1986 CART PPG Indy Car World Series

1986 CART season

Bobby Rahal
PPG Indy Car World Series
Season
Races 17
Start date April 6
End date November 11
Awards
Drivers' champion United States Bobby Rahal
Constructors' Cup United Kingdom March
Manufacturers' Cup United Kingdom Cosworth
Nations' Cup United States United States
Rookie of the Year United States Chip Robinson
Indianapolis 500 winner United States Bobby Rahal
Chronology
Previous season Next season
1985 1987

The 1986 CART PPG Indy Car World Series season was the 8th national championship season of American open wheel racing sanctioned by CART. The season consisted of 17 races, and one non-points exhibition event. Bobby Rahal was the national champion, and the rookie of the year was Chip Robinson. The 1986 Indianapolis 500 was sanctioned by USAC, but counted towards the CART points championship. Bobby Rahal won the Indy 500, and would later become the first driver since 1980 to win Indy and the CART championship in the same season.

The first two races of the season were won by Kevin Cogan (Phoenix) and Michael Andretti (Long Beach), respectively, the first career wins for both drivers on the CART circuit. Rain delayed the Indianapolis 500, postponing it for six days. Bobby Rahal, driving for Truesports, passed Kevin Cogan with two laps to go, and won for car owner Jim Trueman, who was stricken with cancer. Trueman died less than two weeks later.

The season would shape up as a two-man battle between Rahal and Michael Andretti. Andretti won at Milwaukee, which put him in the points lead for the first time. On Father's Day, Andretti was leading on the final lap at Portland. His car ran out of fuel on the final turn of the final lap, and his father Mario beat him to the finish line by 0.07 seconds. It would go down in lore as one of the most shocking finishes in Indy car history, as well as the closest finish in Indy car history on a road course (until 1997).

Rahal was back in victory lane in July, winning the inaugural Molson Indy Toronto, but Michael Andretti still held the points lead. Rahal won four out of five races during a stretch in August and September, and emerged with a 9-point lead in the standings with two races left. Michael Andretti won a key victory at the second-to-last race of the season at Phoenix, while Rahal finished 3rd.

Going into the season finale at Tamiami Park, Rahal held a scant 3-point lead over Andretti. Neither driver was a factor at Miami, and just past the halfway point, Andretti dropped out with a broken halfshaft. Rahal effectively clinched the championship when Andretti dropped out. Roberto Guerrero won the pole and dominated the race, leading the first 111 laps. But on the final lap, his car sputtered and he ran out of fuel. Al Unser, Jr. slipped by to steal the victory, his lone win of 1986. Unser, Jr. won from 19th starting position, the furthest back any driver had won a CART road/street course race at the time.

Drivers and Teams

The following teams and drivers competed in the 1986 Indy Car World Series season. All cars used Goodyear tires.

