1981 Indianapolis 500

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Results of the 1981 Indianapolis 500 held at Indianapolis on Sunday, May 24, 1981.


Finish Start No Name Qual Rank Laps Led Status
1 1 3 United States Bobby Unser 200.546 2 200 89 Running
2 32 40 United States Mario Andretti 193.040 12 200 12 Running
3 18 33 Australia Vern Schuppan 186.548 31 199 0 Flagged
4 12 32 United States Kevin Cogan 189.444 18 197 0 Flagged
5 15 50 Australia Geoff Brabham 187.990 22 197 0 Flagged
6 23 81 United States Sheldon Kinser 189.454 17 195 0 Flagged
7 16 16 United States Tony Bettenhausen, Jr. 187.013 28 195 0 Flagged
8 17 53 United States Steve Krisiloff 186.722 30 194 0 Flagged
9 4 20 United States Gordon Johncock 195.429 7 194 52 Engine
10 28 4 Australia Dennis Firestone 187.784 23 193 0 Engine
11 7 7 United States Bill Alsup 193.154 11 193 0 Flagged
12 25 74 United States Mike Chandler 187.567 26 192 0 Flagged
13 3 14 United States A.J. Foyt 196.078 6 191 0 Flagged
14 33 84 United States Tim Richmond 189.254 20 191 0 Flagged
15 31 38 United States Jerry Karl 186.008 33 189 0 Flagged
16 29 37 United States Scott Brayton 187.774 24 173 0 Engine
17 9 88 United States Al Unser 192.719 14 166 0 Flagged
18 19 31 United States Larry Dickson 186.278 32 165 0 Piston
19 13 35 United States Bob Lazier 189.424 19 154 0 Engine
20 14 56 United States Tom Bigelow 188.294 21 152 0 Engine
21 27 90 United States Bill Whittington 197.098 5 146 0 Stalled
22 8 60 United States Gordon Smiley 192.988 13 141 1 Crash T4
23 6 55 Mexico Josele Garza 195.101 9 138 13 Crash T3
24 24 79 United States Pete Halsmer 187.705 25 123 0 Crash T3
25 20 2 United States Tom Sneva 200.691 1 96 25 Clutch
26 11 8 United States Gary Bettenhausen 190.870 16 69 0 Rod
27 21 25 United States Danny Ongais 197.694 3 64 4 Crash T3
28 10 5 United States Pancho Carter 191.022 15 63 0 Compression
29 30 51 United States Tom Klausler 186.732 29 60 0 Gearbox
30 22 6 United States Rick Mears 194.018 10 58 1 Pit Fire
31 26 91 United States Don Whittington 187.237 27 32 0 Crash BS
32 5 1 United States Johnny Rutherford 195.387 8 25 3 Fuel Pump
33 2 48 United States Mike Mosley 197.141 4 16 0 Radiator


Notes: When official results were posted at 8 am the day after the race, Mario Andretti, who had finished second, was awarded the victory after Bobby Unser, whose car had finished first, was penalized one lap and dropped from the first place to second for passing other cars illegally under a yellow caution flag. Unser appealed the decision to the U.S. Auto Club and was upheld. A panel ruled the following October that the penalty was too severe and instead fined Unser $40,000, and restored the victory to him. Andretti was returned to second place.


1980 Indianapolis 500
Johnny Rutherford
1981 Indianapolis 500
Bobby Unser
1982 Indianapolis 500
Gordon Johncock