# Rick Mears

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**Richard Ravon Mears**[1] (born December 3, 1951) is an American former race car driver. He is one of four men to win the [Indianapolis 500](/source/Indianapolis_500) four times (1979, 1984, 1988, 1991) and is the current record-holder for [pole positions](/source/Pole_position) in the race with six (1979, 1982, 1986, 1988, 1989, 1991). Mears is also a three-time Indycar series/World Series champion (1979, 1981 and 1982).

## Biography

### Early life

Mears was born in [Wichita, Kansas](/source/Wichita,_Kansas) and raised in [Bakersfield, California](/source/Bakersfield,_California).[2][3] He began his racing career in [off-road racing](/source/Off-road_racing). In 1976, he was recommended by a representative of [Bill Simpson](/source/Bill_Simpson_(racing_driver))'s helmet company, and Simpson gave him a ride at the [USAC Champ Car](/source/USAC_Champ_Car)'s [California 500](/source/1976_California_500) on an old Eagle-Offenhauser, finishing eighth. Simpson then sold the car to Art Sugai, on condition that Mears would continue driving it. In mid 1977, he switched to [Theodore Racing](/source/Theodore_Racing).

Mears speed attracted the attention of [Roger Penske](/source/Roger_Penske). Although at the time, [Penske Racing](/source/Penske_Racing) had the services of [Mario Andretti](/source/Mario_Andretti) and [Tom Sneva](/source/Tom_Sneva), Andretti was also racing in [Formula One](/source/Formula_One) with [Lotus](/source/Team_Lotus), and Penske wanted another young driver who would focus exclusively on American racing. For 1978, Mears was offered a part-time ride in nine of the 18 championship races, filling in when Andretti was overseas. The arrangement also included a ride at the [Indianapolis 500](/source/1978_Indianapolis_500).

In his rookie appearance at Indy, Mears qualified on the front row and was the first rookie to qualify over 200 mph. When the race began, Mears discovered his helmet was not strapped on tight enough and he had to pit to get it safely secured. He did not lead a lap and retired at 104 laps with a blown engine. He ended up sharing "Rookie of the Year" honors with [Larry Rice](/source/Larry_Rice_(racing_driver)). Two weeks later, at the [Rex Mays Classic](/source/Rex_Mays_Classic) at [Milwaukee](/source/Milwaukee_Mile), he won his first race. He added another win a month later at [Atlanta](/source/Atlanta_500_Classic) and rounded out the year with his first road course win at [Brands Hatch](/source/Brands_Hatch). Because of his terrific showing as a rookie, Mears was elevated to full-time status at Penske Racing for 1979 after teammate and series champion Tom Sneva parted company with Penske.

### 1979

In 1979, the National Championship sanction changed from the [USAC](/source/United_States_Automobile_Club) to [CART](/source/Champ_Car). At Indianapolis, Mears won his first "500", staying at the front of the field and taking advantage when [Bobby Unser](/source/Bobby_Unser) fell out of contention with mechanical trouble. Three wins and four second places in the eleven CART-eligible races won Mears his first championship. His worst finish in the season was seventh in Trenton's second heat.

### 1980

In 1980, the [ground effect](/source/Ground_effect_(cars)) [Chaparral](/source/Chaparral_Cars) was technologically more advanced than the other chassis, and [Johnny Rutherford](/source/Johnny_Rutherford) drove it to his third [Indianapolis 500](/source/Indianapolis_500) win, going on to dominate the season. Mears finished fourth in the points with one win, earned at Mexico City.

In 1980, Mears was offered a [Formula One](/source/Formula_One) test with [Brabham](/source/Brabham) by then team boss [Bernie Eccelstone](/source/Bernie_Eccelstone). Mears took interest in the test largely because of the ongoing split between CART and USAC and wanted other options in case CART fell apart. Mears tested with Brabham twice, once at [Paul Ricard](/source/Paul_Ricard_Circuit) and once at [Riverside](/source/Riverside_International_Raceway). After adjusting his driving style to the [Brabham BT49,](/source/Brabham_BT49) Mears posted lap times within half a second of future three time Formula One champion and then Brabham driver [Nelson Piquet](/source/Nelson_Piquet) at the first test. During the second test, Mears posted lap times faster than Piquet's. Piquet was so impressed with Mears' driving, as well as their time spent together, that he endorsed bringing Mears on as a second driver. Eccelstone offered Mears a contract with Brabham that Mears ultimately declined. Mears would later say in his memoir that although he felt that Brabham was a strong team and that he had the skill to compete for wins in Formula One, he was unsure about moving to Europe and was still interested in [oval racing](/source/Oval_racing) as the main reasons for declining Eccelstone's offer.[4]

