Scheckter and Rice lead the field in the 2002 IndyCar race at MIS. (LAT Photo)

MARIO BY AN EYE: Mario Andretti edged Tom Sneva in a fabulous duel in the 1984 Michigan 500 that left Sneva steaming about his legendary rival's chop block at the end. "Aw, he'll get over it by Wednesday," said Mario with a smile. Also, two cars were bumped in qualifying but there were 34 starters after A.J. Foyt was added as a promoter's option (his car had been disqualified for a rear wing violation following qualifying).

THE LAST CHANCE: After nearly winning Indy, Scott Pruett finally got his first W in CART at MIS in 1995 with a breathtaking, last lap, fourth turn, outside pass of Al Unser Jr. that left 75,000 fans standing and screaming.

A BIG FLOP: With more than 100,000 spectators braving the chilly conditions and turning their back on the Indy 500, the stars and cars of CART fell on their face at the start of the one and only U.S. 500 in 1996. A massive pileup, triggered by the front row, destroyed a dozen cars and stopped the race for almost two hours. After beating their chest about the inferior IRL, it was a dark day for CART in the early days of the cold war.

TRIUMPH & TRAGEDY: In 1998, an aerodynamic aid known as the Handford Device created countless passes (a record 62 lead changes) and a fantastic finish that saw Greg Moore slipstream past Jimmy Vasser and Alex Zanardi. But three spectators lost their life when a wheel sailed into the fourth-turn grandstands – the first and only fatalities in MIS history.

MANO A MANO: In 2000, Juan Montoya and Michael Andretti roared into the fourth turn of the last lap at 225 mph – banging wheels – as the kid nipped the veteran by a few feet for the victory. Which prompted Montoya to say: "I hope I'm as competitive and brave as Michael when I'm his age."

THANKS EDDIE: After nearly winning Indy as a rookie before crashing, Tomas Scheckter and owner Eddie Cheever were at each other's throats a couple months later. As a motivational tool, Cheever hired Buddy Rice and gave him some key people from Scheckter's crew to go to Michigan. The result? Tomas won a thriller from Rice, who was making his IRL debut.

Robin Miller covers open wheel racing for SPEEDTV.com, SPEED Report and WIND TUNNEL. A lifelong resident of Indianapolis, an 18-year-old Miller stooged for his hero Jim Hurtubise at the Indianapolis 500 in 1968 and began covering motorsports for The Indianapolis Star in 1969. Besides working on Indy pit crews from 1968-78, Miller also competed on the USAC midget circuit from 1975-83. During the past 35 years he's also been a contributor for Autoweek, Autosport, Car & Driver, ESPN The Magazine and several publications that folded and still owe him money. He is single, a degenerate gambler and despises the NASCAR phrase, "We had a Top 20 car today."

Robin Miller is not affiliated with RACER magazine and his views should not be considered representative of RACER or of Haymarket Worldwide Inc.