJ&pg=2177,4517017&dq=gordon+johncock+mother+died&hl=en. dead. January 24, 2013. The Milwaukee Journal. Roger. Jaynes. 1982-06-08. 2012-05-07.
  42. News: TV, radio coverage extensive. Julia. Inman. The Indianapolis Star. 50. Newspapers.com. May 28, 1983. February 23, 2018.

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