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Anatomy of a Rivalry

A deep dive into the 1987 CART PPG Indy Car World Series, a season defined by legendary drivers, technological shifts, and a championship fight to the finish.

Season Overview ๐Ÿ‘‡ Explore The Teams ๐ŸŽ๏ธ

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Season Overview

A Champion Defends His Crown

The 1987 CART PPG Indy Car World Series was the ninth season of competition sanctioned by CART. The year culminated in a fierce championship battle that saw Bobby Rahal secure his second consecutive national title. The season, comprising 16 races and one non-points exhibition event, was a showcase of intense competition, with Michael Andretti finishing as the runner-up for the second year in a row. Italian driver Fabrizio Barbazza was distinguished as the Rookie of the Year.

The Upset at the Brickyard

The season's keystone event, the 1987 Indianapolis 500, was sanctioned by USAC but critically counted towards the CART championship points. The race produced one of the most stunning upsets in motorsport history. After Mario Andretti dominated the month only to suffer a late-race engine failure, Al Unser, who had started the month without a ride, drove to a remarkable victory. This win marked Unser's record-tying fourth triumph at the legendary Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

Triumph and Tragedy

The season was also marked by dramatic turns of fortune. Roberto Guerrero, after a spectacular win from last place at Phoenix, was a strong championship contender. His momentum was tragically halted in September following a severe testing crash at Indianapolis. The accident left him in a coma for seventeen days and sidelined him for the remainder of the season, a stark reminder of the dangers inherent in the sport.

The Great Rivalry

Bobby Rahal: The Consistent Champion

Defending champion Bobby Rahal and his Truesports team made a significant technical shift, moving from the March chassis to the ascendant Lola T8700, while retaining the proven Cosworth DFX engine. This strategic choice paid dividends. Rahal's season was a testament to consistency and seizing opportunities. He took the points lead with crucial back-to-back victories at Portland and the Meadowlands. His charge to a second-place finish at Nazareth and a decisive win at Laguna Seca ultimately allowed him to mathematically clinch his second straight title before the final race.

Michael Andretti: The Relentless Challenger

For the second consecutive year, Michael Andretti was Rahal's primary adversary. Driving for Kraco Racing, Andretti showcased formidable speed, winning the prestigious Michigan 500 and dominating the inaugural race at his home track in Nazareth. He consistently pressured Rahal, closing the points gap throughout the season. However, a blown engine at Mid-Ohio cost him a key opportunity, and a devastating alternator failure at Laguna Seca ended his championship hopes, cementing his status as the season's runner-up.

Mario Andretti: Dominance & Disappointment

The 1987 season was a microcosm of Mario Andretti's legendary career: unparalleled speed plagued by heartbreaking misfortune. Piloting the Ilmor-Chevrolet powered Newman/Haas entry, he was often in a class of his own, dominating races like the Indianapolis 500 (leading 170 laps) and the Michigan 500, only for engine failures to deny him victory. He secured wins at Long Beach and Road America, but crashes and injuries, including a separated shoulder at Pocono, prevented a sustained championship challenge, leaving fans to wonder what might have been.

Technological Battleground

The Ilmor-Chevrolet Revolution

A major storyline of 1987 was the expanded presence and success of the Ilmor-Chevrolet 265-A Indy V-8 engine. After its debut, it quickly became the powerplant of choice for top-tier teams, including Penske Racing and Newman/Haas. Mario Andretti gave the engine its first-ever Indy car victory in the season opener at Long Beach. This marked a significant challenge to the long-standing dominance of the Cosworth DFX, signaling a new era in the engine wars that defined high-level open-wheel racing.

New Power & Chassis Drama

The season saw the full-time entry of the Judd AV V-8, initially badged as the Brabham-Honda, which showed promise with Geoff Brabham securing two second-place finishes. In a highly anticipated move, Porsche also made its official Indy car debut late in the season. On the chassis front, Team Penske's ambitious in-house program struggled. The Penske PC-16 proved uncompetitive, forcing the team to abandon the cars during practice for the Indy 500 in favor of the previous year's March 86C chassis.

