22:
490:"He chose to exercise his option," CART spokesman Mel Poole said. "Technically speaking, he dropped us because of that option, but CART would not have returned because he failed to make the necessary improvements in the facility... We didn't want to lose Pocono. It's in a good market with Philadelphia and New York nearby, but we couldn't ask the drivers to race there under the current conditions."
48:
433:
giving
Sullivan a two-second lead after all stops were completed. Fading brakes on Teo Fabi's car forced him to miss his pit stall and go around another lap, knocking him out of contention to win. Mears passed Andretti for second with 10 laps remaining and set his sights on Sullivan. Mears cut the lead to within a second before fading late.
503:
Mattioli said in 1990, "I foolishly felt I could take the race and bring it back to the stature of the old
Schaefer 500 (in the 1970s). Well, I made a mistake. We tried it for three years, and pumped money into it like it was going out of style. To run that race, with the expectation of losing money,
247:
Despite the withdrawal of the Quaker State oil company as sponsor, Pocono continued to call the race the Quaker State 500 in their promotional material, a reference to
Pennsylvania's nickname as the Quaker State. The oil company was reportedly distressed about this and issued a statement on Thursday,
499:
The Indy car event was viewed in comparison to the NASCAR event. Relative to NASCAR's growing success, critics said Indy car racing was unable to produce the weekly excitement that NASCAR could. Indy car drivers were not as personable to fans and did not carry the same star power as they were viewed
422:
After 150 miles, Fittipaldi had lapped all but Mears, Sullivan, and Fabi. Except for four laps during pitstops, he led 63 of the first 67 laps. Fittipaldi led the field back after the restart for
Luyendyk's caution. Suddenly as he went through turn two, Fittipaldi slowed off the pace and entered the
251:
Unlike most tracks, Pocono's outside retaining wall was made of steel boiler-plate instead of concrete. And unlike concrete, the wall was not flush with the asphalt track surface, with small gaps on the bottom that would allow debris to fall from behind the wall. The wall was rusty, uneven, and wavy
507:
In
September 1994, Mario Andretti spoke in support of Pocono's value to Indy Car racing. "We need Pocono. I'd love to see Pocono there. Pocono was, to me as a driver, the most challenging and best to drive of all the super speedways we ran... Fans on the east coast deserve that type of race. It has
480:
schedule was released in early
September, a race at Pocono was tentatively scheduled for August 19. As part of Pocono's four-year contract with CART beginning in 1987, the track had an escape clause that allowed them to cancel the 1990 event. An announcement was made in mid-September that Indy cars
236:
was the title sponsor of the Pocono 500. For 1989, the oil company did not renew their two-year contract for the sponsorship of the race. Spokesman for Quaker State, Ben
Faulkner, said the reason for the withdrawal was budgetary. "We had to bring costs under control. We dropped this and a drag race
515:
was formed, the series expressed interest in racing at Pocono. In July 1995, Joseph
Mattioli spoke highly of the IRL, but needed a race in late August, something the series was unable to provide. "As far as I'm concerned, the IRL is the best thing to happen to Indy cars in the last 20 years. With
432:
Michael
Andretti took the lead under the final caution for debris on lap 150. He and held it for the next 37 laps. Andretti held a four-second lead over Sullivan as final green flag pit stops began with 15 laps remaining. Sullivan pitted first, a timed stop for fuel. Andretti's stop was longer,
357:
In time trials on Friday afternoon, Rick Mears set a very fast speed early at 211.119 mph, over five and a half miles per hour faster than the track record. For a brief period, Mears held the track record at every oval that CART ever raced at. Mears' time on the pole was ended when
Emerson
500:
as strangers who appeared suddenly from other countries. Pocono's customer base preferred oval racing, and it was believed CART's shift to being a road course-dominated series reduced interest in the series as a whole for fans.
418:
Emerson Fittipaldi led the field into turn one and pulled out a sizeable lead. The caution came out on lap 10 when Randy Lewis slowed to a stop entering turn three. Arie Luyendyk crashed at the exit of turn one on lap 60.
