# 1986 CART PPG Indy Car World Series

The 1986 CART PPG Indy Car World Series season was the 8th national championship season of American open wheel racing sanctioned by CART. The season consisted of 17 races, and one non-points exhibition event. Bobby Rahal was the national champion, and the rookie of the year was Chip Robinson. The 1986 Indianapolis 500 was sanctioned by USAC, but counted towards the CART points championship. Bobby Rahal won the Indy 500, and would later become the first driver since 1980 to win Indy and the CART championship in the same season.
The first two races of the season were won by Kevin Cogan (Phoenix) and Michael Andretti (Long Beach), respectively, the first career wins for both drivers on the CART circuit. Rain delayed the Indianapolis 500, postponing it for six days. Bobby Rahal, driving for Truesports, passed Kevin Cogan with two laps to go, and won for car owner Jim Trueman, who was stricken with cancer. Trueman died less than two weeks later.
The season would shape up as a two-man battle between Rahal and Michael Andretti. Andretti won at Milwaukee, which put him in the points lead for the first time. On Father's Day, Andretti was leading on the final lap at Portland. His car ran out of fuel on the final turn of the final lap, and his father Mario beat him to the finish line by 0.07 seconds. It would go down in lore as one of the most shocking finishes in Indy car history, as well as the closest finish in Indy car history on a road course (until 1997).
Rahal was back in victory lane in July, winning the inaugural Molson Indy Toronto, but Michael Andretti still held the points lead. Rahal won four out of five races during a stretch in August and September, and emerged with a 9-point lead in the standings with two races left. Michael Andretti won a key victory at the second-to-last race of the season at Phoenix, while Rahal finished 3rd.
Going into the season finale at Tamiami Park, Rahal held a scant 3-point lead over Andretti. Neither driver was a factor at Miami, and just past the halfway point, Andretti dropped out with a broken halfshaft. Rahal effectively clinched the championship when Andretti dropped out. Roberto Guerrero won the pole and dominated the race, leading the first 111 laps. But on the final lap, his car sputtered and he ran out of fuel. Al Unser Jr. slipped by to steal the victory, his lone win of 1986. Unser Jr. won from 19th starting position, the furthest back any driver had won a CART road/street course race at the time.

## Drivers and Teams

The following teams and drivers competed in the 1986 Indy Car World Series season. All cars used Goodyear tires.
| Team | Chassis | Engine | No* | Drivers | Rounds |
| Bignotti-Cotter Racing | March 86C | Cosworth DFX | 2 (5) | Roberto Guerrero | All |
| Curb-All American Racers | March 86C | Cosworth DFX | 33 | Tom Sneva | All |
| Curb-All American Racers | March 86C | Cosworth DFX | 66 | Ed Pimm | All except 8, 11-12, 14 |
| Curb-All American Racers | March 86C | Cosworth DFX | 66 | Derek Daly | 8, 11-12, 14 |
| Curb-All American Racers | Eagle 86GC | Cosworth DFX | 98 | Jan Lammers | 1-3 |
| Dick Simon Racing | Lola T86/00 | Cosworth DFX | 22 | Raul Boesel | All |
| Dick Simon Racing | Lola T86/00 | Cosworth DFX | 23 | Dick Simon | 3, 10, 12 |
| Dick Simon Racing | Lola T86/00 | Cosworth DFX | 23 | Chip Robinson | 6-7, 17 |
| Dick Simon Racing | Lola T86/00 | Cosworth DFX | 23 | Ian Ashley | 8, 11, 14 |