### 1981–1982

The 1981 and 1982 seasons saw two more championships for Mears. Despite facial burns during a pit fire in the [1981 Indianapolis 500](/source/1981_Indianapolis_500), Mears' ten race victories in the two-year span were enough for two more Indycar championships. At the [1982 Indianapolis 500](/source/1982_Indianapolis_500), he came within 0.16 of a second of securing his second Indy win. With less than 20 laps to go, on his final pit stop, the crew filled the entire tank rather than giving him only the amount he needed to finish. The delay left him more than 11 seconds behind [Gordon Johncock](/source/Gordon_Johncock). Mears made up the difference when Johncock suffered handling problems, but failed to secure the win. The photo finish stood for ten years as the closest finish at the Indianapolis 500. The photo-finish also quieted the controversial pace-lap crash with teammate [Kevin Cogan](/source/Kevin_Cogan) appearing to spin out for no apparent reason; fellow drivers such as [Gordon Johncock](/source/Gordon_Johncock), [Johnny Rutherford](/source/Johnny_Rutherford), and [Bobby Unser](/source/Bobby_Unser), charged Mears with causing the crash by bringing the field down too slowly at the start of the race.

### 1983–1984

For 1983, Penske acquired the [Pennzoil](/source/Pennzoil) sponsorship with its yellow paint scheme. Teammate [Al Unser](/source/Al_Unser) took that year's title. The team switched to the March chassis for the [1984 Indianapolis 500](/source/1984_Indianapolis_500) after the Penske chassis proved unsuccessful in the first two races of the year. Mears scored his second Indy win that May, but suffered severe leg injuries later in the year in a crash at [the Sanair Super Speedway](/source/Sanair_Super_Speedway). The March chassis, like most contemporary open-wheel racing cars, sat the driver far forward in the nose, with little protection for the legs and feet.

### 1985–1987

After the Sanair crash, Mears was slowed by the injuries to his right foot that affected him throughout the remainder of his career. Over the next three seasons, he won only two races. He completed a comeback from his injuries by winning the [1985 Pocono 500](/source/1985_Pocono_500). In 1986, he won the pole position for the Indianapolis 500, but finished third. He also won the [1987 Pocono 500](/source/1987_Pocono_500).

### 1988–1990

In 1988, after several years using the March chassis, the Penske team utilized a new car, the PC-17, with a [Chevrolet](/source/Chevrolet) racing engine. Mears used the new car to win the Indianapolis 500. A year later, he took a record-setting fifth pole position at Indy, but retired from the race with mechanical problems. [Emerson Fittipaldi](/source/Emerson_Fittipaldi) won the 500 and also beat Mears to the Championship in the last race at [Laguna Seca Raceway](/source/Laguna_Seca_Raceway), despite Mears winning that race.

Also, that last race of 1989, set Mears apart from all other Indycar racers as he broke a tie with Bobby Rahal for race wins and became the most successful Indycar racer of the 1980s. In his winner's circle interview, when asked about breaking his road course dry spell when his specialty has been ovals through the years, he replied to [Jack Arute](/source/Jack_Arute), "Well, I guess there is hope for us old circle track drivers after all."

Fittipaldi joined Mears at Penske for 1990, but the year belonged to [Al Unser Jr.](/source/Al_Unser_Jr.), who scored six wins. 1990 was Mears' last in the [Pennzoil](/source/Pennzoil) paint scheme as [Marlboro](/source/Marlboro_(cigarette)) took over as sponsor of the team, and [Jim Hall](/source/Jim_Hall_(racing_driver)) re-entered [Indycar](/source/Indycar).

