INDIANAPOLIS -- Rick Mears smashed world Indy car speed records as well as those for the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, reaching levels he didn't think possible to earn the pole for the 70th Indianapolis 500.
Mears drove his March-Cosworth to the fastest official lap ever, 217.581 mph, on his first circuit of the legendary 2 1/2-mile oval during qualifications Sunday. Mears finished with the four fastest laps ever and a speedway record qualifying average speed of 216.828 mph., driving 10 miles in 2:46.03.
'I never really felt we could run this quick,' said Mears, who also ran above 217 mph in a practice session early Saturday. 'I didn't feel we would be able to hold that speed at this time of day with the heat.'
Mears, who already owned the speedway marks for fastest lap in the race and quickest winning time, established new speedway records for a fifth straight year.
The pole position will help little in the May 25 race, Mears said.
'It doesn't mean that much for the race, but it's very good for the team, for the sponsors and for the safety factor of being up front in case something happens,' he said.
The handling of cars does not change despite the unprecedented speeds, Mears said.
'It's really no different,' Mears said. 'You approach it the same way. You drive what the car's limit is and where it wants to operate, then push it to the limit. The main thing you notice with these speeds is that you approach the corners a little quicker.'
Setting the speed records left Mears searching for words.
'It means a lot. I don't know how to describe it. I really don't let myself get too enthused. But when they close the track, I'll probably celebrate, maybe even have a beer or two,' he said.
The pole position earned the Bakersfield, Calif., resident $72,500 in prize money plus a new van. It was the third Indy pole for Mears, the 1979 and 1984 winner, who joined Tom Sneva and Johnny Rutherford as the only three-time pole sitters. Rex Mays and A.J. Foyt each won four Indy poles.
Mears won the race from the pole in 1979 and was second after being the fastest qualifier in 1982.
'When I was running here in 1979 at 193 mph I was just as nervous as I was today,' Mears said. 'I was a nervous wreck today. You never know from one day to the next what the track is going to be like.'
