26 years ago, Rick Mears established an all-time Indy car speed mark of 223mph – an increase of just under 10mph from the previous year, following a repaving of the track – with his Team Penske March-Cosworth at Michigan International Speedway.
The race proved a classic 500-mile endurance run that was typical of the era, with Mears among those to fall by the wayside with a blown engine. Johnny Rutherford came through to win for Alex Morales' underdog Vermont American team, with just six other cars running at the finish, only one of which was on the lead lap.