1989 CART PPG Indy Car World Series

The 1989 CART PPG Indy Car World Series season was the 11th national championship season of American open wheel racing sanctioned by CART. The season consisted of 15 races, and one non-points exhibition event. Emerson Fittipaldi was the national champion, and the rookie of the year was Bernard Jourdain. Fittipaldi became the second driver after Mario Andretti to win the Formula One World Championship and the CART championship.

1989 CART season
PPG Indy Car World Series


Emerson Fittipaldi
Season
Races16
Start dateApril 9
End dateOctober 15
Awards
Drivers' championBrazil Emerson Fittipaldi
Constructors' CupUnited States Penske
Manufacturers' CupUnited States Chevrolet
Nations' CupUnited States United States
Rookie of the YearMexico Bernard Jourdain
Indianapolis 500 winnerBrazil Emerson Fittipaldi
← 1988
1990 →

The 1989 Indianapolis 500 was sanctioned by USAC, but counted towards the CART points championship. Emerson Fittipaldi won the Indy 500, and would later become the first driver since Bobby Rahal in 1986 to win Indy and the CART championship in the same season.

Emerson Fittipaldi won a total of five races, four pole positions, and had a total of eight podium finishes en route to the championship. Rick Mears won three races, and had a total of 14 top ten finishes, more consistent than Fittipaldi. The championship battle came down to those two drivers. In the second-to-last race of the season at Nazareth, Fittipaldi and Mears finished 1st-2nd. Fittipaldi effectively clinched the championship by virtue of a now 22-point lead over Mears. If Mears were to win the season finale at Laguna Seca, win the pole, and lead the most laps, he could tie Fittipaldi in points if Fittipaldi finished 13th or worse. However, Fittipaldi held the tiebreaker with 5 wins versus Mears with 3. Mears did all three at Laguna Seca (won the pole, won the race and led the most laps), but the tiebreaker scenario was moot as Fittipaldi managed a 5th place in the race. It was Mears' first road course victory since Riverside in 1982, and the first since he suffered serious leg injuries in 1984. It was also the last road course win of his career.

At Mid-Ohio, Teo Fabi scored the first and only win of the Porsche Indy Car team. Fabi had eleven top tens, and finished 4th in points. Cosworth unveiled a new engine, the "short-stroke" DFS to some fanfare, but little success. Bobby Rahal won one race in 1989 with the Cosworth DFS in July at the Meadowlands. It would stand as the only race victory for the DFS powerplant.

Drivers and constructors

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The following teams and drivers competed for the 1989 Indy Car World Series. All entries utilized Goodyear tires.

Team Chassis Engine Car # Drivers Rounds
Full-time
  Newman/Haas Racing Lola Chevrolet 5   Mario Andretti All
6   Michael Andretti All
  Patrick Racing Penske Chevrolet 20   Emerson Fittipaldi All
  Galles Racing Lola Chevrolet 2   Al Unser Jr. All
  Team Penske Penske Chevrolet 1   Danny Sullivan All except 6-7
  Geoff Brabham 6
  Al Unser 7
4   Rick Mears All
25   Al Unser 3, 10-11
  Porsche North America March Porsche 8   Teo Fabi All
  Truesports Lola Judd 3   Scott Pruett All
  Kraco Racing Lola Cosworth 18   Bobby Rahal All
  Dick Simon Racing Lola Cosworth/Buick 7/9   Arie Luyendyk All
22   Scott Brayton All
28   Randy Lewis All except 14
17   Joe Sposato 15
  Doug Shierson Racing Lola Judd 30   Raul Boesel All
  Raynor Racing Lola Judd 10   Derek Daly All
  Machinists Union Racing March Cosworth 11   Kevin Cogan All except 14
  Johnny Rutherford 14
Lola 29/24   Pancho Carter All
  Protofab Racing Lola Cosworth 15   James Weaver 2, 5, 7
65   John Jones All except 14
  A. J. Foyt Enterprises Lola Cosworth 14   A. J. Foyt All except 7 and 15
  Rocky Moran 15
March 29   Rich Vogler 3
  Andale Racing Lola Cosworth 69   Bernard Jourdain All except 13
  Euromotorsport Lola Cosworth 50/16   Jean-Pierre Frey 1, 4-6
50   Davy Jones 3
  Scott Atchison 6-8
  Tero Palmroth 11
  Guido Daccò 10, 12-15
  Alex Morales Motorsports March Alfa Romeo 21   Roberto Guerrero 5-15
  Arciero Racing Penske Cosworth 12   Didier Theys 1-4
  Fabrizio Barbazza 5-9, 12-13, 15
  Rich Vogler 10
  Hemelgarn Racing Lola Judd/Buick 71   Ludwig Heimrath Jr. 1-4, 9-10, 12-15
  Tero Palmroth 5
71/91   Didier Theys 5-8
91   Gordon Johncock 3, 10-11
  Scott Goodyear 9, 13
  Robby Unser 15
81   Bill Vukovich III 3
  Vince Granatelli Racing Lola/March Buick/Cosworth 9   Didier Theys 12-15
9/70   John Andretti 3, 9-11, 14-15
9/7   Tom Sneva 1-8
Part-time
  Bayside Motorsports Lola Cosworth 86   Dominic Dobson 1-3, 5-6, 8-9, 15
  Dale Coyne Racing Lola Cosworth 19   Guido Daccò 1-8
  Dale Coyne 11
  Fulvio Ballabio 12-13
  Ken Johnson 15
  John Paul Jr. 10
  ATEC Environmental Lola Cosworth 96   Guido Daccò 9
  Bernstein Racing Lola Buick 15   Jim Crawford 3
  Saleen March Cosworth 59   Steve Saleen 2-3, 5, 7, 9, 12-13, 15
  Gohr Racing Lola/March Cosworth 56   Jeff Wood 7-10, 12-15
  Tero Palmroth 2-3
  Bettenhausen Motorsports Lola Cosworth 16   Jon Beekhuis 9, 13, 15
  Steve Chassey 8, 10
  Michael Greenfield 11
  Dennis Vitolo 5, 12
15/16   John Paul Jr. 7-8
27   Fulvio Ballabio 2
  Tony Bettenhausen Jr. 11
  Mann Motorsports Lola Buick 99   Gary Bettenhausen 3
96   John Paul Jr. 5, 15
  Mark Dismore 12
  Stoops Freightliner Lola Cosworth 17   Johnny Rutherford 10-11
  Steve Butler 3
  U.S. Engineering Lola Cosworth 44   Scott Harrington 3, 13, 15
  Phil Krueger 10
  Team Lazier March Cosworth 35   Buddy Lazier 3
  Curb Racing March Cosworth 33   Rocky Moran 3