286:
in context of their own superstitions. "Since we've opened, we've had about 60 500-mile races. I don't know of any really serious injuries. We think this is a pretty safe race track. The Italians have a feeling called the
426:"That was the best race I have ever been in," Fittipaldi said, "including Formula One. I have never been in a race where I was so dominant. I was like the little old lady, and the car just kept going faster and faster."
345:
crashed in turn three. He suffered a bruised outer left foot and a fracture of a small bone in his foot. He was cleared to drive but the car was damaged too severely to be repaired and was withdrawn from the race.
278:
said, "we're running under protest. I can assure you this is the last time that we will accept running here without the turns being paved and the turns and the main straightaway at least having concrete walls."
358:
Fittipaldi beat him with a speed of 211.715 mph to take the pole position. Teo Fabi was third fastest with a speed of 207.249 mph. It was the same front row as in the Michigan 500, two weeks earlier.
244:, claimed the withdrawal was due to the negative public complaints drivers had about the track conditions. "We had a good relationship, but they were in this to get good vibes. The bad vibes reflect on them."
366:
Saturday rain washed out most of track activity. A 30-minute practice session was led by Rick Mears at 202.575 mph. Al Unser was second at 202.479 mph, followed by Bobby Rahal at 201.347 mph.
415:
touched wheels in turn three, sending Luyendyk into the grass. The start was aborted. After getting his car back on track, Luyendyk regained the fourth starting position and the race began.
274:
Indy car drivers believed the steel walls were especially unsafe for their light and fragile cars. While long a supporter of Pocono and formerly a member of the track's board of directors,
354:
Friday morning's practice was led by Rick Mears at 208.681 mph, followed by Teo Fabi at 207.426, and Emerson Fittipaldi at 207.068 mph. No other driver was over 205 mph.
487:
While the decision to cancel the event going forward was made by the track, CART insisted they were prepared to drop the race regardless if improvements to the track were not made.
493:
Regardless of the Indy car event being canceled, Pocono replaced their boiler-plate wall with concrete at the end of 1989. The entire track was repaved prior to the 1996 season.
484:"We lost our shirt on this race," Mattioli said. "We drew half of what we used to draw for the Schaefer 500 and half of what we draw for the NASCAR race, which was a sell-out."
229:
Following the 1988 race, Pocono received much criticism from drivers over the condition of the track, focusing on the bumpy racing surface and condition of its steel wall.
429:
Rick Mears assumed the lead after Fittipaldi's problems and led 64 of the next 84 laps. Danny Sullivan, Teo Fabi, and Michael Andretti stayed close to the lead.
1166:
304:
added, "It's a shame the surface is so bumpy. This is a really beautiful track. I enjoy racing here because it is a challenge to compromise the handling."
291:. It means bad eye. You put the spell on somebody. Sooner or later, something's going to happen. They're going to spook themselves into this."
395:
brought out a late caution when he spun in turn one. Byrne survived a three-lap run to the finish to claim his second ARS win at Pocono.
298:
said, "(Pocono) is actually my favorite oval. But they need some capital improvements. Nobody is asking anyone to go into bankruptcy."
38:
456:
For the third consecutive year, the Pocono 500 was broadcast by NBC in a two-hour tape-delayed format at 4 p.m. on Sunday afternoon.
869:
851:
794:
776:
758:
691:
1156:
423:
pits. Suspension problems sidelined him for 22 laps before returning. He retired from the race after completing 167 laps.
252:
in spots. Entering the 1989 race, the track plugged the opening at the bottom of the wall in an attempt to reduce debris.
1161:
1074:
1048:
1022:
996:
970:
944:
918:
600:
573:
477:
635:
379:
marked their fourth consecutive year racing at Pocono. Rain delayed the race from Saturday afternoon to Sunday morning.
524:
would be very happy with what he is doing. It's very good. We'd run them in a heartbeat. We just don't have the time."