| Galles Racing | Lola T86/00 (2-11, 13-17) March 86C(1, 12) | Cosworth DFX (1-4, 12-17) Honda/Judd (5-11) | 8 | Geoff Brabham | All |
| Galles Racing | Lola T86/00 | Cosworth DFX | 9 | Roberto Moreno | 1-11, 13-17 |
| Galles Racing | Lola T86/00 | Cosworth DFX | 9 | Pancho Carter | 12 |
| Galles Racing | Lola T86/00 | Cosworth DFX | 15 | Pancho Carter | 3, 9-10 |
| Hemelgarn Racing | March 86C (1, 3, 9-10, 13) | Cosworth DFX (1, 9-10, 13) Buick V-6 (3) | 71 | Scott Brayton | 1, 3, 9-10, 13 |
| Hemelgarn Racing | March 86C (1, 3, 9-10, 13) | Cosworth DFX | 71 | Jacques Villeneuve Sr. | 2, 4-8, 11-12, 14-17 |
| Hemelgarn Racing | March 86C (1, 3, 9-10, 13) | Cosworth DFX | 81 | Jacques Villeneuve Sr. | 3 |
| Kraco Racing | March 86C | Cosworth DFX | 18 | Michael Andretti | All |
| Leader Card Racing | March 86C | Cosworth DFX | 24 | Gary Bettenhausen | 1, 3-4, 9-10, 12-13, 16 |
| Leader Card Racing | March 86C | Cosworth DFX | 24 | Dominic Dobson | 2, 5-8, 11, 14-15, 17 |
| Leader Card Racing | March 85C | Cosworth DFX | 42 | Phil Krueger | 3 |
| Machinists Union Racing | March 86C | Cosworth DFX | 55 | Josele Garza | 1-11, 17 |
| Machinists Union Racing | March 86C | Cosworth DFX | 55 | Johnny Parsons | 12-13, 16 |
| Machinists Union Racing | March 86C | Cosworth DFX | 55 | Desiré Wilson | 14-15 |
| Machinists Union Racing | March 86C | Cosworth DFX | 59 | Desiré Wilson | 11 |
| Machinists Union Racing | March 86C | Cosworth DFX | 59 | Chip Ganassi | 1, 3 |
| Machinists Union Racing | March 86C | Cosworth DFX | 59 | Johnny Parsons | 4, 7, 9-10 |
| Machinists Union Racing | March 86C | Cosworth DFX | 95 | Johnny Parsons | 3 |
| Alex Morales Motorsports | March 86C | Cosworth DFX | 6 | Rich Vogler | 3 |
| Alex Morales Motorsports | March 86C | Cosworth DFX | 21 | Johnny Rutherford | All |
| Newman/Haas Racing | Lola T86/00 | Cosworth DFX | 5 (2) | Mario Andretti | All |
| Patrick Racing | March 86C | Cosworth DFX | 7 | Kevin Cogan | All |
| Patrick Racing | March 86C | Cosworth DFX | 20 | Emerson Fittipaldi | All |
| Penske Racing | March 86C (1, 3-5, 7-11, 13-16) Penske PC-15 (2, 6, 12, 17) | Cosworth DFX (1, 3-5, 7-10) Chevy 265A (2, 6, 11-17) | 1/ 86 (4) | Rick Mears | All |
| Penske Racing | March 86C (1-16) Penske PC-15 (17) | Cosworth DFX (1-16) Chevy 265A (17) | 4 (1) | Danny Sullivan | All |
| Penske Racing | March 86C (9-10, 17) Penske PC-15 (1, 3) | Chevy 265A (1, 3, 9-10, 17 | 11 | Al Unser | 1, 3, 9-10, 17 |
| Doug Shierson Racing | Lola T86/00 | Cosworth DFX | 30 | Al Unser Jr. | All |
| Truesports | March 86C | Cosworth DFX | 3 | Bobby Rahal | All |
| Part-time entries ||||||
| A. J. Foyt Enterprises | March 86C | Cosworth DFX | 14 | A. J. Foyt | 1, 3-4, 9-10, 13, 16-17 |
| A. J. Foyt Enterprises | March 86C | Chevy V6 | 44 | Mike Nish | 3 |
| A. J. Foyt Enterprises | March 86C | Cosworth DFX | 84 | George Snider | 3, 9 |
| A. J. Foyt Enterprises | March 86C | Cosworth DFX | 84 | Sammy Swindell | 10 |
| Arciero Racing | March 86C March 85C (11, 13) | Cosworth DFX | 12 | Randy Lanier | 1-9 |
| Arciero Racing | March 86C March 85C (11, 13) | Cosworth DFX | 12 | Steve Chassey | 11, 14-16 |
| Arciero Racing | March 86C March 85C (11, 13) | Cosworth DFX | 12 | Eddie Cheever | 17 |
| Arciero Racing | March 86C March 85C (11, 13) | Cosworth DFX | 12 | Jeff MacPherson | 13 |
| Bettenhausen Motorsports | March 86C | Cosworth DFX | 16 | Tony Bettenhausen Jr. | 3 |
| Bettenhausen Motorsports | Lola T86/00/ March 86C | Cosworth DFX | 61 | Arie Luyendyk | All except 5 and 12 |
| Dale Coyne Racing | Coyne DC-1 | Chevy | 19 | Dale Coyne | All except 3-4 |
