"I quit breathing" - When Rick Mears narrated the horrifying 'invisible fire' story from the 1981 Indy 500
"I quit breathing" - When Rick Mears narrated the horrifying 'invisible fi…
Feb 16, 2025
sportskeeda.com
in 1981 at the Indy 500, Rick Mears’ pit stop on lap 58 turned dangerous when spilled fuel caused a fire. The flames, made of methanol, were invisible, making the situation even more terrifying. | History In Pictures
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in 1981 at the Indy 500, Rick Mears’ pit stop on lap 58 turned dangerou…
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The nearly invisible methanol fire at the 1981 Indy 500 became one of the race’s most unforgettable safety incidents. When Rick Mears’ car erupted in flames during a pit stop, the clear methanol burned without visible smoke or color, leaving crews briefly unaware of the danger surrounding him. Only the heat shimmer and Mears’ frantic movements alerted the team to the burning fuel. Track workers quickly sprayed water—one of the few ways to make methanol flames visible—and extinguished the fire. T
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The nearly invisible methanol fire at the 1981 Indy 500 became one of t…
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In the era when Indy cars ran on methanol fuel, fire presented a uniquely terrifying challenge. Unlike gasoline, methanol burns with a faint, almost colorless flame that can be extremely hard to detect in daylight, making fires easy to miss for both drivers and pit crews. In many cases, the first clues were visual distortions in the air or the sudden movements of nearby crew members rather than visible flames. The 1981 Indianapolis 500 produced one of the most cited examples when Rick Mears’ car
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In the era when Indy cars ran on methanol fuel, fire presented a uni…
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Back in 1981 at the Indy 500, something truly scary happened during Rick Mears’ pit stop on lap 58. Fuel spilled, and a fire started in the pit, but what made it even scarier was that the flames were invisible because they were made of methanol. 🔥 Like history? Follow us @historyphotographed 🌟 | History In Pictures
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Back in 1981 at the Indy 500, something truly scary happened d…
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FacebookHistory In Pictures
The near invisible methanol fire at the 1981 Indianapolis 500.
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The near invisible methanol fire at the 1981 Indianapolis 500.
May 3, 2024
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Starting in 1965, USAC Indy Car competitions, including the Indianapolis 500, encouraged and later mandated the use of methanol fuel. Why? Because in the 1964 Indianapolis 500, there was a seven-car crash on the second lap. Two drivers died when their gasoline-fueled cars exploded. This fire created a cloud of thick black smoke that completely blocked the view of any oncoming cars, making the collision even more dangerous.Enter methanol fuel. Methanol fires are essentially invisible in daylight;
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Starting in 1965, USAC Indy Car competitions, including the Indian…
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