1987 Pocono 500

In 1981, Pocono Raceway filed an antitrust lawsuit against CART seeking $9 million in damages due to boycotts of the 1979 and 1981 races.[2] As part of the settlement, CART agreed to lease and promote the Pocono 500 for a period of five years between 1982 and 1986. At the end of the contract, there were questions over whether the race would continue.[3][4] A deal was reached where the Pocono 500 would remain as part of the Indy car schedule for the next four years with Pocono promoting the race themselves. Track owner Joseph Mattioli was optimistic that the event could return to the crowds over 100,000 spectators of the 1970s. "We feel good about promoting the race again. It was difficult for CART to promote the race because it is based in Michigan. They don't know our people... With the continuation of Indy car racing I believe we will remain a full service track. And in two or three years I think the Indy car race will be back to the status it had in the 1970s."[5]

Quaker State replaced Domino's Pizza as the title sponsor of the Pocono 500. As Domino's also sponsored the Triple Crown Championship, the one million dollar bonus for winning all three 500 mile races was dropped as was the $10,000 bonus for scoring the most points in the three races.

Al Unser won his fourth Indianapolis 500 in late May. Michael Andretti won the Michigan 500 two weeks earlier.[6]

Tom Sneva was fired from his team just five days before Pocono and the car was withdrawn from the race. Entering the Michigan 500 in early August, Sneva was fired from Curb Racing after his wife complained that the team was behind in Sneva's paychecks. Sneva was rehired by the team, but when he arrived at Michigan, he found that Ed Pimm was hired to replace him. A late deal was reached for Sneva to drive a backup while Pimm drove Sneva's car. Pimm suffered a broken arm in a crash, while Sneva completed only five laps. While plans called for Sneva to resume his duties at Pocono, he was fired again entering Pocono.[7] John Andretti was hired to replace Sneva in the following event.

A Team Penske car for Danny Ongais was withdrawn from Pocono after Ongais crashed it in the Michigan 500 two weeks earlier. The team was unable to prepare a new car in time.[8]

Entering Pocono, CART reduced the turbocharger boost levels from 48 inches to 45 inches. This was expected to reduce speeds.[9]

On Saturday before the Pocono 500, a 40-lap American Racing Series event was held. Tommy Byrne started on the pole and led every lap of the caution-free race. Jeff Andretti followed up his 1986 win with a second-place finish.[13][14]

A 20-lap SCCA Volkswagen Cup race for Volkswagen Golfs was held. With an average speed of 109.967 mph, 60 year-old Les Behm won the race with his teammate Luis Campos second. The husband and wife team of Bob and Sheila Bushey finished third and fourth respectively.[15]

The grand marshal for the race was Roger A. Markle, President and CEO of Quaker State.[16] The national anthem prior to the race was sung by Lauren Hart. The crowd was estimated at 55,000 spectators.[17]

At the start, Mario Andretti pulled ahead to a lead. In turn one, Scott Brayton and Johnny Rutherford crashed, ending their day after just seconds. Derek Daly spun to avoid the crash but continued. It was the second straight year where Brayton crashed on the first lap of the Pocono 500.

Mario Andretti held the lead for the first 21 laps. Michael Andretti passed his father for the lead on lap 22.[18] Al Unser Jr suffered burns to his right thigh when his dashboard caught fire on lap 12.[19] On the first pit stop, Michael Andretti lost the clutch on his car. To leave the pit, the crew was forced to spin the wheels while on air jacks, drop the car, and take off while the wheels contacted the ground.[20]

As the leaders began to make green flag pit stops, Jeff MacPherson spun and hit the wall in turn three. Bobby Rahal spun to avoid the crash and lost a lap after stalling the car.[21][22]

The caution flag gave Emerson Fittipaldi the lead, which he held for 60 of the next 62 laps. Rick Mears was running second and closing on Fittipaldi when the next caution came out on lap 89 when Mario Andretti spun and crashed in turn one. The defending Pocono 500 champion, Andretti's helmet cracked in the crash and he suffered a separated left shoulder.[23]

One lap after the restart on lap 95, Mears passed Fittipaldi for the lead. As he extended his lead, several of the top cars fell out of contention.

On lap 115, Fittipaldi fell out of the race with engine failure. During a pit stop on lap 120, Michael Andretti stalled his car and the crew broke off the rear wing trying to push him away. Mears had led by up to 19 seconds until Gary Bettenhausen spun on lap 144 and brought out the caution.[24]

With 100 miles remaining, Mears, Geoff Brabham, and Roberto Guerrero were the only three cars on the lead lap.

The final caution came out on lap 161 when Al Unser blew an engine and hit the wall. The three lead lap cars pitted for fuel and tires. Under caution, Randy Lewis blew an engine and stalled on track, extending the slow period. Knowing they were near being able to make the finish without pitting again, Mears returned to the pits for additional fuel. Geoff Brabham also was trying to make it to the finish without pitting, while Roberto Guerrero would need to make another stop. As Mears topped off his fuel supply, Guerrero assumed the lead with Brabham second. After the race resumed, Mears passed Brabham for second on lap 175. As the cars traveled down the frontstretch on lap 184, Mears passed Guerrero and returned to the lead. Guerrero was forced to make a pit stop for fuel with five laps remaining.[25]

With four laps remaining Ludwig Heimrath lost an engine exiting turn two and stopped on the straightaway before turn three. The safety crew was dispatched to retrieve his roadside car without the caution flag being thrown.[26] Mears was able to stretch his fuel and win his third Pocono 500. He finished the race 17 seconds ahead of Brabham.

It was the first Indy car win for Mears since the 1985 Pocono 500. It broke a 27-race, two-year winless streak. It was also the first win in a 500-mile race for the Ilmor Chevrolet Indy V-8.[27]

For the first time since 1984, the Pocono 500 was broadcast by NBC in a tape-delayed format. Paul Page and Tom Sneva were the play-by-play announcers. Sally Larvick and Gary Gerould served as pit reporters.[28]