1984 Michigan 500

August 2023 42 03 58.68 N 84 14 29.18 W type:landmark title United States Michigan 500 Michigan International Speedway track map.png July 22 1984 1984 Michigan 500 8 16 CART Michigan International Speedway, Brooklyn, Michigan, United States Permanent racing facility 2.000 3.219 250 500.000 804.672 Cloudy with temperatures up to 89 F C; wind speeds reaching up to 8 mph km/hWeather information for the 1984 Michigan 500 at Wunderground USA Mario Andretti Newman-Haas Racing 211.088 mph km/h on USA Mario Andretti Newman-Haas Racing USA Tom Sneva Mayer Motor Racing USA Rick Mears Team Penske The 1984 Michigan 500, the fourth running of the event, was held at the Michigan International Speedway in Brooklyn, Michigan, on Sunday, July 22, 1984. The event was race number 8 of 16 in the 1984 CART PPG Indy Car World Series. The race was won by Mario Andretti, his first Michigan 500 victory. Background After three years, the Michigan 500 had grown to establish itself as the second most significant race on the Indy car schedule, behind the Indianapolis 500. While the United States Auto Club sanctioned the Indy 500, the Michigan 500 was under the control of CART who treated it as their showcase race.https://www.newspapers.com/article/detroit-free-press-1983-michigan-500-is/127273378/ Detroit Free Press Michigan Associated Press Michigan 500 is CART Showcase July 16, 1983 31 By 1984, it had also gained a reputation of being bedeviled in the eyes of the media and fans.https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-windsor-star-1983-michigan-500-bedev/127293760/ Windsor Star Ontario Associated Press Michigan 500 Great... But Bedeviled July 20, 1983 14 After much anticipation, the 1981 Michigan 500 was delayed a week by rain. The 1983 Michigan 500 was delayed two hours by thunderstorms and nearby tornadoes that caused a fatal heart attack for a 64-year-old female spectator and hospitalized eight fans when a canopy blew off the top of the grandstands. The races themselves featured many crashes that hospitalized many drivers. As was the case in 1983, Domino's Pizza offered a one million dollar bonus to any driver who could win IndyCar's Triple Crown of 500 Mile Races: The Indianapolis 500, Michigan 500, and Pocono 500.https://www.industrydocuments.ucsf.edu/tobacco/docs/#id=rlhh0017 industrydocuments.ucsf.edu Domino s Pizza Sets $1 Million Triple Crown Award 3 August 2021 Rick Mears won the 1984 Indianapolis 500 and entered Michigan still eligible to win the million dollars. Practice and Time Trials Cool weather on Wednesday, July 18, opening day of practice saw fast speeds. Tom Sneva led the way with a lap of 209.595 mph. It was thought that Sneva's track record of 211.392 mph, set in 1978, could be in jeopardy during qualifying the following day. Bobby Rahal was second fastest at 207.930 mph. Mario Andretti was third fastest at 205.614 mph.https://www.newspapers.com/article/lansing-state-journal-1984-michigan-500/127295835/ Lansing State Journal Michigan Associated Press Sneva's Run Stirs Up Talk of Record at MIS Practice July 19, 1984 26 On Thursday, Mario Andretti won the pole with a speed of 211.088 mph. Tom Sneva was close behind at 211.051 mph. Bobby Rahal completed the front row with a speed of 208.714 mph. It was Andretti's fourth consecutive pole on the IndyCar schedule, his fifth of the year, and first on an oval.https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-call-leader-1984-michigan-500-qualif/127295999/ The Call-Leader Indiana Associated Press Andretti Beats Sneva For Pole July 21, 1984 4 Jacques Villenueve spun and hit the turn two wall on his qualifying run. Villenueve, who had missed the Indianapolis 500 after suffering a concussion in a practice crash, suffered leg injuries in his Michigan crash. He