The 69th Indianapolis 500 was held at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Speedway, Indiana, on Sunday, May 26, 1985. The race was sanctioned by USAC, and was included as part of the 1985 CART PPG Indy Car World Series. The Speedway celebrated forty years of ownership by the Hulman/George family.
In one of the most dramatic moments in Indy 500 history, Danny Sullivan took the lead from Mario Andretti on lap 120. But as he was completing the pass, Sullivan's car stepped out, and he lost control. He spun directly in front of Andretti in turn one, doing a complete 360°. Andretti veered to the inside and slipped by unscathed, while Sullivan's car somehow avoided contact with the concrete wall. Sullivan remarkably gathered control without stalling the engine, and continued in the race. About twenty laps later, Sullivan managed to re-pass Andretti for the lead, this time cleanly. Sullivan led the final 61 laps, and scored his first and only Indy victory. It was the fifth Indy win for car owner Roger Penske (Penske Racing), tying the record at the time held by Lou Moore.
Due to the electrifying spin by Sullivan, and the subsequent recovery, the race became known in auto racing lore as the "Spin and Win". It is largely considered one of the most famous moments in all of Indy car racing history.
The 1985 Indy 500 was the breakout race for the "stock block" Buick Indy V6 engine. Pancho Carter and Scott Brayton swept the top two spots on the starting grid with the pushrod Buick, setting new track record speeds in time trials. However, both cars still had questionable reliability for the full 500 miles, and both dropped out early with mechanical problems on race day.
Background Defending Indy winner Rick Mears suffered serious leg injuries in a crash at Sanair Super Speedway in August 1984. He missed the rest of the 1984 season, and would run only a part-time schedule in 1985. The 1985 Indy 500 was his first race back after recovery. Danny Sullivan joined Penske Racing for 1985. Al Unser Sr., who was filling in for Mears during the rest of the season, took the wheel of a third Penske entry for Indy.
Willy T. Ribbs entered the Rookie Orientation Program in April, hoping to become the first African American driver to qualify for the Indy 500. However, after 20 laps of testing, he managed only 172 mph, and withdrew, citing his inexperience. He would return in 1991.
This would be the final Indy 500 broadcast on television in tape delay. Later in the summer, ABC-TV signed a deal to broadcast the Indy 500 live for the first time starting in 1986. It would also be Jim McKay's final Indy 500 as play-by-play anchor.
A. J. Foyt announced during the month he was planning to retire after the 1987 race, which would be his 30th start. The decision was later retracted. Foyt entered the month of May 1985 with the opportunity to pass the 10,000 mile mark in competition at Indy, and the race would mark his record 300th career Indy car start.
At the conclusion of the race, the Speedway planned to tear down the legendary Gasoline Alley garage area, in preparations for construction of a new, modern garage facility. This would be the final Indy 500 field to utilize the famous landmark green and white "barn-like" garages.
Race schedule Race schedule — April/May 1985SunMonTueWedThuFriSat21 22 23 34 25 26ROP27ROP28ROP29 30 1 2 3 4Practice 5Practice 6Practice 7Practice 8Practice 9Practice10Practice11Pole Day12Time Trials13Practice14Practice15Practice16Practice17Practice18Time Trials19Bump Day20 21 22 23Carb Day24Mini-Marathon25Parade26Indy 50027Memorial Day28 29 30 31 Color Notes Green Practice Dark Blue Time trials Silver Race day Red Rained out* Blank No track activity * Includes days where trackactivity was significantlylimited due to rain
ROP — denotes RookieOrientation Program
Time trials
Pole Day – Saturday May 11 Pole day was sunny and warm, with temperatures in the low 80s. Mario Andretti (214.285 mph) and Bobby Rahal (214.183 mph) were the fastest cars in practice, and were early favorites for the pole position.