| Gohr Racing | March 86C | Buick V-6 (Until Mid-Ohio) Cosworth DFX | 56 | Steve Chassey | 3-4, 9 |
| Gohr Racing | March 86C | Buick V-6 (Until Mid-Ohio) Cosworth DFX | 56 | Rocky Moran | 6-7, 10-11, 13-17 |
| Gohr Racing | March 86C | Buick V-6 (Until Mid-Ohio) Cosworth DFX | 56 | John Morton | 8 |
| Gohr Racing | March 85C | Buick V-6 | 65 | Rupert Keegan | 3 |
| J.P. Racing | Lola T900 | Cosworth DFX | 10 | Spike Gehlhausen | 3, 9-10, 13 |
| March Engineering | March 86C | Buick V-6 | 25 | Danny Ongais | 3 |
| March Engineering | March 86C | Buick V-6 | 31 | Jim Crawford | 3 |
| Mosquito Autosport | March 85C | Cosworth DFX | 16 (19) | Rick Miaskiewicz | 2-4, 6-8 |
| Pace Racing | Lola T86/00 | Cosworth DFX | 36 | Randy Lewis | 2, 6-8, 11, 14-15, 17 |
| Pace Racing | Lola T86/00 | Cosworth DFX | 36 | Dennis Firestone | 3, 9-10, 12, 13, 16 |
| Team Menard | March 86C | Cosworth DFX | 28 | Herm Johnson | 3 |
* - The number in parentheses for chassis & engine indicates the round number it was used at.
* - The number in parentheses for car number is the number the car used at the Indianapolis 500, if a different number was used.

## Season Summary
### Schedule

| Rd | Date | Name | Circuit | Location | TV Broadcaster |
| 1 | April 6 | Dana 200 for Special Olympics | O Phoenix International Raceway | Avondale, Arizona | ESPN |
| 2 | April 13 | Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach | R Streets of Long Beach | Long Beach, California | NBC |
| 3 | May 31* | Indianapolis 500 | O Indianapolis Motor Speedway | Indianapolis, Indiana | ABC |
| 4 | June 8** | Miller American 200 in Honor of Rex Mays | O Milwaukee Mile | West Allis, Wisconsin | ESPN |
| 5 | June 15 | Budweiser/G.I. Joe's 200 | R Portland International Raceway | Portland, Oregon | ESPN |
| 6 | June 29 | Chase Grand Prix at the Meadowlands | R Meadowlands Sports Complex | East Rutherford, New Jersey | NBC |
| 7 | July 6 | Budweiser Cleveland Grand Prix | R Burke Lakefront Airport | Cleveland, Ohio | ESPN |
| 8 | July 20 | Molson Indy Toronto | R Streets of Toronto | Toronto, Ontario | ESPN |
| 9 | August 2 | Michigan 500 | O Michigan International Speedway | Brooklyn, Michigan | NBC |
| 10 | August 17 | Domino's Pizza 500 | O Pocono International Raceway | Long Pond, Pennsylvania | ESPN |
| 11 | August 31 | Escort Radar Warning 200 | R Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course | Lexington, Ohio | ESPN |
| 12 | September 7 | Molson Indy Montreal | O Sanair Super Speedway | Saint-Pie, Quebec | ESPN |
| 13 | September 28 | Pepsi Cola 250 | O Michigan International Speedway | Brooklyn, Michigan | ESPN |
| 14 | October 4*** | Race For Life 200 | R Road America | Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin | Untelevised |
| 15 | October 12 | Nissan Monterey Grand Prix Featuring the Champion Spark Plug 300 | R Laguna Seca Raceway | Monterey, California | ESPN |
| 16 | October 19 | Circle K/Fiesta Bowl 200 | O Phoenix International Raceway | Avondale, Arizona | ESPN |
| 17 | November 9 | Nissan Indy Challenge | R Tamiami Park | Miami, Florida | NBC |
O Oval/Speedway  R Road/Street course NC Non-championship event *The Indianapolis 500 was scheduled for May 25, but postponed due to rain. **The Miller American 200 in Honor of Rex Mays was scheduled for June 1, but postponed due to the delay of running the Indianapolis 500 on May 31. ***The Road America race was started on September 21, but stopped after a few laps due to rain, the rest was run on October 4.

