1987 Michigan 500

August 2023 The 1987 Michigan 500, the seventh running of the event, was held at the Michigan International Speedway in Brooklyn, Michigan, on Sunday, August 2, 1987. Branded as the 1987 Marlboro 500 for sponsorship reasons, the race was won by Michael Andretti, his first Michigan 500 victory. The event was race number 9 of 15 in the 1987 CART PPG Indy Car World Series. 42 03 58.68 N 84 14 29.18 W type:landmark title United States Michigan 500 Michigan International Speedway track map.png August 2 1987 1987 Marlboro 500 9 15 CART Michigan International Speedway, Brooklyn, Michigan, United States Permanent racing facility 2.000 3.219 250 500.000 804.672 Partly Cloudy with temperatures up to 98 F C; wind speeds reaching up to 18 mph km/hWeather information for the 1987 Marlboro 500 at Wunderground USA Michael Andretti Kraco Enterprises 215.53 mph km/h on USA Michael Andretti Kraco Enterprises USA Al Unser Team Penske USA Bobby Rahal Truesports Background In November 1986, the Michigan 500 was renamed the Marlboro 500. It was the first title sponsorship for the race since Norton withdrew their sponsorship following the 1982 race.https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-courier-journal-1987-michigan-500-re/127388546/ Courier Joirnal Kentucky Associated Press Michigan 500 Renamed November 10, 1986 12 Al Unser won the 1987 Indianapolis 500. Unser got the job at Team Penske after Danny Ongais suffered a concussion during practice. Penske entered cars for both Unser and Ongais in the Michigan 500. Entering the Michigan 500, Tom Sneva was fired by his Mike Curb-owned team after his wife complained that the team was behind in Sneva's paychecks.https://www.newspapers.com/article/detroit-free-press-1987-michigan-500-sne/127407051/ Detroit Free Press Michigan Associated Press Sneva's Wife Reached out and Touched off a Spat August 1, 1987 29 On Monday July 27, Sneva was informed by Curb's lawyer that he was fired from the team. After talking to Curb on Tuesday, Sneva thought he still had his job. Upon arriving to the track on Thursday for practice, Sneva found that Ed Pimm was driving his car.https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-indianapolis-star-1987-michigan-500/127406881/ Indianapolis Star Indiana Associated Press Sneva Searching for his Ride at Michigan July 31, 1987 37 The team prepared a second car for Sneva and got the approval from Curb to enter it on Friday morning with the assurance that Sneva would go back to his primary ride the following race at Pocono. Sneva was ultimately fired for the final time days before the Pocono 500.https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=8N8hAAAAIBAJ&sjid=VKIFAAAAIBAJ&pg=4102%2C5582056 Reading Eagle Pennsylvania Associated Press Curb Ends Stormy Relationship With Sneva August 14, 1987 20 Proposed Chicane During a testing session on November 18, 1986, Rick Mears posted a lap speed of 233.934 mph at Michigan International Speedway. The run came when Mears was running with 60 inches of manifold pressure as opposed to the legal CART level of 48 inches. The speed was 10 mph over the track record that Mears set during qualifying for the 1986 Michigan 500.https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-indianapolis-star-rick-mears-233934/4962469/ Indianapolis Star Indiana Associated Press Mears Hits 233.934 At MIS November 19, 1986 24 In response to rising speeds and the historically high rate of attrition, Michigan track owner Roger Penske set out to reconfigure the track to slow cars. "If you read the press that has come out of the Michigan race the last two years," Penske said, "all they do is talk about it as a 'trash' track (because of the number of crashes). We're interested in not having that as our reputation."https://www.newspapers.com/article/dayton-daily-news-1987-michigan-500-slow/127387002/ Dayton Daily News Ohio Associated Press