1994 PPG Indy Car World Series
1994 CART season | |
---|---|
PPG Indy Car World Series | |
Al Unser Jr. | |
Season | |
Races | 16 |
Start date | March 20 |
End date | October 9 |
Awards | |
Drivers' champion | Al Unser Jr. |
Constructors' Cup | Penske |
Manufacturers' Cup | Ilmor |
Nations' Cup | United States |
Rookie of the Year | Jacques Villeneuve |
Indianapolis 500 winner | Al Unser Jr. |
The 1994 PPG Indy Car World Series season was the 16th national championship season of American open wheel racing sanctioned by CART under the name "IndyCar". The season consisted of 16 races. Al Unser Jr. was the national champion, his second CART title, and the rookie of the year was Jacques Villeneuve. The 1994 Indianapolis 500 was sanctioned by USAC, but counted towards the CART points championship. Al Unser Jr. won the Indy 500 from the pole position, his second career victory in that event.
Overview
The season opener was won by Michael Andretti on his return to IndyCar racing after his unsuccessful season in Formula One. The rest of the 1994 season was dominated by Team Penske's PC-23 chassis, which won 12 of the 16 races. Penske driver Al Unser Jr. took the title. The Rookie of the Year title was taken by young Canadian Jacques Villeneuve. Veteran Mario Andretti retired at the end of the season.
Another major story started before the season. Indianapolis Motor Speedway President Tony George announced plans for the formation of what would become the Indy Racing League, with an intended focus on oval track racing and predominantly American drivers. This was nearly identical to NASCAR, which at the time had all American drivers and just two (of 31) races on road courses. The 1994 IndyCar season schedule featured six oval track races (37.5%) and eleven full-time drivers were from the United States (including Italian-born Mario Andretti and German-born Dominic Dobson). ABC Sports' Paul Page said during the broadcast of the race at Surfers Paradise that this announcement, "could drastically affect what we know as IndyCar racing in the future".
Teams and drivers
Marlboro Team Penske expanded to a three-car operation with defending Indianapolis 500 winner Emerson Fittipaldi, rising star Paul Tracy, and 1990 IndyCar Champion and 1992 Indy 500 winner Al Unser Jr., defecting from Galles Racing after a disappointing 1993 campaign left him with just one win (Vancouver) and 7th in the standings. Penske changed to the new Ilmor engine in association with Mercedes-Benz rather than Chevrolet, who withdrew after 1993. Customer team Bettenhausen Motorsports with driver Stefan Johansson received the year-old PC-22 chassis as Penske began to utilise the new PC-23.
Rahal-Hogan Racing tackled a major project: the new Honda engine. Team leader Bobby Rahal and teammate Mike Groff would face a great challenge enduring the "growing pains" of the new engine. Fledgling Comptech Racing with rookie Parker Johnstone would be the only other entrant in 1994 to use the Honda engine, so Rahal and Groff would be providing the primary feedback.
Chip Ganassi Racing hired "prodigal son" Michael Andretti, who was ready to return to winning ways after the 1993 Formula One season left a bitter taste in his mouth. Ganassi would also use the Reynard chassis. Michael's teammate in 1993 was the great three-time World Champion Ayrton Senna; Senna's friend and countryman Maurício Gugelmin (another F1 veteran), in his first full season, would be Andretti's new teammate.
The
The second four-time Indianapolis 500 champion Al Unser joined A. J. Foyt and Rick Mears (the other two four-time winners) in retirement after failing to qualify for the 78th running of the race. He later admitted that at this stage in his career that he was more interested in watching his son's career than focusing on his own racing.
Drivers and teams
The following teams and drivers competed in the 1994 Indy Car World Series season. All teams used Goodyear tires; Firestone would return one year later after a hiatus lasting for two decades.
Schedule
O Oval/Speedway
R Road/Street course
- Indianapolis was USAC-sanctioned but counted towards the CART title.
Season Summary
Race Results
Race summaries
Race 1: Surfers Paradise
See 1994 Australian FAI Indycar Grand Prix
Race 2: Phoenix
This race was memorable for a scary incident at Lap 63. Hiro Matsushita, who had spent much time in the pits and was 18 laps down, and twice-lapped Teo Fabi touched in Turn 3 and hit the outside wall. Leader Paul Tracy, running just behind, was caught in the outer groove and was an innocent victim, piling into the two cars. Over ten seconds later, as the yellow flag came out and the field slowed down. Approaching the accident scene, Jacques Villeneuve moved into the upper lane to avoid a slowing Arie Luyendyk and Mario Andretti who were running side-by-side. This put the car into the marbles on the outside of the turn, leaving Villeneuve with no grip and heading straight for the crashed cars. With nowhere to go and no time to stop, Villeneuve T-boned Matsushita, thankfully just behind the cockpit area. This sent the front of Mastushita's car spinning to the bottom of the track, and throwing the engine and gearbox assembly into the side of Paul Tracy's car, partially striking his helmet. Dominic Dobson then collided with Villeneuve's car after the impact as it veered across the track towards the pit lane. No drivers sustained injuries, but Matsushita complained about a sore shoulder.
