The 71st Indianapolis 500 was held at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Speedway, Indiana, on Sunday May 24, 1987. After dominating practice, qualifying, and most of the race, leader Mario Andretti slowed with mechanical problems with only 23 laps to go. Five laps later, Al Unser Sr. assumed the lead, and won his record-tying fourth Indianapolis 500 victory. At age 47, just days short of his 48th birthday, Unser became the oldest winner of the Indy 500, a record that still stands as of 2023. During the month of May, an unusually high 25 crashes occurred during practice and qualifying, with one driver in particular, Jim Crawford, suffering serious leg injuries.
1987 Indianapolis 500
Rick Mears in a Penske PC-16 chassis during the first week of practice.
Danny Ongais during practice prior to his accident.
Pole-sitter Mario Andretti waits by his car during a practice session.
Mario Gabriele Andretti is an American former racing driver. He is widely regarded among the most successful drivers in the history of motorsports. Andretti is one of only three drivers to have won races in Formula One, IndyCar, the World Sportscar Championship, and NASCAR. He has also won races in midget car racing and sprint car racing.
Andretti in 2021
Andretti at the 1984 Pocono 500 in Long Pond, Pennsylvania in August 1984
A replica of the Brawner Hawk in which Andretti won the 1969 Indianapolis 500 now on display at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Hall of Fame Museum in Indianapolis
Andretti driving his Lotus Type 63 at the 1969 German Grand Prix in Nürburgring