was hospitalized with a broken left heel, three broken toes on his right foot, and a deep laceration on his right knee. The crash kept him from racing for over a month. A. J. Foyt posted the 19th fastest speed in qualifying but was disqualified when inspector noticed his rear wing was set back half an inch too far from the rear axle on one side. Rules stated that Foyt could not requalify the car once it had been disqualified, but was allowed to accept a "promoter's option" and be added to the field in the 34th and last position.https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-indianapolis-star-1984-michigan-500/127295962/ Indianapolis Star Indiana Associated Press Foyt Ready to Run in Michigan 500 July 21, 1984 20 Defending Michigan 500 winner, John Paul Jr. was unemployed following the closure of his team in May. Chris Kneifel qualified for the race in 28th position but was suffering from the flu. Kneifel's team offered his seat to Paul for the race. Team VDS, Paul's former team, still had Paul under contract despite not racing and wanted compensation before allowing him to drive for another team. Paul, who drove from his home in Florida to Michigan without stopping, fell asleep at the wheel and crashed his passenger car at 4 a.m. on Friday morning. "I ran off the road and was launched over a guardrail but fortunately the car landed on its wheels. I was pretty embarrassed." Paul arrived at the track and took practice laps in Kneifel's car but the two teams were unable to come to an agreement on contract terms. On race morning, Kneifel decided he was too sick to race the car and the team withdrew from the event, bringing the starting field back to 33 cars.https://www.newspapers.com/article/palladium-item-1984-michigan-500-preview/127296109/ Paladium-Item Indiana Associated Press Andretti Goes After Win No. 3 July 22, 1984 20 Race An estimated 70,000 spectators were on hand for the race.https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-indianapolis-star-1984-michigan-500/4629958/ Indianapolis Star Indiana Associated Press Mario Wins Michigan Melee July 23, 1984 17 General Manager of the Cadillac division for General Motors, John Grettenberger, gave the command to start engines.1984 Michigan 500 Telecast: NBC-TV, July 22, 1984 Mario Andretti led the first five laps of the race but began slowing as the engine lost power in a cylinder. By lap 10, Andretti had fallen to 10th. Steve Chassey spun exiting turn two on lap 16 but was able to continue. During the first caution period of the day, Andretti's crew pulled the engine cover and replaced a spark plug. Andretti lost a lap but corrected the problem. Phil Krueger spun in turn four to bring out the second caution on lap 39. Less than 40 laps later, Krueger again spun in turn four to bring out the third caution. Chip Ganassi cut a left-front tire and brought out the fourth caution for debris. Ganassi had a brief fuel fire in the pits. Fueler Butch Meyer was hospitalized with second degree burns to his face and arm. Two laps after the restart for Ganassi's tire, Phil Krueger crashed very hard in turn four. His car split in half and Krueger was knocked unconscious. Krueger was hospitalized with a concussion, broken right thumb, and possible internal injuries. Tom Sneva asserted himself as the fastest car by leading 55 of the first 100 laps. Bobby Rahal also spent time in the lead.https://www.champcarstats.com/races/198408.htm 1984 Michigan 500 Results A. J. Foyt climbed from the last starting spot to take the lead on lap 118. Foyt was recovering from recent back surgery and despite his strong run, looked like he would need a relief driver. Al Unser, who fell out of the race with engine failure, was summoned to Foyt's pit. Sponsorship problems allegedly prevented Unser