1986 CART PPG Indy Car World Series

American motorsport season February 2025 1986 CART PPG Indy Car World Series 200px 200pxBobby Rahal 17 April 6 November 11 United States Bobby Rahal United Kingdom March United Kingdom Cosworth United States Chip Robinson United States United States United States Bobby Rahal 1985 1987 The 1986 CART PPG Indy Car World Series season was the 8th national championship season of American open wheel racing sanctioned by CART. The season consisted of 17 races, and one non-points exhibition event. Bobby Rahal was the national champion, and the rookie of the year was Chip Robinson. The 1986 Indianapolis 500 was sanctioned by USAC, but counted towards the CART points championship. Bobby Rahal won the Indy 500, and would later become the first driver since 1980 to win Indy and the CART championship in the same season. The first two races of the season were won by Kevin Cogan (Phoenix) and Michael Andretti (Long Beach), respectively, the first career wins for both drivers on the CART circuit. Rain delayed the Indianapolis 500, postponing it for six days. Bobby Rahal, driving for Truesports, passed Kevin Cogan with two laps to go, and won for car owner Jim Trueman, who was stricken with cancer. Trueman died less than two weeks later. The season would shape up as a two-man battle between Rahal and Michael Andretti. Andretti won at Milwaukee, which put him in the points lead for the first time. On Father's Day, Andretti was leading on the final lap at Portland. His car ran out of fuel on the final turn of the final lap, and his father Mario beat him to the finish line by 0.07 seconds. It would go down in lore as one of the most shocking finishes in Indy car history, as well as the closest finish in Indy car history on a road course (until 1997). Rahal was back in victory lane in July, winning the inaugural Molson Indy Toronto, but Michael Andretti still held the points lead. Rahal won four out of five races during a stretch in August and September, and emerged with a 9-point lead in the standings with two races left. Michael Andretti won a key victory at the second-to-last race of the season at Phoenix, while Rahal finished 3rd. Going into the season finale at Tamiami Park, Rahal held a scant 3-point lead over Andretti. Neither driver was a factor at Miami, and just past the halfway point, Andretti dropped out with a broken halfshaft. Rahal effectively clinched the championship when Andretti dropped out. Roberto Guerrero won the pole and dominated the race, leading the first 111 laps. But on the final lap, his car sputtered and he ran out of fuel. Al Unser Jr. slipped by to steal the victory, his lone win of 1986. Unser Jr. won from 19th starting position, the furthest back any driver had won a CART road/street course race at the time. Drivers and teams The following teams and drivers competed in the 1986 Indy Car World Series season. All cars used Goodyear tires. Team Chassis* Engine* No** Drivers Rounds Bignotti-Cotter Racing March 86C Cosworth DFX 2 (5) COL Roberto Guerrero AllCurb-All