1982 Indianapolis 500 Finish

[@zlinedavid]

Johncock's win in '73 was a 500 nobody wanted to remember. Fate paid him back '82, with a 500 nobody will forget.

[@michaelbragg6903]

zlinedavid Rick Mears has said that if he couldn’t have won the race that day then he was very happy Johncock won. He said that Gordy felt cheated in 73.

[@johnjohnstone7376]

Yes I heard from Swede Savage's daughter he didn't celebrate in 73 he had a hamburger and went straight to the hospital where Swede was in bad shape. 82 was a 500 he could really sink his victory celebration teeth into. I was there this day my first Indy 500 and it was pure magic in that place that day One of the best days of my life.

[@robertbrook8552]

But 82 was tainted by the death of Gordon Smiley. Worse single car wreck I ever seen

[@nolancain8792]

@@robertbrook8552 literally is the worst.

[@jimindy2141]

Great line

[@colindarmody]

Two of the greatest to ever hop into a racecar battling with all they’ve got. THIS is pure racing!!

[@mistertheking]

Someone else pointed this out in another video; a crew member put an Intermedics hat on Gordy's head in his victory lane interview. Very nice little tribute to Gordon Smiley, who lost his life in qualifying for this race.

[@stephaneblais9149]

I think Intermedics struck a deal with Patrick racing after Gordon died if i am not mistaken.

[@Secretarian]

In 2016, I made my pilgrimage to the indy 500. I saw johncock's wildcat in the museum and was surprised at how small it was.

[@SolamenteVees]

The sound of those Cosworth turbo engines... That's the way I remember open wheel racing.

[@georgemallory797]

Rick was a true champion. 2 favorite drivers at the tape is glorious.

[@tiburon0676]

I love how the commentators put their heart and soul into the race. You can hear their passion for the race, passion for the drivers and passion for Indy's great history in their voices. That type of magic sadly is gone today.

[@RealRunner7]

While the commentators had passion for the race, the director (selecting camera shots) must have had passion for Mrs Mears.

[@701CPD]

I was there, in the Paddock Press Penthouse, with my Father, an old midget driver, who was seeing his first Indy 500 since 1964. An incredible race, when you could still see the cars going into Turn 2, flash through the trees on the back stretch, and going into Turn 3, before the stands that would eventually block those views were built. An incredible, unforgettable day. R.I.P. Dad.

[@calvinlewis8924]

I can’t get enough of this race. Gordon was just brilliant and proved that you don’t necessarily have to have the fastest car in order to win.

[@Springbok314]

My first Indy 500 in person was this one. Just an incredible race. It hooked me for life.

[@lge52569]

The late great Dale Earnhardt said it best: "It's not always the fastest driver that wins the race. It's the one that refuses to lose." Indy Car Racing at it's best.

[@VampireYoshi]

Greatest finish in the history of the 500. There may have been closer, but never any better, than a finish that is currently impossible via their Socialist rules package.

[@libertarianlife3651]

Well, we won't have to worry about nascar or the idiots of the France family. Nascar is dead, short track stock car racing is dead, tracks are being bulldozed everyday all thanks to the greed of the idiot france family. Disney is buying nascar and after all, what a fitting place for MICKEY MOUSE.

[@ragingbull154]

@@libertarianlife3651 Moron

[@TheMarioBros]

What a great ending. Gordon Johncock is one of my all-time favorites.

[@tonymyers7498]

one of the greatest to ever race at Indy

[@wyattjacobson4779]

He used to live right by me in Michigan. His family used to build motors for my Grandfather's drag cars. Great people.

[@StainlessSteelPolish]

My whole body has goosebumps.

[@Secretarian]

Best Indy 500 ever. It had it all : the bizarre start; Mario fuming; some A.J drama; Mears reeling Johncock in; the amazing pass/no pass in Turn 1, and Gordie holding on to the checkered. Rick Mears, what a sportsman, so gracious in defeat. Saw Johncock's car in the Indy museum this past May. The most beautiful Indy paint scheme ever.

[@VampireYoshi]

The Johncock/Mears duel from laps 160 - 185, which was the lead in to the final Mears charge, was also pretty epic.

[@countryfan3709]

Agree 82 was spectacular

[@zlinedavid]

And of course, the legendary line by Foyt: “Coogin!”

[@Secretarian]

Unfortunately, it also had death, as Gordon Smiley died during a warmup lap on Pole Day

[@Secretarian]

True. For my part, I was referring to the race itself, not the entire month of May. The month itself was terrible, as Gilles Villeneuve also died in a F1 practice crash.