Another scary near-miss occurred during the final round of pitstops. Nigel Mansell, who had been fighting his way back through the field after stalling the car on his first pit stop, lit up his rear tires pulling away from his pit box, determined not to stall again. Unfortunately, the act of doing this caused him to pull out onto the warm-up apron too quickly on cold front tires, which gave little grip. Mansell understeered off the warm up apron, bouncing over the grass verge and back onto the track on the racing line, directly in the path of Buddy Lazier (mis-identified as Scott Goodyear on the ESPN broadcast). Lazier managed to slow just in time and avoided Mansell on the inside, waving his fist to make his displeasure known to the Englishman.
One other dangerous incident involved Mario and Michael Andretti. Late in the race, Mario suffered a mechanical failure on the backstretch and crashed into the outside wall, the car stopping at the apron at the bottom of the track. As the field came by, John Paul Jr. and Scott Goodyear slowed to avoid the accident just in front of Michael, creating a rapidly closing gap between the two cars. Michael, with nowhere to go, attempted to stop, but clipped John Paul Jr.'s right-rear tire. This broke off his left front wheel, which bounced over the nose cone into Scott Goodyear's car on Michael's right. The tire was then launched off of Goodyear's left-front wheel and into the air, sailing over the debris fence and landing in a spectator area. Amazingly, after two potentially fatal incidents, no serious injuries were reported. Emerson Fittipaldi scored the win ahead of Al Unser Jr. Third place Nigel Mansell was one lap down with Johansson and Vasser (both three laps back) completing the Top 5. Fittipaldi took the early championship lead with 37 PPG Cup points ahead of Johansson and Vasser with 22 each, Australia winner Andretti with 21, and Mansell at 19.
Race 3: Long Beach
Race 4: 78th Indianapolis 500 mile race
Race 5: Milwaukee
Raul Boesel started from the pole for the second year in a row. The race was run without incidents, but the racing was close and exciting. Marlboro Team Penske dominated the race with Emerson Fittipaldi and Indy 500 champion Al Unser Jr. Amazingly, 25 of 26 starters finished the race (only Stefan Johansson did not finish due to engine failure, 29 laps down to the winner),[3] giving the leaders major headaches concerning traffic. The race was called eight laps from the end (192 of 200 laps) due to ensuing rain, with Unser in front winning his third consecutive race. Fittipaldi was second and Paul Tracy, two laps back, completed a Penske 1-2-3 sweep. Michael Andretti and Nigel Mansell rounded out the top five. Unser's lead increased to 25 points over Fittipaldi, 30 over Andretti, 34 ahead of Mansell, and 41 up on Robby Gordon.
Race 6: Detroit
Race 7: Portland
Race 8: Cleveland
Al Unser Jr. claimed his third pole of the season. The first turn, which usually provides the most
This was Al Junior's 24th IndyCar win, and thus the 100th for the Unser family, adding to
Race 9: Toronto
Race 10: Marlboro 500 at Michigan
The lead pack included the Penske cars of Unser and Fittipaldi,
Race 11: Mid-Ohio
Race 12: New Hampshire
Fittipaldi led the first 46 laps until
By this time, the Penske cars were alone in the lead lap. Emerson Fittipaldi pitted before the restart, knowing he likely couldn't reach the checkered flag without another stop but he could have a much shorter stop within the final laps. That was the exact scenario that played out, as Emerson gained a lead as great as 22 seconds (nearly a full lap) after teammates Unser and Tracy pitted at Lap 152. By Lap 195 Emerson's lead had gradually shrunk by several seconds as he finally came into the pits. He was in his pit box for only 5.9 seconds, but Unser led another Penske 1-2-3 sweep ahead of Tracy and Fittipaldi. All three cars were separated by approximately nine tenths of a second from each other at the chequers, thanks to heavy traffic. Raul Boesel and Michael Andretti were two laps back in fourth and fifth. Dominic Dobson surprisingly qualified and finished sixth (three laps down) for PacWest Racing, who had recently tested at Mid-Ohio with Danny Sullivan. The 1988 PPG Cup Champion was rumored to drive a third PacWest car at Vancouver. The Penske juggernaut continued to lead the championship, with Unser leading at 173 points, Fittipaldi 133 points, Tracy 107, Michael Andretti 100, Gordon 87, and Mansell 79.