Team Chassis Engine No* Drivers Notes
Cotter March 86C Cosworth TC 2 (5) Colombia Roberto Guerrero DNS Due to engine at Long Beach
Curb March 86C Cosworth TC 33 United States Tom Sneva
66 United States Ed Pimm Daly at Mid-Ohio, Sanair and Elkhart Lake, not entered at Toronto, and Pimm at all other events.
Republic of Ireland Derek Daly
Dick Simon Racing Lola T86/00 Cosworth TC 22 Brazil Raúl Boesel
23 United States Dick Simon Simon at Indianapolis, Cleveland, Pocono and Sanair, Robinson at Meadowlands, Cleveland and Miami, and Ashley at Toronto, Mid-Ohio and Elkhart Lake
United States Chip Robinson
United Kingdom Ian Ashley
Galles Racing Lola T86/00/March 86C Cosworth TC/Honda 8 Australia Geoff Brabham March 86C at Phoenix 1, Honda at 8 events
Lola T86/00 Cosworth TC 9 Brazil Roberto Moreno Carter at Sanair, Moreno at all other races after Indianapolis
United States Pancho Carter
15 Indianapolis, Michigan 1 and Pocono only
Hemelgarn Racing March 86C Cosworth TC/ Buick 71 United States Scott Brayton Hardee's and Buick at Indianapolis only, Brayton at Phoenix 1, Indianapolis, Michigan 1, Pocono and Michigan 2, Villeneuve at all other events.
Cosworth TC Canada Jacques Villeneuve
81 Indianapolis only
Kraco Racing March 86C Cosworth TC 18 United States Michael Andretti
Leader Cards Racing March 86C Cosworth TC 24 United States Gary Bettenhausen Betenhausen on ovals, Dobson on road and street courses
Germany Dominic Dobson
March 85C 42 United States Phil Krueger Indianapolis only
Machinists Union Racing March 86C Cosworth TC 55 Mexico Josele Garza Parsons at Sanair, Michigan 2, and Phoenix 2, Wilson at Elkhart Lake and Laguna Seca, Garza at all other races
United States Johnny Parsons
South Africa Desiré Wilson
59 Ganassi at Phoenix 1 and Indianapolis, Parsons at Milwaukee, Cleveland, Michigan 1 and Pocono and Wilson at Mid-Ohio
United States Chip Ganassi
United States Johnny Parsons
95 Indianapolis Only
Alex Morales Racing March 86C Cosworth TC 6 United States Rich Vogler Indianapolis Only
21 United States Johnny Rutherford
Newman/Haas Racing Lola T86/00 Cosworth TC 5 (2) United States Mario Andretti
Patrick Racing March 86C Cosworth TC 7 United States Kevin Cogan
20 Brazil Emerson Fittipaldi
Penske Racing March 86C/ Penske PC-15 Cosworth TC/ Chevy A 1/ 86 (4) United States Rick Mears #86 at Phoenix 1, PC-15 at 4 events, Chevy A at 8 events
4 (1) United States Danny Sullivan PC-15/Chevy A at Miami only, March 86C/Cosworth TC at all other events
Chevy A 11 United States Al Unser Phoenix 1, Indianapolis, Michigan 1, Pocono and Miami only. PC-15 at Phoenix 1 and Indianapolis, March 86C at Michigan 1, Pocono and Miami
Doug Shierson Racing Lola T86/00 Cosworth TC 30 United States Al Unser, Jr.
Truesports March 86C Cosworth TC 3 United States Bobby Rahal
Part-time entries
A. J. Foyt Enterprises March 86C Cosworth TC 14 United States A. J. Foyt Phoenix 1, Indianapolis, Milwaukee, Michigan 1, Pocono, Michigan 2, Phoenix 2 and Miami only
Chevy V6 44 United States Mike Nish Indianapolis only, DNQ
Cosworth TC 84 United States George Snider Snider at Indianapolis and Michigan 1, Swindell at Pocono
United States Sammy Swindell
Arciero Racing March 86C/ March 85C Cosworth TC 12 United States Randy Lanier Lanier at Phoenix 1, Long Beach, Indianapolis, Milwaukee, Portland, Meadowlands, Cleveland, Toronto and Michigan 1, MacPherson at Mid-Ohio, Elkhart Lake, Laguna Seca and Phoenix 2, Chassey at Michigan 2 and Cheever at Miami. March 85C at Michigan 2 and Mid-Ohio, March 86C at all other races.
United States Steve Chassey
United States Eddie Cheever
United States Jeff MacPherson
Bettenhausen Motorsports March 86C Cosworth TC 16 United States Tony Bettenhausen, Jr. Indianapolis only
Lola T86/00/ March 86C 61 Netherlands Arie Luyendyk All events except Portland and Sanair
Dale Coyne Racing Coyne DC-1 Chevy 19 United States Dale Coyne Attempted all events except Indianapolis and Milwaukee
Gohr Racing March 86C Buick/ Cosworth TC 56 United States Steve Chassey Chassey at Indianapolis, Milwaukee and Michigan 1, Moran at Meadowlands, Cleveland, Pocono, Mid-Ohio, Michigan 2, Elkhart Lake, Laguna Seca, Phoenix 2 and Miami and Morton at Toronto.

Buick engine until Mid-Ohio, Cosworth the remainder of the season.

United States Rocky Moran
United States John Morton
March 85C Buick 65 United Kingdom Rupert Keegan Indianapolis only, DNQ
J.P. Racing Lola T900 Cosworth TC 10 United States Spike Gehlhausen Indianapolis, Michigan 1, Pocono and Michigan 2 only
March Engineering March 86C Buick 25 United States Danny Ongais Indianapolis only
31 United Kingdom Jim Crawford
Mosquito Autosport March 85C Cosworth TC 16 (19) United States Rick Miaskiewicz Long Beach, Indianapolis, Milwaukee, Meadowlands, Cleveland and Toronto only.
Pace Racing Lola T86/00 Cosworth TC 36 United States Randy Lewis Lewis at Long Beach, Meadowlands, Cleveland, Toronto, Mid-Ohio, Elkhart Lake, Laguna Seca, and Miami, Firestone at Indianapolis, Michigan 1, Pocono, Sanair, Michigan 2 and Phoenix 2
Australia Dennis Firestone
Team Menard March 86C Cosworth TC 28 United States Herm Johnson Indianapolis only, DNQ
Republic of Ireland Derek Daly