Championship-Winning Combination

The season's champions, Bobby Rahal and Truesports, demonstrated the power of a well-balanced package. Their decision to pair the new, highly effective Lola T8700 chassis with the reliable and powerful Cosworth DFX engine proved to be the winning formula. This combination provided the consistency and performance needed to outlast the raw speed of the Chevrolet-powered cars, ultimately securing the PPG Indy Car World Series title.

Season Schedule & Results

The 1987 Campaign

The 1987 season spanned 15 points-paying races across a diverse set of tracks, from tight street circuits to high-speed ovals. A notable addition was the newly paved Pennsylvania International Raceway in Nazareth. The season concluded with the non-championship Marlboro Challenge all-star event. Explore the full schedule and race-by-race summaries below.

RdDateRace NameTrackWinnerWinning TeamPole Position
1Apr 5Toyota Grand Prix of Long BeachLong Beach Street CircuitMario AndrettiNewman/Haas RacingMario Andretti
2Apr 12Checker 200Phoenix International RacewayRoberto GuerreroVince Granatelli RacingMario Andretti
3May 24Indianapolis 500Indianapolis Motor SpeedwayAl UnserPenske RacingMario Andretti
4May 31Miller American 200Milwaukee MileMichael AndrettiKraco RacingRoberto Guerrero
5Jun 14Budweiser/G. I. Joe's 200Portland International RacewayBobby RahalTruesportsRoberto Guerrero
6Jun 28Meadowlands IndyMeadowlands Street CircuitBobby RahalTruesportsMario Andretti
7Jul 5Budweiser Cleveland Grand PrixBurke Lakefront AirportEmerson FittipaldiPatrick RacingRoberto Guerrero
8Jul 19Molson Indy TorontoExhibition PlaceEmerson FittipaldiPatrick RacingBobby Rahal
9Aug 2Marlboro 500Michigan International SpeedwayMichael AndrettiKraco RacingMichael Andretti
10Aug 16Quaker State 500Pocono International RacewayRick MearsPenske RacingMario Andretti
11Aug 30LivingWell/Provimi 200Road AmericaMario AndrettiNewman/Haas RacingMario Andretti
12Sep 6Escort Radar Warning 200Mid-Ohio Sports Car CourseRoberto GuerreroVince Granatelli RacingRoberto Guerrero
13Sep 20Bosch Spark Plug Grand PrixPennsylvania International RacewayMichael AndrettiKraco RacingMichael Andretti
14Oct 11Nissan Monterey Grand PrixLaguna Seca RacewayBobby RahalTruesportsMario Andretti
NCOct 31Marlboro ChallengeTamiami ParkBobby RahalTruesportsRaul Boesel
15Nov 1Nissan Indy ChallengeTamiami ParkMichael AndrettiKraco RacingMario Andretti

Key Race Summaries

Phoenix: Roberto Guerrero delivered a stunning performance, winning from the last starting position after his car failed post-qualifying inspection for being underweight.

Indianapolis 500: In a race of high drama, Mario Andretti led 170 laps before his engine failed. Roberto Guerrero then took the lead but stalled in the pits, allowing Al Unser to sweep in for an improbable fourth Indy 500 victory.

Michigan 500: Mario Andretti again dominated, leading 114 laps before another engine failure. His son, Michael Andretti, inherited the lead and held on for the win despite a faulty clutch during his final pit stop.

Mid-Ohio: Bobby Rahal was dominating until a collision with a backmarker punctured his tire. This opened the door for Roberto Guerrero to take the win, but Michael Andretti, poised to gain significant points, blew his engine shortly after moving into second.

Laguna Seca: The championship was decided here. When Michael Andretti dropped out with alternator trouble, Bobby Rahal mathematically clinched the title. Rahal went on to win the race for the fourth consecutive year, celebrating both a race win and his second championship.

Teams & Drivers

The Field of Contenders

The 1987 season featured a deep field of talented drivers and iconic teams, all competing on Goodyear tires. From established powerhouses like Penske and Newman/Haas to rising challengers, the grid was packed with legends and future stars. Explore the full list of teams and drivers who competed during the season.

