Emerson Fittipaldi

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Emerson Fittipaldi made his CART debut in 1984 at age 37, driving for two teams before joining Patrick Racing as a replacement for Chip Ganassi, who had been seriously injured in the 1984 Michigan 500. His first CART victory came at the 1985 Michigan 500. He stayed five years with Patrick Racing, recording six victories and solid finishes in the overall standings. In 1989, Fittipaldi had five wins, finished in the top five in every race he completed, and was the CART champion. Among his wins was a dominant performance in the 1989 Indianapolis 500, where he led 158 of 200 laps and won by two laps, but only after a dramatic duel with Al Unser Jr. in the closing laps. Unser ran down Fittipaldi after a late-race restart and passed him for the lead on lap 196. Three laps later, Fittipaldi used lapped traffic to his advantage to pull alongside Unser on the backstretch. Neither driver would give way, and the two cars touched wheels as they went through turn three side by side. Unser's car spun out of control to hit the outside wall, while Fittipaldi was able to maintain sufficient control to keep his car moving straight. In spite of the altercation, Unser applauded Fittipaldi from the infield as Fittipaldi passed by on the final lap. Roger Penske hired Fittipaldi for his racing team in 1990 and he continued to be among the top drivers in CART, winning at least one race with Penske for six straight years. But for bad luck he might have won three consecutive Indianapolis 500s, suffering blistered tires in 1990 and a gearbox failure in 1991, both while leading. In 1993 he added a second Indianapolis 500 victory by taking the lead from reigning Formula One World Champion Nigel Mansell on lap 185 and holding it for the remainder.

In Their Own Story

The 1989 Indianapolis 500. Late in the race, Emerson Fittipaldi and Al Unser Jr. are locked in a wheel-to-wheel battle for the lead. The crowd roars as they dive into Turn 1, side by side. Fittipaldi, in his Patrick Racing Penske, holds his line, his face a mask of concentration. With a daring pass on the backstretch, he takes the lead and never looks back, crossing the yard of bricks to claim his first Indy 500 victory—a triumph that echoes from São Paulo to Speedway, Indiana.

Reader's Guide

Emerson Fittipaldi's era in IndyCar spanned from the mid-1980s to the mid-1990s, a period when CART racing was at its peak. His playing style combined the precision of a Formula One champion with the bravery required for oval racing. He was known for his smooth, calculated approach, often conserving tires and fuel before striking late in races. His greatest achievements include winning the 1989 CART championship and two Indianapolis 500s (1989, 1993). The 1989 Indy 500 victory was particularly iconic, as he defeated Al Unser Jr. in a thrilling finish. His 1993 win with Penske Racing cemented his status as an IndyCar legend. Fittipaldi's legacy is that of a trailblazer. He proved that a Formula One champion could transition to American open-wheel racing and succeed at the highest level. His rivalry with Unser Jr. and his role in popularizing IndyCar in Brazil left an indelible mark on the sport. Today, he is remembered as one of the few drivers to win both the Formula One World Championship and the Indianapolis 500.

Did You Know?

• Fittipaldi made his CART debut in 1984 at age 37, replacing the seriously injured Chip Ganassi at Patrick Racing.
• His first CART victory came at the 1985 Michigan 500.
• In the 1989 Indianapolis 500, Fittipaldi led 158 of 200 laps and won by two laps after a dramatic duel with Al Unser Jr. that included wheel contact.
• Fittipaldi broke Indianapolis victory lane tradition in 1993 by drinking orange juice before milk, forfeiting $5,000 from the winner's purse.
• He won at least one race with Penske Racing for six straight years from 1990.