from driving Foyt's car. After Danny Ongais fell out of the race, he was asked to relieve Foyt. Seemingly ready for relief, Foyt got out of the car, and changed his mind, returning to the cockpit. Foyt fell out of the race with suspension problems after 206 laps.https://www.newspapers.com/article/battle-creek-enquirer-1984-michigan-500/127295789/ Battle Creek Enquirer Michigan Associated Press It's Quite a Day for the Races July 23, 1984 13 Shortly after a restart on lap 148, Al Unser Jr. and Chip Ganassi crashed violently at the exit of turn two. Both cars slid towards the inside retaining wall, impacted it, with Ganassi's car flipping several times. Ganassi was critically injured with a closed head injury. Unser was treated and released from a local hospital for bumps and bruises.https://www.newspapers.com/article/battle-creek-enquirer-1984-michigan-500/127295789/ Battle Creek Enquirer Michigan Associated Press Andretti Block Party Helps Leave Sneva Behind in 500 July 23, 1984 13 On lap 212, a serious crash occurred in turn four when Gary Bettenhausen spun in the middle of the race track. Howdy Holmes slowed his car but was unable to avoid Bettenhausen's. Holmes' car drove entirely underneath Bettenhausen's before the two cars became stuck together and slid into the outside wall. Behind them, Bobby Rahal and Al Holbert crashed into the outside wall in avoidance. All drivers were uninjured. Mario Andretti retook the lead on lap 205 and extended his advantage as the race neared the conclusion. With less than 10 laps remaining, Tom Sneva slowly started to catch Andretti in what promised to be a thrilling finish. Several times, Sneva attempted to pass Andretti who took defensive lines. Entering turn one on the final lap, Sneva looked to the inside of Andretti who held him off. Andretti and Sneva raced to the finish line with Andretti winning the race by 0.014 seconds, at the time, the closest finish in Indy car history. Fighting for third on the backstretch on the last lap, Pancho Carter pulled out of the draft of Rick Mears and lost control. The car spun into the outside guardrail and lost its bodywork. The chassis then slid into the infield grass where it overturned several times. Carter was uninjured. After the race, Sneva was very outspoken in his belief that Andretti was overly aggressive in blocking him. "(Andretti) tried to kill us both the last four laps. He tried to run me in the infield once and then, after I gave him a head fake and went high, he almost stuffed me in the wall. He couldn't have missed hitting me by inches. It was bush league bullshit." Andretti said, "We didn't come that close. I knew where he was and I didn't do anything to put him in jeopardy. I know I made my race car pretty wide by using up all the track. But I didn't do anything dangerous. Blocking is legal that close to the end. I did a few things to defend myself and I thought I did it quite nicely... He would have done exactly the same thing I did if he's the racer I know he is. He'll get over it by Wednesday." Sneva's crew also contended that Andretti was not in the lead but rather at the tail end of the lead lap. Fourth-place finisher, Gordon Johncock's crew maintained that several cars illegally passed him under the final caution period and protested the finish of the race. Box score FinishGridNo Car numberNameEntrantChassisEngineLapsTime/StatusLed Laps ledPoints Points include one bonus point for leading the most laps and one bonus point for qualifying on pole position 1 1 3 USA Mario Andretti Newman/Haas Racing Lola T800 Cosworth 250 3:44:45 51 21 2 2 4 USA Tom Sneva Mayer Motor Racing March 84C Cosworth 250 +0.140 82 17 3 4 6 USA Rick Mears Penske Racing March 84C Cosworth 250 Running 1 14 4 7 20 USA Gordon Johncock Patrick Racing March 84C Cosworth 