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PrivacyIROC X - 1986
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The International Race of Champions was an auto racing competition, featuring identically-prepared stock cars set up by a single team of mechanics, in an effort to make the race purely a test of driver ability. It was run with a small field of invited drivers (6-12) from all the major racing series including NASCAR, SCCA, FIA and USAC. Over the years CART and the IRL drivers, among others also participated.
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IROC X - 1986
IROC completed its first decade with its youngest champion in series history. Al Unser Jr., at age 23, earned his invitation by finished second--by one point--to his father in the 1985 CART/PPG Indy Car World Series standings. However, it was "Big Al" who came home a winner in Race 1, when leader Harry Gant was eliminated with mechanical problems 8 laps from the finish. Bill Elliott and Cale Yarborough failed to pass Unser with traditional Daytona "slingshot" moves on the last lap. In Race 2 at Mid-Ohio, Unser Jr.--now 24 --out-dragged Rahal going into turn one and led all the way as the elder Unser came from last to finish fifth. In Race 3 at Talladega, Yarborough won a record fifth IROC event after passing Rick Mears on the ninth lap. Yarborough led the point totals going into the last race at Watkins Glen, but quickly faded. Unser seemed headed for his second IROC title until an accident, while leading, eliminated him midway through the race. "Little Al" passed Elliott one lap later, and then held him off in a spectacular final-lap battle to earn the IROC championship . . . the third member of the Unser family to do so. (from IROC Website)
Final Points |
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IROC 10 Champion Al Unser Jr.  |
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Position |
Driver/Residence/Sanction |
Points |
Money Earned |
1 |
Al Unser Jr./Albuquerque, NM/CART |
62 |
$164,100 |
2 |
Bill Elliott/Dawsonville, GA/NASCAR |
59 |
82,100 |
3 |
Cale Yarborough/Sardis, NC/NASCAR |
57 |
60,900 |
4 |
Al Unser/Albuquerque, NM/CART |
51 |
47,400 |
5 |
Darrell Waltrip/Franklin, TN/NASCAR |
48 |
39,000 |
6 |
Harry Gant/Taylorsville, NC/NASCAR |
42 |
36,000 |
7 |
Bobby Rahal/Dublin, OH/CART |
37 |
29,000 |
8 |
* Klaus Ludwig/Bonn, W. Germany/FISA |
29 |
25,000 |
9 |
Hans Stuck/Zierwaldweg, W. Germany/FISA |
29 |
24,000 |
10 |
* Hurley Haywood/Ponte Vedra, FL/IMSA |
28 |
23,000 |
11 |
Jochen Mass/St. Jean-Cap-Ferrat, France/FISA |
28 |
22,000 |
12 |
Rick Mears/Reading, PA/CART |
25 |
20,800 |
| * Tiebreaker, higher finishing position in final race | |||
Race One |
| February 14, 1986 |
| Daytona International Speedway |
| Daytona Beach, Florida |
| 2.5-mile high-banked oval, 40 laps, 100 miles |
Finish |
Start |
Driver |
Laps |
Status |
1 |
4 |
Al Unser |
40 |
Running |
2 |
8 |
Cale Yarborough |
40 |
Running |
3 |
12 |
Bill Elliott |
40 |
Running |
4 |
2 |
Hurley Haywood |
40 |
Running |
5 |
5 |
Klaus Ludwig |
40 |
Running |
6 |
7 |
Hans Stuck |
39 |
Running |
7 |
11 |
Darrell Waltrip |