Season Summary

Race results

Rd Date Event Name Circuit Location TV Network Pole Position Winner
1 April 6 Dana 200 for Special Olympics Phoenix International Raceway Avondale, Arizona ESPN United States Mario Andretti United States Kevin Cogan
2 April 13 Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach Streets of Long Beach Long Beach, California NBC United States Danny Sullivan United States Michael Andretti
3 May 31 Indianapolis 500 Indianapolis Motor Speedway Indianapolis, Indiana ABC United States Rick Mears United States Bobby Rahal
4 June 8 Miller American 200 in Honor of Rex Mays Milwaukee Mile West Allis, Wisconsin ESPN United States Michael Andretti United States Michael Andretti
5 June 15 Budweiser/G. I. Joe's 200 Portland International Raceway Portland, Oregon ESPN Brazil Emerson Fittipaldi United States Mario Andretti
6 June 29 Chase Grand Prix at the Meadowlands Meadowlands Sports Complex East Rutherford, New Jersey NBC United States Michael Andretti United States Danny Sullivan
7 July 6 Budweiser Cleveland Grand Prix Cleveland Burke Lakefront Airport Cleveland, Ohio ESPN United States Danny Sullivan United States Danny Sullivan
8 July 20 Molson Indy Toronto Streets of Toronto Toronto, Ontario ESPN Brazil Emerson Fittipaldi United States Bobby Rahal
9 August 2 Michigan 500 Michigan International Speedway Brooklyn, Michigan NBC United States Rick Mears United States Johnny Rutherford
10 August 17 Domino's Pizza 500 Pocono Raceway Long Pond, Pennsylvania ESPN United States Michael Andretti United States Mario Andretti
11 August 31 Escort Radar Warning 200 Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course Lexington, Ohio ESPN United States Mario Andretti United States Bobby Rahal
12 September 7 Molson Indy Montreal Sanair Super Speedway Saint-Pie, Quebec ESPN United States Rick Mears United States Bobby Rahal
13 September 28 Pepsi Cola 250 Michigan International Speedway Brooklyn, Michigan ESPN United States Rick Mears United States Bobby Rahal
14 October 4 Race for Life 200 Road America Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin Not on TV United States Bobby Rahal Brazil Emerson Fittipaldi
15 October 12 Champion Spark Plug 300 Laguna Seca Raceway Monterey, California ESPN United States Mario Andretti United States Bobby Rahal
16 October 19 Circle K/Fiesta Bowl 200 Phoenix International Raceway Avondale, Arizona ESPN United States Bobby Rahal United States Michael Andretti
17 November 9 Nissan Indy Challenge Tamiami Park Miami, Florida NBC Colombia Roberto Guerrero United States Al Unser, Jr.
  Oval/Speedway
  Road Course/Street Circuit

