IndyCar: Top Five Races at Phoenix International Raceway

A Father and Son Fight

The 1985 CART season was all about the famous names of IndyCar lore. Mario Andretti was the defending champion and his main competitors throughout the season were Emerson Fittipaldi, Bobby Rahal, Danny Sullivan, and the father-son duo of Al Unser, Sr. and Al Unser, Jr. Sullivan scored one of the most memorable Indianapolis 500 wins with his “Spin and Win” over Mario Andretti. And, interestingly, the elder Unser did not have a full-time ride for the season. He took over in the full-time car at Team Penske after Rick Mears was injured in the fall of 1984 and took to only racing on ovals in ‘85.

By the time the race at Phoenix rolled around, the points battle was tightening up. Andretti won three out of the first four races, (finishing second at Indianapolis), but a mid-season slump and an injury took him out of the championship. It fell to the Unser family, Rahal, and Fittipaldi. Phoenix finished with Unser, Sr. on the top step of the podium and Unser, Jr. in second. Andretti finished third.

That meant the Unser duo was separated by only three points heading into the final race of the season. Phoenix was Unser, Sr.’s only win of the season. It would prove vital, however, as he wrapped up the championship.

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