American RacersMarch 86CCosworth DFX 33 US Tom SnevaAll 66 US Ed Pimm All except 8, 11–12, 14 IRL Derek Daly8, 11–12, 14Eagle 86GC 98 NLD Jan Lammers1-3 Dick Simon Racing Lola T86/00 Cosworth DFX 22 BRA Raul BoeselAll 23 US Dick Simon 3, 10, 12 US Chip Robinson6-7, 17 GB Ian Ashley8, 11, 14 Galles Racing Lola T86/00 (2–11, 13–17)https://www.racing-reference.info/drivdet/brabhge01/1986/R Driver Season StatsMarch 86C(1, 12)https://www.racing-reference.info/drivdet/brabhge01/1986/R Driver Season Stats Cosworth DFX (1–4, 12–17)https://www.racing-reference.info/drivdet/brabhge01/1986/R Driver Season StatsHonda/Judd (5–11)https://www.racing-reference.info/drivdet/brabhge01/1986/R Driver Season Stats 8 AUS Geoff Brabham All Lola T86/00 Cosworth DFX 9 BRA 1968 Roberto Moreno 1–11, 13–17 US Pancho Carter12 15 3, 9–10 Hemelgarn Racing March 86C (1, 3, 9–10, 13)https://www.racing-reference.info/drivdet/braytsc01/1986/R Driver Season Stats Cosworth DFX (1, 9–10, 13)https://www.racing-reference.info/drivdet/braytsc01/1986/R Driver Season StatsBuick V-6 (3)https://www.racing-reference.info/drivdet/braytsc01/1986/R Driver Season Stats 71 US Scott Brayton 1, 3, 9–10, 13 Cosworth DFX CAN Jacques Villeneuve Sr.2, 4–8, 11–12, 14–17 81 3 Kraco Racing March 86C Cosworth DFX 18 US Michael AndrettiAll Leader Card RacingMarch 86CCosworth DFX 24 US Gary Bettenhausen 1, 3–4, 9–10, 12–13, 16 USA Dominic Dobson2, 5–8, 11, 14–15, 17 March 85C 42 US Phil Krueger 3Machinists Union RacingMarch 86CCosworth DFX 55 MEX Josele Garza 1–11, 17 US Johnny Parsons12-13, 16 South Africa 1928 Desiré Wilson14-15 59 11 US Chip Ganassi1, 3 US Johnny Parsons4, 7, 9–10 95 3 Alex Morales Motorsports March 86C Cosworth DFX 6 US Rich Vogler 3 21 US Johnny RutherfordAll Newman/Haas Racing Lola T86/00 Cosworth DFX 5 (2) US Mario AndrettiAll Patrick Racing March 86C Cosworth DFX 7 US Kevin CoganAll 20 BRA 1968 Emerson FittipaldiAll Penske Racing March 86C (1, 3–5, 7–11, 13–16)https://www.racing-reference.info/drivdet/mearsri01/1986/R Driver Season StatsPenske PC-15 (2, 6, 12, 17)https://www.racing-reference.info/drivdet/mearsri01/1986/R Driver Season Stats Cosworth DFX (1, 3–5, 7–10)https://www.racing-reference.info/drivdet/mearsri01/1986/R Driver Season StatsChevy 265A (2, 6, 11–17)https://www.racing-reference.info/drivdet/mearsri01/1986/R Driver Season Stats 1/ 86 (4) US Rick Mears AllMarch 86C (1–16)https://www.racing-reference.info/drivdet/sullida01/1986/R Driver Season StatsPenske PC-15 (17)Cosworth DFX (1–16)https://www.racing-reference.info/drivdet/sullida01/1986/R Driver Season StatsChevy 265A (17) 4 (1) US Danny Sullivan AllMarch 86C (9–10, 17)Penske PC-15 (1, 3) Chevy 265A (1, 3, 9–10, 17 11 US Al Unser 1, 3, 9–10, 17 Doug Shierson Racing Lola T86/00 Cosworth DFX 30 US Al Unser Jr.All Truesports March 86C Cosworth DFX 3 US Bobby RahalAllPart-time entries A. J. Foyt Enterprises March 86C Cosworth DFX 14 US A. J. Foyt 1, 3–4, 9–10, 13, 16–17 Chevy V6 44 US Mike Nish 3 Cosworth DFX 84 US George Snider 3, 9 US Sammy Swindell10 Arciero Racing March 