### 1991–1992

In 1991, during a practice session, Mears hit the wall in Indianapolis for the first time in his career. The next day, he climbed into his backup car and claimed his record 6th career pole position. Twenty laps from the end of the 500, it looked like Mears was set to be the runner-up behind [Michael Andretti](/source/Michael_Andretti). However, when a subsequent yellow flag erased Andretti's 15-second lead, Mears gained the lead as Andretti opted to pit for fuel. It was a short-lived lead, as Andretti passed Mears around the outside of the first turn. A lap later Mears regained the lead, using the same move Andretti had done. Turning up his turbocharger, he then pulled away to win a fourth Indy 500, becoming the third driver to do so. Then, in August of 1991, he won his last race at the Michigan 500.

At the 1992 Indianapolis 500, Mears broke a wrist in a crash during practice and then crashed out of the race for the first time in his career as he could not avoid [Jim Crawford](/source/Jim_Crawford_(driver))'s spinning car in turn 1. He raced only four more times in 1992 and then announced his retirement from racing at the Penske team's Christmas party. No one except Penske and Rick's wife, Chris, knew of his plans to retire. He had just turned 41 years old.

As of 2026, Mears continues to work as a consultant and driver-mentor for Team Penske, the team with which he won all of his IndyCar races. He currently acts as driver-mentor for Scott McLaughlin, Josef Newgarden, and David Malukas.

## Personal life

Mears is the brother of [Roger Mears](/source/Roger_Mears), father of off-road and open-wheel racer [Clint Mears](/source/Clint_Mears), and the uncle of part-time [NASCAR](/source/NASCAR) [Cup Series](/source/NASCAR_Cup_Series) driver [Casey Mears](/source/Casey_Mears). His marriage to his first wife Dina ended in divorce in 1983. He married Chris Bowen in 1986[5]whom he divorced in 2002.[citation needed]

## Awards

- In 1997, he was inducted into the [International Motorsports Hall of Fame](/source/International_Motorsports_Hall_of_Fame).
- Mears was inducted into the [Indianapolis Motor Speedway Hall of Fame](/source/Indianapolis_Motor_Speedway_Museum#Auto_Racing_Hall_of_Fame) in 1998.
- He was inducted in the [Motorsports Hall of Fame of America](/source/Motorsports_Hall_of_Fame_of_America) in 1998.[6]
- Inducted into Team Penske Hall of Fame on May 25, 2017

## Motorsports career results

### American Open-Wheel racing

#### USAC

(key) (Races in **bold** indicate pole position)

Year Team Chassis Engine 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 Rank Points 1976 Bill Simpson Eagle 72 Offenhauser L4t PHX TRE INDY MIL POC MCH TWS TRE MIL ONT 8 MCH 16th 390 Art Sugai TWS 9 PHX 9 1977 Art Sugai Eagle 72 Offenhauser L4t ONT 24 PHX DNQ TWS 15 TRE INDY DNQ MIL 19th 555 Theodore Racing McLaren M16C/D POC 30 MOS MCH 6 TWS 7 MIL 5 ONT 26 MCH 8 PHX 1978 Team Penske Penske PC-6 Cosworth DFX V8t PHX 5 ONT TWS TRE INDY 23 MOS 2 MIL 1 POC MCH 22 ATL 1 TWS 9 MIL 2 ONT 9 MCH TRE SIL 2 BRH 1 PHX 9th 2171 1979 ONT TWS INDY 1 MIL POC TWS MIL - 0 1980 ONT 21 INDY 5 MIL 5 POC 12 MOH 9 7th 766 1981-82 INDY 30 POC ILL DUQ ISF INDY 2 7th 800 1982-83 SPR DUQ NAZ INDY 3 3rd 700 1983-84 DUQ INDY 1 1st 1,000

#### CART Series

(key) (Races in **bold** indicate pole position)

