Full Race Broadcast: 1990 Indianapolis 500

Almost a full quarter of an hour was sliced from Bobby Rahal’s four-year-old record as Arie Luyendyk ripped through the 500 miles in just over two hours and 41 minutes to average a phenomenal 185.981 mph.

Assisted greatly by the fact that there were only four brief caution periods, Luyendyk’s elapsed time for the distance required four hours less that it had for Ray Harroun to win the inaugural “500” in 1911.

Pole-sitter and defending winner Emerson Fittipaldi broke a record held since 1927 by the late Frank Lockhart, by leading the first 92 laps in a row until a tire problem dropped him back slightly.

In a rather unusual turn of events, there were only three leaders in this race and they were to finish one–two–three with Luyendyk (37 laps led) being trailed by Bobby Rahal (35 laps) and Fittipaldi (128 laps).