86C March 85C (11, 13) Cosworth DFX 12 US Randy Lanier 1–9 US Steve Chassey11, 14–16 US Eddie Cheever17 US Jeff MacPherson13 Bettenhausen Motorsports March 86C Cosworth DFX 16 US Tony Bettenhausen Jr. 3 Lola T86/00/ March 86C 61 NED Arie Luyendyk All except 5 and 12 Dale Coyne Racing Coyne DC-1 Chevy 19 US Dale Coyne All except 3–4 Gohr Racing March 86C Buick V-6 (Until Mid-Ohio) Cosworth DFX 56 US Steve Chassey 3–4, 9 US Rocky Moran6-7, 10–11, 13–17 US John Morton8 March 85C Buick V-6 65 UK Rupert Keegan 3 J.P. Racing Lola T900 Cosworth DFX 10 US Spike Gehlhausen 3, 9–10, 13 March Engineering March 86C Buick V-6 25 US Danny Ongais 3 31 UK Jim Crawford3 Mosquito Autosport March 85C Cosworth DFX 16 (19) US Rick Miaskiewicz 2–4, 6–8 Pace Racing Lola T86/00 Cosworth DFX 36 US Randy Lewis 2, 6–8, 11, 14–15, 17 AUS Dennis Firestone3, 9–10, 12, 13, 16 Team Menard March 86C Cosworth DFX 28 US Herm Johnson 3 * The number in parentheses for chassis & engine indicates the round number it was used at. ** The number in parentheses for car number is the number the car used at the Indianapolis 500, if a different number was used. Schedule Icon Legend white O silver Oval/Speedway lightblue R silver Road course peachpuff S silver Street circuit +RdDateNameCircuitLocation1April 6USA Dana 200white O silver Phoenix International RacewayAvondale, Arizona2April 13USA Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beachpeachpuff S silver Streets of Long BeachLong Beach, California3May 31*USA Indianapolis 500white O silver Indianapolis Motor SpeedwayIndianapolis, Indiana4June 8**USA Miller American 200white O silver Milwaukee MileWest Allis, Wisconsin5June 15USA Budweiser/G.I. Joe's 200lightblue R silver Portland International RacewayPortland, Oregon6June 29USA Chase Grand Prix at the Meadowlandspeachpuff S silver Meadowlands Sports ComplexEast Rutherford, New Jersey7July 6USA Budweiser Cleveland Grand Prixpeachpuff S silver Burke Lakefront AirportCleveland, Ohio8July 20CAN Molson Indy Torontopeachpuff S silver Streets of TorontoToronto, Ontario9August 2USA Michigan 500white O silver Michigan International SpeedwayBrooklyn, Michigan10August 17USA Domino's Pizza 500white O silver Pocono International RacewayLong Pond, Pennsylvania11August 31USA Escort Radar Warning 200lightblue R silver Mid-Ohio Sports Car CourseLexington, Ohio12September 7CAN Molson Indy Montrealwhite O silver Sanair Super SpeedwaySaint-Pie, Quebec13September 28USA Pepsi Cola 250white O silver Michigan International SpeedwayBrooklyn, Michigan14October 4***USA Race For Life 200lightblue R silver Road AmericaElkhart Lake, Wisconsin15October 12USA Nissan Monterey Grand Prixlightblue R silver Laguna Seca RacewayMonterey, California16October 19USA Circle K/Fiesta Bowl 200white O silver Phoenix International RacewayAvondale, Arizona17November 9USA Nissan Indy Challengepeachpuff S silver Tamiami ParkMiami, Florida * The Indianapolis 500 was scheduled for May 25, but postponed due to rain. ** The Miller American 200 in Honor of Rex Mays was scheduled for June 