342:
282:
Mattioli insisted the track met safety standards set by CART and if a crash were to occur, drivers would view it as a
496:
Many observers said the end of the Pocono 500 was due to a transformation in Indy car racing throughout the 1980s.
481:
would not return to Pocono in 1990. Track owner Joseph Mattioli said the race lost too much money for the track.
335:
Emerson Fittipaldi was the fastest car in Thursday's opening practice session with a speed of 202.680 mph.
214:
551:
709:
457:
380:
259:
race, the boiler-plate wall broke in two separate crashes. On lap 80, the wall broke in turn two when
440:. He won $ 98,618 and averaged 170.72 mph over the 500 miles, breaking the race record set by
283:
899:
528:
218:
76:
106:
Temperatures up to 77 °F (25 °C); wind speeds up to 14 miles per hour (23 km/h)
812:
311:
723:
210:
66:
383:
won the pole and pulled out to a large lead. The first caution came out on lap five when
8:
532:
307:
301:
185:
121:
441:
319:
294:
The track was still favored by drivers, but all agreed that renovations were needed.
256:
315:
181:
837:
445:
437:
241:
512:
436:
Sullivan won by 4.2 seconds to earn his second Pocono 500 win, his first since
412:
275:
206:
202:
151:
125:
741:
1150:
408:
111:
21:
205:
in Long Pond, Pennsylvania, on Sunday, August 20, 1989. The race was won by
465:
396:
260:
233:
825:
399:
made his return to racing for the first time since 1981. He finished 7th.
339:
was second at 201.144 mph, Mario Andretti third at 200.049 mph.
521:
517:
392:
295:
248:
August 17, reminding people it was not associated with the race anymore.
170:
155:
314:
and entered Pocono leading the CART point standings. Two weeks earlier,
388:
384:
336:
268:
264:
166:
461:
47:
376:
288:
1075:"Mattioli Says Losing CART Was 'A Gain' For Local Raceway Part 2"
894:
892:
876:. (Pennsylvania). Associated Press. August 21, 1989. p. 21.
858:. (Pennsylvania). Associated Press. August 21, 1989. p. 24.
801:. (Pennsylvania). Associated Press. August 20, 1989. p. C5.
765:. (Pennsylvania). Associated Press. August 19, 1989. p. 12.
783:. (Pennsylvania). Associated Press. August 19, 1989. p. 9.
508:
everything going for it. I wish they would have kept that up."
141:
906:. (Indiana). Associated Press. September 17, 1989. p. 31.
889:
753:
751:
698:. (Pennsylvania). Associated Press. July 24, 1989. p. 25.
636:"Bad Start, Drivers Unhappy with Conditions for Pocono Race"
748:
730:. (Indiana). Associated Press. August 20, 1989. p. B5.
1049:"Mattioli Says Losing CART Was 'A Gain' For Local Raceway"
1023:"Mattioli Says Losing CART Was 'A Gain' For Local Raceway"
945:"Mattioli Says Losing CART Was 'A Gain' For Local Raceway"
1126:
1100:
666:
464:
were the play-by-play announcers. Sally Larvick and
263:
crashed and the turn one wall broke on lap 128 when
710:"1989 AC Spark Plug 500 Results - Racing-Reference"
997:"Has Pocono Seen It's Final Indy Car Race? Part 2"
886:1989 Pocono 500 Telecast: NBC-TV, August 20, 1989
667:"Conditions of Pocono Track Bothers Some Drivers"
361:
349:
330:
201:, the 19th running of the event, was held at the
1148:
813:"1989 ARS at Pocono Results - Racing-Reference"
1101:"IndyCar Racing Will Be Just Fine After Mario"
527:Indy car races finally returned to Pocono in
407:Approaching the green flag, row two starters
1167:Motorsport competitions in the United States
971:"Has Pocono Seen It's Final Indy Car Race?"
919:"Has Pocono Seen It's Final Indy Car Race?"
