Photo – IndyCar

IndyCar always made an annual stop to the 2.5 mile Pocono Raceway from 1971 to 1989. The series and Pocono decided to split after the 1989 race and it wouldn’t be until 2013 when IndyCar made a return to the Tricky Triangle.

With many differences today at Pocono vs. 1989, Marco Andretti set the current IndyCar track qualifying record with a two-lap average of 221.273-mph last July. Emerson Fittipaldi set the previous track record at 211.715-mph, before the track was re-paved twice in 1995 and 2012.

Fittipaldi led 63 laps in his Pat Patrick/Chip Ganassi engine before retiring out of the race with a suspension issue within the last 35 laps of the 200 lap race. The Andretti family was looking to repeat Mario’s 1986 win.  Michael spent some time out in front by leading 44 laps on the day. The driver leading the most laps on the day was Penske Racing driver Rick Mears with 64.

The race would come down between Michael Andretti and Danny Sullivan and Teo Fabi.  The three had to make a stop for fuel before the end.

Sullivan’s pit crew only took 5.5 seconds as Andretti took 11.6 seconds and Fabi missed his pit stall by locking up the tires. Sullivan found himself in front with 12 laps to go and never looked to score his first Championship Auto Racing Teams (CART) victory of the season.

Rick Mears couldn’t close the gap on Sullivan and finished second for a Penske 1-2, the first for the team at Pocono since 1982 when Mears won the race and Kevin Cogan was second.  Michael Andretti, Teo Fabi and Mario Andretti rounded out the top five.  There were only four cars on the lead lap and Sullivan’s margin of victory was 4.225 seconds over Mears.

1989 Pocono 500 Top-Ten

                #1 Danny Sullivan

                #4 Rick Mears

                #6 Michael Andretti

                #8 Teo Fabi

                #5 Mario Andretti

                #18 Bobby Rahal

                #25 Al Unser

                #3 Scott Pruett

                #2 Al Unser, Jr.

                #65 John Jones