### Race results

| Rd | Event Name | Pole Position | Winner | Winning team | Race time |
| 1 | Dana 200 for Special Olympics | Mario Andretti | Kevin Cogan | Patrick Racing | 1:39:42 |
| 2 | Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach | Danny Sullivan | Michael Andretti | Kraco Racing | 1:57:34 |
| 3 | Indianapolis 500 | Rick Mears | Bobby Rahal | Truesports | 2:55:43 |
| 4 | Miller American 200 in Honor of Rex Mays | Michael Andretti | Michael Andretti | Kraco Racing | 1:42:45 |
| 5 | Budweiser/G.I. Joe's 200 | Emerson Fittipaldi | Mario Andretti | Newman/Haas Racing | 1:50:53 |
| 6 | Chase Grand Prix at the Meadowlands | Michael Andretti | Danny Sullivan | Team Penske | 1:49:17 |
| 7 | Budweiser Cleveland Grand Prix | Danny Sullivan | Danny Sullivan | Team Penske | 1:43:01 |
| 8 | Molson Indy Toronto | Emerson Fittipaldi | Bobby Rahal | Truesports | 2:05:50 |
| 9 | Michigan 500 | Rick Mears | Johnny Rutherford | Alex Morales Motorsports | 3:38:45 |
| 10 | Domino's Pizza 500 | Michael Andretti | Mario Andretti | Newman/Haas Racing | 3:17:13 |
| 11 | Escort Radar Warning 200 | Mario Andretti | Bobby Rahal | Truesports | 1:56:18 |
| 12 | Molson Indy Montreal | Rick Mears | Bobby Rahal | Truesports | 1:48:05 |
| 13 | Pepsi Cola 250 | Rick Mears | Bobby Rahal | Truesports | 1:22:33 |
| 14 | Race for Life 200 | Bobby Rahal | Emerson Fittipaldi | Patrick Racing | 2:26:42 |
| 15 | Champion Spark Plug 300k | Mario Andretti | Bobby Rahal | Truesports | 1:33:20 |
| 16 | Circle K/Fiesta Bowl 200 | Bobby Rahal | Michael Andretti | Kraco Racing | 1:29:06 |
| 17 | Nissan Indy Challenge | Roberto Guerrero | Al Unser Jr. | Doug Shierson Racing | 1:52:45 |
* Indianapolis was USAC-sanctioned but counted towards the CART title.

