Comments on: Indy 500 Goes Down To The Wire 1982 http://www.motorsportretro.com/2009/06/indy-500-goes-down-to-the-wire-1982/ Classic motorsport, cars, motorcycles and gear Fri, 10 Feb 2012 05:38:59 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v= By: Video: When Indycars went to England 1978 http://www.motorsportretro.com/2009/06/indy-500-goes-down-to-the-wire-1982/comment-page-1/#comment-10568 Video: When Indycars went to England 1978 Mon, 23 May 2011 02:49:16 +0000 http://www.motorsportretro.com/?p=1270#comment-10568 [...] what do those five, plus Gordon Johncock and Tom Sneva, have in [...] [...] what do those five, plus Gordon Johncock and Tom Sneva, have in [...]

]]> By: sam moses http://www.motorsportretro.com/2009/06/indy-500-goes-down-to-the-wire-1982/comment-page-1/#comment-9473 sam moses Wed, 02 Mar 2011 05:29:09 +0000 http://www.motorsportretro.com/?p=1270#comment-9473 This was one of the most memorable of the 16 Indy 500s I covered for Sports Illustrated. Cogan said something broke, but ... half-shafts do not break on Penske cars on the pace lap. It was a lose-lose deal for Kevin. Roger Penske shunned him for the rest of the year, then dumped him. More likely, the car came on the turbo with cold tires. The cars were unpredictably deadly that year; when they snapped, it was with no warning. Others crashed too; Smiley paid with his life. As for the last lap, if Mears had won, he'd be the only driver with 5 Indy 500 wins. But when he and Johncock went into turn 1 on the last lap side-by-side, Mears knew that there was NO WAY Johncock was going to lift, having never won the Indy 500 in all his years. If Mears hadn't lifted, they would have crashed, for sure. Mears thought he might have another chance in turns 3, 4 ... but not quite. So he has 4 wins and one very very close second place. But he's alive. This was one of the most memorable of the 16 Indy 500s I covered for Sports Illustrated. Cogan said something broke, but … half-shafts do not break on Penske cars on the pace lap. It was a lose-lose deal for Kevin. Roger Penske shunned him for the rest of the year, then dumped him. More likely, the car came on the turbo with cold tires. The cars were unpredictably deadly that year; when they snapped, it was with no warning. Others crashed too; Smiley paid with his life. As for the last lap, if Mears had won, he’d be the only driver with 5 Indy 500 wins. But when he and Johncock went into turn 1 on the last lap side-by-side, Mears knew that there was NO WAY Johncock was going to lift, having never won the Indy 500 in all his years. If Mears hadn’t lifted, they would have crashed, for sure. Mears thought he might have another chance in turns 3, 4 … but not quite. So he has 4 wins and one very very close second place. But he’s alive.

]]> By: retromotor http://www.motorsportretro.com/2009/06/indy-500-goes-down-to-the-wire-1982/comment-page-1/#comment-60 retromotor Sat, 11 Jul 2009 21:38:50 +0000 http://www.motorsportretro.com/?p=1270#comment-60 What about Andrettis comment. "this is what happens when you have children doing a mans job up front" What about Andrettis comment. “this is what happens when you have children doing a mans job up front”

]]> By: retromotor http://www.motorsportretro.com/2009/06/indy-500-goes-down-to-the-wire-1982/comment-page-1/#comment-59 retromotor Sat, 11 Jul 2009 21:35:12 +0000 http://www.motorsportretro.com/?p=1270#comment-59 Cogan certainly looked sheepish in the interviews. YOu cant blame Andretti for not wanting to know about it in the heat of the moment. A month of qualifying and preparing for the event and then not to make the start would be a heartbreaker. I didnt know that Kevin Bartlett had tried to qualify for Indy. What an interesting story. I might try and find out some more about that. As for the Smiley crash. Its just so nasty it doesnt bare thinking about. Cogan certainly looked sheepish in the interviews. YOu cant blame Andretti for not wanting to know about it in the heat of the moment. A month of qualifying and preparing for the event and then not to make the start would be a heartbreaker. I didnt know that Kevin Bartlett had tried to qualify for Indy. What an interesting story. I might try and find out some more about that. As for the Smiley crash. Its just so nasty it doesnt bare thinking about.

]]> By: jamie http://www.motorsportretro.com/2009/06/indy-500-goes-down-to-the-wire-1982/comment-page-1/#comment-52 jamie Thu, 09 Jul 2009 09:11:25 +0000 http://www.motorsportretro.com/?p=1270#comment-52 Fantastic story. Like the bit when Foyt says "he's got his head up his ass!" referring to Cogan. Fantastic story. Like the bit when Foyt says “he’s got his head up his ass!” referring to Cogan.

]]> By: Speed54 http://www.motorsportretro.com/2009/06/indy-500-goes-down-to-the-wire-1982/comment-page-1/#comment-48 Speed54 Thu, 09 Jul 2009 00:35:46 +0000 http://www.motorsportretro.com/?p=1270#comment-48 My memory of the Cogan incident is that Cogan's half-shaft broke, which is why he suddenly veered and hit Andretti. When they were walking back to the pits, Cogan was trying to explain that something had gone wrong, but Andretti kept pushing him away. After learning what had happened, Andretti said later that they became good friends. I remember the Smiley crash, with Jackie Stewart's commentary explaining that he had over-corrected ever so slightly and that sent him into the wall. Australian Kevin Bartlett, who missed out on qualifying for Indy in 1972 by something like 0.01sec, told my old man later (they had raced against each other), that if you had a lose at Indy, he was advised to get or let the car go to the wall, rather than try to correct. I also remember reading that the flying engine from Smiley's car made foot-deep gouges in the track. My memory of the Cogan incident is that Cogan’s half-shaft broke, which is why he suddenly veered and hit Andretti. When they were walking back to the pits, Cogan was trying to explain that
something had gone wrong, but Andretti kept pushing him away. After learning what had happened, Andretti said later that they became good friends.

I remember the Smiley crash, with Jackie Stewart’s commentary
explaining that he had over-corrected ever so slightly and that sent him into the wall. Australian Kevin Bartlett, who missed out on qualifying for Indy in 1972 by something like 0.01sec, told my old man later (they had raced against each other), that if you had a lose at Indy, he was advised to get or let the car go to the wall, rather than try to correct.

I also remember reading that the flying engine from Smiley’s car made foot-deep gouges in the track.

]]> By: Derek http://www.motorsportretro.com/2009/06/indy-500-goes-down-to-the-wire-1982/comment-page-1/#comment-38 Derek Fri, 26 Jun 2009 10:35:57 +0000 http://www.motorsportretro.com/?p=1270#comment-38 Wow, small world, sorta.. I started my apprenticship in '82, in Ireland, and the mechanic I worked under was at that race. I still remember him gushing on about it. I can see why now. Good memories. Definitly retro..... Cheers Wow, small world, sorta..
I started my apprenticship in ’82, in Ireland, and the mechanic I worked under was at that race.
I still remember him gushing on about it. I can see why now.
Good memories. Definitly retro…..

Cheers

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