Mad, Mad, Mad Michigan July 31, 1987 25 The track installed a dogleg chicane in the middle of the backstretch which would require cars to slow down to navigate the chicane, in theory keeping average speeds down.https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-indianapolis-star-1987-michigan-500/127377964/ Indianapolis Star Indiana Associated Press MIS Considering Dogleg for Race June 15, 1987 21 Driver reaction to the Michigan Chicane was mixed. Roberto Guerrero was in favor, saying, "I think it's a good idea and I'm all for it. That track is too dangerous. But it (the chicane) will have to make us slow down enough - I think it should be a third-gear turn - because if all we're doing is lifting a little, it's not going to help."https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-indianapolis-star-1987-michigan-500/127377964/ Indianapolis Star Indiana Associated Press MIS Considering Dogleg for Race June 15, 1987 21   Tom Sneva was opposed, saying, "I have a little trouble understanding the theory on two points. One, if they're worried about speed, why don't they do something with the cars, not the track. And two, they're going to take one of the most entertaining tracks we have for the race fan and make it simulate some of the least entertaining tracks we have."https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-indianapolis-star-1987-michigan-500/127377964/ Indianapolis Star Indiana Associated Press MIS Considering Dogleg for Race June 15, 1987 21 Defending Michigan 500 champion Johnny Rutherford was also opposed, saying, "There's never been any concrete reasoning and it really doesn't make any sense. They say they want to slow the cars down but instead they're trying to slow the track down. And I don't know why they want to deface one of our better showcases. Why do they persist in trying to do away with American oval racing? Why do they persist in trying to make us a Formula One circuit? We're talking about killing American racing."https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-indianapolis-star-1987-michigan-500/127378087/ Indianapolis Star Indiana Associated Press How About a Windmill for MIS? June 22, 1987 15 On June 19, 1987, Rick Mears and Michael Andretti tested the chicane. Both drivers ran only two laps before giving their disapproval for the design. Andretti said, "We each ran two laps, it wasn't really worth running anymore than that. It was very bumpy and beating up the bottom of the car pretty badly. The location (of the chicane) was also bad. it was too close to the second turn and when you came off the corner the apex to the chicane was almost blind. Rick and I pretty much said the same thing and I don't think they're going to use it because it will just create more problems. I could have probably run 190-195 if I'd hustled it, but like I said, there was no reason to do that. If they wanted to slow the cars they'd have to put in a third-gear chicane. Michigan is a great place to race, better than Indianapolis, because you can go into a corner two or three abreast. If they used a chicane, that element would be eliminated. I don't know what the answer is to slowing down the cars but it's not that."https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-indianapolis-star-1987-michigan-500/127378087/ Indianapolis Star Indiana Associated Press How About a Windmill for MIS? June 22, 1987 15 Instead of altering the track, the CART board of directors ultimately reduced turbocharger boost pressure from 48 inches to 45 inches for the Michigan 500.https://www.newspapers.com/article/dayton-daily-news-1987-michigan-500-slow/127387002/ Dayton Daily News Ohio Associated Press Mad, Mad, Mad Michigan July 31, 1987 25 Practice and Time Trials Practice began on Thursday, July 30. Rick Mears posted the fastest speed at 216.216 mph, a noticeable drop off from the year before due to the turbocharger boost pressure