### Drivers points standings

| Pos | Driver | PHX1 | LBH | INDY | MIL | POR | MEA | CLE | TOR | MIC1 | POC | MDO | SAN | MIC2 | ROA | LAG | PHX2 | MIA | Pts |
| 1 | Bobby Rahal | 16 | 18 | 1 | 6 | 20 | 3 | 15 | 1 | 10* | 14 | 1 | 1* | 1 | 5 | 1* | 3 | 8 | 179 |
| 2 | Michael Andretti | 15* | 1* | 6 | 1* | 2* | 20 | 2 | 19 | 11 | 11* | 10 | 6 | 2* | 2* | 3 | 1* | 18 | 171 |
| 3 | Danny Sullivan | 4 | 11 | 9 | 11 | 11 | 1 | 1* | 2 | 25 | 16 | 3* | 5 | 12 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 26 | 147 |
| 4 | Al Unser Jr. | 12 | 2 | 5 | 8 | 3 | 9 | 8 | 4* | 8 | 6 | 5 | 2 | 21 | 11 | 23 | 6 | 1 | 137 |
| 5 | Mario Andretti | 7 | 5 | 32 | 5 | 1 | 24 | 3 | 3 | 21 | 1 | 24 | 8 | 10 | 9 | 4 | 4 | 11 | 136 |
| 6 | Kevin Cogan | 1 | 17 | 2 | 12 | 14 | 21 | 23 | 5 | 22 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 20 | 9 | 14 | 4 | 115 |
| 7 | Emerson Fittipaldi | 3 | 16 | 7 | 24 | 12 | 2 | 13 | 17 | 20 | 19 | 21 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 7 | 5 | 20 | 103 |
| 8 | Rick Mears | 19 | 20 | 3* | 3 | 16 | 19 | 4 | 8 | 12 | 8 | 17 | 18 | 8 | 3 | 17 | 20 | 3 | 89 |
| 9 | Roberto Guerrero | 8 | DNS | 4 | 18 | 13 | 4* | 17 | 20 | 24 | 21 | 2 | 17 | 22 | 4 | 5 | 12 | 2* | 87 |
| 10 | Tom Sneva | 2 | 4 | 33 | 2 | 4 | 17 | 5 | 9 | 18 | 15 | 12 | 13 | 5 | 12 | 22 | 18 | 22 | 82 |
| 11 | Johnny Rutherford | 5 | 9 | 8 | 4 | 15 | 7 | 10 | 10 | 1 | 18 | 8 | 16 | 9 | 14 | 12 | 9 | 12 | 78 |
| 12 | Geoff Brabham | 10 | 3 | 12 | 21 | 7 | 22 | 14 | 14 | 4 | 12 | 20 | 11 | 11 | 22 | 6 | 8 | 5 | 64 |
| 13 | Raul Boesel | 13 | 19 | 13 | 14 | 8 | 23 | 6 | 7 | 5 | 5 | 7 | 9 | 15 | 8 | 14 | 13 | 19 | 54 |
| 14 | Josele Garza | 23 | 7 | 18 | 7 | 17 | 8 | 7 | 23 | 2 | 7 | 14 | | | | | | 24 | 45 |
| 15 | Jacques Villeneuve Sr. | | 8 | 20 | 15 | 5 | 5 | 19 | 24 | | | 11 | 19 | | 10 | 19 | 16 | 6 | 38 |
| 16 | Roberto Moreno | 20 | 6 | 19 | 13 | 18 | 18 | 25 | 18 | 6 | 10 | 16 | | 6 | 16 | 20 | 10 | 17 | 30 |
| 17 | Arie Luyendyk | 6 | 15 | 15 | 9 | | 16 | 24 | 6 | 23 | 17 | 18 | | 13 | 7 | 10 | 15 | 21 | 29 |
| 18 | Ed Pimm | 22 | 22 | 17 | 10 | 6 | 12 | DNS | | 15 | 24 | | | 7 | | 11 | 7 | 10 | 29 |
| 19 | Pancho Carter | | | 16 | | | | | | 3 | 3 | | 15 | | | | | | 28 |
| 20 | Randy Lanier | 11 | 13 | 10 | 20 | 9 | 6 | 9 | 21 | 19 | | | | | | | | | 21 |
| 21 | A. J. Foyt | 17 | | 24 | 19 | | | | | 9 | 4 | | | 16 | | | 22 | 23 | 16 |
| 22 | Jan Lammers | 9 | 14 | DNQ | | | | | | | | | | | | 8 | 23 | 9 | 13 |
| 23 | Derek Daly | | | DNQ | | | | | | | | 6 | 10 | | 13 | | | | 11 |
| 24 | Johnny Parsons | | | 27 | 22 | | | 21 | | 16 | 29 | | 7 | 23 | | | 11 | | 8 |
| 25 | Randy Lewis | | 10 | | | | 10 | 20 | 11 | | | 15 | | | 24 | 18 | | 14 | 8 |
| 26 | Chip Robinson RY | | | | | | 14 | | | | | | | | | | | 7 | 6 |
| 27 | Spike Gehlhausen | | | DNQ | | | | | | 7 | 22 | | | 18 | | | | | 6 |
| 28 | Ian Ashley | | | | | | | | 15 | | | 9 | | | 23 | | | | 4 |
| 29 | Sammy Swindell | | | | | | | | | | 9 | | | | | | | | 4 |