[@soylentteal]

Years later, Mears said he had often watched the last laps just as we have. He said "Each time I watch, I think 'Maybe this time I'll get around Gordy.'"

[@thevmanvj]

Gordon Johncock displayed the best pure driving job in the history of "The 500". Anyone who knows and follows the sport knows Gordy's car was too tight, and getting tighter by the lap, simply because it burns up the right front tire. Coming down for the White Flag, Gordy was either going to "win it,or wear it". Dale Earnhardt once said..."The driver with the fastest car doesn't always win the race....It's the one that refuses to lose." Long live Gordon Johncock... and long live his legend.

[@VampireYoshi]

Mauri Rose's move from outside the third row past eight cars to the lead on the first lap of 1946 was a pretty good pure driving job.

[@tbuts5859]

Yes Gordon had tremendous understeer. The way he dove to an early apex below the paint and just slipped all the way up to the wall was balls out racing at its best.

[@countryfan3709]

Best Indy 500 finish ever crowd was electric 2 laps to go as a driver you had too feel that

[@poorjf]

Class act. Both of these guys were.

[@softhotty]

Most exciting Indy 500 I ever saw.

[@jamescook6564]

When scott Goodyear lost by. .043 of a second was the best 500 1992 indy 500

[@taskforceknight9336]

Someone was literally blown up in 82 indy 500

[@maxmulsanne7054]

​@@jamescook6564 No it wasn't. Not even close. An aging Gordon Johncock in a Wildcat beat out a young Rick Mears in a Penske PC-17. Mears (& Penske) had the advantage THAT DAY on sheer speed. Johncock/Wildcat beat them down solidly on pit strategy alone - along with GJ's ability to hold Mears off. The BEST driver/team won that day despite all the odds going against them. The Unser/Goodyear event pales in comparison to this 500.

[@Secretarian]

​@@jamescook65641992 was a downer because Michael Andretti was wiping the floor with everybody else until his car died late in the race .

[@Shredboy1]

What a driving job by Johncock... one of the best defensive driving clinics you will ever see.. and very clean defense... 2 great drivers going at it..

[@pajasa62]

Shredboy1 It's a shame Johncock is never around any IndyCar events. I have seen and met Mears a few times around the Penske garage, but I have never saw Johncock close up. He was great.

[@quentinraffensperger1699]

You met Mears? Cool..Was he a good guy?

[@pajasa62]

Quentin Raffensperger Yeah, Mears was great... a very friendly guy. I actually saw him yesterday, by coincidence, in Gasoline Alley, but I was behind a fence. The day before the Indy 500 they has a veteran driver autograph signing and Danny Sullivan was there...someone who I had never seen up-close before. While I was getting his autograph I mentioned that I remember him on a "Miami Vice" episode and he said "Yeah, that was 29 years ago, but who's counting?" (ha-ha!) It is just so great just to see these guys are so instilled in my memory from years ago.

[@quentinraffensperger1699]

Cool, next year the 100 th...I hope they do it up nice...Bring back the greats or something, they gotta go big for the 100th Anniversary.

[@zlinedavid]

I had a similar experience with Mears. At Indy, along a fence and swamped with people, but took the time to say Hello to everyone and answer quick questions people were shooting at him. From all accounts I've heard, Johncock is very down to earth; a bit more reserved than Mears, but still very approachable. The reason you don't see him around racing nowadays is due to his current business. He owns and operates a sawmill in Michigan.

[@mrjasonwhite73]

Johncock = Legend

[@mikelewis495]

2:22 ahhhh we found the source of inspiration for the race feed director at the 2019 British Grand Prix. Pass for the lead only half done - CUT TO THE CROWD!

[@kg0173]

Not crowd. Mears wife.

[@mikelewis495]

@@kg0173 yes yes. I was talking about the British Grand Prix where they cut to the crowd

[@donnie6178]

Mears was and is a great sportsman and terrific champion 🏆. Even in loss he still really only has nothing bad to say, and only good things to the victor.

[@softhotty]

The MOST exciting Indy 500 race I EVER watched...edge of your seat thrilling.

[@OWfan]

Not only a great driver, but a great sportsman, too.

[@rhtorres]

A maior chegada da história da Indy 500 .. ta doido. Da arrepios ouvindo essa narração. Com certeza o maior final de corrida de todos os tempos! Coisa que só a Indy 500 proporciona 👏👏👏

[@otaviofrnazario]

acho até que há chegadas melhores, 92, 2006 são excelentes Jim McKay narrou muito bem mesmo. Mas talvez não com as circunstâncias do Gordon, tendo que defender a posição por fora, quase na sujeira mesmo, com pneus mais gastos e virando dezenas de milhas mais lento que Rick Mears, por si um gigante da prova.