574:"Has Pocono Seen It's Final Indy Car Race?"
325:
633:
598:
39:1989 CART PPG Indy Car World Series season
795:"Fittipaldi's Performance is a Statement"
1098:
994:
968:
916:
880:
660:
658:
656:
1149:
629:
627:
625:
623:
621:
1124:
1099:Reinhard, Paul (September 18, 1994).
1072:
1046:
1020:
942:
724:"Pocono Should Be Fixed or Forgotten"
664:
552:"1989 Pocono 500 weather information"
531:and the Pocono 500 ran again through
237:we sponsored for budgetary reasons."
1127:"IRL Will Not Race Pocono Next Year"
653:
634:Fleischman, Bill (August 18, 1989).
599:Fleischman, Bill (August 23, 1988).
520:, that's the second best thing. His
618:
601:"CART Threatens to Cut Pocono Ties"
13:
995:Reinhard, Paul (August 23, 1988).
969:Reinhard, Paul (August 23, 1988).
917:Reinhard, Paul (August 23, 1988).
14:
1178:
900:"CART, Pocono; A Bitter Divorce"
777:"Fittipaldi Wins Pole at Pocono"
742:"1989 CART Schedule and Results"
665:Walsh, Scott (August 18, 1989).
370:
46:
20:
1118:
1092:
1066:
1040:
1014:
988:
962:
936:
910:
862:
844:
830:
819:
805:
787:
769:
451:
387:spun in turn one and collected
1125:Walsh, Scott (July 23, 1995).
870:"Sullivan is Winner at Pocono"
734:
716:
702:
684:
592:
566:
544:
362:Practice - Saturday, August 19
350:Qualifying - Friday, August 18
331:Practice - Thursday, August 17
1:
1073:Greco, Tony (June 13, 1990).
1047:Greco, Tony (June 13, 1990).
1021:Greco, Tony (June 13, 1990).
943:Greco, Tony (June 13, 1990).
759:"Fittipaldi Wins Pocono Pole"
538:
240:However, Pocono track owner,
224:
471:
7:
1157:1989 in American motorsport
10:
1183:
1162:Motorsport in Pennsylvania
852:"Sullivan Gets Pocono Win"
838:"1989 Pocono 500 Results"
826:1989 "Indycars at Pocono"
468:served as pit reporters.
213:victory. It was the last
177:
162:
147:
140:
132:
117:
110:
102:
92:
86:Permanent racing facility
82:
72:
62:
54:
45:
35:
30:
692:"NASCAR Pocono Notebook"
326:Practice and Time Trials
284:self-fulfilling prophecy
640:Philadelphia Daily News
402:
77:Long Pond, Pennsylvania
504:was just ridiculous."
377:American Racing Series
312:1989 Indianapolis 500
217:race at Pocono until
58:August 20, 1989
391:and Tom Christoff.