reduction. Mario Andretti was second fastest at 214.228 mph. Bobby Rahal was third at 213.472 mph.https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-star-press-1987-michigan-500-1st-pra/127390184/ Star Press Indiana Associated Press Mears has fastest time in Marlboro 500 Practice July 31, 1987 15 Rookie Fabrizio Barbazza hit the turn two wall with his right-rear but the car was repaired for qualifying.https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-indianapolis-star-1987-michigan-500/127406881/ Indianapolis Star Indiana Associated Press Sneva Searching for his Ride at Michigan July 31, 1987 37 Time Trials were held on Friday, July 31. A. J. Foyt surprised with a fast lap of 215.150 mph. His speed was fastest until late in the session when Michael Andretti ran a lap with a speed of 215.530 mph. Mario Andretti qualified third to complete the front row.https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-star-press-1987-michigan-500-pole/127390527/ Star Press Indiana Associated Press Michael Andretti Outruns Foyt to Earn Pole for Marlboro 500 August 1, 1987 21 On Saturday, the International Race of Champions competed at Michigan. Al Unser Jr. beat Darrell Waltrip by 0.03 seconds to win the 100 mile race. Five of the participants also competed in the Michigan 500.https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-star-press-1987-michigan-iroc/127408177/ Star Press Indiana Associated Press Unser Jr Wins IROC Race August 2, 1987 32 Race A crowd of 68,000 spectators filled the track for the Michigan 500.https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-indianapolis-star/4651479/ Indianapolis Star Indiana Associated Press Michael Takes Marlboro 500 August 3, 1987 15 As the cars approached the green flag, the start was waved off as officials didn't like the alignment of the rows. When the race began on the second lap, Michael Andretti extended his lead. The first caution came out on lap seven when Tom Sneva's car suffered electrical problems and needed to be towed back to the pits. When the race resumed, Michael Andretti resumed his lead. On lap 36, Mario Andretti took the lead during the cycle of pitstops. After starting second, A. J. Foyt fell out of the race after 67 laps with a broken gearbox. Pancho Carter climbed to second but retired from engine failure on lap 132.https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-indianapolis-star/4651491/ Indianapolis Star Indiana Associated Press Michael Takes Marlboro 500 August 3, 1987 19 Mario Andretti led 170 of the 200 laps in the Indianapolis 500 and continued his dominant performance in the Michigan 500. Andretti led 118 laps and lapped the entire field. But like at Indianapolis, Andretti suffered a blown engine on lap 156 and retired from the race. Michael Andretti inherited the lead.https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-indianapolis-star/4651479/ Indianapolis Star Indiana Associated Press Michael Takes Marlboro 500 August 3, 1987 15 Unlike past Michigan 500s, the race was very clean. The only crash of the day happened on lap 181 when Ed Pimm and Danny Ongais crashed in turn three. Ongais was attempting to pass Pimm on the outside and was hit in the left rear. Pimm impacted the wall with the right side and suffered a broken right arm.https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-indianapolis-star/4651479/ Indianapolis Star Indiana Associated Press Michael Takes Marlboro 500 August 3, 1987 15 Michael Andretti held a sizable lead with only Al Unser and Bobby Rahal on the lead lap with him. Andretti beat Unser by 9.11 seconds to win his first 500-mile race. The Andretti father and son duo led 248 of 250 laps.https://www.champcarstats.com/races/198709.htm 1987 Marlboro 500 Results Andretti drove the majority of the race with a broken neck strap that subjected his head to strong forces in every