IndyCar: Top Five Races at Phoenix International Raceway

Mario’s Last Stand

In 1993, Mario Andretti was not the biggest name in the CART IndyCar Series. He was overshadowed by a mustachioed teammate making the switch from Formula One to CART. Nigel Mansell was the talk of the paddock and he was joining Andretti at the Newman-Haas team. He replaced Mario’s son, Michael, who switched to Formula One for the year.

Mansell won the first CART race of the season at Surfer’s Paradise, but a crash forced him to sit out the second round at Phoenix. Scott Goodyear set a track record in qualifying and edged Mario Andretti for the pole. But on Race Day, Andretti would not be denied.

He would end the day picking up his fourth win at Phoenix. He finished sixth in the overall championship standings for that year. The 1993 Phoenix victory is significant because it would prove to be Mario’s final Indy car win in a long and illustrious career. He retired from full-time competition in 1994.

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The Verizon IndyCar Series returns to the bullring in the desert on April 2. Hopefully, fans will be treated to a race filled with moments just as important and memorable as those on this list. The race will be held under the lights at 8:30 p.m. and it will air on the NBC Sports Network.