Paul Newman and the Andrettis
Paul Newman and Mario Andretti have a casual chat ahead of the 1984 500 Miles of Indianapolis, while young Michael Andretti, a rookie at Indy that year, respectfully watches on (picture above).
In 1983, Mario Andretti joined the new Newman/Haas Racing team, set up by Carl Haas and actor Paul Newman, using Lola cars. Andretti took the team’s first win at Elkhart Lake in 1983. He then won the pole for nine of the sixteen events in 1984, and claimed his fourth Champ Car title at the age of 44.
Rick Mears, who previously won in 1979, won his second (of four) Indy 500 victories in 1984, driving for Penske. Contenders Tom Sneva and Mario Andretti dropped out of the race in the second half, leaving Mears alone, two laps ahead of the field, and he cruised to victory.
Three rookies finished in the top 5: Roberto Guerrero (2nd), Al Holbert (4th) and Michael Andretti (5th). Guerrero and Andretti (picture below) shared the Rookie of the Year award.