Favorite Indy 500 moment

cecil98 · 3/9/09, 8:24 AM

1. Mears running down Johncock from 10+ seconds down with 12 laps to go in
1982. The crowd was so loud at the end you could barely hear the cars. Johncock did an incredible job holding Mears off with a horribly handling car. The most exciting sporting event I have ever witnessed!!!! We were literally shaking after it was over. Who said American circle trackers can't drive Indy cars???!!!!

2. Johnny Rutherford's run from 25th starting position to win in 1974 was one of the greatest drives I've ever witnessed. He was just spectacular.

3. Any of Lloyd Ruby's runs from 1966, 68', 69' & 1970. He should've been a 3 or 4 time winner

4. My lifetime hero, Parnelli, winning in 1963. I wasn't there, however. I was home in Cincinnati clinging to my radio. 1964 (Stand J)was my first 500.

Ovalmeister · 3/9/09, 9:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cecil98

Johnny Rutherford's run from 25th starting position to win in 1974 was one of the greatest drives I've ever witnessed. He was just spectacular.

Yeah! :thumb That was my first 500. Never forget the feeling seeing them dive into turn 1 for the first time. WOW, great childhood memory.
There are too many memories to pick one 1.

1980 slowest qualifier Gary Bettenhausen's run to 3rd.

Rick Mears' rim-riding turn 1 pass of Michael Andretti in 1991.

Sullivans spin and win in 1985.

Greatest bump day qual run I ever saw. 1993. Eddie Cheever in a Menards car.

Those famous 4 words...."Andretti is slowing down"

Getting to see childhood heros' run Indy: GaryB/Dickson/Bigelow/Carter/Parsons/Puterbaugh/Rice/Kinser/Leffler/Chassey/Vogler/Sneva....so many others.

Brayton withdrawing his front row car and winning the pole.

Watching Luyendyk dancing around the 240mph mark. Damn.

I could go on for a long time. Probably my most lasting and cherished memory will forever be the last time my Dad and I were at the track. A practice day in 2004. He passed away 2 months later, but he was so happy on that day. He had only missed two 500's, due to health reasons, since his first race in 1935.
David.

ClaytonYeley · 3/9/09, 10:17 AM

1998- JJ Yeley spins in turn one on the first lap, stayed off the wall and came back to finish in the top ten.
The other one was the year Buddy Rice won and there was bad weather after the race. Tom Carnagie or another speedway announcer informed us about the weather and said we needed to take cover. I thought that was strange because it’s kind of hard to get 300,000 people out of that place quickly. We sat in the stands for another 30 min because there wasn’t enough room to go anywhere.
We have about 2 ½ months until we do it all over again:applaud:

Pat O'Connor Fan · 3/9/09, 10:42 AM

1. Pat O'Connor taking the pole in '57. :checkered:

2. Sitting in the front row of the upper deck over turn one back in the late '50s, early '60s when one of the Novis would scream past during qualifying or practice. Oh, that sound :respect:

throb · 3/9/09, 11:58 AM

im surprised that nobody mentioned the 1995 race. jaques villenuve gets penalized 2 laps for passing the pace car while he was leading, literally drives the tires off the thing comes back from 2 laps down and wins the race.......a common misconception is that he got the laps back, but he actually drove 202 laps for a total of 505 miles....that was pretty impressive i thought.......

Ovalmeister · 3/9/09, 12:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by throb

im surprised that nobody mentioned the 1995 race. jaques villenuve gets penalized 2 laps for passing the pace car while he was leading, literally drives the tires off the thing comes back from 2 laps down and wins the race.......a common misconception is that he got the laps back, but he actually drove 202 laps for a total of 505 miles....that was pretty impressive i thought.......

Yeah, that was impressive. Scott Goodyear kinda threw that one away in 1995. Sucks for Scott, 2nd in 1992, 2nd in 1997 and looked to be on his way to win 1995, only to be penalized and put back to 14th. The Canadians had 'em covered in '95.
David.

Heromaker · 3/9/09, 12:32 PM

Don't remember the year but sitting in the PDM suite when Sam Hornish won his 500. Even though Sam was running for Penske the room went wild. PDM is where Sam got his start for those unaware. Simply amazing!!!!!!!

Seadog · 3/9/09, 12:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Heromaker

Don't remember the year but sitting in the PDM suite when Sam Hornish won his 500. Even though Sam was running for Penske the room went wild. PDM is where Sam got his start for those unaware. Simply amazing!!!!!!!

That was '06. That was quite a deal.

I'd have to say the 1960 race stands out for me as that was my first 500 and there was quite a battle for the lead before Jim Rathman took the win. 1967 when Parnelli in the turbine had it won and a small part failure handed the win to AJ.

1980 Gary B. went from 32nd to 3rd and Sneva went from 33rd to 2nd.

My 50th consecutive race will be this year.

Really, every moment of every race is fantastic for me (except for the tragic moments).:crying:

petey · 3/9/09, 2:02 PM

Never been to the race itself but one I won't forget was the race in 92.