Year Team Chassis Engine 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 Rank Points Ref 1979 Team Penske Penske PC-7 Cosworth DFX V8t PHX 2 ATL 5 ATL 2 MCH 4 MCH 5 TRE 1 ONT 2 MCH 3 ATL 1 PHX 3 1st 4060 [7] Penske PC-6 INDY 1 TRE 5 TRE 7 WGL 2 1980 Team Penske Penske PC-7 Cosworth DFX V8t ONT 21 4th 2866 [8] Penske PC-9 INDY 5 MIL 5 POC 12 MOH 9 MCH 4 WGL 2 MIL 2 ONT 3 MCH 3 MEX 1 PHX 7 1981 Team Penske Penske PC-9B Cosworth DFX V8t PHX 4 MIL ATL 1 ATL 1 MCH 3 RIV 1 MIL 2 MCH 1 WGL 1 MEX 1 PHX 8 1st 304 [9] 1982 Team Penske Penske PC-10 Cosworth DFX V8t PHX 1 ATL 1 MIL 3 CLE 4 MCH 15 MIL 12 POC 1 RIV 1 ROA 5 MCH 25 PHX 2 1st 294 [10] 1983 Team Penske Penske PC-11 Cosworth DFX V8t ATL 8 INDY 3 MIL 3 CLE 7 MCH 4 ROA 17 6th 92 [11] Penske PC-10B POC 3 RIV 19 MOH 9 MCH 1 CPL 13 LAG 21 PHX 17 1984 Team Penske Penske PC-12 Cosworth DFX V8t LBH 21 PHX 18 5th 110 [12] March 84C INDY 1 MIL 2 POR 10 MEA 10 CLE 4 MCH 3 ROA 4 POC 2 MOH 5 SAN Wth MCH PHX LAG CPL 1985 Team Penske March 85C Cosworth DFX V8t LBH INDY 21 MIL 3 POR MEA CLE MCH 30 ROA POC 1 MOH SAN MCH 2 LAG PHX MIA 10th 51 [13] 1986 Team Penske March 86C Cosworth DFX V8t PHX 19 INDY 3 MIL 3 POR 16 CLE 4 TOR 8 MCH 12 POC 8 8th 89 [14] Penske PC-15 Chevrolet 265A V8t LBH 20 MEA 19 SAN 18 LAG 17 MIA 3 March 86C MOH 17 MCH 8 ROA 3 PHX 20 1987 Team Penske Penske PC-16 Chevrolet 265A V8t LBH 9 PHX 20 POR 3 MEA 18 CLE 7 TOR 10 5th 102 [15] March 86C INDY 23 MIL 21 MCH 21 POC 1 ROA 9 MOH 4 NAZ 3 LAG 3 MIA 5 1988 Team Penske Penske PC-17 Chevrolet 265A V8t PHX 22 LBH 8 INDY 1 MIL 1 POR 6 CLE 23 TOR 6 MEA 3 MCH 13 POC 23 MOH 3 ROA 12 NAZ 7 LAG 5 MIA 2 4th 129 [16] 1989 Team Penske Penske PC-18 Chevrolet 265A V8t PHX 1 LBH 5 INDY 23 MIL 1 DET 5 POR 8 CLE 5 MEA 4 TOR 5 MCH 7 POC 2 MOH 6 ROA 3 NAZ 2 LAG 1 2nd 186 [17] 1990 Team Penske Penske PC-19 Chevrolet 265A V8t PHX 1 LBH 6 INDY 5 MIL 2 DET 4 POR 5 CLE 8 MEA 2 TOR 12 MCH 14 DEN 7 VAN 4 MOH 7 ROA 3 NAZ 2 LAG 4 3rd 168 [18] 1991 Team Penske Penske PC-20 Chevrolet 265A V8t SRF 3 LBH 4 PHX 5 INDY 1 MIL 15 DET 5 POR 6 CLE 17 MEA 3 TOR 20 MCH 1 DEN 8 VAN 6 MOH 6 ROA 15 NAZ 15 LAG 5 4th 145 [19] 1992 Team Penske Penske PC-21 Chevrolet 265B V8t SRF 2 PHX 8 LBH 6 INDY 26 DET POR 7 MIL 16 NHA 4 TOR MCH 16 CLE ROA VAN MOH NAZ LAG 13th 47 [20]

