During the 1981 Indianapolis 500, veteran driver Rick Mears endured one of the sport’s most terrifying moments — not due to visible flames, but the lack thereof. On lap 58, a methanol fuel spill during a pit stop doused Mears, his car, and the crew, igniting into a nearly invisible fire. Methanol burns with a faint blue flame, virtually undetectable in daylight, leaving team members and marshals baffled as they instinctively fled the pit area. Mears later recalled, “I quit breathing… I kind of k
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During the 1981 Indianapolis 500, veteran driver Rick Mears endured one of the sport’s most terrifying moments — not due to visible flames, but the lack thereof. On lap 58, a methanol fuel spill during a pit stop doused Mears, his car, and the crew, igniting into a nearly invisible fire. Methanol burns with a faint blue flame, virtually undetectable in daylight, leaving team members and marshals baffled as they instinctively fled the pit area. Mears later recalled, “I quit breathing… I kind of k
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in 1981 at the Indy 500, Rick Mears’ pit stop on lap 58 turned dangerous when spilled fuel caused a fire. The flames, made of methanol, were invisible, making the situation even more terrifying. | History In Pictures
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in 1981 at the Indy 500, Rick Mears’ pit stop on lap 58 turned dangerous when spilled fuel caused a fire. The flames, made of methanol, were invisible, making the situation even more terrifying. | History In Pictures
570K viewsDec 15, 2024
FacebookHistory In Pictures
In 1981, Rick Mears survived one of the most terrifying moments in racing history. During a pit stop at the Indy 500, his car caught fire—but the flames were nearly invisible. Methanol burns clear, and for seconds, no one realized he was standing in fire. the crew put the fire out along with the mechanic who was also caught in the flame. don’t play with methanol. #f1 #indy500 #racing #cars #fyp
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In 1981, Rick Mears survived one of the most terrifying moments in racing history. During a pit stop at the Indy 500, his car caught fire—but the flames were nearly invisible. Methanol burns clear, and for seconds, no one realized he was standing in fire. the crew put the fire out along with the mechanic who was also caught in the flame. don’t play with methanol. #f1 #indy500 #racing #cars #fyp
184 views4 months ago
TikTokf1overtakeofficial
Back in 1981 at the Indy 500, something truly scary happened during Rick Mears’ pit stop on lap 58. Fuel spilled, and a fire started in the pit, but what made it even scarier was that the flames were invisible because they were made of methanol. 🔥 Like history? Follow us @historyphotographed 🌟 | History In Pictures
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Back in 1981 at the Indy 500, something truly scary happened during Rick Mears’ pit stop on lap 58. Fuel spilled, and a fire started in the pit, but what made it even scarier was that the flames were invisible because they were made of methanol. 🔥 Like history? Follow us @historyphotographed 🌟 | History In Pictures
299.6K viewsNov 5, 2023
FacebookHistory In Pictures
1979: Rick Mears' first Indy 500 win
1979: Rick Mears' first Indy 500 win
May 10, 2019
wrtv.com
We are 7️⃣5️⃣ days from the 106th #Indy500 presented by Gainbridge! 7️⃣5️⃣: Rick Mears earned his fourth, and final, victory at #IMS in the 75th #Indy500 in 1991. 🎟 >>> https://bit.ly/3q3Iz5a #INDYCAR | #IsItMayYet | Indianapolis Motor Speedway
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We are 7️⃣5️⃣ days from the 106th #Indy500 presented by Gainbridge! 7️⃣5️⃣: Rick Mears earned his fourth, and final, victory at #IMS in the 75th #Indy500 in 1991. 🎟 >>> https://bit.ly/3q3Iz5a #INDYCAR | #IsItMayYet | Indianapolis Motor Speedway
146.1K viewsMar 14, 2022
FacebookIndianapolis Motor Speedway
Celebrating 63 days away from the 105th Running of the #Indy500 presented by Gainbridge with our 63rd winner: Rick Mears. #INDYCAR | #IsItMayYet | Indianapolis Motor Speedway
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Celebrating 63 days away from the 105th Running of the #Indy500 presented by Gainbridge with our 63rd winner: Rick Mears. #INDYCAR | #IsItMayYet | Indianapolis Motor Speedway
26.3K viewsMar 28, 2021
FacebookIndianapolis Motor Speedway
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Won it by two laps. Rick Mears relives his 1984 Indianapolis 500 win. | Team Penske
8.3K viewsMay 23, 2024
FacebookTeam Penske
