The oil company was reportedly distressed about this and issued a statement on Thursday, August 17, reminding people it was not associated with the race anymore.

[4] Unlike most tracks, Pocono's outside retaining wall was made of steel boiler-plate instead of concrete.

Entering the 1989 race, the track plugged the opening at the bottom of the wall in an attempt to reduce debris.

[5] In the July 1989 NASCAR Winston Cup race, the boiler-plate wall broke in two separate crashes.

While long a supporter of Pocono and formerly a member of the track's board of directors, Mario Andretti said, "we're running under protest.

"[4] Mattioli insisted the track met safety standards set by CART and if a crash were to occur, drivers would view it as a self-fulfilling prophecy in context of their own superstitions.

"[5] Fittipaldi had won the 1989 Indianapolis 500 and entered Pocono leading the CART point standings.

[9] Emerson Fittipaldi was the fastest car in Thursday's opening practice session with a speed of 202.680 mph.

[10] In time trials on Friday afternoon, Rick Mears set a very fast speed early at 211.119 mph, over five and a half miles per hour faster than the track record.

The first caution came out on lap five when Mike Groff spun in turn one and collected Paul Tracy and Tom Christoff.

Byrne survived a three-lap run to the finish to claim his second ARS win at Pocono.

After getting his car back on track, Luyendyk regained the fourth starting position and the race began.

Danny Sullivan, Teo Fabi, and Michael Andretti stayed close to the lead.

Andretti held a four-second lead over Sullivan as final green flag pit stops began with 15 laps remaining.

Fading brakes on Teo Fabi's car forced him to miss his pit stall and go around another lap, knocking him out of contention to win.

Mears passed Andretti for second with 10 laps remaining and set his sights on Sullivan.

He won $98,618 and averaged 170.72 mph over the 500 miles, breaking the race record set by Johnny Rutherford in 1974.

For the third consecutive year, the Pocono 500 was broadcast by NBC in a two-hour tape-delayed format at 4 p.m. on Sunday afternoon.

As part of Pocono's four-year contract with CART beginning in 1987, the track had an escape clause that allowed them to cancel the 1990 event.

"Technically speaking, he dropped us because of that option, but CART would not have returned because he failed to make the necessary improvements in the facility... We didn't want to lose Pocono.

It's in a good market with Philadelphia and New York nearby, but we couldn't ask the drivers to race there under the current conditions.

"[21] Regardless of the Indy car event being canceled, Pocono replaced their boiler-plate wall with concrete at the end of 1989.

Many observers said the end of the Pocono 500 was due to a transformation in Indy car racing throughout the 1980s.

[24] Indy car drivers were not as personable to fans and did not carry the same star power as they were viewed as strangers who appeared suddenly from other countries.

"[28] In September 1994, Mario Andretti spoke in support of Pocono's value to Indy Car racing.

In July 1995, Joseph Mattioli spoke highly of the IRL, but needed a race in late August, something the series was unable to provide.