Kevin Cogan

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Kevin Cogan
Nationality  American
Formula One World Championship career
Active years	1980 - 1981
Teams	RAM, Tyrrell
Races	2 (0 starts)
Championships	0
Wins	0
Podium finishes	0
Career points	0
Pole positions	0
Fastest laps	0
First race	1980 Canadian Grand Prix
Last race	1981 United States Grand Prix West

Kevin Cogan (born in Culver City, March 31, 1956) is a former racecar driver who drove in Formula One from 1980 to 1981. Driving a RAM Williams in the 1980 Canadian Grand Prix, he failed to qualify, suffering the same result driving for Tyrrell at the 1981 US GP West. He then moved over to Indy cars in 1982 but his career was cut short by a series of accidents.

Contents 1 1982 Indianapolis 500 2 Aftermath 3 Later races 4 Indy 500 results 5 Complete Formula One results 6 References

[edit] 1982 Indianapolis 500

For 1982, showing much potential, despite not having yet won a race, Cogan was hired to drive for Penske Racing. During time trials, he set a new one-lap track record of 204.638 mph, and a record four-lap average of 204.082 mph. He was beaten only by his Penske teammate Rick Mears.

Cogan started from the middle of the front row, next to pole-sitter Mears, and A.J. Foyt. As the field approached the start/finish line to start the race, Cogan suddenly swerved right, touching and bouncing off of A.J. Foyt's car, and directly into the path of and collecting Mario Andretti. The cars of Dale Whittington and Roger Mears, deeper in the field, were also damaged due to the field checking up. Bobby Rahal also reported getting hit from behind, but was undamaged. The race was immediately red flagged.

Cogan's shocking accident took out four cars, including himself. Foyt's team was able to make repairs, and pushed his car out for the restart attempt. Meanwhile, Andretti and Foyt were furious and outspoken about their displeasure with Cogan. Andretti shunned Cogan's attempts to explain himself with a light shove.

Andretti on live radio and television^[1] made the comment:

“

This is what happens when you have children doing a man's job up front.

”

The commonly outspoken Foyt also chimed in during comments to ABC-TV's Chris Economaki with^[1]:

“

...he ran right square into my goddamned left front...'Coogin'

”

Later Foyt said back in the garage area^[2] that Cogan:

“

...had his head up his ass...

”

Bobby Unser later placed some blame of the accident on the polesitter Rick Mears, for bringing the field down at such a slow pace.^[1] Gordon Johncock, who went on to win the 1982 race, pointed out that Andretti had jumped the start, and could have avoided the spinning car of Cogan had he been lined up properly in the second row.^[2] Neither observation gained much attention.

[edit] Aftermath

Cogan quickly fell out of favor following the humiliation stemming from the accident. It was followed by a noticeable "blacklisting" by fans and press. Cogan nearly had the dubious distinction of taking out two of the most famous American auto racing legends (Foyt and Andretti) in one move in the biggest race of the season. The incident also further rehashed a standing feud between Penske Racing and Patrick Racing. A year earlier, Penske and Patrick were the key fixtures in the controversial 1981 race.

Cogan never managed to win a race in 1982, and was possibly fired by Roger Penske because of it.^[3].

The accident was never explained by the Penske team, however, several experts had reasonable opinions. Rodger Ward, working for the IMS Radio Network immediately believed the rear brakes locked up.^[4] It was a common practice for drivers in the turbocharged era to "ride the brakes" during warm up laps in order to engage the turbocharger. Others theorized it may have happened due to a broken CV joint. Some feel that Sam Posey on ABC-TV inadvertently may have added to the controversy when he proclaimed "absolutely no idea" to the question of how it could have happened,^[1] and saying "it was as if he turned the wheel intentionally."^[1] The comments led many to conclude, albeit unfairly, that the accident may have been entirely of Cogan's doing. As soon as he climbed from the car, Cogan was observed looking at the rear end axle, suggesting that he thought something broke.

Years later Donald Davidson, the historian for the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, mentioned that team driver, and the more experienced, Rick Mears had a nearly identical accident during private testing at Michigan International Speedway.^[5]. The accident was never disclosed to the public, even though it could have vindicated Cogan.

[edit] Later races

Four years later, Cogan finished second in the 1986 Indianapolis 500. He held the lead late in the race, but a yellow flag came out allowing the drivers behind him to bunch up. When the race resumed with two laps to go, eventual winner Bobby Rahal got the jump and passed him before crossing the start/finish line, a move that was permissible under the rules at the time. Earlier that year he got his only CART win at Phoenix International Raceway.

Cogan had a huge crash during the 1989 Indianapolis 500. Coming out of turn four, Cogan spun and hit the end of the pit wall. His car exploded into hundreds of pieces. The tub came to rest on its side with the engine still loosely mounted to it in one of the first few pit boxes. Cogan climbed out of the wreck. As a result of crashes like this one and a horrific 1991 practice session crash by Mark Dismore, IMS improved the pit attenuator at the end of the wall. It was tested in the 2006 Indianapolis 500 by Tomas Scheckter who walked away from a very similar crash with a very different result.

At the 1991 Indianapolis 500, Cogan broke his arm and leg in an accident during the race. Original video footage was inconclusive, and it appeared perhaps that Roberto Guerrero was to blame. An amateur home video shot from the grandstands, however, surfaced^[6], clearly showing that Cogan was at fault for the crash.

Cogan retired from racing in 1993.

[edit] Indy 500 results

Year	Chassis	Engine	Start	Finish
1981	Phoenix	Cosworth	12th	4th
1982	Penske	Cosworth	2nd	30th
1983	March	Cosworth	22nd	5th
1984	Eagle	Pontiac	27th	20th
1985	March	Cosworth	32nd	11th
1986	March	Cosworth	6th	2nd
1987	March	Chevrolet	24th	31st
1988	March	Cosworth	13th	11th
1989	March	Cosworth	27th	32nd
1990	Penske	Buick	15th	9th
1991	Lola	Buick	16th	29th
1993	Lola	Chevrolet	14th	14th

[edit] Complete Formula One results

(key)

Year	Entrant	Chassis	Engine	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	WDC	Points
1980	RAM / Rainbow Jeans Racing	Williams FW07B	Cosworth V8	ARG	BRA	RSA	USW	BEL	MON	FRA	GBR	GER	AUT	NED	ITA	CAN DNQ	USA		-	0
1981	Tyrrell Racing	Tyrrell 010	Cosworth V8	USW DNQ	BRA	ARG	SMR	BEL	MON	ESP	FRA	GBR	GER	AUT	NED	ITA	CAN	LVS	-	0

[edit] References