1, but postponed due to the delay of running the Indianapolis 500 on May 31. *** The Road America race was started on September 21, but stopped after a few laps due to rain, the rest was run on October 4. Results Rd Event name Pole position Winner Winning team Race time 1 Dana 200 for Special Olympics US Mario Andretti US Kevin Cogan Patrick Racing 1:39:42 2 Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach US Danny Sullivan US Michael Andretti Kraco Racing 1:57:34 3 Indianapolis 500 US Rick Mears US Bobby Rahal Truesports 2:55:43 4 Miller American 200 in Honor of Rex Mays US Michael Andretti US Michael Andretti Kraco Racing 1:42:45 5 Budweiser/G.I. Joe's 200 Brazil 1968 Emerson Fittipaldi US Mario Andretti Newman/Haas Racing 1:50:53 6 Chase Grand Prix at the Meadowlands US Michael Andretti US Danny Sullivan Team Penske 1:49:17 7 Budweiser Cleveland Grand Prix US Danny Sullivan US Danny Sullivan Team Penske 1:43:01 8 Molson Indy Toronto Brazil 1968 Emerson Fittipaldi US Bobby Rahal Truesports 2:05:50 9 Michigan 500 US Rick Mears US Johnny Rutherford Alex Morales Motorsports 3:38:45 10 Domino's Pizza 500 US Michael Andretti US Mario Andretti Newman/Haas Racing 3:17:13 11 Escort Radar Warning 200 US Mario Andretti US Bobby Rahal Truesports 1:56:18 12 Molson Indy Montreal US Rick Mears US Bobby Rahal Truesports 1:48:05 13 Pepsi Cola 250 US Rick Mears US Bobby Rahal Truesports 1:22:33 14 Race for Life 200 US Bobby Rahal Brazil 1968 Emerson Fittipaldi Patrick Racing 2:26:42 15 Champion Spark Plug 300k US Mario Andretti US Bobby Rahal Truesports 1:33:20 16 Circle K/Fiesta Bowl 200 US Bobby Rahal US Michael Andretti Kraco Racing 1:29:06 17 Nissan Indy Challenge COL Roberto Guerrero US Al Unser Jr. Doug Shierson Racing 1:52:45 * Indianapolis was USAC-sanctioned but counted towards the CART title. Drivers points standings List of American Championship car racing point scoring systems Pos Driver PHX1 USA LBH USA INDY USA MIL USA POR USA MEA USA CLE USA TOR Canada MIS1 USA POC USA MOH USA SAN Canada MIS2 USA ROA USA LAG USA PHX2 USA TAM USA Pts 1 US Bobby Rahal 16 18 1 6 20 3 15 1 10* 14 1 1* 1 5 1* 3 8 179 2 US Michael Andretti 15* 1* 6 1* 2* 20 2 19 11 11* 10 6 2* 2* 3 1* 18 171 3 US Danny Sullivan 4 11 9 11 11 1 1* 2 25 16 3* 5 12 6 2 2 26 147 4 US Al Unser Jr. 12 2 5 8 3 9 8 4* 8 6 5 2 21 11 23 6 1 137 5 US Mario Andretti 7 5 32 5 1 24 3 3 21 1 24 8 10 9 4 4 11 136 6 US Kevin Cogan 1 17 2 12 14 21 23 5 22 2 4 4 4 20 9 14 4115 7 Brazil Emerson Fittipaldi 3 16 7 24 12 2 13 17 20 19 21 3 3 1 7 5 20 103 8 US Rick Mears 19 20 3* 3 16 19 4 8 12 8 17 18 8 3 17 20 3 89 9 Colombia Roberto Guerrero 8 DNS 4 18 13 4* 17 20 24 21 2 17 22 4 5 12 2* 87 10 US Tom Sneva 2 4 33 2 4 17 5 9 18 15 12 13 5 12 22 18 22 82 11 US Johnny Rutherford 5 9 8 4 15 7 10 10 1 18 8 16 9 14 12 9 12 78 12 Australia Geoff Brabham 10 3 12 21 7 22 14 14 4 12 20 11 11 22 6 8 5 64 13 Brazil Raul Boesel 13 19 13 14 8 23 6 7 5 5 7 9 15 8 14 13 19 54 14 Mexico Josele Garza 23 7 18 7 17 8 7 23 2 7 14 24 45 15Canada Jacques Villeneuve Sr. 8 20 15 5 5 19 