Fast Masters
The Fast Masters series was a summer-long elimination competition, with identically-prepared, $750,000, TWR, Jaguar XJ220s racing on Bridgestone RE71 high-performance street tires.
The races took place under-the-lights at Indianapolis Raceway Park, in conjunction with ESPN's Saturday Night Thunder.
Considerable attention was focused on the event, as many came out to witness the impressive and unprecedented lineup of legendary drivers.
Three-time Indianapolis 500 winner Bobby Unser won the championship, claiming the $100,000 top prize.
The car would go down the mainstretch, divert off the oval to the infield "road course" section, consisting of consecutive 90-degree left-right-left corners.
Starting in week 2 a retooled format was introduced, dropping the oval race and the points structure.
A tenth driver, Gary Bettenhausen, withdrew after hitting the wall during practice on Friday afternoon.
In the interest of safety and cost-savings, a rule had been put in place that stated that any driver who had wall contact of any kind during practice, was prohibited from racing on Saturday night.
At the start, polesitter Bob Akin missed a shift, and precariously shuffled to the back of the pack.
Jim McElreath tried to go three-wide coming out of turn four, but lost control, collecting Dick Trickle.
On lap 3, Troy Ruttman attempted a diving move passing two cars in turn three, however, he spun and crashed.
Going into the road course dog-leg for the first time, Greer led, but Jerry Grant locked up the brakes and ran into the back of Bobby Allison.
The racing moved exclusively to the modified "road course," the number of participants for the week was reduced to eight, and the points system was scrapped.
Instead of a blind draw to set the lineup, time trials were held, and the field would line up in single-file to take the green flag.
Hobbs took the lead going into turn one on lap 3, and held off Parsons at the finish line to win the heat and advance to the "Feature" event.
During the 8-lap Feature, David Hobbs jumped the start passing two cars before the start/finish line, and officials waved off the green flag.
[6][7] Hershel McGriff blew through the turn one chicane when he attempted to pass Jones, but he rebounded for a third place finish.
On the final lap, Bob Bondurant and Lloyd Ruby were battling for second when they made contact, and dropped to 4th and 5th, respectively.
The last-chance heat race saw Gene Felton started first and lead all five laps to advance to the Feature.
On the final lap, Bill Simpson locked up the brakes and missed turn one, handing over third place to George Snider.
On the final lap, Rutherford had a small bobble in the dog-leg section, and Felton was able to get his nose underneath.
The ten drivers who advanced to the finals participated in time trials, which set the field for two 8-lap heat races.
With Follmer leading, and Parnelli Jones comfortably in second, the battle of the race was for third between Bob Akin and David Pearson.
On lap 6, fourth place Johnny Rutherford was on Hobbs' back bumper exiting the dog-leg when he spun out in the transition to the oval.
The six qualifiers lined up double file for the start, with George Follmer on the pole, and Bobby Unser second.
"[8] The numerous costly accidents, of which all 12 machines incurred some sort of damage, tallied tens of thousands of dollars in repairs, and earned the series the nickname "Crash Masters".
[8] Tom Walkinshaw Racing, which was tasked with preparing, maintaining, and repairing the cars, "attempted mutiny" after the carnage of the first weekend.