#### Indianapolis 500 results

Year Chassis Engine Start Finish Note Team 1977 Eagle 72 Offenhauser L4t DNQ Did not qualify Art Sugai 1978 Penske PC-6 Cosworth DFX V8t 3 23 Engine Failure Team Penske 1979 Penske PC-6 Cosworth DFX V8t 1 1 Running Team Penske 1980 Penske PC-9 Cosworth DFX V8t 6 5 Running Team Penske 1981 Penske PC-9B Cosworth DFX V8t 22 30 Pit lane fire Team Penske 1982 Penske PC-10 Cosworth DFX V8t 1 2 Running Team Penske 1983 Penske PC-11 Cosworth DFX V8t 3 3 Running Team Penske 1984 March 84C Cosworth DFX V8t 3 1 Running Team Penske 1985 March 85C Cosworth DFX V8t 10 21 Gear linkage Team Penske 1986 March 86C Cosworth DFX V8t 1 3 Running Team Penske 1987 March 86C Chevrolet 265A V8t 3 23 Ignition Team Penske 1988 Penske PC-17 Chevrolet 265A V8t 1 1 Running Team Penske 1989 Penske PC-18 Chevrolet 265A V8t 1 23 Engine failure Team Penske 1990 Penske PC-19 Chevrolet 265A V8t 2 5 Running Team Penske 1991 Penske PC-20 Chevrolet 265A V8t 1 1 Running Team Penske 1992 Penske PC-21 Chevrolet 265B V8t 9 26 Crash Team Penske

#### Indy 500 qualifying results

Year Att # Date Time Qual Day Car # Laps Qual Time Qual Speed Rank Start Comment 1977 85 05-22 16:02 4 90 1 — — — — Incomplete run; pulled off 96 05-22 17:21 4 90 2 — — — — Incomplete run; waved off 1978 10 05-20 12:13 1 71 4 2:59.93 200.078 4 3 1979 34 05-13 16:39 1 9 4 3:05.82 193.736 1 1 1980 1 05-10 11:05 1 1 4 3:12.01 187.490 7 6 1981 34 05-16 13:41 1 6 2 — — — — Incomplete run; pulled off 53 05-16 15:52 2 68 4 3:05.55 194.018 10 22 1982 2 05-15 11:09 1 1 4 2:53.91 207.004 1 1 1 and 4 lap track records 1983 7 05-21 11:39 1 2 4 2:56.211 204.301 3 3 1984 2 05-12 12:25 1 6 4 2:53.204 207.847 3 3 1985 29 05-11 17:10 1 1 4 2:51.595 209.796 10 10 1986 9 05-10 12:40 1 4 4 2:46.030 216.828 1 1 1 and 4 lap track records 1987 3 05-09 11:19 1 8T 4 2:50.239 211.467 3 3 1988 23 05-14 13:58 1 5 4 2:44.235 219.198 1 1 1 and 4 lap track records 1989 20 05-14 14:09 1 4 4 2:40.797 223.885 1 1 1 and 4 lap track records 1990 6 05-13 16:57 1 2 4 2:40.560 224.215 2 2 1991 16 05-11 12:51 1 3T 4 2:40.633 224.113 2 1 1992 21 05-09 17:48 1 4 4 2:40.289 224.594 10 9

### International Race of Champions

(key) (**Bold** – Pole position. * – Most laps led.)

International Race of Champions results Season Make Q1 Q2 Q3 1 2 3 4 Pos. Points Ref 1978–79 Chevy MCH MCH 7 RSD RSD ATL NA - [21] 1979–80 MCH MCH 3 RSD RSD 4 ATL 2 3rd 31 [22] 1986 Chevy DAY 9 MOH 12 TAL 8 GLN 9 12th 25 [23] 1989 Chevy DAY 8 NZH 10 MCH 9 GLN 9 11th 24 [24]

## Books

- Tremayne, David (1991). *Racers Apart: Memories of motorsport heroes*. UK: Motor Racing Publications Ltd. p. 293. ISBN 0-947981-58-6.
- Kirby, Gordon (2008). *Rick Mears * Thanks: The Story of Rick Mears and the Mears Gang*. US: Crash Media Group. p. 264. ISBN 978-1-905334-30-8.

## References

1. ["Rick Mears"](http://www.champcarstats.com/drivers/MearsRick.htm). *www.champcarstats.com*. Retrieved 2023-06-07.

1. mgriffith@bakersfield.com, MiKE GRIFFITH Californian staff writer (2011-09-14). ["Bakersfield native Rick Mears has remained true to IndyCar racing"](https://www.bakersfield.com/sports/bakersfield-native-rick-mears-has-remained-true-to-indycar-racing/article_0c675fc4-5c02-5aef-8fb7-6235c991cabd.html). *The Bakersfield Californian*. Retrieved 2025-02-23.