242:Dr. Joseph Mattioli
98:500 mi / 804.672 km
27:
671:The Scranton Times
513:Indy Racing League
343:Michael Greenfield
302:Emerson Fittipaldi
257:NASCAR Winston Cup
232:In 1987 and 1988,
186:Newman/Haas Racing
122:Emerson Fittipaldi
37:11th round of the
18:
1131:The Times-Tribune
904:Indianapolis Star
728:Indianapolis Star
580:. August 23, 1988
442:Johnny Rutherford
255:In the July 1989
192:
191:
88:2.5 mi / 4.023 km
41:
1174:
1142:
1141:
1139:
1137:
1122:
1116:
1115:
1113:
1111:
1105:The Morning Call
1096:
1090:
1089:
1087:
1085:
1079:Standard Speaker
1070:
1064:
1063:
1061:
1059:
1053:Standard Speaker
1044:
1038:
1037:
1035:
1033:
1027:Standard Speaker
1018:
1012:
1011:
1009:
1007:
992:
986:
985:
983:
981:
966:
960:
959:
957:
955:
949:Standard Speaker
940:
934:
933:
931:
929:
914:
908:
907:
896:
887:
884:
878:
877:
866:
860:
859:
848:
842:
841:
834:
828:
823:
817:
816:
809:
803:
802:
791:
785:
784:
773:
767:
766:
755:
746:
745:
738:
732:
731:
720:
714:
713:
706:
700:
699:
688:
682:
681:
679:
677:
662:
651:
650:
648:
646:
631:
616:
615:
613:
611:
596:
590:
589:
587:
585:
570:
564:
563:
561:
559:
548:
316:Michael Andretti
182:Michael Andretti
50:
36:
28:
25:
24:
17:
1182:
1181:
1177:
1176:
1175:
1173:
1172:
1171:
1147:
1146:
1145:
1135:
1133:
1123:
1119:
1109:
1107:
1097:
1093:
1083:
1081:
1071:
1067:
1057:
1055:
1045:
1041:
1031:
1029:
1019:
1015:
1005:
1003:
993:
989:
979:
977:
967:
963:
953:
951:
941:
937:
927:
925:
915:
911:
898:
897:
890:
885:
881:
868:
867:
863:
850:
849:
845:
836:
835:
831:
824:
820:
811:
810:
806:
793:
792:
788:
775:
774:
770:
757:
756:
749:
740:
739:
735:
722:
721:
717:
708:
707:
703:
690:
689:
685:
675:
673:
663:
654:
644:
642:
632:
619:
609:
607:
605:Boca Raton News
597:
593:
583:
581:
572:
571:
567:
557:
555:
550:
549:
545:
541:
474:
454:
405:
373:
364:
352:
333:
328:
227:
199:1989 Pocono 500
195:
97:
87:
67:1989 Pocono 500
26:1989 Pocono 500
19:
12:
11:
5:
1180:
1170:
1169:
1164:
1159:
1144:
1143:
1117:
1091:
1065:
1039:
1013:
987:
961:
935:
909:
888:
879:
861:
843:
829:
818:
804:
786:
768:
747:
733:
715:
701:
683:
652:
617:
591:
565:
554:. Wunderground
542:
540:
537:
473:
470:
453:
450:
413:Mario Andretti
404:
401:
372:
369:
363:
360:
351:
348:
332:
329:
327:
324:
276:Mario Andretti
226:
223:
207:Danny Sullivan
203:Pocono Raceway
194:Motor car race
193:
190:
189:
179:
175:
174:
164:
160:
159:
152:Danny Sullivan
149:
145:
144:
138:
137:
134:
130:
129:
126:Patrick Racing
119:
115:
114:
108:
107:
104:
100:
99:
94:
90:
89:
84:
80:
79:
74:
70:
69:
64:
60:
59:
56:
52:
51:
43:
42:
33:
32:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1179:
1168:
1165:
1163:
1160:
1158:
1155:
1154:
1152:
1132:
1128:
1121:
1106:
1102:
1095:
1080:
1076:
1069:
1054:
1050:
1043:
1028:
1024:
1017:
1002:
998:
991:
976:
972:
965:
950:
946:
939:
924:
920:
913:
905:
901:
895:
893:
883:
875:
874:Reading Eagle
871:
865:
857:
856:Reading Eagle
853:
847:
839:
833:
827:
822:
814:
808:
800:
799:Reading Eagle
796:
790:
782:
781:Reading Eagle
778:
772:
764:
763:Reading Eagle
760:
754:
752:
743:
737:
729:
725:
719:
711:
705:
697:
696:Reading Eagle
693:
687:
672:
668:
661:
659:
657:
641:
637:
630:
628:
626:
624:
622:
606:
602:
595:
579:
575:
569:
553:
547:
543:
536:
534:
530:
525:
523:
519:
514:
509:
505:
501:
497:
494:
491:
488:
485:
482:
479:
469:
467:
463:
459:
458:Charlie Jones
449:
447:
443:
439:
434:
430:
427:
424:
420:
416:
414:
410:
409:Arie Luyendyk
400:
398:
394:
390:
386:
382:
378:
371:Support races
368:
359:
355:
347:
344:
340:
338:
323:
321:
317:
313:
309:
305:
303:
299:
297:
292:
290:
285:
280:
277:
272:
270:
266:
262:
258:
253:
249:
245:
243:
238:
235:
230:
222:
220:
216:
212:
209:, his second
208:
204:
200:
187:
183:
180:
176:
172:
168:
165:
161:
157:
153:
150:
146:
143:
139:
135:
131:
127:
123:
120:
116:
113:
112:Pole position
109:
105:
101:
95:
91:
85:
81:
78:
75:
71:
68:
65:
63:Official name
61:
57:
53:
49:
44:
40:
34:
29:
23:
16:
1134:. Retrieved
1130:
1120:
1108:. Retrieved
1104:
1094:
1082:. Retrieved
1078:
1068:
1056:. Retrieved
1052:
1042:
1030:. Retrieved
1026:
1016:
1004:. Retrieved
1001:Morning Call
1000:
990:
978:. Retrieved
975:Morning Call
974:
964:
952:. Retrieved
948:
938:
926:. Retrieved
923:Morning Call
922:
912:
903:
882:
873:
864:
855:
846:
832:
821:
807:
798:
789:
780:
771:
762:
736:
727:
718:
704:
695:
686:
674:. Retrieved
670:
643:. Retrieved
639:
608:. Retrieved
604:
594:
582:. Retrieved
578:Morning Call
577:
568:
556:. Retrieved
546:
526:
510:
506:
502:
498:
495:
492:
489:
486:
483:
475:
466:Gary Gerould
455:
452:Broadcasting
435:
431:
428:
425:
421:
417:
406:
397:Salt Walther
374:
365:
356:
353:
341:
334:
320:Michigan 500
310:had won the
306:
300:
293:
281:
273:
261:Jimmy Horton
254:
250:
246:
239:
234:Quaker State
231:
228:
198:
196:
31:Race details
15:
522:grandfather
518:Tony George
393:P. J. Jones
381:Tommy Byrne
296:Bobby Rahal
171:Team Penske
156:Team Penske
136:211.715 mph
1151:Categories
539:References
389:Paul Tracy
385:Mike Groff
337:Rick Mears
308:Fittipaldi
269:Lake Speed
265:Greg Sacks
225:Background
211:Pocono 500
167:Rick Mears
1136:April 25,
1110:April 25,
645:April 25,
511:When the
478:1990 CART
476:When the
472:Aftermath
462:Tom Sneva
289:malocchio
271:crashed.
318:won the
215:Indy car
96:200 laps
93:Distance
73:Location
1084:May 25,
1058:May 25,
1032:May 25,
1006:May 25,
980:May 25,
954:May 25,
928:May 25,
610:May 25,
584:May 25,
184: (
169: (
154: (
124: (
103:Weather
676:May 3,
558:May 3,
163:Second
142:Podium
118:Driver
83:Course
178:Third
148:First
1138:2023
1112:2023
1086:2024
1060:2024
1034:2024
1008:2024
982:2024
956:2024
930:2024
678:2023
647:2023
612:2024
586:2024
560:2023
533:2019
529:2013
460:and
446:1974
438:1984
411:and
403:Race
375:The
267:and
219:2013
197:The
133:Time
55:Date
444:in
1153::
1129:.
1103:.
1077:.
1051:.
1025:.
999:.
973:.
947:.
921:.
902:.
891:^
872:.
854:.
797:.
779:.
761:.
750:^
726:.
694:.
669:.
655:^
638:.
620:^
603:.
576:.
535:.
448:.
322:.
221:.
1140:.
1114:.
1088:.
1062:.
1036:.
1010:.
984:.
958:.
932:.
840:.
815:.
744:.
712:.
680:.
649:.
614:.
588:.
562:.
188:)
173:)
158:)
128:)
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
