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Rick Mears outduels Michael Andretti to win his fourth #Indy500. | INDYCAR on FOX
2:21
Rick Mears outduels Michael Andretti to win his fourth #Indy500. | INDYCAR on FOX
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"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 fire' story from the 1981 Indy 500
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
0:27
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
570K viewsDec 15, 2024
FacebookHistory In Pictures
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
0:29
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
299.6K viewsNov 5, 2023
FacebookHistory In Pictures
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
0:58
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
49.3K views4 months ago
FacebookHistoryinmemes
3:09
We are 7️⃣5️⃣ days from the 106th #Indy500 presented by Gainbridge! 7️⃣5️⃣: Rick Mears earned his fourth, and final, victory at #IMS in the 75th #Indy500 in 1991. 🎟 >>> https://bit.ly/3q3Iz5a #INDYCAR | #IsItMayYet | Indianapolis Motor Speedway
146.1K viewsMar 14, 2022
FacebookIndianapolis Motor Speedway
0:59
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;
2M viewsJul 28, 2024
FacebookIcy Athletics
0:59
You can't fight a fire that you can't see. This is exactly what happened when the ‘Invisible Fire’ at the 1981 Indy 500 set Rick Mears and his car alight. The motorsports industry has come a long way since the incident. Formula 1 banned refuelling during the race in 2010 due to safety concerns for drivers. #physics #science #formula1 #rickmears | vt.physics
8.3K viewsJan 27, 2024
Facebookvt.physics
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Sharp Minds Only on Instagram: "The 1981 Indy 500 delivered one of motorsport’s most frightening moments when Rick Mears’ car burst into flames during a pit-lane crash. The danger came from methanol fuel — it burns with an almost invisible flame in daylight. When the fire ignited, neither the crowd nor most crew members could see it. All anyone felt was the sudden heat hitting their faces. Mechanics rushed toward Mears using instinct alone, spraying extinguishers at a fire they couldn’t actually
36.7K views4 months ago
Instagramintrigropedia
0:53
caughtoncamera07 on Instagram: "In a harrowing pit stop during the 1981 Indianapolis 500 on May 24 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, veteran driver Rick Mears experienced one of racing’s most terrifying near-disasters. Leading the race in his Penske PC-9B Cosworth, Mears pulled in on lap 58 for a routine refuel. As the crew connected the hose, methanol fuel spilled and ignited, creating an “invisible fire” due to methanol’s clear-burning nature in bright sunlight. With no visible flames or smo
441 views3 months ago
Instagramcaughtoncamera07
0:38
Rest is History | Methanol was used at the time, and it burns with a flame that is almost impossible to see in daylight. During a routine pit stop, the fuel... | Instagram
2.5K views4 months ago
Instagramrest.is_history2
0:56
The invisible flames of a methanol fire turned a pit stop for Rick Mears at the 1981 Indy 500 into a sudden crisis after a fuel hose failure.Nearly colorless in daylight, the fire delayed response as he escaped and crew reacted without clear visual cues.
20.5K views2 weeks ago
x.comScience girl
0:57
Historical Medallion🎖️ on Instagram: "On May 24, 1981, minutes before the start of the Indy 500, a methanol leak occurred on Rick Mears' car (Penske Racing) — the primary fuel in IndyCar at the time. Methanol flame has low luminosity and is almost invisible in daylight. The fire, reaching temperatures of around 1800°F (1000°C), ignited near the engine and instantly engulfed the rear of the car. Mears' crew, unable to see clear flames, relied only on shimmering hot air and black smoke from burni
54.6K views4 months ago
Instagramhistorical_medallion
0:35
@f1archived on Instagram: "Rick Mears was involved in one of the most memorable pit lane fire incidents of the early 1980s at the Indianapolis 500, an era when Indy cars ran on methanol. Unlike gasoline, methanol burns with a flame that can be extremely faint or nearly invisible in bright daylight, making fires harder to detect and adding a unique layer of danger during high-pressure pit stops. During the 1981 Indianapolis 500, Mears’ car experienced a refueling fire that initially appeared conf
29.5K views2 months ago
Instagramf1archived
0:20
@999.and.more on Instagram: "During the 1981 Indianapolis 500, one of the strangest and most dangerous incidents in racing history occurred - a fire that was almost completely invisible. When driver Rick Mears pitted, methanol fuel spilled onto his car and instantly ignited. But methanol burns with a nearly transparent flame, making the fire impossible to see on camera and even hard to detect in person. Mears jumped out, confused, as crew members scrambled with extinguishers, unsure where the fl
70.1K views4 months ago
Instagram999.and.more
0:38
InsideBytes on Instagram: "Methanol fuel was once standard in racing, but it carried a terrifying danger: it burns with a flame that’s nearly invisible in daylight. During what should have been a routine pit stop, fuel splashed onto Rick Mears and ignited instantly—yet no one noticed at first. There was no explosion, no bright flash, no smoke to warn the crew. The only clue was Mears’ sudden, frantic reaction, which signaled that something was terribly wrong. Seconds later, the team realized he
14.3K views3 months ago
Instagraminsidebytes
0:56
In 1981, Rick Mears survived one of the most terrifying moments in racing history. During a pit stop at the Indy 500, his car caught fire—but the flames were nearly invisible. Methanol burns clear, and for seconds, no one realized he was standing in fire. the crew put the fire out along with the mechanic who was also caught in the flame. don’t play with methanol. #f1 #indy500 #racing #cars #fyp
184 views3 months ago
TikTokf1overtakeofficial
0:44
motorchive 🏴‍☠️ | During the 1981 Indy 500, all hell broke loose when an invisible fire started caused by methanol fuel. Rick Mears’ pit crew was refueling... | Instagram
7.5M viewsSep 8, 2024
Instagrammotorchive
vt.physics on Instagram: "You can't fight a fire that you can't see. This is exactly what happened when the ‘Invisible Fire’ at the 1981 Indy 500 set Rick Mears and his car alight. The motorsports industry has come a long way since the incident. Formula 1 banned refuelling during the race in 2010 due to safety concerns for drivers. #physics #science #formula1 #rickmears"
78.2K viewsJan 27, 2024
Instagramvt.physics
59:16
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