1. Pridgen, Andrew. ["The Calif. racing star who crashed his car and disappeared"](https://www.sfgate.com/centralcoast/article/Indy-legend-Rick-Mears-disappeared-17200598.php). *SFGATE*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20241205131636/https://www.sfgate.com/centralcoast/article/Indy-legend-Rick-Mears-disappeared-17200598.php) 2024-12-05 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2025-02-23.

1. Kirby, Gordon (21 December 2015). ["Rick Mears's 1980 F1 tests with Brabham"](https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/articles/single-seaters/f1/rick-mears-s-1980-f1-tests-brabham). *Motorsport.com*. Motorsport Network. Retrieved 19 July 2021.

1. ["ESPN Classic - Mears used high pass to beat Andretti"](https://www.espn.com/classic/s/add_mears_rick.html)

1. [Rick Mears](http://www.mshf.com/hall-of-fame/inductees/rick-mears.html) at the [Motorsports Hall of Fame of America](/source/Motorsports_Hall_of_Fame_of_America)

1. ["Rick Mears – 1979 CART Results"](https://racing-reference.info/drivdet/mearsri01/1979/R). *Racing-Reference*. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved August 16, 2023.

1. ["Rick Mears – 1980 CART Results"](https://racing-reference.info/drivdet/mearsri01/1980/R). *Racing-Reference*. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved August 16, 2023.

1. ["Rick Mears – 1981 CART Results"](https://racing-reference.info/drivdet/mearsri01/1981/R). *Racing-Reference*. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved August 16, 2023.

1. ["Rick Mears – 1982 CART Results"](https://racing-reference.info/drivdet/mearsri01/1982/R). *Racing-Reference*. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved August 16, 2023.

1. ["Rick Mears – 1983 CART Results"](https://racing-reference.info/drivdet/mearsri01/1983/R). *Racing-Reference*. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved August 16, 2023.

1. ["Rick Mears – 1984 CART Results"](https://racing-reference.info/drivdet/mearsri01/1984/R). *Racing-Reference*. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved August 16, 2023.

1. ["Rick Mears – 1985 CART Results"](https://racing-reference.info/drivdet/mearsri01/1985/R). *Racing-Reference*. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved August 16, 2023.

1. ["Rick Mears – 1986 CART Results"](https://racing-reference.info/drivdet/mearsri01/1986/R). *Racing-Reference*. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved August 16, 2023.

1. ["Rick Mears – 1987 CART Results"](https://racing-reference.info/drivdet/mearsri01/1987/R). *Racing-Reference*. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved August 16, 2023.

1. ["Rick Mears – 1988 CART Results"](https://racing-reference.info/drivdet/mearsri01/1988/R). *Racing-Reference*. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved August 16, 2023.

1. ["Rick Mears – 1989 CART Results"](https://racing-reference.info/drivdet/mearsri01/1989/R). *Racing-Reference*. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved August 16, 2023.

1. ["Rick Mears – 1990 CART Results"](https://racing-reference.info/drivdet/mearsri01/1990/R). *Racing-Reference*. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved August 16, 2023.

1. ["Rick Mears – 1991 CART Results"](https://racing-reference.info/drivdet/mearsri01/1991/R). *Racing-Reference*. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved August 16, 2023.

1. ["Rick Mears – 1992 CART Results"](https://racing-reference.info/drivdet/mearsri01/1992/R). *Racing-Reference*. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved August 16, 2023.

1. ["Rick Mears – 1979 IROC Results"](https://www.racing-reference.info/driver-season-stats/mearsri01/1979/I/). *Racing-Reference*. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved August 4, 2023.

1. ["Rick Mears – 1980 IROC Results"](https://www.racing-reference.info/driver-season-stats/mearsri01/1980/I/). *Racing-Reference*. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved August 4, 2023.

1. ["Rick Mears – 1986 IROC Results"](https://www.racing-reference.info/driver-season-stats/mearsri01/1986/I/). *Racing-Reference*. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved August 4, 2023.

1. ["Rick Mears – 1989 IROC Results"](https://www.racing-reference.info/driver-season-stats/mearsri01/1989/I/). *Racing-Reference*. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved August 4, 2023.

## External links

- [The Greatest 33](https://web.archive.org/web/20110724044601/http://www.thegreatest33.com/default.aspx#selecteddrivers?s=rick_mears)

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Rick Mears](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rick_Mears) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rick_Mears?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.