1983 Pocono 500

August 2023 USA Pocono 500 1983PoconoProgram.jpg August 14 1983 CART PPG Indy Car World Series 1983 Domino's Pizza 500 7th Long Pond, Pennsylvania Permanent racing facility 2.5 4.023 200 500 804.672 Temperatures up to 74 F C; wind speeds up to 12 mph km/h1983 Pocono 500 weather information https://www.wunderground.com/history/daily/us/pa/avoca/KAVP/date/1983-8-14 Wunderground May 3, 2023 Tom Sneva Bignotti-Cotter Racing 191.848 mph USA Teo Fabi Forsythe/Pettit Racing USA Al Unser Jr. Galles Racing USA Rick Mears Team Penske USA The 1983 Pocono 500, the 13th running of the event, was held at the Pocono Raceway in Long Pond, Pennsylvania, on Sunday, August 14, 1983. Branded as the 1983 Domino's Pizza 500 for sponsorship reasons, the race was won by Teo Fabi, the first rookie to win the Pocono 500. Triple Crown Million Dollar Bonus On March 8, 1983, Domino's Pizza announced they would offer 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. In 1982, Gordon Johncock won Indianapolis and Michigan before breaking a gearbox while running second at Pocono. If no driver won all three races, Dominos would award a $10,000 prize to the driver that scored the most points in the three races.https://www.industrydocuments.ucsf.edu/tobacco/docs/#id=rlhh0017 industrydocuments.ucsf.edu Domino s Pizza Sets $1 Million Triple Crown Award 3 August 2021 Background In May, Tom Sneva won the Indianapolis 500, the first of his career. In mid-July, John Paul Jr. won the Michigan 500. This meant no driver was going for the Domino's Triple Crown million dollar bonus at Pocono.https://www.racing-reference.info/season-stats/1983/R/ 1983 CART Race Results - Racing-Reference Rookie Teo Fabi was attempting to become the first driver to win the pole at all three 500 mile races in one year, having already won the pole at Indianapolis and Michigan. At Pocono, Johnny Rutherford made his return to Indy Car racing after suffering a broken left foot and ankle at Indianapolis.https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=toE0AAAAIBAJ&sjid=AegFAAAAIBAJ&pg=1724%2C2137806 Pennsylvania Associated Press Rutherford Enters Pizza 500 August 9, 1983 9 Practice and Time Trials Practice - Wednesday, August 10 Wednesday's practice session saw Teo Fabi post the fastest speed at 193.1 mph. Al Unser Jr. was second fastest at 189.0 mph.https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=bjEiAAAAIBAJ&sjid=8KYFAAAAIBAJ&pg=2383%2C514031 Reading Eagle Pennsylvania Associated Press Fabi Hits 193 in PIR Practice Runs August 11, 1983 46 Practice - Thursday, August 11 Practice and qualifying scheduled for Thursday was canceled. CART required a medical helicopter at all tracks before on-track activity was allowed; due to fog and poor visibility, the helicopter was unable to land at the track when it attempted in the morning. A rainstorm around 2:30 p.m. prevented another landing attempt from the helicopter and washed out any chance of practice.https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=bjEiAAAAIBAJ&sjid=8KYFAAAAIBAJ&pg=4100%2C6618 Reading Eagle Pennsylvania Associated Press Pocono Trials Reset For Today August 11, 1983 74 Practice - Friday, August 12 Bobby Rahal led a practice session on Friday at 189.5 mph, followed by Mario Andretti and Danny Ongais. Rain cancelled qualifying for the second straight day. Qualifying - Saturday, August 13 In a practice session on Saturday morning, Dick Simon crashed in turn one. Without enough time to repair the car, Simon withdrew from the race.https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=cDEiAAAAIBAJ&sjid=8KYFAAAAIBAJ&pg=3943%2C2222045 Reading Eagle Pennsylvania Associated Press Sneva's Contradictory Career Takes Another Twist August 14, 1983 82 On Saturday, Indianapolis 500 winner, Tom Sneva, won the pole with a speed of 191.848 mph. Teo Fabi qualified second. Due to CART rule changes since 1982 limiting ground effects, Sneva's pole speed was nine miles per hour slower than Rick Mears' 1982 pole