AR1 catches up with former Indy 500 competitors

2015 is the thirtieth anniversary of Danny Sullivan’s Spin and Win.

The Indy 500 is full of traditions: the Indy 500 Gordon bagpipers, the Purdue Marching Band, 33 drivers in 11 rows, the singing of Back Home again in Indiana and the release of the balloons at the start of the race to name a few.

Over the past few days, we here at AutoRacing1 have enjoyed relishing in the history of The Greatest Spectacle in Racing with a few of the competitors who have helped make this event what it is. One such individual race fans surely remember is Danny Sullivan. This year is the thirtieth anniversary of Sullivan's 1985 'Spin and Win.' Driving the #5 Miller American March/85C Cosworth for Roger Penske, Sullivan was running second on lap 120, when he moved to the inside of leader Mario Andretti entering turn 1.

As he moved past Andretti, Sullivan lost control in South chute, and spun an entire 360 degrees before miraculously regaining control. Twenty laps later Sullivan moved past Andretti again, this time making it stick. He would lead the remainder of the race and score his lone Indianapolis 500 victory.

We caught up Sullivan, who won 17 CART races from 1984-1995 and the 1988 CART championship about the spin that has come to define him. "I look at the replay of the spin and even though I know the outcome, I still hold my breath."

We also had the pleasure of speaking with another major contributor to Team Penske's success here at IMS. Rick Rinaman began working for Penske in 1983. The next year he served as the crew chief on Rick Mears winning Pennzoil machine. It would be the first of seven victories for the friendly Rinaman.

1984 – Rick Mears
1987 – Al Unser
1988 – Rick Mears
1993 – Emerson Fittipaldi
2001 – Helio Castroneves
2002 – Helio Castroneves
2009 – Helio Castroneves

Those seven wins tie Rinaman with the legendary George Bignotti. This year Rinaman won't be in the pits or changing a tire on one of the 4 cars that Penske is fielding. He will however be spotting for Juan Montoya during the race in turn 1.

Yesterday during lunch, we were introduced to five-time Indianapolis 500 starter John Martin. The Oklahoma-born Martin, who currently resides in Newport, CA scored a best Indy 500 finish of 9th in 1973. In addition to his 5 Indy 500 starts, Martin made another 48 USAC Championship Trail starts, recording a best finish of fifth twice.

The most enjoyable part of our conversation with Martin centered around the lengths he went to compete in Championship racing. For example, Martin often assembled, designed and took care of his race cars, and would drive the hauler from California to Indianapolis to compete in the Greatest Spectacle in Racing. And before getting into Championship Racing, Martin was a boxer. What exactly did Martin like about prize-fighting? The money. Martin noted that he could make $5 a round, or "pretty good money in those days" as he noted. On some nights, Martin would fight as many as 20 rounds.

Brian Carroccio and Lucille Dust contributed reporting for AR1