1982 CART Series

[Blaise Zebrataur]

Race #8 - AirCal 500

The CART Series made their 8th stop of 1982 at the Riverside International Raceway, in Riverside, California, for the AirCal 500.

Rick Mears led the field to the Green Flag and quickly jumped out to an early lead around the three mile road course, using his past experience on road courses, keeping all challengers behind him as two early cautions gave drivers only a few chances to make changes to their cars, but Mears was untouchable, never being passed on track, losing the lead only during pit stops, and would lead 83 of the event's 94 laps, to score his second win of 1982.

Other Noticeables:
Rick Mears scored his 2nd win of the year,
Mears led 4 times for 83 laps, including the final 19 laps,
It was the 12th win of his career in the CART Series and his first since Atlanta; 6 races ago,
Chris Kneifel(6th) and Al Unser Jr.(12th) made their CART Series debuts,
Gordon Johncock, who finished 11th, kept his points lead, leading Kevin Cogan by 45 points

1.1-Rick Mears (83 laps led)
2.2-Bill Alsup (5 laps led)
3.31-Roger Mears (5 laps led)
4.22-Dick Simon
5.15-Bill Tempero
6.47-Chris Kneifel-1 lap
7.46-Jerry Karl-1 lap
8.30-Howdy Holmes-1 lap
9.19-Bobby Rahal-1 lap
10.10-Al Unser-1 lap
11.20-Gordon Johncock-1 lap
12.33-Al Unser Jr.-2 laps (2 laps led)
13.3-Pancho Carter-2 laps
14.55-Josele Garza-2 laps
15.40-Mario Andretti-2 laps
16.7-Tom Sneva-3 laps
17.89-Dick Ferguson-3 laps
18.6-Tony Bettenhausen Jr.-3 laps
19.32-Hector Rebaque-3 laps
20.66-Pete Halsmer-5 laps
21.28-Herm Johnson-5 laps
22.68-Michael Chandler-6 laps (Clutch)
23.34-Johnny Parsons-6 laps
24.99-Vern Schuppan-10 laps
25.64-Greg Leffler-48 laps (Engine)
26.4-Kevin Cogan-72 laps (Camshaft)
27.5-Johnny Rutherford-89 laps (Engine)
28.21-Geoff Brabham-95 laps (Engine)

Rick Mears-1-30
Al Unser Jr.-31-32
Roger Mears-33-37
Rick Mears-38-51
Bill Alsup-52-54
Rick Mears-55-74
Bill Alsup-75-76
Rick Mears-77-95

7 Lead Changes among 4 drivers

Caution Flags: 2 for 5 laps
Lap 24 (Car #4 Stalled Backstretch),
Lap 30 (Car #55 Stalled Turn 4)

Margin of Victory: 51.678 Seconds

Time of Race: 3 Hours, 46 Minutes and 58 Seconds

Rick Mears leads the field to the Green Flag.



As the race starts, Geoff Brabham's Engine blows up.



While running in 3rd, Johnny Rutherford's Engine blows up.



The first caution comes out on Lap 24 when Kevin Cogan, who was running in 14th, stalls on the Backstretch due to a broken Camshaft.



The second and final caution comes out on Lap 30 when Josele Garza, stalls in Turn 4.



Rodger Mears passes Al Unser Jr. for the lead on Lap 33.



Rick Mears passes Rodger Mears for the lead on Lap 38.



While running in 6th, Greg Leffler's Engine blows up.



While running in 3rd, Michael Chandler's Clutch breaks up.



Rick Mears takes the Checkered Flag.

[Blaise Zebrataur]

The field has finished qualifying for the 9th race of the season the Road America 200 at Road America.

Bobby Rahal won the pole, with a time of 133.120 seconds, beating Johnny Rutherford by 0.184 seconds.

