1981: Driving for Pat Patrick, Mario finished 2nd in the 1981 race, five seconds behind winner Bobby Unser. In what would become one of the most controversial races in Indy history, Unser was stripped of the victory the following day when the official results were posted. Unser was penalized for passing cars under a caution flag, and Mario Andretti was declared the winner. It was (tentatively) Mario's long-awaited second Indy victory. Unser and his car owner Roger Penske protested the decision, and a lengthy and contentious appeals process dragged out through the summer. In October 1981, a USAC appeals panel voted to overturn the penalty, and restored Unser as the winner. Mario Andretti was reinstated back to second place, and his reign as a two-time winner of the 500 lasted only four months.