Qualifying began promptly at 11 a.m. The first car to take to the track was Scott Brayton driving one of the Buick V-6 stock block-powered cars. He set new one-lap and four-lap track records, as well as track records for stock block engines. His four-lap average of 212.354 mph tentatively put him on pole position. Lap 1 – 42.490 seconds, 211.815 mph (new 1-lap track record) Lap 2 – 42.216 seconds, 213.189 mph (new 1-lap track record) Lap 3 – 42.017 seconds, 214.199 mph (new 1-lap track record) Lap 4 – 42.905 seconds, 210.256 mph Total – 2:49.523, 212.354 mph (new 4-lap track record)
Brayton's final lap dropped off due to transmission trouble. Not to be upstaged, less than twenty minutes later, Pancho Carter took to the track, also with one of the Buick V-6 engines. Lap 1 – 42.351 seconds, 212.510 mph Lap 2 – 42.309 seconds, 213.721 mph Lap 3 – 42.222 seconds, 213.159 mph Lap 4 – 42.464 seconds, 211.944 mph Total – 2:49.346, 212.533 mph (new 4-lap track record)
Carter could not eclipse Brayton's one-lap track record, but his run was more consistent. Carter's four-lap average of 212.533 mph was faster overall than Brayton, and itself was a new four-lap track record. Carter took the top spot by a mere 0.177 seconds. As a result, in a mostly rare situation, the one-lap and four-lap track records were thus held by two different drivers. Carter clinched the pole position, and completed a 1st–2nd sweep for the Buicks on the starting grid. Only a half-hour had passed, but the Buicks had already established their dominance of time trials. After the record-setting run, Brayton picked up the sponsorship of Hardee's during the week.1985 Indianapolis 500 Telecast – ABC Sports, May 26, 1985
With the pole position now out-of-reach, the rest of the field battled to see who would fill out the front row. Emerson Fittipaldi (211.322 mph) put himself tentatively in third position, but Mario Andretti (211.576 mph) later bumped him down. At 1:13 p.m., Bobby Rahal, the last driver with a legitimate shot, turned in a run of 211.818 mph, securing the outside of the front row.
A busy day saw 27 cars qualify. Rick Mears returned from his 1984 leg injuries to qualify 10th. Danny Sullivan put his car in the field in 8th. No driver from 1911 to 1984 had ever won the race from 8th starting position, and it was often nicknamed the dreaded "8-ball spot".75 Years of the Indianapolis 500 – The Indianapolis Star, 1986
Second Day – Sunday May 12 Only two cars, Steve Chassey and Chet Fillip, made qualifying attempts, both late in the day. At the end of the first weekend of time trials, the field was filled to 29 cars.
Third Day – Saturday May 18 The second weekend of time trials saw cooler weather, and better conditions. Rookie Raul Boesel was the first car to take to the track, and put in a solid run of 206.498 mph.
Late in the day, George Snider continued the trend of stock block engines, putting a Foyt V-6 in the field. In doing so, the field was filled to 33 cars. John Paul Jr. squeezed in a qualifying run between his IMSA commitments, and bumped Derek Daly from the field.
Tony Bettenhausen Jr. bumped out Chet Fillip, who earlier in the day, had wrecked his back-up car, leaving him on the sidelines for the rest of the month. The day ended as Jim Crawford bumped out Kevin Cogan.
Bump Day – Sunday May 19 The final day of time trials opened with Steve Chassey on the bubble, and about nine cars looking to make the field. Kevin Cogan got in his backup car, and easily bumped his way back into the field to open the afternoon. After Cogan's run, the track went mostly quiet, as drivers awaited better conditions.
Three-time winner Johnny Rutherford was now on the bubble, the second year in a row he was in danger of not qualifying. At about 5 p.m., Derek Daly (207.548 mph) bumped out Rutherford. A few minutes later, Rutherford got in a backup car, and at 208.254 mph, easily put himself back in the field. Rutherford bumped out Michael Roe in the process.
With a half hour left in the day, Pete Halsmer was on the bubble. He survived an attempt by Tom Bigelow, but Rich Vogler succeeded in bumping him out. Tony Bettenhausen Jr. (204.824 mph) was now on the bubble. Michael Roe tried twice to bump him out, but fell short on both attempts.