| 30 | Mike Nish R | | | DNQ | DNS | 10 | 24 | | 22 | | | | | | | | | | 3 |
| 31 | Dominic Dobson R | | 12 | | | 19 | 11 | 18 | 16 | | | 19 | | | 18 | 21 | | 13 | 3 |
| 32 | Rick Miaskiewicz R | | 21 | DNQ | 16 | | 15 | 11 | 13 | DNS | | | | | | | | | 2 |
| 33 | Gary Bettenhausen | 21 | | 11 | 23 | | | | | 26 | 13 | | 21 | 20 | | | 19 | | 2 |
| 34 | Dale Coyne | DNQ | 23 | | | 21 | DNQ | 12 | DNQ | DNQ | 26 | 23 | 12 | DNQ | 17 | DNS | DNQ | 25 | 2 |
| 35 | John Morton | | | | | | | | 12 | | | | | | | | | | 1 |
| 36 | Rocky Moran R | | | | | | 13 | 16 | | | 25 | 25 | | DNQ | 21 | 15 | 21 | 16 | 0 |
| 37 | Jeff MacPherson | | | | | | | | | | | 22 | | | 15 | 13 | DNQ | | 0 |
| 38 | Desiré Wilson | | | | | | | | | | | 13 | | | 19 | 16 | | | 0 |
| 39 | Scott Brayton | 24 | | 30 | | | | | | 13 | 27 | | | 19 | | | | | 0 |
| 40 | Dennis Firestone | | | Wth | | | | | | 17 | 28 | | 14 | 14 | | | 17 | | 0 |
| 41 | Al Unser | 18 | | 22 | | | | | | 14 | 20 | | | | | | | 15 | 0 |
| 42 | Dick Simon | | | 14 | | | | 22 | | | 23 | | 20 | | | | | | 0 |
| 43 | Chip Ganassi | 14 | | 21 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 0 |
| 44 | Steve Chassey | | | DNQ | 17 | | | | | 28 | | | | 17 | | | | | 0 |
| 45 | Danny Ongais | | | 23 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 0 |
| 46 | Tom Phillips | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 24 | | | 0 |
| 47 | Rich Vogler | | | 25 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 0 |
| 48 | George Snider | | | 26 | | | | | | 27 | | | | | | | | | 0 |
| 49 | Eddie Cheever | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 27 | 0 |
| 50 | Tony Bettenhausen Jr. | | | 28 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 0 |
| 51 | Jim Crawford | | | 29 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 0 |
| 52 | Phil Krueger | | | 31 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 0 |
| - | Rupert Keegan R | | | DNQ | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - |
| - | Herm Johnson | | | DNQ | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - |
| - | Steve Bren R | | | DNQ | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - |
| - | John Paul Jr. | | | Wth | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - |
| Pos | Driver | PHX1 | LBH | INDY | MIL | POR | MEA | CLE | TOR | MIC1 | POC | MDO | SAN | MIC2 | ROA | LAG | PHX2 | MIA | Pts |
| Color | Result |
| Gold | Winner |
| Silver | 2nd place |
| Bronze | 3rd place |
| Green | 4th-6th place |
| Light Blue | 7th–12th place |
| Dark Blue | Finished (Outside Top 12) |
| Purple | Did not finish |
| Red | Did not qualify (DNQ) |
| Brown | Withdrawn (Wth) |
| Black | Disqualified (DSQ) |
| White | Did not start (DNS) |
| Blank | Did not participate (DNP) |
| Blank | Driver replacement (Rpl) |
| Blank | Injured (Inj) |
| Blank | Race not held (NH) |
| Blank | Not competing |
In-line notation :
| Bold | Pole position |
| Italics | Ran fastest race lap |
| * | Led most race laps |
| RY | Rookie of the Year |
| R | Rookie |