Other Noticeables:
Bobby Rahal won his 1st pole of the year,
Rahal won his 1st career pole in the CART Series in his 8th start,
Gordon Johncock, who will start 23rd, has a 45 point lead over Kevin Cogan

1.19-Bobby Rahal
2.55-Josele Garza
3.10-Al Unser
4.32-Hector Rebaque
5.2-Bill Alsup
6.6-Tony Bettenhausen Jr.
7.1-Rick Mears
8.64-Greg Leffler
9.31-Roger Mears
10.21-Geoff Brabham
11.30-Howdy Holmes
12.7-Tom Sneva
13.40-Mario Andretti
14.65-Phil Krueger
15.3-Pancho Carter
16.5-Johnny Rutherford
17.47-Chris Kneifel
18.28-Herm Johnson
19.66-Pete Halsmer
20.15-Bill Tempero
21.4-Kevin Cogan
22.34-John Paul Jr.
23.20-Gordon Johncock
24.56-Gary Bettenhausen
25.99-Vern Schuppan

[Blaise Zebrataur]

Race #9 - Road America 200

The CART Series made their 9th stop of 1982 at Road America, in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin, for the inaugural Road America 200.

Bobby Rahal led the field to the Green Flag and quickly jumped out to an early lead around the four mile road course, with Rahal using his past experience on road courses to keep all of his challengers behind him as his lead built up more and more with each passing lap, getting as big as thirty seconds, even during pit stops, Rahal was able to keep his pace and when the caution did finally come out, just after Rahal took the white flag, the race ended under caution, giving Rahal his first career win.

Other Noticeables:
Bobby Rahal scored his 1st win of the year,
Rahal led 1 time for 50 laps, which was every single lap,
It was the 1st win of his career in the CART Series in his 8th start,
John Paul Jr., who finished 20th, made his CART Series debut,
Gordon Johncock, who finished 17th, kept his points lead, leading Rick Mears by 32 points

1.19-Bobby Rahal (50 laps led)
2.10-Al Unser
3.55-Josele Garza
4.32-Hector Rebaque
5.6-Tony Bettenhausen Jr.
6.1-Rick Mears
7.65-Phil Krueger
8.2-Bill Alsup
9.30-Howdy Holmes
10.15-Bill Tempero
11.31-Roger Mears
12.47-Chris Kneifel
13.28-Herm Johnson
14.7-Tom Sneva
15.64-Greg Leffler
16.40-Mario Andretti
17.20-Gordon Johncock-1 lap
18.66-Pete Halsmer-1 lap
19.99-Vern Schuppan-1 lap
20.34-John Paul Jr.-1 lap
21.56-Gary Bettenhausen-1 lap
22.5-Johnny Rutherford-1 lap
23.4-Kevin Cogan-1 lap
24.21-Geoff Brabham-1 lap (Camshaft)
25.15-Bill Tempero-41 laps (Engine)

Bobby Rahal-1-50

0 Lead Changes among 1 driver

Caution Flags: 1 for 0 laps
Lap 50 (Car #21 Stalled Turn 9)

Margin of Victory: Under Caution

Time of Race: 2 Hours, and 37 Seconds

Bobby Rahal leads the field to the Green Flag.



While running in 13th, Bill Tempero's Engine blows up.



The lone caution comes out on Lap 50 when Geoff Brabham, who was running in 13th, stalls in Turn 9 due to a broken Camshaft.



Bobby Rahal takes the Checkered Flag.

[Blaise Zebrataur]

The field has finished qualifying for the 10th race of the season the Detroit News Grand Prix at the Michigan International Speedway.

A.J. Foyt won the pole, with a time of 43.846 seconds, beating Mario Andretti by 0.020 seconds.

Other Noticeables:
A.J. Foyt won his 1st pole of the year,
Foyt won his 2nd career pole in the CART Series and his first since 1979 at Indianapolis; 43 races ago,
Al Unser, who won this race one year ago, will be starting 22nd,
Gordon Johncock, who will start 20th, has a 32 point lead over Rick Mears

1.14-A.J. Foyt
2.40-Mario Andretti
3.21-Geoff Brabham
4.19-Bobby Rahal
5.2-Bill Alsup
6.6-Tony Bettenhausen Jr.
7.1-Rick Mears
8.30-Howdy Holmes
9.3-Pancho Carter
10.31-Roger Mears
11.36-Scott Brayton
12.69-Jerry Sneva
13.11-Dick Ferguson
14.65-Phil Krueger
15.55-Josele Garza
16.18-Mike Mosley
17.4-Kevin Cogan
18.12-Chip Ganassi
19.22-Dick Simon
20.20-Gordon Johncock
21.64-Greg Leffler
22.10-Al Unser
23.7-Tom Sneva
24.56-Gary Bettenhausen
25.72-Tom Bigelow
26.34-Johnny Parsons

[Blaise Zebrataur]

Race #10 - Detroit News Grand Prix

The CART Series made their 10th stop of 1982 at the Michigan International Speedway, in Brooklyn, Michigan, for the Detroit News Grand Prix.