[@mikew3494]

Balls of steel...

[@dalebshelton]

I was 10 years old, they had talked about this race the days lading up to it, Mears had injured 3 fingers....I didn't get to see this race live....ABC actually rebroadcast this race that night...and I beg my parents to watch it, This singular race is the race that started to bring me deep into the sport, before I discovered Ayrton Senna, this is the race that I discovered Rocket Rick

[@Seth6Strummer]

Amazing that I can find this! My dad was right rear tire changer of Don Whittington's car. Pretty amazing I can show him all this.. Thank you SO much for putting this up to be able to share these memories with my father.

[@brianhaase9612]

This brings back memories! What a finish!

[@joeambrose6897]

That was awesome. I was there between turns 2 and 3, with my Dad

[@ButOneThingIsNeedful]

5:29 -- "What were you thinking of when your mirrors started to fill up with Mears?" LOL

[@60jwboy]

one of the best calls ever by Jim McKay and Sam Posey

[@dustinharlow2634]

This is badass iconic, Jim McKay was a icon

[@mrjasonwhite73]

Listening to McKay and Sam Posey incredulous at the racing gives me goosebumps.

[@countryfan3709]

Best Indy race finish ever estactic atmosphere gives me chills plus Gordy said he wasn’t gonna back off no matter what keeping it too the floor

[@Crocfan20]

Indycar racing the way God intended, Johncock and Mears are both class acts!

[@soylentteal]

Greatest Indy finish ever.

[@KenCostlow]

As many times as I've seen this, I always wonder how Rick's little tire-touch going into the pits affected him trying to catch Gordy. I do believe that IF the race had gone one more lap, Rick would have caught and passed Gordy and won. It's still, to this day, the greatest automobile race I've ever seen.

[@otaviofrnazario]

no doubt... Gordy had a car getting tighter by the lap, worn tyres... Ricky was dozens of miles faster by that time with a car that, in the naked eye, had no problems. Another lap he would've passed and won by quite some margin. But regardless of it, Gordy's defense in turn 1 is the stuff of legends

[@rdd2devore409]

I was there, 8th grader with Dad and Pon Pon, my grandpa.

[@augustusmd]

and right on the most thrilling part of the race.. the cameraman sneezes.

[@GeorgeAshburn]

Dad and I went to this race. We sat behind the pits about 12 rows up. Dad loved it. Weird start Great Finish.

[@floridapmi]

I grew up on the Indy 500 in the 70's and 80's, and hear how great the drivers were in those days, that may be true, but the racing now is light years better than at this this time. In this race the only two on the lead lap were Mears and Johncock. In 1984 Mears was TWO LAPS in front of the second place car. Last year's race at the line had 17 cars on the lead lap! Eight cars within 2 seconds of the leader!

[@altfactor]

The race was shown on tape by ABC that night (the network wasn't allowed to air it live until 1986). While much of the commentary of Jim McKay and company was recorded as the edited tape aired, the commentary of the first few laps and last few laps was recorded as they happened.

[@aakar88]

IndyCar has yet to recover from Rick Mears retirement.

[@mikew3494]

Rocket 🚀 Rick was the best !

[@psKESEY56]

I was in the 1st row on the first turn for that race. Indy used to be such a great place. I think that IRL finally has the leadership and desire to kick it up a little. Looking forward to the 2011 season!

[@mwalker3547]

So close to 5 wins for Rocket Rick!

[@Foomba]

Easily my favorite Indy 500. I liked both drivers, but wanted Johncock to win.

[@racermac1988]

What's even cooler is when the footage is sinked up to the IMS radio network broadcast. Paul Page, Bob Jenkins, Jerry Baker, and the rest of the greatest team covering "The Greatest Spectacle In Racing"

[@Alex_Mac_]

That was some incredibly resourceful driving on the part of Gordon Johncock. The handling goes away and he starts using the apron to help turn the car. That's hard to do, I can't believe he could keep hooking it in the banking transition without losing control at any point. Must have been the tightest car on Earth, lol!

[@otaviofrnazario]

It takes skill to do it

[@dsfddsgh]

The cameraman who thought it was a good idea to show Mear's wife just when Mear's made his move to pass Johncock should have been fired.

[@nilesyensel7516]

Just saying, Mears never really completed the pass, otherwise Johncock would have wrecked when he blocked. So, you weren't missing much in hindsight.

[@dsfddsgh]

Niles Yensel That's not the point. We never got to see Mears make his move to begin with.

[@nilesyensel7516]

dsfddsgh Yeah you do. You see him start to pass at about 2:18.