Carburetion Day The final practice was held on Thursday May 23. All 33 qualified car plus first alternate Pete Halsmer took practice laps on a sunny, cool afternoon. During the two-hour session, Mario Andretti (209.937 mph) turned the fastest lap. No incidents were reported.
Pit Stop Contest The 9th annual Miller Pit Stop Contest were held on Thursday May 23. The top four race qualifiers and their respective pit crews were automatically eligible: Pancho Carter, Scott Brayton, Bobby Rahal, and Mario Andretti. However, Rahal declined the invitation. Emerson Fittipaldi (who qualified 5th) tentatively took that empty spot. Four additional spots would be available for the contest during preliminaries.
Geoff Brabham, Roberto Guerrero, Arie Luyendyk, Howdy Holmes qualified for the contest during preliminaries held May 14–16. Don Whittington was named the first alternate. Michael Andretti, the 1984 Pit Stop Contest winner, was unable to participate due to car damage. Danny Sullivan's car was dismantled at the time, and he was unable to take part in the preliminaries. Sullivan's team lobbied the officials, and they agreed to add Sullivan to the contest as "promoter's option". Emerson Fittipaldi reportedly withdrew, and eight finalists competed in the elimination round.
The eliminations would consist of two rounds. The preliminary round would feature two teams at a time, racing head-to-head against the clock. The two fastest teams overall - regardless of the individual head-to-head results - would advance to the final round. Rules required crews to change the two right-side tires and simulate a fuel hook-up. The pairing were as follows: Carter vs. Holmes, Brayton vs. Luyendyk, Andretti vs. Guerrero, and Brabham vs. Sullivan. Danny Sullivan of Penske Racing and led by chief mechanic Chuck Sprague, reached the final, along with Howdy Holmes of Forsythe Racing.
In the final round, Holmes actually registered a faster time (11.734 seconds), but his team was assessed a 10-second penalty for an air hose infraction (the hose wrapped around the rear wing). Sullivan was declared the winner, his first victory in the event, and Penske's fourth win overall.
+ Preliminary RoundRank CarNo. Driver Team1 5 Danny Sullivan Penske Racing2 33 Howdy Holmes Forsythe Racing3 6 Pancho Carter Galles Racing4 37 Scott Brayton Brayton Racing5 61 Arie Luyendyk Provimi Racing6 3 Mario Andretti Newman/Haas Racing7 9 Roberto Guerrero Team Cotter8 7 Geoff Brabham Galles RacingWD 40 Emerson Fittipaldi Patrick Racing
Starting grid
RowInsideMiddleOutside1 6 - Pancho Carter 37 - Scott Brayton 10 - Bobby Rahal2 3 - Mario Andretti 40 - Emerson Fittipaldi 20 - Don Whittington3 11 - Al Unser 5 - Danny Sullivan 7 - Geoff Brabham4 1 - Rick Mears 30 - Al Unser Jr. 12 - Bill Whittington5 2 - Tom Sneva 22 - Dick Simon 99 - Michael Andretti6 9 - Roberto Guerrero 25 - Danny Ongais 55 - Josele Garza7 33 - Howdy Holmes 61 - Arie Luyendyk 14 - A. J. Foyt 8 98 - Ed Pimm 23 - Raul Boesel 43 - John Paul Jr. 9 84 - Chip Ganassi 76 - Johnny Parsons 34 - Jim Crawford 10 44 - George Snider 97 - Tony Bettenhausen Jr. 21 - Johnny Rutherford 11 29 - Derek Daly 18 - Kevin Cogan 60 - Rich Vogler
Alternates First alternate: Pete Halsmer (#59) – Bumped Second alternate: Michael Roe (#71) – Bumped
Failed to qualify Steve Chassey (#56) – Bumped Chet Fillip (#38, #39) – Bumped; crashed in practice Tom Bigelow (#24, #42, #50) – Incomplete qualifying runs Dennis Firestone (#36) – Incomplete qualifying runs Jerry Karl (#51, #62) – Practiced; did not attempt to qualify Phil Krueger (#50, #51) – Practiced; did not attempt to qualify