39 |
Running |
8 |
1 |
Harry Gant |
32 |
Fuel press. |
9 |
6 |
Rick Mears |
25 |
Accident |
10 |
10 |
Jochen Mass |
4 |
Accident |
11 |
3 |
Al Unser Jr. |
4 |
Accident |
12 |
9 |
Bobby Rahal |
4 |
Accident |
| Time of Race: 33 minutes, 4 seconds |
| Average Speed: 181.452 MPH |
| Margin of Victory: 40 feet |
| Caution Flags : 2, Mass-Unser Jr-Rahal accident; Mears accident |
| Lead Changes: 1 among 2 drivers |
| Lap Leaders: Gant, 1-30; Unser, 31-40 |
Race Two |
| June 7, 1986 |
| Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course |
| Lexington, Ohio |
| 2.4-mile road course, 29 laps, 69.6 miles |
Finish |
Start |
Driver |
Laps |
Status |
1 |
2 |
Al Unser Jr. |
29 |
Running |
2 |
1 |
Bobby Rahal |
29 |
Running |
3 |
6 |
Darrell Waltrip |
29 |
Running |
4 |
10 |
Bill Elliott |
29 |
Running |
5 |
12 |
Al Unser |
29 |
Running |
6 |
5 |
Harry Gant |
29 |
Running |
7 |
3 |
Jochen Mass |
29 |
Running |
8 |
7 |
Hans Stuck |
29 |
Running |
9 |
8 |
Klaus Ludwig |
29 |
Running |
10 |
11 |
Cale Yarborough |
29 |
Running |
11 |
9 |
Hurley Haywood |
29 |
Running |
12 |
4 |
4 Rick Mears |
29 |
Running |
| Time of Race: 49 minutes, 53.218 seconds |
| Average Speed: 80.823 MPH |
| Margin of Victory: 2.870 seconds |
| Caution Flags: No full course yellows |
| Lead Changes: 0 |
| Lap Leaders: Unser Jr., 1-29 |
Race Three |
| July 26, 1986 |
| Talladega Superspeedway |
| Talladega, Alabama |
| 2.66-mile high-banked oval, 38 laps, 101.08 miles |
Finish |
Start |
Driver |
Laps |
Status |
1 |
7 |
Cale Yarborough |
38 |
Running |
2 |
6 |
Harry Gant |
38 |
Running |
3 |
9 |
Bill Elliott |
38 |
Running |
4 |
8 |
Darrell Waltrip |
38 |
Running |
5 |
2 |
Jochen Mass |
38 |
Running |
6 |
11 |
Al Unser |
38 |
Running |
7 |
10 |
Al Unser Jr |
38 |
Running |
8 |
1 |
Rick Mears |
38 |
Running |
9 |
4 |
Hans Stuck |
38 |
Running |
10 |
5 |
Bobby Rahal |
38 |
Running |
11 |
3 |
Hurley Haywood |
38 |
Running |
12 |
12 |
*Klaus Ludwig |
38 |
Running |
| *Did not practice--moved from fourth to 12th on grid | ||||
| Time of Race: 33 minutes, 4 seconds |
| Average Speed: 183.411 MPH |
| Margin of Victory: one Camaro length |
| Caution Flags: No full course yellows |
| Lead Changes: 1 among 2 drivers |
| Lap Leaders: Mears, 1-8; Yarborough, 9-38 |
Race Four |
| August 9, 1986 |
| Watkins Glen International |
| Watkins Glen, New York |
| 2.428-mile road course, 30 laps, 72.84 miles |
Finish |
Start |
Driver |
Laps |
Status |
1 |
5 |
Al Unser Jr. |
30 |
Running |
2 |
3 |
Bill Elliott |
30 |
Running |
3 |
6 |
Darrell Waltrip |
30 |
Running |
4 |
7 |
Bobby Rahal |
30 |
Running |
5 |
12 |
Klaus Ludwig |
30 |
Running |
6 |
1 |
Cale Yarborough |
30 |
Running |
7 |
10 |
Hurley Haywood |
30 |
Running |
8 |
9 |
Hans Stuck |
30 |
Running |
9 |
11 |
Rick Mears |
30 |
Running |
10 |
8 |
Jochen Mass |
29 |
Running |
11 |
4 |
Harry Gant |
29 |
Running |
12 |
2 |
Al Unser |
18 |
Accident |
| Time of Race: 40 minutes, 5 seconds |
| Average Speed: 109.078 MPH |
| Margin of Victory: three Camaro lengths |
| Caution Flags: No full course yellows |
| Lead Changes: 3 among 3 drivers |
| Lap Leaders: Unser, 1-15; Elliott, 16; Unser Jr., 17-30 |