A.J. Foyt led the field to the Green Flag but it was Mario Andretti who would lead the first laps around the two mile track before Geoff Brabham took over and would dominate for much of the day, leading 31 of the event's 75 laps, but Howdy Holmes, would work his way up from his 8th starting spot and would assume the race lead shortly after the lone round and pit stops and had to hold off Tony Bettenhausen Jr. and Brabham over the final 18 laps to score his first career win.

Finishing 18th was points leader, Gordon Johncock, who scored enough points to lock up the 1982 CART Series Championship with one race to go. It is Johncock's first ever championship in the CART Series.

Other Noticeables:
Howdy Holmes scored his 1st win of the year,
Holmes led 1 time for 18 laps, including the final 18 laps,
It was the 1st win of his career in the CART Series in his 15th start,
Gordon Johncock, who finished 18th, has clinched the 1982 CART Series Championship

1.30-Howdy Holmes (18 laps led)
2.6-Tony Bettenhausen Jr.
3.21-Geoff Brabham (31 laps led)
4.19-Bobby Rahal
5.2-Bill Alsup (18 laps led)
6.18-Mike Mosley
7.40-Mario Andretti (8 laps led)
8.65-Phil Krueger
9.69-Jerry Sneva
10.36-Scott Brayton
11.55-Josele Garza
12.22-Dick Simon
13.31-Roger Mears
14.3-Pancho Carter
15.56-Gary Bettenhausen-1 lap
16.12-Chip Ganassi-1 lap
17.14-A.J. Foyt-1 lap
18.20-Gordon Johncock-1 lap
19.1-Rick Mears-1 lap
20.10-Al Unser-1 lap
21.64-Greg Leffler-1 lap
22.7-Tom Sneva-1 lap
23.4-Kevin Cogan-2 laps
24.11-Dick Ferguson-29 laps (Accident)
25.72-Tom Bigelow-30 laps (Valve)
26.34-Johnny Parsons-75 laps (Did Not Start)

A.J. Foyt-Pole
Mario Andretti-1-5
Bill Alsup-6-13
Geoff Brabham-14-22
Mario Andretti-23-25
Geoff Brabham-26-30
Bill Alsup-31-32
Geoff Brabham-33
Bill Alsup-34-38
Geoff Brabham-39-45
Bill Alsup-46-48
Geoff Brabham-49-57
Howdy Holmes-58-75

11 Lead Changes among 4 drivers

Caution Flags: 0 for 0 laps

Margin of Victory: 0.039 Seconds

Time of Race: 1 Hour, 3 Minutes and 34 Seconds

A.J. Foyt leads the field to the Green Flag.



Mario Andretti passes A.J. Foyt in Turn 1 and would go on to lead the first lap.



Bill Alsup passes Mario Andretti for the lead on Lap 6.



Geoff Brabham passes Bill Alsup for the lead on Lap 14.



Mario Andretti passes Geoff Brabham for the lead on Lap 23.



Geoff Brabham passes Mario Andretti to retake the lead on Lap 26.



Bill Alsup passes Geoff Brabham for the lead on Lap 31.



Geoff Brabham passes Bill Alsup to retake the lead on Lap 33.



Bill Alsup passes Geoff Brabham for the lead on Lap 34.



Geoff Brabham passes Bill Alsup to retake the lead on Lap 39.



While running in 15th, Dick Ferguson crashes in Turn 4, despite no caution would come out.



While running in 24th, Tom Bigelow's Valve breaks.



Howdy Holmes passes Geoff Brabham for the 11th and final lead change on Lap 58.



Howdy Holmes takes the Checkered Flag.

[Blaise Zebrataur]

The field has finished qualifying for the 11th and final race of the season the Miller High Life 150 at the Phoenix International Raceway.

Kevin Cogan won the pole, with a time of 32.004 seconds, beating Bobby Rahal by 0.133 seconds.