speed.https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=cDEiAAAAIBAJ&sjid=8KYFAAAAIBAJ&pg=5492%2C2171926 Reading Eagle Pennsylvania Associated Press Sneva's Contradictory Career Takes Another Twist at Pocono August 14, 1983 77 Kevin Cogan, Danny Ongais, and Steve Chassey had their qualifying times disallowed due to illegal rear-wing heights. That moved Al Loquasto into the field. A promoter's option was invoked which expanded the starting field to 34 cars and allowed Cogan, Ongais, and Chassey to all make the field. Track Conditions Heading into the race, Pocono was criticized by drivers for the very rough and bumpy frontstretch. While the track was wide, there were large bumps as it went closer to the pit wall. Teo Fabi was quoted as saying, "The track is not very safe. It makes you very anxious. The straightaway is just impossible."Bailey Paul Bumpy Surface Jeopardizes Status of Next Year's Race https://ibb.co/bmNcBSX https://web.archive.org/web/20230503153637/https://ibb.co/bmNcBSX usurped May 3, 2023 27 April 2023 Akron Beacon Journal August 14, 1983 Pete Halsmer added, "You just can't have 700 horsepower cars jumping up in the air. If I had to rate the safe tracks against those that are unsafe, I'd have to say this one is near the back end." Rick Mears said, "If you stay in the groove, and there's only one of them in the front straightaway, you're in pretty decent shape. But if you leave the groove, there's a lot of surprises." Polesitter Tom Sneva said, "It's so rough that passing becomes a serious situation. There are places out there where you just can't pass and keep the car on the ground." He also added, "Drivers make a track unsafe, not the track itself. You just have to use your head more and stay out of trouble. If it feels uncomfortable at 192, then slow down to 188. You have to realize your limitations."https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=cDEiAAAAIBAJ&sjid=8KYFAAAAIBAJ&pg=5492%2C2171926 Reading Eagle Pennsylvania Associated Press Sneva's Contradictory Career Takes Another Twist August 14, 1983 77 Because of the bumps on the frontstretch, the race was started two-wide instead of the usual three-wide that had been done for over a decade. After the race, Pocono repaved the entire mile-long frontstretch ahead of the 1984 season and eliminated the bumps. Race When the race began, Tom Sneva led the first 13 laps. Don Whittington collided with Chip Ganassi and crashed into turn three wall with the right side of the car on lap 12, bringing out the first of a record 10 cautions.https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=xNExAAAAIBAJ&sjid=ruQFAAAAIBAJ&pg=5073%2C3957353 Reading Eagle Pennsylvania Associated Press Fabi Delivers Dominos Pizza 500 Wins Title August 15, 1983 24 Teo Fabi took the lead during pit stops and led for the next 19 laps. Rick Mears took the lead during pit stops under a caution for debris on lap 36. When the race restarted, the field was led by Desiré Wilson, who was on the tail end of the lead lap. Wilson lost control at the exit of turn one and hit the outside wall. Michigan 500 winner, John Paul Jr drove over the car of Scott Brayton and nearly flew over the wall. Tom Sneva retook the lead on lap 52 and led for the next 14 laps before stalling in the pit lane on a pit stop. He lost a lap while the crew tried to restart his engine. After 91 laps, Johnny Rutherford blew a right-front tire and crashed in turn one near the point where he crashed in the 1982 race. Rick Mears lost radio contact with his crew and resorted to using hand signals to communicate with his crew.https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=xNExAAAAIBAJ&sjid=ruQFAAAAIBAJ&pg=5270%2C3880332 Reading Eagle Pennsylvania Associated Press Rick Mears Wins Triple Crown Title August 15, 1983 17 Unable to discuss changes for the car, Mears suffered from handling problems and led for the final time on lap 136. After completing 152 laps, Pete Halmer crashed in turn three. Halsmer suffered a fractured