Season Summary

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Schedule

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Since Miami was dropped from the schedule the season finale and the Marlboro Challenge was moved to Laguna Seca. A race at Fuji Speedway in Japan was originally scheduled for March 26,[1] but was eventually cancelled.[2]

Rd Date Race Name Track City
1 April 9 Checker Autoworks 200 Presented by
Phoenix International Raceway and the Fiesta Bowl
 O  Phoenix International Raceway Phoenix, Arizona
2 April 16 Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach  R  Long Beach Street Circuit Long Beach, California
3 May 28 Indianapolis 500  O  Indianapolis Motor Speedway Speedway, Indiana
4 June 4 Miller High Life 200  O  Milwaukee Mile West Allis, Wisconsin
5 June 18 Valvoline Detroit Grand Prix  R  Streets of Detroit Detroit, Michigan
6 June 25 Budweiser/G.I. Joe's 200  R  Portland International Raceway Portland, Oregon
7 July 2 Budweiser Cleveland Grand Prix  R  Burke Lakefront Airport Cleveland, Ohio
8 July 16 Marlboro Grand Prix  R  Meadowlands Street Circuit East Rutherford, New Jersey
9 July 23 Molson Indy Toronto  R  Exhibition Place Toronto, Ontario
10 August 6 Marlboro 500  O  Michigan International Speedway Brooklyn, Michigan
11 August 20 Quaker State 500  O  Pocono International Raceway Long Pond, Pennsylvania
12 September 3 Red Roof Inns 200  R  Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course Lexington, Ohio
13 September 10 Texaco/Havoline 200  R  Road America Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin
14 September 24 Bosch Spark Plug Grand Prix  O  Pennsylvania International Raceway Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania
NC October 14 Marlboro Challenge  R  Laguna Seca Raceway Monterey, California
15 October 15 Toyota Monterey Grand Prix Featuring the Champion Spark Plug 300  R  Laguna Seca Raceway Monterey, California

- Meadowlands was supposed to run for 183 miles (295 kilometers) but was shortened due to rain.
 O  Oval/Speedway
 R  Road/Street course
  Non-championship event