Race 13: Vancouver
Robby Gordon was on pole for the second time in his career; his first pole coming in July at Toronto. After completing 8 laps, rookie Alessandro Zampedri retired in spectacular fashion with a fire in the rear of his car. He headed for the runoff area in the Turn 5 chicane, pointing behind him to get the attention of the course marshalls. Paul Tracy and Teo Fabi had a coming together while battling in the top five. Tracy made a clean pass in the Turn 3 hairpin, and Fabi tried to get it back in Turn 5. Tracy was committed to his line into the corner, and contact ensued. This happened immediately after 7th placed Al Unser Jr. made his first pit stop, and while only Gordon and Nigel Mansell stayed out, Unser restarted 3rd. Gordon's chance to win was soon greatly damaged when he missed Turn 10 and had to use the pitlane to rejoin the circuit. Because he clipped a wall in the incident, he suffered a puncture (just like in Toronto) and made an unscheduled green flag pit stop, dropping to 17th and handing the lead to Nigel Mansell. While Mansell established an 11-second lead, Michael Andretti passed Unser for 2nd place, recovering his position he lost in the early laps when he had a right rear puncture. Mansell and Michael pitted under yellow after Willy T. Ribbs spun and stopped precariously in Turn 8, and Unser took the lead.
A lap after the restart, Paul Tracy spun in front of Emerson Fittipaldi in Turn 3 immediately after taking 5th from him. On Lap 95, Tracy was "sandwiched" between the Andrettis; Mario was ahead, a lap down, and Michael was behind. Tracy slowed conservatively for the Turn 10 complex (the final set of corners) and was hit by Michael. Unser won by 2.2 seconds over Robby Gordon, Michael Andretti, Scott Goodyear, and Maurício Gugelmin. A battle for fourth went wrong for two former World Champions, as Nigel Mansell tagged Emerson Fittipaldi in the final corner trying to outbrake him. Emerson fell to ninth in the results; resulting in a 56-point lead for Unser, who only needed a fourth-place finish at Road America to win the championship. Even if Fittipaldi, the only man who could stop Unser, won all three remaining races, Unser only needed 12 more points. Unser's eighth win of the year clinched the Nations' Cup for the United States and put him at 193 points, compared to Fittipaldi's 137, Michael at 114, Tracy 107, Gordon 104, and Mansell 83.
Race 14: Road America
The front row was all
, nearly losing control, but showing nice car control and was not collected.On the restart Tracy was caught up by Unser, who moved to the left to pass in the outside of Turn 1, and Vileneuve who chose the opposite side. Tracy moved to the right to outbrake Unser and keep the lead, touching with Villeneuve whom he wasn't anticipating. The order was now Villeneuve, Tracy, Unser,
Race 15: Nazareth
The fewest entrants arrived at Nazareth: twenty nine; the fourth race of the season with this count (Milwaukee, Michigan, and New Hampshire).
Race 16: Laguna Seca
This race was the record 407th and final
This race was also the last for Nigel Mansell. After the season, he ran the final three races in Formula One that season for Williams as the only active World Champion, as Alain Prost retired after the 1993 season and Ayrton Senna was killed while leading at Imola in May. After having raced at Magny-Cours in June, Mansell spun off in Jerez, finished fourth in Suzuka, and after title contenders Michael Schumacher and Damon Hill collided, won the finale in Adelaide, Australia. In 1995 he defected to McLaren, soon leaving the team due to an uncompetitive car.
Also exiting the sport were the King Racing team owned by drag racing legend Kenny Bernstein. A year later he would also pull the plug on his NASCAR Winston Cup operation; both were due to lack of competitiveness.
Final driver standings
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Nations' Cup
- Top result per race counts towards Nations' Cup.