It was the first time I got the 500 on tape. They talked about how cold it was that day with temps in the 50's. All the wrecks.:eek: Stan Fox nearly t-boning Phillipe Gasche(sp?) yet both were uninjured. Numerous head on crashes by Mario and Jeff Andretti, Fittipaldi. At one time half the race was run under yellow. Michael Andretti wheeling a new Ford powered Lola for Newman/Haas just dominated all day only to break with 11 to go. Unser Jr. and Scott Goodyear who started dead last, battling the last 10 or so laps then provided the closest finish ever.

I haven't watched the tape in a long time but still remember it very well.

FishBurger · 3/9/09, 2:24 PM

1. Jim Hurtubise in the yellow Demler #99 coming out of turn 4 with a nice lead on lap 1 of my first Indy 500 in 1961. Sitting in the Tower Terrace, that was my first time seeing Indy cars at full speed. :eek:

2. Watching my favorite Indy driver, A.J. Foyt, win his first 500, also in 1961.

3. Watching my favorite Indy driver, A.J. Foyt, win his second 500 in 1964.

4. Watching my favorite Indy driver, A.J. Foyt, win his third 500 in 1967.

5. Watching my favorite Indy driver, A.J. Foyt, win his fourth 500 in 1977.

3/9/09, 8:24 AM	#11 Re: Favorite Indy 500 moment
cecil98 Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 1,399	1. Mears running down Johncock from 10+ seconds down with 12 laps to go in 1982. The crowd was so loud at the end you could barely hear the cars. Johncock did an incredible job holding Mears off with a horribly handling car. The most exciting sporting event I have ever witnessed!!!! We were literally shaking after it was over. Who said American circle trackers can't drive Indy cars???!!!! 2. Johnny Rutherford's run from 25th starting position to win in 1974 was one of the greatest drives I've ever witnessed. He was just spectacular. 3. Any of Lloyd Ruby's runs from 1966, 68', 69' & 1970. He should've been a 3 or 4 time winner 4. My lifetime hero, Parnelli, winning in 1963. I wasn't there, however. I was home in Cincinnati clinging to my radio. 1964 (Stand J)was my first 500.

3/9/09, 10:17 AM	#13 Re: Favorite Indy 500 moment
ClaytonYeley Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 644	1998- JJ Yeley spins in turn one on the first lap, stayed off the wall and came back to finish in the top ten. The other one was the year Buddy Rice won and there was bad weather after the race. Tom Carnagie or another speedway announcer informed us about the weather and said we needed to take cover. I thought that was strange because it’s kind of hard to get 300,000 people out of that place quickly. We sat in the stands for another 30 min because there wasn’t enough room to go anywhere. We have about 2 ½ months until we do it all over again:applaud:

3/9/09, 10:42 AM	#14 Re: Favorite Indy 500 moment
Pat O'Connor Fan Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 8,029	1. Pat O'Connor taking the pole in '57. :checkered: 2. Sitting in the front row of the upper deck over turn one back in the late '50s, early '60s when one of the Novis would scream past during qualifying or practice. Oh, that sound :respect:

3/9/09, 11:58 AM	#15 Re: Favorite Indy 500 moment
throb Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 888	im surprised that nobody mentioned the 1995 race. jaques villenuve gets penalized 2 laps for passing the pace car while he was leading, literally drives the tires off the thing comes back from 2 laps down and wins the race.......a common misconception is that he got the laps back, but he actually drove 202 laps for a total of 505 miles....that was pretty impressive i thought.......

3/9/09, 12:32 PM	#17 Re: Favorite Indy 500 moment
Heromaker Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 332	Don't remember the year but sitting in the PDM suite when Sam Hornish won his 500. Even though Sam was running for Penske the room went wild. PDM is where Sam got his start for those unaware. Simply amazing!!!!!!!

3/9/09, 2:02 PM	#19 Re: Favorite Indy 500 moment
petey Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 925	Never been to the race itself but one I won't forget was the race in 92. It was the first time I got the 500 on tape. They talked about how cold it was that day with temps in the 50's. All the wrecks.:eek: Stan Fox nearly t-boning Phillipe Gasche(sp?) yet both were uninjured. Numerous head on crashes by Mario and Jeff Andretti, Fittipaldi. At one time half the race was run under yellow. Michael Andretti wheeling a new Ford powered Lola for Newman/Haas just dominated all day only to break with 11 to go. Unser Jr. and Scott Goodyear who started dead last, battling the last 10 or so laps then provided the closest finish ever. I haven't watched the tape in a long time but still remember it very well.

3/9/09, 2:24 PM	#20 Re: Favorite Indy 500 moment
FishBurger Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 4,356	1. Jim Hurtubise in the yellow Demler #99 coming out of turn 4 with a nice lead on lap 1 of my first Indy 500 in 1961. Sitting in the Tower Terrace, that was my first time seeing Indy cars at full speed. :eek: 2. Watching my favorite Indy driver, A.J. Foyt, win his first 500, also in 1961. 3. Watching my favorite Indy driver, A.J. Foyt, win his second 500 in 1964. 4. Watching my favorite Indy driver, A.J. Foyt, win his third 500 in 1967. 5. Watching my favorite Indy driver, A.J. Foyt, win his fourth 500 in 1977.