CART PPG Indy Car World Series (1979, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995)

Lore & Background

The CART PPG Indy Car World Series erupted from the 1979 schism with USAC, a rebellion led by team owners who wanted a bigger slice of the commercial pie and control over their own destiny. PPG Industries slapped its name on the series in 1979, and suddenly the sport became a high-octane laboratory for speed and innovation. The cars themselves were beasts: turbocharged Cosworths, Ilmors, and Hondas bolted into ground-effect chassis that sucked themselves to the pavement, generating insane grip and forcing drivers to wrestle with aerodynamic forces that could snap a car sideways in a heartbeat. This era minted legends. Rick Mears, cool and precise, racked up three championships and four Indianapolis 500 wins, while Bobby Rahal and Al Unser Jr. carved their own paths to multiple titles. The early '90s saw white-hot rivalries between Michael Andretti and Al Unser Jr., as well as Emerson Fittipaldi vs. The Brazilian's veteran cunning and Mansell's raw speed defined an unforgettable era. The 1995 season closed the PPG chapter, as CART faced a new split with the Indy Racing League. But the legacy of those years endures: a time of snarling engines, balls-to-the-wall driving, and the purest, most unfiltered form of IndyCar racing ever seen.

In Their Own Story

The air at Laguna Seca was thick with tension and the acrid bite of methanol. The final race of the CART PPG season. Emerson Fittipaldi, the weathered Brazilian with two decades of scars and glory, needed to finish ahead of his rival Nigel Mansell to claim the championship. The crowd held its breath as Fittipaldi's Penske-Chevrolet dove into the corkscrew, its engine shrieking a desperate, high-pitched wail that bounced off the hills. Mansell, in his Newman-Haas Lola-Ford, threw his car into the corners with Formula One fury, but he couldn't match the Brazilian's rhythm—a rhythm honed on the bumpy streets of Long Beach and the treacherous banks of Michigan. As the checkered flag fell, Fittipaldi crossed the line third, just enough. In victory lane, he sprayed champagne, a grin splitting his sun-worn face—a champion in the twilight of a storied career, proving that experience still mattered in the world's fastest series.

Reader's Guide

Mears' ability to adapt to the evolving ground-effect cars of the early 1980s made him the defining driver of that generation. This achievement is significant because it anchored the Penske dynasty and set a standard for excellence in the series. The record stood until the series' end in 1995, a testament to Mears' skill and the fierce competition of the era.

Did You Know?

• PPG Industries sponsored the series from 1979 to 1995, making it one of the longest-running title sponsorships in motorsport history.
• The 1995 season finale at Laguna Seca was the last race of the PPG era, with Jacques Villeneuve winning the championship before moving to Formula One.