Mansell Scores a Victory in His Indy Car Debut

Formula One champion Nigel Mansell made a spectacular start to his Indy car career Sunday, overcoming several tactical problems to win the Australian Indy car Grand Prix at Surfers Paradise.

It marked only the second time in the history of Indy car racing that a “rookie” has won his debut race. The only other driver to achieve the feat was Graham Hill in the 1966 Indianapolis 500.

Mansell and Brazilian Emerson Fittipaldi exchanged the lead several times throughout the 65-lap, 181.675-mile race. But Mansell, who won the pole position with a lap-record time, held on for a five-second victory.

Mansell had a 30-second lead with 14 laps left when he pitted briefly for fuel. When he returned to the track, he still had a 17-second lead on Fittipaldi.

That fuel appeared to be just enough as Mansell ran out of gas while on his victory lap. He limped out of the car, his sore left foot stiff from shifting, and was taken to the pit by a service vehicle.

Fittipaldi was second in his Penski Racing Team Chevy, while Robby Gordon was third. Mansell teammate Mario Andretti, starting his 30th year in auto racing, finished fourth.