The Indy 500 1991 – NTT IndyCar Series
Relive a new historic IndyCar race with the 75th edition of the Indy 500, contested in the 1991 season of what was then the CART PPG Indy Car World Series.
In 1991, the Indianapolis 500 miles came in as the fourth race of the season. After a start to the season in Australia, in the streets of Surfers Paradise, the American car goes to Long Beach, then to Phoenxi for the first oval race of the season.
After three races and three different winners (John Andretti, Al Unser Jr. and Arie Luyendyk – editor’s note), it’s Bobby Rahal, second of the three races, who lands in Indiana as the leader of the championship. Wales driver Kraco Racing is eleven points ahead of Rick Mears.
The day before qualifying Rick Mears, then three-time winner of the 500 Miles, hits the wall and has to use his spare car. During this accident, following a mechanical breakdown in the back of his car, he injured his right foot. However, he received the green light from the medical team to get back behind the wheel. This mishap did not stop him, however, and the Team Penske driver signed his sixth pole at Indianapolis and his sixth start in a row on the front row, the ninth in the last ten editions.
AJ Foyt and Mario Andretti join him on the front row of this 75th edition of the 500 Miles.
Paul Tracy was supposed to make his 500-mile debut, but Dale Coyne Racing replaced him with Jerry Lewis who snatched his place on the grid on Bump Day. Johnny Parsons and Tom Sneva are eliminated at the end of Bump Day.
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