TeamChassisEngineNo.Driver(s)
A. J. Foyt EnterprisesLola T8700 / March 86CCosworth DFX / Chevy V-614, 41, 44, 84A. J. Foyt, Stan Fox, Davy Jones (R), George Snider
Alex Morales MotorsportsMarch 87CCosworth DFX21Johnny Rutherford
American RacingMarch 86CBuick V-62Jim Crawford, Gordon Johncock
Arciero RacingMarch 87C / 85CCosworth DFX12Fabrizio Barbazza (R), Ludwig Heimrath Jr. (R), Graham McRae
Bettenhausen MotorsportsMarch 86CCosworth DFX16Tony Bettenhausen Jr.
CurbMarch 87C / 86CCosworth DFX33, 98Tom Sneva, John Andretti (R), Ed Pimm
Dale Coyne RacingMarch 86CChevy / Cosworth DFX19Dale Coyne
Dick Simon RacingLola T8700 / T8600Cosworth DFX22, 23, 27Dick Simon, Wally Dallenbach Jr. (R), Ludwig Heimrath Jr. (R), John Richards (R), Jeff Wood (R), Fulvio Ballabio (R), Ian Ashley
Doug Shierson RacingMarch 87CCosworth DFX30Al Unser Jr.
Galles RacingMarch 87C / Lola T8700Judd / Cosworth DFX11, 15Jeff MacPherson, Geoff Brabham
Gohr RacingMarch 86C / 87CCosworth DFX56Rocky Moran, Gary Bettenhausen, Scott Goodyear (R)
Granatelli RacingMarch 87CCosworth DFX4Roberto Guerrero, Al Unser, Raul Boesel
Hemelgarn RacingMarch 87C / 86CCosworth DFX / Buick V-671, 81, 91Arie Luyendyk, Rich Vogler, Scott Brayton, Johnny Parsons
Interscope RacingPenske PC-16 / March 86CChevy 265A / Cosworth DFX25Danny Ongais
Kraco RacingMarch 87CCosworth DFX18Michael Andretti
Leader Cards RacingMarch 87CCosworth DFX24Randy Lewis
Machinists Union RacingMarch 87C / 86CCosworth DFX29, 44, 55, 59Pancho Carter, Chip Robinson, Tom Sneva, Josele Garza, Mike Nish, Rick Miaskiewicz
Newman/Haas RacingLola T8700Chevy 265A5Mario Andretti
Patrick RacingMarch 87CChevy 265A7, 20Kevin Cogan, Emerson Fittipaldi
Penske RacingPenske PC-16 / March 86CChevy 265A / Cosworth DFX3, 6, 8, 9, 25Danny Sullivan, Rick Mears, Al Unser
PorschePorsche 2708Porsche6Al Unser, Al Holbert
RaynorLola T8700 / T8600Cosworth DFX10Dennis Firestone, Phil Krueger, Derek Daly
TruesportsLola T8700Cosworth DFX1, 2Bobby Rahal, Didier Theys (R)

(R) - Denotes Rookie Driver

Final Championship Standings

The Final Tally

The 1987 championship was decided by consistent high-point finishes. The points system awarded drivers for their performance in each of the 15 championship races. Below is a detailed breakdown of the final top-10 driver standings, illustrating the season-long battle for supremacy.

PosDriverLBHPHXINDYMILPORMEACLETORMISPOCROAMOHNAZLAGTAMPts
1Bobby Rahal232262112335232217188
2Michael Andretti4429125651816131221158
3Al Unser Jr.214452083201823323642107
4Roberto Guerrero12121619195414371106
5Rick Mears920232131871021194335102
6Mario Andretti159171021015191911719174100
7Arie Luyendyk14318416619754411461198
8Geoff Brabham16824129422DNS8227125390
9Danny Sullivan22111311112042417532221287
10Emerson Fittipaldi19181671431171818621201078

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References

References

  1.  Andrettis Glad This Race Day Is History Pocono Quaker State 500
A full list of references for this article are available at the 1987 CART PPG Indy Car World Series Wikipedia page

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