Other Noticeables:
Kevin Cogan won his 1st pole of the year,
Cogan won his 1st career pole in the CART Series in his 16th start,
Dick Ferguson, who won this race one year ago, will be starting 24th,
Gordon Johncock, who will start 9th, has clinched the 1982 CART Series Championship

1.4-Kevin Cogan
2.19-Bobby Rahal
3.1-Rick Mears
4.22-Dick Simon
5.2-Bill Alsup
6.31-Roger Mears
7.6-Tony Bettenhausen Jr.
8.30-Howdy Holmes
9.20-Gordon Johncock
10.40-Mario Andretti
11.3-Pancho Carter
12.7-Tom Sneva
13.18-Mike Mosley
14.8-Gary Bettenhausen
15.68-Michael Chandler
16.21-Geoff Brabham
17.55-Josele Garza
18.64-Greg Leffler
19.65-Phil Krueger
20.34-Derek Daly
21.66-Pete Halsmer
22.5-Johnny Rutherford
23.47-Jacques Villeneuve
24.11-Dick Ferguson
25.39-Chet Fillip

[Blaise Zebrataur]

Race #11 - Miller High Life 150

The CART Series made their 11th and final stop of 1982 at the Phoenix International Raceway, in Avondale, Arizona, for the Miller High Life 150.

Kevin Cogan led the field to the Green Flag but it was Bobby Rahal who would lead the first twenty eight laps around the one mile track at the season finale as all twenty five drivers were looking to end the season on a high note. Rahal would lose the lead during the first round of pit stops to Rick Mears, who would build up a lead throughout the event, leading for thirty six laps before he was passed by Tom Sneva. Sneva would do just like Mears, building up a rather impressive lead quickly, and with the rest of the race being run under green, only six drivers would finish on the lead lap as Sneva would score his 2nd win of 1982.

Other Noticeables:
Tom Sneva scored his 2nd win of the year,
Sneva led 1 time for 86 laps, which were the final 86 laps,
It was the 4th win of his career in the CART Series and his first since Milwaukee Mile; 5 races ago,
Jacques Villeneuve(11th), Chet Fillip(15th) and Derek Daly(17th) made their CART Series debuts
Gordon Johncock, who finished 19th, won the 1982 CART Series Championship by 31 points over Rick Mears

1.7-Tom Sneva (86 laps led)
2.31-Roger Mears
3.40-Mario Andretti
4.30-Howdy Holmes
5.6-Tony Bettenhausen Jr.
6.68-Michael Chandler
7.3-Pancho Carter-1 lap
8.8-Gary Bettenhausen-1 lap
9.2-Bill Alsup-1 lap
10.64-Greg Leffler-1 lap
11.47-Jacques Villeneuve-1 lap
12.11-Dick Ferguson-1 lap
13.65-Phil Krueger-1 lap
14.18-Mike Mosley-1 lap
15.39-Chet Fillip-2 laps
16.21-Geoff Brabham-2 laps
17.34-Derek Daly-2 laps
18.1-Rick Mears-3 laps (36 laps led)
19.20-Gordon Johncock-3 laps
20.66-Pete Halsmer-4 laps
21.4-Kevin Cogan-4 laps
22.19-Bobby Rahal-4 laps (28 laps led)
23.22-Dick Simon-5 laps
24.55-Josele Garza-5 laps
25.5-Johnny Rutherford-110 laps (Engine)

Kevin Cogan-Pole
Bobby Rahal-1-28
Rick Mears-29-64
Tom Sneva-65-150

2 Lead Changes among 3 drivers

Caution Flags: 1 for 4 laps
Lap 27 (Cars #18 and 5 Accident Turn 1)

Margin of Victory: 16.432 Seconds

Time of Race: 1 Hour, 31 Minutes and 22 Seconds

Kevin Cogan leads the field to the Green Flag.



Bobby Rahal passes Kevin Cogan on the Backstretch and would go on to lead the first lap.



The first and only caution comes out on Lap 27 when Mike Mosley and Johnny Rutherford wreck in Turn 1.



While running in 20th, Johnny Rutherford's Engine blows up.



Tom Sneva passes Rick Mears for the 2nd and final lead change on Lap 65.



Tom Sneva takes the Checkered Flag.