[@dsfddsgh]

Niles Yensel Yeah but then for about 4 important seconds we see Mears wife instead of the race.

[@nilesyensel7516]

dsfddsgh I see what you mean.

[@HALFSQUASHED]

'what were you thinking of when your mirrors started to fill up with Mears' ha ha that is a great line.

[@Wash6970]

Fans want to watch the race, not the emotions and reactions of the significant other. Even the split screen stuff with the other is bogus. Then they wonder why ratings are dropping. It's a race not a soap opera. Showing the emotions of another spectator does nothing to enhance the broadcast.

[@aakar88]

Wash6970 Perfectly fine to show emotion in the right setting, Auto Racing moves fast, directors don't.

[@thomascamara8398]

Still the greatest finish and the greatest race ever

[@ButOneThingIsNeedful]

The very definition of a thrilling finish! It doesn't get any better than 2:11 ff. Tears almost come.

[@ButOneThingIsNeedful]

Also, two of my all-time favorite race drivers involved, which makes this great moment even greater.

[@jameshoran8]

ABC always destroyed the coverage showing the wives. Did it big time in 1992 when Al, Jr beat Goodyear. They missed the finish.

[@petermoran2832]

Jim McKay must have been out of breath after covering that final finish!

[@VampireYoshi]

In the 1991 official race program, in a section asking long-time announcers what their greatest memory was in the years leading up to the 75th running, McKay picked the 1982 finish.

[@racermac1988]

Dude, you weren't kidding!!! I did it! Goes along perfectly!

[@soylentteal]

Fantastic finish and I did see it 28 years ago, but then as now, I wanted to slap the director when he swiched the shots to Mears' wife, because the viewer missed some of the best moments. Save the spousal reactions for AFTER the checkered flag. Thanks for sharing thie with us.

[@VampireYoshi]

Indianapolis in 2006 is still Indianapolis: Wheldon pulled out an eleven second lead, and probably would've beat Hornish if he hadn't been bottled up in the pack with only four to go. 1982 was the most exciting ever, though...and thank you, champcar4ever, even if I disagree with hating any form of open-wheel at all, for 4:15-6:12...was born in '84, and have never seen it before.

[@calibra2340]

These cars had an insane engine sound back than. What kind of engine had they? The sound reminds me on the N/A Ferrari V12's in the early 1990s Formula 1.

[@champcar4ever]

The engines were 2.65L V-8 turbo engines. Hearing these live was something else.

[@champcar4ever]

You are welcome! Yes it's too bad it didn't continue but like you I'm glad I had a chance to see when CART(and open wheel) was at it's zenith in the U.S.

[@tom1kahn]

One lap to go, Mears and Johncock are side by side and the camera cuts to Mrs. Mears as ABC always did.

[@soylentteal]

A mentally arthritic director cheated the viewers out of the best moment of the race. The following year, she became the EX-Mrs. Mears.

[@soylentteal]

Mears (the pole sitter) clearly had the faster car, but the more experienced Johncock used every trick he knew to hold him off. Mears said in an interview many years later that he had watched a tape of those last laps many times, each time saying to himself, “Maybe this time I’ll get around Gordy!”

[@otaviofrnazario]

Johncock gave a clinic on how to defend a position and tame a car (with the troubles he faced, he was taming a car not driving, thing was a raged bull)

[@leesmith7012]

I know this is late, but as a Foyt fan, i always felt like Johncock was the only driver that deserved the old gal owed one to.

[@mikeinindy2856]

I was at this race sitting in turn 3. Those last few laps were electric. Mears was the fastest in practice all month but Johncock was out every day turning tons of practice laps working on his race setup. It clearly paid off Gordy won that race in my opinion before the race even started.

[@BSNFabricating]

If that run to the finish doesn't give you cold chills, check your pulse. And the way the crowd was hollering...gives me a big ol' lump in my throat. Indy has never stopped being Indy, but I'd love to see that enthusiasm come back...

[@coolerindy]

Loving It !!!!!!!

[@rollingstopp]

i was there the pace car was the new 82 camaro,,, what a race what a finish ,,everybody screaming with excitement.....

[@DaveSmith-zc9cs]

That’s why I was always a Mears fan, he always carried himself as a gentleman.

[@belcherman]

@1more4theroad i live n baltimore and just found out today that baltimore will have its first ever race with indy car through the streets. It is suppose to be in 2012 and i cant wait.. the grand prix of baltimore. .. never thought i woudl hear those words said.

[@ricardodepaiva6195]

👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻que disputa fantástica, é de encher os olhos, muito bom mesmo, ambos lutaram bravamente até o final 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

[@RealRunner7]

2:05 Jim McKay says "look at this" while the audience is thinking "we would like to look at this" but ABC is showing a wife instead.