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Rick Mears hard crash at Indy 500 (May 7, 1992) THE MOST COMPLETE FOOTAGE
1.3K viewsNov 30, 2017
DailymotionAll Indy 500 Legends
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Celebrating 75 days away from the 105th Running of the #Indy500 presented by Gainbridge with our 75th winner: Rick Mears. #INDYCAR | #IsItMayYet | Indianapolis Motor Speedway
122.8K viewsMar 16, 2021
FacebookIndianapolis Motor Speedway
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🏁On May 26, 1991 at the 75th Indianapolis 500, Rick Mears streaks into Indy 500 history when he wins the event for the 4th time, joining A.J. Foyt and Al Unser Sr. as the only drivers to accomplish the feat. The 39 year-old Mears gets into the Indy record book after outracing Michael Andretti in a brilliant duel. Andretti has a lead of almost 15 seconds before making a pit stop for a brief splash of fuel when the yellow flag comes out 15 laps from the end. When Andretti gets back on the track,
3.6K views11 months ago
FacebookDavenport Sports Network
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David Wagreich on Instagram: "At the 1981 Indianapolis 500, a routine pit stop turned into one of motorsport’s most terrifying moments. Rick Mears, one of IndyCar’s most accomplished drivers, pulled in for refueling when a small spill ignited — but to everyone watching, nothing seemed wrong. That’s because the cars at the time ran on methanol, a fuel that burns with a nearly invisible flame in daylight. To the naked eye, there were no flames, no smoke — yet Mears was on fire. In seconds, he tore
467.3K viewsMay 5, 2025
Instagramarchiveracing
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The INVISIBLE FIRE of the Indy 500 Race
1.3K viewsMar 21, 2025
YouTubeSimone Altrocchi's V C R
3:23
1981 Indy 500 - Rick Mears Pit Fire *Live*
92 viewsAug 12, 2015
DailymotionReynold Yusuf
5:25
Rick Mears 1981 Pit Fire - Rocket Rick Mears
125.6K viewsAug 5, 2021
YouTubeIndianapolis Motor Speedway Museum
1:01:18
Race Broadcast: Rick Mears Wins 1988 Indy 500
9.1K viewsApr 25, 2023
YouTubeIndianapolis Motor Speedway
7:32
1991 Indy 500 Finish
29.2K viewsNov 8, 2021
YouTubeIndianapolis Motor Speedway Museum
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Rick Mears has a pit fire, 1981 Indy 500
340.2K viewsOct 17, 2009
YouTube2002damatta6
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A Penske prepared March 84C powered by a turbo V8 Cosworth DFX 🤝 "Rocket" Rick Mears. This man machine combo put together the most ideal win at Indy - ahead of 2nd place by 2 laps. #Indy500 | #INDYCAR | Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum
77.3K viewsApr 13, 2024
FacebookIndianapolis Motor Speedway Museum
3:30
Rick Mears // Broken Foot. Not Spirit.
32.4K viewsJun 2, 2021
YouTubeNTT INDYCAR SERIES
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1981 Indy 500 - Rick Mears Pit Fire
50.4K viewsMar 6, 2011
YouTubeMÁRCIO GOMES
"I quit breathing" - When Rick Mears narrated the horrifying 'invisible fire' story from the 1981 Indy 500
Feb 16, 2025
sportskeeda.com
Formula Folds on Instagram: "During the 1981 Indianapolis 500, a near-tragic incident involving driver Rick Mears became one of the most memorable and impactful moments in racing history. While making a routine pit stop, Mears was accidentally sprayed with methanol fuel, which ignited on contact with the car’s hot surfaces. Because methanol burns with a nearly invisible flame, neither Mears nor the pit crew immediately realized he was on fire. The scene turned chaotic as people fled in confusion
212.1K viewsMay 8, 2025
Instagramformulafolds_official
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Top 10 Indy 500s of all time: No. 2 - Johncock edges Mears in 1982 thriller | Motorsports on NBC
8.2K viewsMay 26, 2023
YouTubeMotorsports on NBC
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rfin062 IndyCar Rick Mears pit fire Indianapolis 1981
1.7K viewsJun 16, 2013
YouTubeCrashinNu
REWIND: Miller on how Rick Mears turned racing at Indy into an art and a science | RACER
Aug 26, 2021
racer.com
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Rick Mears pass Michael Andretti - Indy 500 1991
15.6K viewsDec 18, 2006
YouTubeGab
2:21
Rick Mears outduels Michael Andretti to win his fourth #Indy500. | INDYCAR on FOX
115.4K views11 months ago
FacebookINDYCAR on FOX
24:15
Indy 500 A Race for Heroes - Rick Mears
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All of Rick Mears' Wins in IndyCar
12.3K viewsOct 30, 2015
YouTubeAxel M
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