turn.https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-indianapolis-star/4651479/ Indianapolis Star Indiana Associated Press Michael Takes Marlboro 500 August 3, 1987 15 The event was the fastest 500 mile race in Indy car history at that point, with an average speed of 171.493 mph.https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-indianapolis-star/4651479/ Indianapolis Star Indiana Associated Press Michael Takes Marlboro 500 August 3, 1987 15 While the reduced turbocharger boost helped to reduce crashes, the mechanical attrition was still high, with only 13 of the 30 starters finishing 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 18 USA Michael Andretti Kraco Racing March 87C Cosworth 250 2:54:56.071 129 22 2 6 6 USA Al Unser Penske Racing March 86C Cosworth 250 +9.110 0 16 3 7 1 USA Bobby Rahal Truesports Lola T87/00 Cosworth 250 Running 0 14 4 8 3 USA Danny Sullivan Penske Racing March 86C Ilmor-Chevrolet 248 +2 Laps 0 12 5 12 71 NLD Arie Luyendyk Hemelgarn Racing March 87C Cosworth 247 +3 Laps 0 10 6 15 12 ITA Fabrizio Barbazza Arciero Racing March 87C Cosworth 246 +4 Laps 0 8 7 24 20 BRA Emerson Fittipaldi Patrick Racing March 87C Ilmor-Chevrolet 245 +5 Laps 0 6 8 16 15 AUS Geoff Brabham Galles Racing March 87C Judd-Honda 243 +7 Laps 3 5 9 5 22 USA Dick Simon Dick Simon Racing Lola T87/00 Cosworth 243 +7 Laps 0 4 10 23 41 USA Davy Jones A. J. Foyt Enterprises March 86C Cosworth 240 +10 Laps 0 3 11 30 16 USA Tony Bettenhausen Jr. Bettenhausen Motorsports March 86C Cosworth 240 +10 Laps 0 2 12 25 55 MEX Josele Garza Machinists Union Racing March 87C Cosworth 238 Out of fuel 0 1 13 29 56 USA Gary Bettenhausen Gohr Racing March 86C Cosworth 224 +26 Laps 0 0 14 11 4 COL Roberto Guerrero Vince Granatelli Racing March 87C Cosworth 211 CV joint 0 0 15 19 24 USA Randy Lewis Leader Card Racers March 87C Cosworth 210 +40 Laps 0 0 16 18 98 USA Ed Pimm Mike Curb Racing March 87C Cosworth 178 Crash 0 0 17 21 25 USA Danny Ongais Interscope Racing March 87C Cosworth 178 Crash 0 0 18 13 30 USA Al Unser Jr. Doug Shierson Racing March 87C Cosworth 164 Engine 0 0 19 3 5 USA Mario Andretti Newman/Haas Racing Lola T87/00 Ilmor-Chevrolet 156 Engine 118 0 20 9 29 USA Pancho Carter Machinists Union Racing March 87C Cosworth 132 Engine 0 0 21 4 8 USA Rick Mears Penske Racing March 86C Ilmor-Chevrolet 109 Engine 0 0 22 20 91 USA Scott Brayton Hemelgarn Racing March 87C Cosworth 105 Engine 0 0 23 26 11 USA Jeff MacPherson Galles Racing March 87C Judd-Honda 92 CV joint 0 0 24 22 10 IRL Derek Daly Raynor Motorsports Lola T87/00 Cosworth 91 Engine 0 0 25 17 23 CAN Ludwig Heimrath Jr. Dick Simon Racing Lola T87/00 Cosworth 75 Gearbox 0 0 26 2 14 USA A. J. Foyt A. J. Foyt Enterprises Lola T87/00 Cosworth 67 Gearbox 0 0 27 14 7 USA Kevin Cogan Patrick Racing March 87C Ilmor-Chevrolet 39 Vibration 0 0 28 10 21 USA Johnny Rutherford Alex Morales Motorsports March 87C Cosworth 36 Engine 0 0 29 28 27 USA Dick Ferguson Dick Ferguson March 85C Cosworth 19 Gearbox 0 0 30 27 33 USA Tom Sneva Mike Curb Racing March 87C Cosworth 5 Electrical 0 0 Source:1987 Marlboro 5001987 Michigan 500 - Round 9 Failed to qualify USA Dale Coyne (#19) Race statistics Lap Leaders 1–35 Michael Andretti 36–39 Mario Andretti 40–42 Geoff Brabham 43–156 Mario Andretti 157–250 Michael Andretti Cautions: 3 for 28 laps Laps Reason 1 Yellow flag start 7–9 Tom Sneva stopped on track 182–205 Danny Ongais and Ed Pimm crash turn 3 Broadcasting For the first time, the Michigan 500 was broadcast live by ABC. Al Trautwig was the lead play-by-play announcer. He was joined by Bobby Unser and Sam Posey. Jack Arute and Jerry Gappens reported from the pits.https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-indianapolis-star-1987-michigan-500/127390345/ Indianapolis Star Indiana Associated Press ABC Will Cover Marlboro 500 Live From Michigan on Sunday August 1, 1987 15 References 2 Michigan 500 Michigan 500 Category:Michigan Indy 400