1984 Michigan 500

[brickyard1911]

Does anyone have a copy of, or know how to get a copy of the 1984 Michigan 500????. This was one of the wildest races in Indycar history (CART). I believe it was Chip Ganassi's final race as he and Al Jr. wrecked heavily coming out of turn two. Ganassi suffered severe head injuries. Danny Ongais and Pancho Carter also had unbelieveable accidents. I was at Michigan that day and I would love to go back and see it again.

Mario Andretti beat Tom Sneva in a very close finish. Sneva's comment after getting out the the car. "He tried to kill me a few time down in 1"

Thanks!

[BSJracing]

Don't have a copy of the race, but for trivia sake Ganassi raced in the 85 500 for Foyt and the 86 500 for Machinists Union.

[brickyard1911]

Ganassi

My memory ain't what it used to be!

[theunions]

Originally posted by BSJracing
Don't have a copy of the race, but for trivia sake Ganassi raced in the 85 500 for Foyt and the 86 500 for Machinists Union.

He also ran Le Mans later in '86 (I recall the commentator on the British-based telecast calling him "Ganussi") before hanging up his helmet.

As far as wild incidents in the '84 race go...don't forget Gary B. climbing on top of Howdy.

[IndyJim]

Little Al was running underneath Chip and Chip got loose and came down on Al and took them both hard into the inside wall. Chips accident looked a little similar to Greg Moore's, and I thought we had lost him.

Pancho tried pulling out to draft pass someone coming out of 2 near the end (if not the last lap) and lost it, slide thru the grass and flipped multiple times. He climbed out ok, but very upset with himself.

I was at College that summer and watched it on live TV, have never seen it replayed.

[brickyard1911]

Gary B. and Howdy

I forgot about Gary B. and Howdy. It was an extremely hot day that day and I was drinking screwdrivers that were 50-50 vodka and orange juice. I don't remember the drive home. I was young and stupid! Now I am just stupid!

[Frank Capua]

I have a copy of that race... in fact two copies. And heck you can have the Beta copy.

But seriously P.M. me and I'll send you a copy... if you can't find a better one than mine which was copied onto VHS from the original Beta copy.

In fact I probably ought to ckeck out my copy for quality. It was the wildest Michigan 500 ever and is the only Cart race I ever trasferred to VHS from Michigan. I'll get back to you after I check it out and see if my copy is worth making a copy of it... since I about wore out the accidents segments trying to figure out how Chip and little Al survived that one.

Not only was there the Howdy and Gary wreck which Rahal was a part of, but there was also Pancho Carter cartwheeling down the back straight as Mario took the checker flag.

Sorry I didn't notice somebody already posted on Pancho accident as I was mostly skimming to see if somebody else already had offer the tape... but it was on the last lap they broke from the checker flag being waved to show Pancho tearing up sod.

[Nick51]

Phil Kreuger (sp?) also had a huge wreck in turn 4, after having spun twice earlier in the race. If I recall he also had head injuries.

Mario came from at least a lap down to win.

Pancho was drafting Rick Mears and was trying to make a pass for third when he veared into the outside guardrail and then flipped down the backstretch in the grass....not much left of the car.

[theunions]

Originally posted by Nick51
Phil Kreuger (sp?) also had a huge wreck in turn 4, after having spun twice earlier in the race. If I recall he also had head injuries.

I don't believe he was hurt on that occasion - rather in '89, driving the Todd Walther #44 Lola, the year after he finished fifth in Todd's #77 March.

[Railbird]

Krueger was seriosly injured in the '84 Michigan race.


One of the wilder races I have attended.

[IndyJim]

http://www.motorsport.com/stats/champ/qrace.asp?C=CH8408

4 years later Phil had his best career finish in an indy car at Brooklyn:

http://www.motorsport.com/stats/champ/data/ch198809.pdf

[indyracer56]

Originally posted by IndyJim
I was at College that summer and watched it on live TV, have never seen it replayed.

Actually, it was replayed in 1985, when the Michigan race was delayed for a week due to problems with the (then) new radial tires from Goodyear.

I didn't save my tape from that broadcast either.

I don't believe that the 1985 race was ever shown on TV, was it?

[Chris Paff]

I have the race as well as many other indycar races from 1983-2003.. Im willing to trade email me at [email protected]

[THIRD TURN]

One of the best races I have ever attended.