Pos | Country | SUR | LBH | INDY | DET | POR | CLE | LOU | VAN | NAZ | Pts | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | United States | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 10 | 292 |
2 | Canada | 10 | 11 | 15 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 225 |
3 | Brazil | 2 | 1 | 4 | 11 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 6 | 3 | 9 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 213 |
4 | England | 9 | 3 | 2 | 22 | 5 | 21 | 5 | 2 | 23 | 26 | 7 | 18 | 10 | 13 | 22 | 8 | 88 |
5 | Italy | 7 | 26 | 9 | 7 | 17 | 4 | 7 | 9 | 7 | 4 | 16 | 20 | 18 | 4 | 6 | 5 | 86 |
6 | Sweden | 5 | 4 | 10 | 15 | 26 | 15 | 8 | 5 | 14 | 14 | 12 | 23 | 26 | 8 | 5 | 12 | 57 |
7 | Mexico | 13 | 10 | 8 | 28 | 16 | 23 | 10 | 7 | 13 | 23 | 6 | 8 | 22 | 5 | 21 | 7 | 46 |
8 | Netherlands | 25 | 22 | 11 | 18 | 21 | 19 | 14 | 21 | 31 | 2 | 13 | 27 | 6 | 22 | 26 | 6 | 34 |
9 | Japan | 15 | 27 | DNQ | 14 | 23 | DNQ | 21 | 15 | 18 | 6 | 18 | 17 | DNQ | 14 | 16 | 23 | 8 |
10 | Germany | 12 | Wth | 12 | 2 | |||||||||||||
11 | France | 12 | DNQ | 15 | DNQ | 29 | 18 | 1 | ||||||||||
12 | Australia | 24 | DNQ | 0 | ||||||||||||||
13 | Colombia | 33 | 0 | |||||||||||||||
Belgium | DNQ | 0 | ||||||||||||||||
Finland | DNQ | 0 | ||||||||||||||||
Scotland | DNQ | 0 | ||||||||||||||||
Pos | Driver | SUR | LBH | INDY | DET | POR | CLE | LOU | VAN | NAZ | Pts |
Chassis Constructors' Cup
Pos | Chassis | Top Team | Top Driver | SUR | LBH | INDY | DET | POR | CLE | LOU | VAN | NAZ | Pts | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Penske PC-23/PC-22 | Marlboro Team Penske | Al Unser Jr. | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 8 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 313 |
2 | Lola T9400/T9300/T9200 | Walker Racing | Robby Gordon | 3 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 226 |
3 | Reynard 94I | Target Chip Ganassi Racing | Michael Andretti | 1 | 5 | 6 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 6 | 4 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 6 | 3 | 208 |
Pos | Chassis | Top Team | Top Driver | SUR | LBH | INDY | DET | POR | CLE | LOU | VAN | NAZ | Pts |
Engine Manufacturers' Cup
Pos | Engine | Top Team | Top Driver | SUR | LBH | INDY | DET | POR | CLE | LOU | VAN | NAZ | Pts | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Ilmor D, C, A | Marlboro Team Penske | Al Unser Jr. | 2 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 316 |
2 | Ford XB | Target Chip Ganassi Racing | Michael Andretti | 1 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 258 |
3 | Honda | Rahal Hogan Racing
|
Bobby Rahal | 8 | 6 | 27 | DNQ | 7 | 6 | 11 | 17 | 2 | 27 | 23 | 9 | 7 | 9 | 11 | 15 | 69 |
4 | Mercedes | Marlboro Team Penske* | Al Unser Jr.* | 1 | 22 | |||||||||||||||
5 | Buick | Team Menard* | Eddie Cheever* | 8 | 5 | |||||||||||||||
Chevrolet C | Unknown* | Stéphan Grégoire* | DNQ | 0 | ||||||||||||||||
Greenfield V8 | Greenfield Industries* | Johnny Parsons* | DNQ | 0 | ||||||||||||||||
Pos | Engine | Top Team | Top Driver | SUR | LBH | INDY | DET | POR | CLE | LOU | VAN | NAZ | Pts |
- * Indianapolis 500 only
References
- ^ Siano, Joseph (1994-04-18). "AUTO RACING; Penske's Engine Has Opponents Singing Brickyard Blues". The New York Times. Retrieved April 20, 2010.
- ISBN 978-1937747336.
- ^ "1994 Miller Genuine Draft 200 results". racingreference.info. 5 June 1994. Retrieved 21 January 2022.
- Åberg, Andreas. "PPG Indy Car World Series 1994". Driver Database. Archived from the original on 27 June 2009. Retrieved 2009-05-19.
- "1994 PPG Indy Car World Series". Champ Car Stats. Archived from the original on 27 June 2009. Retrieved 2009-05-19.
- "Official Box Score: 78th Indianapolis 500-Mile Race at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway". Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Archived from the original on 27 June 2009. Retrieved 2009-05-19.
- "Standings after Laguna Seca". Champ Car World Series. Archived from the original on 27 June 2009. Retrieved 2009-05-19.