Race results

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Rnd Race Name Pole position Winning driver Winning team Race time
1 Checker Autoworks 200   Rick Mears   Rick Mears Team Penske 1:35:09
2 Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach   Al Unser Jr.   Al Unser Jr. Galles Racing 1:51:19
3 Indianapolis 500   Rick Mears   Emerson Fittipaldi Patrick Racing 2:59:01
4 Miller High Life 200   Rick Mears   Rick Mears Team Penske 1:32:11
5 Valvoline Detroit Grand Prix   Michael Andretti   Emerson Fittipaldi Patrick Racing 2:02:11
6 Budweiser/G. I. Joe's 200   Teo Fabi   Emerson Fittipaldi Patrick Racing 1:55:20
7 Budweiser Cleveland Grand Prix   Michael Andretti   Emerson Fittipaldi Patrick Racing 1:32:56
8 Marlboro Grand Prix   Emerson Fittipaldi   Bobby Rahal Kraco Racing 2:09:20
9 Molson Indy Toronto   Emerson Fittipaldi   Michael Andretti Newman/Haas Racing 2:01:00
10 Marlboro 500   Emerson Fittipaldi   Michael Andretti Newman/Haas Racing 3:07:15
11 Pocono 500   Emerson Fittipaldi   Danny Sullivan Team Penske 2:55:43
12 Red Roof Inns 200   Teo Fabi   Teo Fabi Porsche North America 1:54:46
13 Texaco/Havoline 200   Danny Sullivan   Danny Sullivan Team Penske 1:37:43
14 Bosch Spark Plug Grand Prix   Rick Mears   Emerson Fittipaldi Patrick Racing 1:29:02
NC Marlboro Challenge   Emerson Fittipaldi   Al Unser Jr. Galles Racing 0:56:37
15 Champion Spark Plug 300K   Rick Mears   Rick Mears Team Penske 1:58:29
  • Indianapolis was USAC-sanctioned but counted towards the CART title.

Final driver standings

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Pos Driver PHX
LBH
INDY
MIL
DET
POR
CLE
MEA
TOR
MIC
POC
MDO
ROA
NAZ
MAR LAG
Pts
1   Emerson Fittipaldi 5 3 1* 16 1 1* 1* 2 2 14 19 4 5 1* 8 5 196
2   Rick Mears 1* 5 23 1* 5 8 5 4 5 7 2* 6 3 2 9 1* 186
3   Michael Andretti 4 2 17 2 13* 6 18 18* 1 1* 3 3 6* 5 7 7 150
4   Teo Fabi 6 27 30 3 4 4 4 9 4 2 4 1* 2 16 4 19 141
5   Al Unser Jr. 2 1* 2 8 21 10 7 5 20 4 9 2 20 4 1* 3 136
6   Mario Andretti 8 18 4 7 3 25 2 20 26 3 5 7 7 8 5 2 110
7   Danny Sullivan 3 8 28 10 24 8 3* 23 1 5 1 3 2 14 107
8   Scott Pruett 11 DNS 10 5 2 5 6 3 6 17 8 19 8 6 6 4 101
9   Bobby Rahal 18 4 26 13 18 2 3 1 19 9 6 22 28 7 3 6 88
10   Arie Luyendyk 17 7 21 6 6 3 9 7 24 6 23 8 4 13 10 9 75
11   Raul Boesel 14 6 3 4 28 7 8 6 7 20 20 23 9 11 10 68
12   Derek Daly 12 9 15 21 25 11 22 25 16 5 24 9 27 9 18 25
13   Pancho Carter 7 17 22 9 10 9 14 13 27 26 12 28 19 18 24 18
14   Kevin Cogan 10 26 32 19 17 24 11 12 9 25 22 10 18 8 18
15   Scott Brayton 15 12 6 18 DNQ 13 28 10 14 11 14 15 13 10 20 17
16   Al Unser 24 10 8 7 14
17   John Jones 16 20 11 11 11 19 25 11 18 16 10 13 10 22 14
18   A. J. Foyt 22 25 5 20 26 DNS 23 17 18 21 21 22 14 10
19   Dominic Dobson 23 19 18 7 18 17 11 11 10
20   Bernard Jourdain  RY  19 13 9 12 15 22 19 19 10 19 11 27 15 23 10
21   Didier Theys 20 23 20 17 9 20 12 26 11 11 21 17 9
22   Davy Jones 7 6
23   Roberto Guerrero 8 23 13 22 28 22 16 12 21 20 25 6
24   Fabrizio Barbazza 20 21 26 24 8 20 12 21 6
25   Rich Vogler 8 28 5
26   Ludwig Heimrath Jr. 9 24 13 DNS 22 DNQ 25 17 17 DNQ 4
27   Johnny Rutherford DNQ 10 13 DNS 3
28   Tom Sneva DNS 10 27 22 23 26 20 27 3
29   Guido Daccò  R  24 22 DNQ 14 12 12 21 DNQ 21 13 26 26 12 26 3
30   James Weaver  R  11 22 24 2
31   Steve Saleen  R  14 DNQ 14 17 12 14 25 13 1
32   Jeff Wood 15 15 DNQ 12 16 15 DNQ DNQ 1
33   John Andretti 25 25 24 17 19 12 1
34   Bill Vukovich III 12 1
35   Randy Lewis 13 15 29 15 16 16 23 16 15 27 18 17 14 16 0
36   Jon Beekhuis  R  13 24 15 0
37   Scott Atchison 17 27 14 0
38   Rocky Moran 14 28 0
39   Geoff Brabham Wth 14 0
40   Gordon Johncock 31 21 15 0
41   Jean-Pierre Frey 21 Wth DNQ DNQ 15 0
42   Phil Krueger DNQ 15 0
43   Tero Palmroth 16 16 27 25 0
44   John Paul Jr. DNQ 19 16 21 DNQ DNQ 0
45   Scott Harrington  R  DNQ 16 DNQ 0
46   Fulvio Ballabio 21 18 DNQ 0
47   Jim Crawford 19 0
48   Scott Goodyear 23 23 0
49   Mark Dismore  R  24 0
50   Tony Bettenhausen Jr. DNQ 26 0
51   Dale Coyne DNQ 27 0
52   Ken Johnson 27 0
53   Steve Chassey DNQ 28 29 0
54   Gary Bettenhausen 33 0
  Tom Bigelow DNQ 0
  Steve Butler DNQ 0
  Dick Ferguson DNQ 0
  Stan Fox DNQ 0
  Michael Greenfield DNQ Wth 0
  Andy Hillenburg Wth 0
  Buddy Lazier DNQ DNQ 0
  Bobby Olivero DNQ 0
  Johnny Parsons DNQ 0
  Joe Sposato DNQ 0
  Robby Unser DNQ 0
  Dennis Vitolo DNQ DNQ 0
  Kevin Whitesides DNQ 0
Pos Driver PHX LBH INDY MIL DET POR CLE MEA TOR MIC POC MDO ROA NAZ MAR LAG 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)
Not competing
In-line notation
Bold Pole position
Italics Ran fastest race lap
* Led most race laps
 RY  Rookie of the Year
 R  Rookie

