1982 Michigan 500

In the 1981 Michigan 500, A. J. Foyt suffered serious arm injuries when he crashed into the guardrail in turn two. In response, Michigan International Speedway replaced its metal guardrails with concrete walls around the race track, with the exception of the backstretch which retained its guardrail.[2]

Mario Andretti led the opening day of practice on Wednesday, July 14. Andretti's speed of 206.3 mph was followed by Rick Mears at 205.7 mph and Al Unser at 204.5 mph.[3]

Mario Andretti won the pole on Thursday with a speed of 205.233 mph. Joining Andretti on the front row was Rick Mears at 203.816 mph and Gordon Johncock at 202.572 mph. The fourth-fastest qualifier, Don Whittington, was the only other car to qualify at over 200 moh with a speed of 202.350 mph.[4]

Friday's practice session was marked by numerous on track incidents. George Snider spun but hit nothing. Josele Garza and Ken Hamilton crashed, with Garza needing to use a backup car. Scott Brayton spun and lightly hit the wall. Johnny Rutherford suffered damage to his car when his left front wheel fell off and he was able to avoid the wall.

George Snider recovered from his practice spin to post the fastest speed in Friday's qualifying session. At 196.942 mph, Snider earned the 22nd starting spot.

During the final day of practice on Saturday, Andretti crashed his pole-winning car in turn two. The car spun around and impacted the concrete wall with the left side. Andretti was unhurt, but the car could not be repaired in time for the race the following day. Andretti quickly got in the team's backup car and continued practicing, reaching speeds of 199 mph. Because he was no longer racing the car he qualified with, Andretti had to start from the last position.[5]

Roger Penske exercised the "promoter's option" and added Ken Hamilton to the field as the 34th starter.[6]

From his starting spot in the middle of row one, Gordon Johncock took the lead from Rick Mears entering turn one. The first caution came out on lap eight when Herm Johnson, Josele Garza, and Tony Bettenhausen spun in turn four. Only Johnson was unable to continue.[7]

Rick Mears passed Johncock to take the lead on lap 20. The caution came out again on lap 23 when Tom Sneva suffered an engine failure.

Mario Andretti had climbed from his 33rd starting position to the seventh spot by lap 30 and was running third by lap 37. Mario's progress was slowed when he lost a lap in the pits after stalling the engine.[8]

On lap 54, the caution came out when Mike Mosley's car lost a side pod and it landed on the backstretch. Tom Bigelow spun on lap 97 but recovered to finish fifth.

With 143 laps complete, Josele Garza brought out a caution when he spun in turn four. Garza was able to continue but retired shortly thereafter with engine failure.

On the restart following the Garza spin, Hector Rebaque, running 80 laps behind the leaders, spun in avoidance of the Spike Gehlhausen car that had mechanical problems. He spun across the track directly in front of A. J. Foyt. The cars collided with great force, with Foyt then being thrown into the outside wall. Foyt was carried to a stretcher and brought the infield hospital. He was treated for a puncture wound in his left leg and released. "I feel pretty good," Foyt said, "but I think I got the same hole in my leg I had last year."[9]

The race evolved into a battle between Patrick Racing teammates Gordon Johncock and Mario Andretti. Running third on lap 182, Rick Mears hit debris and cut a tire in turn two. The car drifted up the track and hit the wall, sustaining relatively minor damage but ending his race. Mears had led 80 laps. Johncock took the lead for the final time on lap 194.[10]

During a caution for debris on lap 218, Andretti entered the pits hoping to make a front wing adjustment. Carrying too much speed, he overshot his pit stall and had to return to the track without the adjustment. Andretti was unable to catch his faster teammate and Johncock won by over 24 seconds. Bobby Rahal finished third, five laps behind the Patrick cars.

Johncock led 117 laps and won $89,371 in prize money. The victory allowed Johncock to pass Mears for the Indycar points lead. It also gave Johncock the ability to become only the second man in Indy car racing to sweep the Triple Crown of 500 mile races if he could win Pocono a month later, something he did not do.

Similar to the inaugural race in 1981, attrition was high and only 12 of the 34 starters were running at the finish. 11 cautions slowed the field to an average speed of 153.925 mph.[11]

For the second straight year, the Michigan 500 was broadcast live by NBC. Paul Page and Charlie Jones did the play-by-play coverage in the broadcast booth. Gary Gerould and Bruce Jenner served as pit reporters.[12]