Masses of people run out onto the track surface to greet them as they come around. It is an extremely poignant moment, for not only has Tony never done this before, it is the last time most people will ever see him. He passes away Oct. 27 at the age of 76.
1980: RICHMOND RIDES IN ON J.R.'s SIDEPOD
Johnny Rutherford has just won the "500" for a third time and is driving around on his "cool-off lap" on his way to Victory Circle when he comes upon rookie Tim Richmond, stranded at the entrance to the pits and standing next to his car. It has run out of fuel. The two drivers have been "garaged" next to each other in Gasoline Alley for the entire month and have become good friends. Rutherford slows down and yells to the charismatic newcomer to climb onto the sidepod, whereupon the crowd on the main straight roars its approval as the new three-time winner gives the ninth-place-finishing Rookie of the Year a "lift" down to his pit.
1982: THE GREATEST FINISH EVER
Gordon Johncock leads Rick Mears by just a couple of car lengths when Mears ducks in for his final scheduled pit stop at Lap 183. His Penske crew has him away in 18 seconds. Johncock comes in at Lap 186, and his Patrick crew pulls a major coup by giving Johncock only the amount of fuel they believe he will need to finish. They have him away in 13 seconds. The Penske crew is stunned.
At Lap 188, Mears finds himself 11 seconds in arrears. It is a virtuoso performance as Mears spends the next few laps slicing away at the disadvantage. The deficit is cut from 7.9 seconds at Lap 192 to 6.4 at 193, 4.6 at 195, three seconds at 196 and a mere two at 197. As the two drivers head for the white flag, Mears is drawing alongside Johncock. They enter Turn 1 together, and Mears is forced to lift just slightly. He loses many yards but remounts his challenge and comes up short at the chequered flag by only 16 one-hundredths of a second. It is the closest finish in history, beating the previous record margin of 2.16 seconds, which has stood since 1937.
1983: THE "GAS MAN" FINALLY WINS, BUT "LITTLE AL" MAKES HIS PRESENCE KNOWN
Al Unser is leading under caution in the closing stages and is attempting to join A.J. Foyt as a four-time winner of the "500." Behind him is Tom Sneva, who has yet to win and who is trying NOT to become a four-time runner-up. The green comes out for the sprint to the chequered at Lap 176 and, surprisingly, a lapped car speeds past both of them. The driver is 21-year-old rookie Al Unser Jr., who is the first in "500" history to be competing against his own father. In a noble attempt to assist his father in winning, he quickly allows "Big Al" to pass, but is less helpful with Sneva. While accused of "blocking," he is in reality running in such a fashion as to disturb the air behind him and make it harder for Sneva to pass. Sneva eventually finds his way around regardless and passes "Big Al" on Lap 191.