Nations' Cup

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  • Top result per race counts towards Nations' Cup.
Pos Country PHX   LBH   INDY   MIL   DET   POR   CLE   MEA   TOR   MIC   POC   MDO   ROA   NAZ   LAG   Pts
1   United States 1* 1* 2 1* 2* 2 2 1* 1* 1* 1 2 1* 2 1* 276
2   Brazil 5 3 1* 4 1 1* 1* 2 2 14 19 4 5 1* 5 200
3   Italy 6 22 30 3 4 4 4 9 4 2 4 1* 2 12 21 139
4   Netherlands 17 7 21 6 6 3 9 7 24 6 23 8 4 13 9 75
5   Ireland 12 9 15 21 25 11 22 25 16 5 24 9 27 9 18 25
6   Canada 10 20 11 11 11 19 25 11 13 16 10 13 10 17 15 18
7   Mexico 19 13 9 12 15 22 19 19 10 19 11 27 15 23 10
8   Belgium 20 23 20 17 9 20 12 26 11 11 21 17 9
9   Colombia 8 23 13 22 28 22 16 12 21 20 25 6
10   England 11 22 24 2
11   Australia 14 0
12   Switzerland 21 Wth DNQ DNQ 15 0
13   Finland 16 16 27 25 0
14   Scotland 19 0
Pos Country PHX   LBH   INDY   MIL   DET   POR   CLE   MEA   TOR   MIC   POC   MDO   ROA   NAZ   LAG   Pts

Chassis Constructors' Cup

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Pos Chassis Pts
1   Penske PC-18/PC-17 283
2   Lola T8900/T8800/T8700 254
3   March 89CE/89P/88C/86C 149
Pos Chassis Pts

Engine Manufacturers' Cup

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Pos Engine Pts
1   Chevrolet A 319
2   Cosworth 146
3   Porsche 141
4   Judd 138
5   Buick 16
6   Alfa Romeo 6
Pos Engine Pts.

See also

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References

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  • "1989 CART PPG IndyCar World Series standings". race-database.com. Retrieved 2010-12-10.
  • Åberg, Andreas. "PPG Indy Car World Series 1989". Driver Database. Retrieved 2009-05-19.
  • "1989 PPG Indy Car World Series". Champ Car Stats. Retrieved 2009-05-19.
  • "Official Box Score: 73rd Indianapolis 500-Mile Race at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway". Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Archived from the original on 2008-05-14. Retrieved 2009-05-19.
  • "Standings after Laguna Seca". Champ Car World Series. Archived from the original on April 5, 2008. Retrieved 2015-12-07.

Citations

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  1. ^ "Article clipped from The Indianapolis Star". The Indianapolis Star. 1988-11-05. p. 30. Retrieved 2023-09-13.
  2. ^ "FISA v CART". Motor Sport Magazine. 2014-07-07. Retrieved 2023-09-13.