1988 Michigan 500

In 1988, Marlboro introduced the Marlboro Million, offering a one million dollar prize should a driver win the Marlboro Grand Prix at the Meadowlands, the Marlboro 500 at Michigan, and the Marlboro Challenge.[2] Two weeks before the Marlboro 500, Al Unser Jr. won the Marlboro Grand Prix and entered Michigan still eligible for the Marlboro Million.

In May, Rick Mears won the 1988 Indianapolis 500.

Roberto Guerrero suffered severe head injuries in a testing crash at Indianapolis in September 1987. After spending 17 days in a coma, he recovered and returned to racing in early 1988. After finishing second in the season opener, Guerrero had a series of poor runs. Feeling he was performing poorly, he stepped out of the car. After a month away, Guerrero returned at the Michigan 500.[3]

A. J. Foyt was hospitalized a day before practice began with abdominal ailments. He hired Johnny Rutherford to drive his car. Rutherford was scheduled to do color commentary for ESPN's broadcast of the race.[4]

In Thursday's opening practice, Rick Mears set the fastest speed at 218.612 mph. His teammate Al Unser was second at 216.028 mph.[5] Mario Andretti was third at 215.892 mph. Gordon Johncock impressed with the 8th fastest speed at 210.422 mph. It was Johncock's first race at Michigan since 1984.[6]

In Friday morning's practice session, Rick Mears ran a lap of 221.2 mph with cool, overcast conditions. Wind picked up for the afternoon time trials. On his first attempt at qualifying, Rick Mears returned to the pits after a gust of wind pushed him towards the wall on his warmup lap. After putting on an old set of tires, Mears returned to the track and ran a lap of 218.427 mph to win the pole. Al Unser qualified second with a speed of 216.060 mph. Mario Andretti joined the Penske cars on the front row with a speed of 215.673 mph.[7]

On Saturday, the International Race of Champions competed at Michigan. NASCAR Winston Cup driver Geoff Bodine took Dick Simon's backup car out for four test laps on Saturday morning. Bodine's fastest lap was 200.781 mph. Bodine went on to win the IROC race that afternoon.[8]

The start of the 1988 Marlboro 500

A crowd of 65,000 spectators filled the grandstands for the eighth annual Michigan 500. Prior to the race, Danny Sullivan was suffered from the flu and was unsure if he could run the entire race.[9]

When the race began, Rick Mears pulled out to a sizable lead. He was remained in the lead for most of the first 150 laps, leading 94 laps in total. Mears was challenged at times by Emerson Fittipaldi, Al Unser, Mario Andretti, and Bobby Rahal, who all took turns at the lead.[10]

On lap 143, Derek Daly hit oil on the track and hit the wall in turn three. Daly was unhurt. Under caution, Al Unser spun on pit road. On the restart from Daly's crash, Mears suffered a failure of the CV Joint.[11] His team replaced the part in 30 laps, but retired from the race with engine failure after completing 177 laps.[12]

Danny Sullivan inherited the lead following Mears's mechanical failure. Al Unser led 19 laps but also dropped out of the race with engine failure after 216 laps were completed.

The final caution came out with 11 laps remaining when Dick Simon's car dropped fluid on the track. That set up a seven lap run to the finish with Sullivan winning by one lap over Bobby Rahal.[13]

Sullivan's win allowed him to become the third driver to win all three of IndyCar's current 500 mile Triple Crown races. He joined Johnny Rutherford and Mario Andretti by winning at Indianapolis, Pocono, and Michigan.

It was the first win for Team Penske in the Michigan 500 at the track Roger Penske owned.[14] Only eight of the 28 starters finished the race and Sullivan was the only Chevrolet to finish.[15]

The race's average speed of 180.564 mph made the event the fastest 500 mile IndyCar race, breaking the record set one year prior in the 1987 Michigan 500.[16]

Pole Qualifying for the Michigan 500 was broadcast for the first time on ESPN. A one-hour, delayed telecast was aired on Saturday.[17]

ESPN broadcast the race live, marking the first time it was broadcast on a cable network. Bob Jenkins and Steve Chassey were the play-by-play commentators. Larry Nuber reported from the pits.