250 Running 1 12 5 9 9 COL Roberto Guerrero Bignotti-Cotter Racing March 84C Cosworth 250 Running 2 10 6 8 77 USA Pancho Carter Galles Racing March 84C Cosworth 249 Crash 0 8 7 10 84 USA Johnny Rutherford A. J. Foyt Enterprises March 84C Cosworth 249 +1 Lap 0 6 8 5 33 USA Kevin Cogan Forsythe Racing March 84C Cosworth 249 +1 Lap 6 5 9 19 18 AUS Geoff Brabham Kraco Racing March 84C Cosworth 248 +2 Laps 0 4 10 17 30 USA Danny Sullivan Doug Shierson Racing Lola T800 Cosworth 248 +2 Laps 0 3 11 18 55 MEX Josele Garza Machinists Union Racing March 84C Cosworth 244 +6 Laps 14 2 12 30 22 USA Dick Simon Dick Simon Racing March 84C Cosworth 241 +9 Laps 0 1 13 12 37 USA Scott Brayton Brayton Racing March 84C Cosworth 241 +9 Laps 0 0 14 32 98 USA Pete Halsmer Curb Racing Eagle 84 Pontiac 241 +9 Laps 0 0 15 24 16 USA Tony Bettenhausen Jr. Bettenhausen Motorsports March 84C Cosworth 235 +15 Laps 0 0 16 28 27 USA Bill Alsup Alsup Racing Argo JM15B Cosworth 216 Oil pressure 0 0 17 20 17 IRL Derek Daly Bettenhausen Motorsports March 84C Cosworth 214 +36 Laps 0 0 18 3 5 USA Bobby Rahal Truesports March 84C Cosworth 211 Crash 75 0 19 13 21 USA Al Holbert Alex Morales Motorsports March 84C Cosworth 208 Crash 0 0 20 11 99 USA Michael Andretti Kraco Racing March 84C Cosworth 207 Engine 0 0 21 6 41 USA Howdy Holmes Mayer Motor Racing March 84C Cosworth 207 Crash 0 0 22 33 14 USA A. J. Foyt A. J. Foyt Enterprises March 84C Cosworth 206 Suspension 15 0 23 21 82 USA Gary Bettenhausen H&R Racing March 84C Cosworth 201 Crash 0 0 24 29 25 USA Danny Ongais Interscope Racing March 84C Cosworth 187 Engine 0 0 25 31 57 USA Spike Gehlhausen Indy Auto Racing March 83C Cosworth 159 Engine 0 0 26 14 7 USA Al Unser Jr. Galles Racing March 84C Cosworth 147 Crash 2 0 27 16 40 USA Chip Ganassi Patrick Racing March 84C Cosworth 140 Crash 0 0 28 27 24 USA Stan Fox Pabst Racing March 83C Cosworth 111 Oil pressure 0 0 29 22 58 USA Phil Krueger Phil Krueger March 83C Cosworth 88 Crash 0 0 30 15 1 USA Al Unser Penske Racing March 84C Cosworth 76 Overheating 1 0 31 25 38 USA Chet Fillip Racing Team VDS Penske PC-10 Cosworth 51 Crash 0 0 32 23 56 USA Steve Chassey Gohr Racing March 83C Chevrolet 24 Overheating 0 0 33 26 64 USA Ed Pimm Jet Engineering March 83C Chevrolet 22 Pit fire 0 0 Source:1984 Michigan 5001984 Michigan 500 - Round 8 Failed to qualify USA Dick Ferguson (#31) AUS Dennis Firestone (#36) USA Dale Coyne (#45) USA John Paul Jr. (#72) CAN Jacques Villeneuve (#76) Race statistics Lap Leaders Laps Leader 1–5 Mario Andretti 6–11 Kevin Cogan 12–17 Bobby Rahal 18–31 Josele Garza 32–39 Tom Sneva 40 Bobby Rahal 41 Al Unser 42–88 Tom Sneva 89–116 Bobby Rahal 117 Gordon Johncock 118–132 A. J. Foyt 133 Tom Sneva 134 Al Unser Jr. 135 Tom Sneva 136 Al Unser Jr. 137–160 Tom Sneva 161–187 Bobby Rahal 188–189 Roberto Guerrero 190 Rick Mears 191–203 Bobby Rahal 204 Tom Sneva 205–250 Mario Andretti Cautions: 12 for 104 laps Laps Reason 17–22 Steve Chassey spin backstraight 39–44 Phil Krueger spin turn 4 77–84 Phil Krueger spin turn 4 89–93 Chip Ganassi cut tire turn 1 96–108 Phil Krueger crash turn 4 117–124 Chet Fillip crash turn 3 127–133 Michael Andretti slow on track 139–145 Debris turn 3 148–171 Al Unser Jr. and Chip Ganassi crash backstraight 199–204 Roberto Guerrero off track 212–224 Bobby Rahal, Al Holbert, Howdy Holmes, and Gary Bettenhausen crash turn 4 250 Pancho Carter crash backstraight Broadcasting The Michigan 500 was broadcast live on television by NBC. Paul Page was the lead announcer and was joined by Bobby Unser as color commentator. Gary Gerould and Bruce Jenner served as pit reporters. References 2 Michigan 500 1984 1984 Budweiser Cleveland Grand Prix 1984 Provimi Veal 200 1983 Michigan 500 1985 Michigan 500 Michigan 500 Michigan 500 Category:Michigan Indy 400