 | |||||
| Indianapolis Motor Speedway | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Indianapolis 500 | |||||
| Sanctioning body | USAC | ||||
| Season | 1981–82 USAC season 1981 CART season | ||||
| Date | May 24, 1981 | ||||
| Winner |  Bobby Unser | ||||
| Winning team | Penske Racing | ||||
| Average speed | 139.084 mph (223.834 km/h) | ||||
| Pole position | Bobby Unser | ||||
| Pole speed | 200.546 mph (322.748 km/h) | ||||
| Fastest qualifier | Tom Sneva (200.691 mph) | ||||
| Rookie of the Year |  Josele Garza | ||||
| Most laps led | Bobby Unser (89) | ||||
| Pre-race ceremonies | |||||
| National anthem | Purdue band | ||||
| "Back Home Again in Indiana" | Phil Harris | ||||
| Starting command | Mari George | ||||
| Pace car | Buick Regal | ||||
| Pace car driver | Duke Nalon | ||||
| Starter | Duane Sweeney[1] | ||||
| Estimated attendance | 350,000[2] | ||||
| TV in the United States | |||||
| Network | ABC | ||||
| Announcers | Host: Dave Diles Lap-by-lap: Jim McKay Color Analyst: Jackie Stewart | ||||
| Nielsen ratings | 12.8 / 24 | ||||
| Chronology | |||||
| |||||
The 65th Indianapolis 500 was held at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Speedway, Indiana, on Sunday, May 24, 1981. The race is widely considered one of the most controversial races in Indy history.[3][4] Bobby Unser took the checkered flag as the winner, with Mario Andretti finishing second. After the conclusion of the race, USAC officials ruled that Unser had passed cars illegally while exiting the pit area during a caution on lap 149 (of 200). Unser was subsequently issued a one-position penalty. The next morning, the official race results were posted, and Unser was dropped to second place. Andretti was elevated to first place and declared the race winner.
Controversy followed the ruling. After a lengthy protest and appeals process, the penalty was rescinded, and Unser was reinstated the victory on October 8. Officially, it became Unser's third-career Indy 500 victory and his final win in Indy car competition. Unser stepped out of the car at the end of the season, and ultimately retired from driving. The race was officially part of the 1981–82 USAC season; however, most of the top entrants participated in the 1981 CART PPG Indy Car World Series. Championship points for the 1981 Indy 500 were not awarded towards the CART title and the race was considered a non-championship race for that series.
The hectic month of May 1981 was interrupted several times by rain. Pole qualifying stretched over three days due to inclement weather, and several days of practice were cut short or lost due to rain. The 1981 race is also remembered for the horrifying crash of Danny Ongais, and a major pit fire involving Rick Mears. Ongais was critically injured, and Mears suffered burns, but both drivers would recover. Another massive pit fire occurred later in the season at the Michigan 500. This prompted new rules and standards be put in place regarding the safety of fueling rigs, and pit area safety in general.[5]
- ^ Fox, Jack C. (1994). The Illustrated History of the Indianapolis 500 1911-1994 (4th ed.). Carl Hungness Publishing. p. 22. ISBN 0-915088-05-3.
- ^ Miller, Robin (May 25, 1981). "Bobby U. wins 3rd '500'; Ongais badly hurt in crash". The Indianapolis Star. p. 1. Retrieved June 2, 2017 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Wilson, Phillip B. (May 28, 2002). "Controversy nothing new for 500 (Part 1)". The Indianapolis Star. p. 19. Retrieved April 25, 2018 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Wilson, Phillip B. (May 28, 2002). "Controversy nothing new for 500 (Part 2)". The Indianapolis Star. p. 20. Retrieved April 25, 2018 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "USAC revises rules and renews pacts". The Indianapolis Star. February 2, 1982. p. 24. Retrieved July 26, 2018 – via Newspapers.com.
