Rick Mears

Rick Mears will always be known as one of the few men ever to win the Indianapolis 500 four times, but despite an Indycar career of legendary proportions, the guy once called “Rocket Rick: The Fastest Man on Four Wheels” was no one-trick pony. As we know, he started out on dirt bikes and in dune buggies, winning overall at Pikes Peak, but also tried stock cars briefly and made a double handful of IMSA sportscar starts during the early years of his career. He also logged five years of International Race of Champions competition, but his fame was made in Indycars where three National Championships came from his 29 triumphs, a total that ranked him fifth on the all-time list when he retired. Never truly affected by the acclaim he achieved, Mears remains grateful for the opportunities that presented themselves to him. VR Associate Editor John Zimmermann recently spoke with Mears about his life and career.

How did you first get involved with motorized sport?