Drivers points standings

Pos Driver PIR1
LB
IND
MIL
POR
MEA
CLE
TOR
MIC1
POC
MDO
SAN
MIC2
ROA
LAG
PIR2
MIA
Pts
1 United States Bobby Rahal 16 18 1 6 20 3 15 1 10* 14 1 1* 1 5 1* 3 8 179
2 United States Michael Andretti 15* 1* 6 1* 2* 20 2 19 11 11* 10 6 2* 2* 3 1* 18 171
3 United States Danny Sullivan 4 11 9 11 11 1 1* 2 25 16 3* 5 12 6 2 2 26 147
4 United States Al Unser Jr. 12 2 5 8 3 9 8 4* 8 6 5 2 21 11 23 6 1 137
5 United States Mario Andretti 7 5 32 5 1 24 3 3 21 1 24 8 10 9 4 4 11 136
6 United States Kevin Cogan 1 17 2 12 14 21 23 5 22 2 4 4 4 20 9 14 4 115
7 Brazil Emerson Fittipaldi 3 16 7 24 12 2 13 17 20 19 21 3 3 1 7 5 20 103
8 United States Rick Mears 19 20 3* 3 16 19 4 8 12 8 17 18 8 3 17 20 3 89
9 Colombia Roberto Guerrero 8 DNS 4 18 13 4* 17 20 24 21 2 17 22 4 5 12 2* 87
10 United States Tom Sneva 2 4 DNS 2 4 17 5 9 18 15 12 13 5 12 22 18 22 82
11 United States Johnny Rutherford 5 9 8 4 15 7 10 10 1 18 8 16 9 14 12 9 12 78
12 Australia Geoff Brabham 10 3 12 21 7 22 14 14 4 12 20 11 11 22 6 8 5 64
13 Brazil Raúl Boesel 13 19 13 14 8 23 6 7 5 5 7 9 15 8 14 13 19 54
14 Mexico Josele Garza 23 7 18 7 17 8 7 23 2 7 14 24 45
15 Canada Jacques Villeneuve 8 20 15 5 5 19 24 11 19 10 19 16 6 38
16 Brazil Roberto Moreno 20 6 19 13 18 18 25 18 6 10 16 6 16 20 10 17 30
17 Netherlands Arie Luyendyk 6 15 15 9 16 24 6 23 17 18 13 7 10 15 21 29
18 United States Ed Pimm 22 22 17 10 6 12 15 24 7 11 7 10 29
19 United States Pancho Carter 16 3 3 15 28
20 United States Randy Lanier 11 13 10 20 9 6 9 21 19 21
21 United States A.J. Foyt 17 24 19 9 4 16 22 23 16
22 Netherlands Jan Lammers 9 14 DNQ 8 23 9 13
23 Republic of Ireland Derek Daly DNQ 6 10 13 11
24 United States Johnny Parsons 27 22 21 16 29 7 23 11 8
25 United States Randy Lewis 10 10 20 11 15 24 18 14 8
26 United States Chip Robinson 14 7 6
27 United States Spike Gehlhausen DNQ 7 22 18 6
28 United Kingdom Ian Ashley 15 9 23 4
29 United States Sammy Swindell 9 4
30 United States Mike Nish DNQ DNS 10 24 22 3
31 United States Dominic Dobson 12 19 11 18 16 19 18 21 13 3
32 United States Rick Miaskiewicz 21 DNQ 16 15 11 13 DNS 2
33 United States Gary Bettenhausen 21 11 23 26 13 21 20 19 2
34 United States Dale Coyne DNQ 23 21 DNQ 12 DNQ DNQ 26 23 12 DNQ 17 DNS DNQ 25 2
35 United States John Morton 12 1
36 United States Rocky Moran 13 16 25 25 DNQ 21 15 21 16 0
37 United States Jeff MacPherson 22 15 13 DNQ 0
38 South Africa Desiré Wilson 13 19 16 0
39 United States Scott Brayton 24 30 13 27 19 0
40 Australia Dennis Firestone DNQ 17 28 14 14 17 0
41 United States Al Unser 18 22 14 20 15 0
42 United States Dick Simon 14 22 23 20 0
43 United States Chip Ganassi 14 21 0
44 United States Steve Chassey DNQ 17 28 17 0
45 United States Danny Ongais 23 0
46 United States Tom Phillips 24 0
47 United States Rich Vogler 25 0
48 United States George Snider 26 27 0
49 United States Eddie Cheever 27 0
50 United States Tony Bettenhausen, Jr. 28 0
51 United Kingdom Jim Crawford 29 0
52 United States Phil Krueger 31 0
- United Kingdom Rupert Keegan DNQ -
- United States Herm Johnson DNQ -
- United States John Paul, Jr. DNQ -
- United States Steve Bren DNP -
- United States Pete Halsmer DNP -
Pos Driver PIR1 LB IND MIL POR MEA CLE TOR MIC1 POC MDO SAN MIC2 ROA LAG PIR2 MIA Pts
Color Result
Gold Winner
Silver 2nd place
Bronze 3rd place
Green 4th & 5th place
(Top 5)
Light Blue 6th–10th place
(Top 10)
Dark Blue Finished
(Outside Top 10)
Purple Did not finish
(Ret)
Red Did not qualify
(DNQ)
Brown Withdrew
(WD)
Black Disqualified
(DSQ)
White Did not start
(DNS)
Blank Did not
participate
(DNP)
Driver
replacement
(Rpl)
Injured
(Inj)
Race not held
(NH)
Not competing
In-line notation
Bold Pole position
Italics Ran fastest race lap
* Led most race laps
Rookie of the Year
Rookie

References

See also

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