Johncock held off Mears on the final lap in a historic victory, as the raucous crowd drowned out the loud roar of the engines.

* Includes days where trackactivity was significantlylimited due to rain ROP — denotes RookieOrientation Program Among many stories going into the 1982 month of May was the return of A. J. Foyt to the cockpit.

In July 1981, Foyt had been involved in a serious crash at the inaugural Michigan 500, suffering a compound fracture to his right arm, and a puncture wound to his leg.

This would be the first time in several years that Andretti would be spending the entire month in Indianapolis, and not traveling back and forth to Europe for his Formula One commitments.

[7] After two major pit fires in 1981 (Rick Mears at the Indianapolis 500 and Herm Johnson at the Michigan 500), new safety rules were implemented.

A total of nine cars completed runs, including Gordon Johncock, rookie Bobby Rahal, and Danny Ongais.

The front wheels suddenly gained traction, the car turned and crashed head-on into the concrete wall at about 200 mph (320 km/h).

According to CART medical official Steve Olvey, who was working the event, the impact was so violent that nearly every bone in Smiley's body had been shattered.

[14] Since it occurred in the remote area of turn three, and without video boards or live television, a vast majority of the fans in attendance did not see the crash up close or the immediate aftermath.

[13] About 33 minutes after the wreck; at precisely 12:48 PM, track announcer Tom Carnegie learned of Smiley's fate for the first time.

He immediately informed the fans watching from the grandstands: "Ladies and gentlemen... it is with our deepest regrets that we announce the passing of Gordon Smiley."

For the first time, the top four race qualifiers and their respective pit crews were automatically eligible: Rick Mears, Kevin Cogan, A. J. Foyt, and Mario Andretti.

A fast-moving Dale Whittington nearly collected Geoff Brabham, lost control, spun across the track and ran into the back of Roger Mears.

"Gordon Johncock, Johnny Rutherford[20][21] and Bobby Unser[19] later placed some blame of the incident on the polesitter Rick Mears, for bringing the field down at such a slow pace.

Director of competition Roger McCluskey mentioned an overwhelming disdain from the drivers about the poor pace set at the start.

[26] Fellow drivers such as Johnny Rutherford and Gordon Johncock suggested that due to the slow start, Cogan may have been in first gear, and when he accelerated, the back end simply came around.

[21] 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,[19] and saying "it was as if he turned the wheel intentionally.

One year later, in an autobiography detailing his career up to that point, Foyt gave a somewhat more analytical account of what occurred than he had before, while still assigning Cogan nearly all of the responsibility.

When Mears' insufficient pace precluded this strategy, Foyt accused Cogan of simply 'jump[ing] on it' early, even before the green flag had fully come out, whereby the resulting explosive power increase caused the car to veer sideways and '[get] away from him'.

[27] 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.

Due to the aborted start, officials took the time to replenish approximately 5.6 US gallons (21 L) of fuel to each team's pitside tank.

Foyt revealed, during an interview immediately thereafter, that the Cogan crash had damaged the car's toe in alignment, and that it had been handling poorly all race up to that point.

In his pit box, the Penske crew proceeded to fill his car full with 40 US gallons (150 L) of fuel, more than enough needed to make it to the finish.

The raucous crowd began to drown out the load roar of the engines, and observers around the track could tell which corner Johncock and Mears were based on the road heard off in the distance.

In interviews in later years Mears said that he would not change the result of the race even if he could, although he jokingly claimed to have watched the tape over and over again "to see if this time I get by Gordy".

[39][40] Kevin Cogan, who was a key fixture in the opening lap accident, was fired at the end of the season by Roger Penske and replaced by Al Unser for 1983.

[41] Several assignments were shifted, and a new member was added, Sally Larvick, who served as a roving reporter, interviewing celebrities and other dignitaries.

After controversy the previous year, Jackie Stewart was moved from the booth to a new host position in "ABC Race Central."

Sam Posey returned to the booth as driver expert, and Jack Whitaker joined the crew for in-depth features and commentary.

Clyde Lee, anchorman for WRTV (ABC's affiliate in Indianapolis), was also on hand to report on drivers who happened to drop out of the race, as well as from the infield hospital.