left ankle. Fabi led 116 laps, including the last 64. The Italian earned his first career win. Al Unser Jr. finished second to make a 1-2 finish for rookies.https://www.racing-reference.info/race-results/1983_Dominos_Pizza_500/R/ 1983 Domino's 500 Race Results - Racing-Reference Rick Mears finished third and clinched the Triple Crown points title. By scoring the most points at IndyCar's 500 mile races, Mears won a $10,000 bonus. Jim McElreath finished 23rd in what would be the final Indy car race of his career. At 55 years-old, McElreath was the oldest man to run a 500-mile race, a record he held until A. J. Foyt broke it in 1990. 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 2 33 ITA Teo Fabi Forsythe Racing March 83C Cosworth 200 3:42:28.000 116 21 2 6 17 USA Al Unser Jr. Galles Racing March 83C Cosworth 200 +4.000 28 16 3 4 1 USA Rick Mears Penske Racing Penske PC-10B Cosworth 200 +23.000 26 14 4 14 18 USA Mike Mosley Kraco Racing March 83C Cosworth 199 +1 Lap 0 12 5 3 2 USA Bobby Rahal Truesports March 83C Cosworth 199 +1 Lap 0 10 6 13 21 USA Pancho Carter Alex Morales Motorsports March 82C Cosworth 198 +2 Laps 0 8 7 9 3 USA Mario Andretti Newman/Haas Racing Lola T700 Cosworth 197 +3 Laps 0 6 8 17 72 USA Chris Kneifel Primus Racing Primus LR03 Cosworth 196 +4 Laps 0 5 9 11 55 MEX Josele Garza Machinists Union Racing Penske PC-10 Cosworth 195 +5 Laps 0 4 10 22 10 USA Tony Bettenhausen Jr. Bettenhausen Motorsports March 83C Cosworth 194 +6 Laps 0 3 11 8 7 USA Al Unser Penske Racing Penske PC-11 Cosworth 191 +9 Laps 0 2 12 1 5 USA Tom Sneva Bignotti-Cotter Racing March 83C Cosworth 153 Transmission 27 2 13 15 30 USA Howdy Holmes Doug Shierson Racing March 83C Cosworth 153 Engine 3 0 14 20 66 USA Pete Halsmer Arciero Racing Penske PC-10 Cosworth 152 Crash 0 0 15 33 6 USA Kevin Cogan Bignotti-Cotter Racing March 83C Cosworth 149 Gearbox 0 0 16 19 9 USA Roger Mears Machinists Union Racing Penske PC-10 Cosworth 143 Engine 0 0 17 30 35 USA Patrick Bedard Brayton Racing March 83C Cosworth 123 Engine 0 0 18 31 86 USA Al Loquasto GTS Racing Penske PC-9B Cosworth 115 Engine 0 0 19 5 94 USA Bill Whittington Whittington Racing March 83C Cosworth 109 Engine mount 0 0 20 24 11 USA Bill Alsup Alsup Racing Penske PC-9C Cosworth 109 Oil pressure 0 0 21 7 40 USA Johnny Rutherford Patrick Racing Wildcat Mk9B Cosworth 91 Crash 0 0 22 23 19 USA Dick Ferguson Rattlesnake Racing March 81C Cosworth 84 Handling 0 0 23 29 23 USA Jim McElreath McElreath Racing McElreath Cosworth 84 Suspension 0 0 24 32 20 USA Danny Ongais Patrick Racing March 83C Cosworth 70 Electrical 0 0 25 34 56 USA Steve Chassey Gohr Racing Eagle 82 Chevrolet 67 Valve 0 0 26 12 60 USA Chip Ganassi Patrick Racing Wildcat Mk9 Cosworth 56 Exhaust header 0 0 27 26 28 USA Gary Bettenhausen H&R Racing Spirit 83 Chevrolet 40 Engine 0 0 28 10 37 USA Scott Brayton Brayton Racing March 83C Cosworth 39 Fuel leak 0 0 29 16 12 USA John Paul Jr. Racing Team VDS Penske PC-10 Cosworth 38 Crash 0 0 30 28 36 USA Chuck Ciprich BC Pace Racing Finley Chevrolet 38 Transmission 0 0 31 18 34 RSA 1928 Desiré Wilson Wysard Motor Co. March 83C Cosworth 37 Crash 0 0 32 27 46 USA Jerry Karl Rhoades Racing Wildcat Mk9 Cosworth 27 Oil leak 0 0 33 21 91 USA Don Whittington Whittington Racing March 81C Cosworth 11 Crash 0 0 34 25 8 USA Tom Bagley Leader Card Racers Watson Cosworth 5 Fuel line 0 0 Source:1983 Domino's Pizza 5001983 Pocono 500 - Round 7 Race statistics Lap Leaders Laps Leader 1–13 Tom Sneva 14–16 Howdy Holmes 17–35 Teo Fabi 36–51 Rick Mears 52–65 Tom Sneva 66–68 Al Unser Jr. 69–79 Teo Fabi 80–104 Al Unser Jr. 105–126 Teo Fabi 127–136 Rick Mears 137–200 Teo Fabi Broadcasting The Pocono 500 was broadcast by NBC's Sportsworld. Paul Page was the lead broadcaster, joined by Gordon Johncock. Gary Gerould reported from the pits. A one-hour delayed broadcast was aired two weeks after the race on August 28.1983 Pocono 500 Telecast: NBC-TV, August 28, 1983 References 2 Category:Pocono 500 Pocono 500 Pocono 500