The Indianapolis Motor Speedway is replete with extraordinary racing tales. The Indianapolis 500 has produced many extraordinary races within the past decade, but for our latest instalment of It’s Not Race week we’re going to turn the lock back a little further.
The 1985 CART IndyCar season witnessed a changing of the guard. Racing veterans such as reigning champion Mario Andretti and Al Unser Snr faced a new threat from the likes of Danny Sullivan and Al Unser Jnr.That year’s visit to Indianapolis saw the two sides collide in a memorable showdown between F1 champion Andretti and F1 refugee Sullivan. The latter spent a single, disappointing season on the grand prix scene with Tyrrell in 1983 but established himself well after changing codes and had landed a plum Penske drive for his second year in the States.
In a field almost entirely powered by Cosworths, Pancho Carter and Scott Brayton’s two Buick-powered entries headed the grid. But this race would be all about the battle between two other drivers: Andretti and Sullivan.
Enjoy the 1985 Indianapolis 500 below – or skip to the one-and-a-quarter hour mark to revisit the moment of peak drama which defined this race.
It’s Not Race Week presents: 1985 Indianapolis 500
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It’s Not Race Week
It’s Not Race Week is a new series from RaceFans promoting great races from the past you might have missed the first time around. It is one of several new features we are running as a result of the hiatus in the 2020 motorsport season.
- Watch: Four title dramas at the Circuit de Catalunya
- Watch: The DTM shows how small tracks can produce big action
- Watch Leclerc, Russell and Albon in action at a soaked Hockenheim
- Watch one of IndyCar’s most thrilling wet weather races
- Watch Norris’s passing masterclass at the Red Bull Ring
The disruption has had a huge effect on us at RaceFans. Find out more in this short video from the editor:
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Advert | Become a RaceFans supporter and
It’s Not Race Week
- Watch: Four title dramas at the Circuit de Catalunya
- Watch: The DTM shows how small tracks can produce big action
- Watch Leclerc, Russell and Albon in action at a soaked Hockenheim
- Watch one of IndyCar’s most thrilling wet weather races
- Watch Norris’s passing masterclass at the Red Bull Ring
Arnold Triyudho Wardono (@ernietheracefan)
26th May 2020, 9:16
Sbinalla before it was funny..
Skinner
26th May 2020, 12:12
“Gentleman. Start your engines!”
Goosebumps every time :-D
Don
26th May 2020, 23:35
Hour and a quarter mark? You’d miss Danny Sulivans spin (of spin to win) at 1:17. Start watching at 1:15!
PaulK (@paulk)
28th May 2020, 11:08
Not sure if serious…