[@wpsracing108]

i hate to bring it up all the time but, such a good way to move on from the tragedies of smiley's crash. motor racing has a nack of moving on at the perfect times.

[@CandlestickSec7]

@SAMMYJS991 Agreed. Goodyear just had a real nice run off the last corner to make it close. I first watched this on ESPN Classic and even knowing the winner I still expected Mears to get past him.

[@countryfan3709]

Gordy is a bad man this was awesome

[@soylentteal]

@hunterjumper32 Agreed...the director blew that big time.

[@davidca96]

this race ruled, I was 4 at the time

[@otaviofrnazario]

The mother of all close finishes in Indy

[@otaviofrnazario]

@luey Hewis he had. I called "mother" because it was the first super close finish in Indy. Before that, the closest was 2 and a ½ seconds I think. Al vs Scott Goodyear in 92 was closer actually

[@Secretarian]

The broadcast was directed by LARRY KAMM and ROGER GOODMAN. One of those two was at the helm for the white flag debacle.

[@INDIGOBLUE555]

Is there available a complete video of the last lap ? The camera is spotted on Mears's wife (I suppose she was) and the response of Johncock on Mears is missing.... I can't get how could Johncock attack on the outside.Did Mears back off or what ? Thx.

[@volley151]

Damn even these thirty year cars look and sound better than the crap they run today.

[@phitownhustler4802]

Golden days of Indy. Wont waste my time on Indycar anymore

[@soylentteal]

FYI, wife Dina became his EX-wife the following year.

[@zaymclovin4178]

Good to know 👍

[@DavidBayliff]

i remeber this race you had to listen on radio gordy deseved it after his 1973 win

[@hunterjumper32]

Why did ABC have to show Mears' wife with that great action on the track? There's a reason why ABC stands for Always Bad Coverage...

[@klumszy]

I’m really not feeling the race. About to fall asleep. Hold on, what’s that? OMG!! What? It’s somebody ‘s wife! Oh, look at her go!! What you’re going back to those two cars. What are they doing? Oh, There she is!! So excited,. Fist pumping. Wtf, they keep showing those damn cars. Yes, they’ve brought her back. Go, go. Oh, so close. A brilliant moment in sports history that I’ll simply never forget.

[@soylentteal]

They were divorced the following year.

[@bigorange1155]

Johncock said years later that the team analyzed the race and why he got so tight for the last 10-15 laps. They then realized that the LF tire was the same one with which they started the race..... it hadn't been changed all day !!

[@otaviofrnazario]

Rubber and wheel were one already

[@jennifersman]

@60jwboy There'll never be another McKay, he was the best, had such enthusiasm for whatever he covered

[@VampireYoshi]

If you play the Delta Force music at the 2 3/4 lap to go mark ("Sam we have a trophy dash...!"), it literally follows the battle perfectly, for the whole rest of the way.

[@pajasa62]

I always thought the Jim McKay/Sam Posey announcing of the Indy 500s were great. The '82 race was there first together after Jackie Stewart left. You have to admire the sportsmanship of Mears and Penske...I wonder if you'd get that today.

[@stephaneblais9149]

2 Gordon's that did not have the same fate in 1982. Gordon Smiley and Gordon Johncock.

[@paulsonj72]

Actually not. In those days they called the early laps after the start and the final laps live as they occured. So this call was done as is.

[@AlonsoRules]

Mears was a car length from 5 Indy 500 wins

[@trevorarens7143]

“It’s too late now, you only gotta pray”

[@softhotty]

@1more4theroad One of the greatest finishes I ever saw...in part made by the call of the great Jim Mckay, Posey was good too I suppose.

[@dd1985]

At 3:14- upper left hand corner: That's the guy with the rainbow wig and the John 3:16 signs, Rollen Stewart

[@EXPOSEDBYGABRIELPEREZ]

Mears need it to be more aggressive. Joncko said he did not care to die to win that race. Same happened to o'ward

[@agapitojuliano5517]

Which engines from these beasts? How many HPs?

[@SolamenteVees]

They were Cosworth DFX V8s making upwards of 800hp from 2.65 liters.

[@SIGMAMAN69]

That win sure didn't have that unfair asterisk like the 1973 win, that's for sure.

[@vinceA3748]

Best Indy 500 finish EVER. You can hear the crowd roaring. Wow, so exciting. Imagine being in the stands for this maginificent race? What was up with that idiot camera man switching to Mears' wife, at the most import part of the race? wtf!!! Major fail!!!