24 11 19 10 19 16 638 16 Brazil Roberto Moreno 20 6 19 13 18 18 25 18 6 10 16 6 16 20 10 17 30 17 The Netherlands Arie Luyendyk 6 15 15 9 16 24 6 23 17 18 13 7 10 15 21 29 18 US Ed Pimm 22 22 17 10 6 12 Wth 15 24 7 11 7 10 29 19 US Pancho Carter 16 3 3 15 28 20 US Randy Lanier 11 13 10 20 9 6 9 21 19 21 21 US A. J. Foyt 17 24 19 9 4 16 22 23 16 22 The Netherlands Jan Lammers 9 14 Wth 8 23 9 13 23 Ireland Derek Daly DNQ 6 10 13 11 24 US Johnny Parsons 27 22 21 16 29 7 23 11 8 25 US Randy Lewis 10 10 20 11 15 24 18 14 8 26US Chip Robinson yellow RY silver 14 7 6 27 US Spike Gehlhausen DNQ 7 22 18 6 28 UK Ian Ashley 15 9 23 4 29 US Sammy Swindell 9 4 30US Mike Nish orange R silver DNQ DNS 10 24 22 Wth 3 31USA Dominic Dobson orange R silver 12 19 11 18 16 19 18 21 13 3 32 US Rick Miaskiewicz orange R silver 21 DNQ 16 15 11 13 DNS 2 33 US Gary Bettenhausen 21 11 23 26 13 21 20 19 2 34 US Dale Coyne Wth 23 21 DNS 12 DNQ Wth 26 23 12 Wth 17 DNQ Wth 25 2 35 US John Morton 12 1 36US Rocky Moran orange R silver 13 16 25 25 DNQ 21 15 21 16 0 37 US Jeff MacPherson 22 15 13 Wth 0 38 South Africa 1928 Desiré Wilson 13 19 16 0 39 US Scott Brayton 24 30 13 27 19 0 40 Australia Dennis Firestone Wth 17 28 14 14 17 0 41 US Al Unser 18 22 14 20 15 0 42 US Dick Simon 14 22 23 20 0 43 US Chip Ganassi 14 21 0 44 US Steve Chassey DNQ 17 28 17 0 45 US Danny Ongais 23 0 46 US Tom Phillips 24 0 47 US Rich Vogler 25 0 48 US George Snider 26 27 0 49 US Eddie Cheever 27 0 50 US Tony Bettenhausen Jr. 28 0 51 UK Jim Crawford 29 0 52 US Phil Krueger 31 0 -UK Rupert Keegan orange R silver Wth - - US Herm Johnson Wth - - US John Paul Jr. Wth - Color Result Gold Winner Silver 2nd place Bronze 3rd place Green 4th-6th place Light Blue 7th–12th place Dark Blue Finished(Outside Top 12) Purple Did not finish Red Did not qualify(DNQ) Brown Withdrawn(Wth) Black Disqualified(DSQ) White Did not start(DNS) Blank Did notparticipate(DNP) Driverreplacement(Rpl) Injured(Inj) Race not held(NH) Not competingIn-line notationBoldPole positionItalicsRan fastest race lap*Led most race lapsyellow RY silver Rookie of the Yearorange R silver Rookie See also 1986 Indianapolis 500 1986 American Racing Series season References http://www.driverdb.com/standings/5-1986/ PPG Indy Car World Series 1986 Åberg, Andreas Driver Database June 11, 2013 http://www.champcarstats.com/year/1986.htm 1986 PPG Indy Car World Series Champ Car Stats June 11, 2013 http://www.indy500.com/stats/view/boxscore/year/1986/ Official Box Score: 70th Indianapolis 500-Mile Race at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Indianapolis Motor Speedway 2009-05-19 2008-06-28 https://web.archive.org/web/20080628021603/http://www.indy500.com/stats/view/boxscore/year/1986 dead http://www.champcar.ws/Results/Standings.asp?Year=1985 Champ Car > Standings after Beatrice Indy y Challange Challenge Champ Car World Series October 22, 2008 June 11, 2013 https://web.archive.org/web/20081022080247/http://www.champcar.ws/Results/Standings.asp?Year=1986 2008-10-22 dead Category:Champ Car seasons IndyCar