in 1981 at the Indy 500, Rick Mears’ pit stop on lap 58 turned dangerous when spilled fuel caused a fire. The flames, made of methanol, were invisible, making the situation even more terrifying. | History In Pictures
0:27
in 1981 at the Indy 500, Rick Mears’ pit stop on lap 58 turned dangerous when spilled fuel caused a fire. The flames, made of methanol, were invisible, making the situation even more terrifying. | History In Pictures
570K viewsDec 15, 2024
FacebookHistory In Pictures
The nearly invisible methanol fire at the 1981 Indy 500 became one of the race’s most unforgettable safety incidents. When Rick Mears’ car erupted in flames during a pit stop, the clear methanol burned without visible smoke or color, leaving crews briefly unaware of the danger surrounding him. Only the heat shimmer and Mears’ frantic movements alerted the team to the burning fuel. Track workers quickly sprayed water—one of the few ways to make methanol flames visible—and extinguished the fire. T
0:58
The nearly invisible methanol fire at the 1981 Indy 500 became one of the race’s most unforgettable safety incidents. When Rick Mears’ car erupted in flames during a pit stop, the clear methanol burned without visible smoke or color, leaving crews briefly unaware of the danger surrounding him. Only the heat shimmer and Mears’ frantic movements alerted the team to the burning fuel. Track workers quickly sprayed water—one of the few ways to make methanol flames visible—and extinguished the fire. T
49.3K views5 months ago
FacebookHistoryinmemes
During the 1981 Indianapolis 500, veteran driver Rick Mears endured one of the sport’s most terrifying moments — not due to visible flames, but the lack thereof. On lap 58, a methanol fuel spill during a pit stop doused Mears, his car, and the crew, igniting into a nearly invisible fire. Methanol burns with a faint blue flame, virtually undetectable in daylight, leaving team members and marshals baffled as they instinctively fled the pit area. Mears later recalled, “I quit breathing… I kind of k
0:53
During the 1981 Indianapolis 500, veteran driver Rick Mears endured one of the sport’s most terrifying moments — not due to visible flames, but the lack thereof. On lap 58, a methanol fuel spill during a pit stop doused Mears, his car, and the crew, igniting into a nearly invisible fire. Methanol burns with a faint blue flame, virtually undetectable in daylight, leaving team members and marshals baffled as they instinctively fled the pit area. Mears later recalled, “I quit breathing… I kind of k
404.5K views8 months ago
FacebookArchive Racing
You can't fight a fire that you can't see. This is exactly what happened when the ‘Invisible Fire’ at the 1981 Indy 500 set Rick Mears and his car alight. The motorsports industry has come a long way since the incident. Formula 1 banned refuelling during the race in 2010 due to safety concerns for drivers. #physics #science #formula1 #rickmears | vt.physics
0:59
You can't fight a fire that you can't see. This is exactly what happened when the ‘Invisible Fire’ at the 1981 Indy 500 set Rick Mears and his car alight. The motorsports industry has come a long way since the incident. Formula 1 banned refuelling during the race in 2010 due to safety concerns for drivers. #physics #science #formula1 #rickmears | vt.physics
8.3K viewsJan 27, 2024
Facebookvt.physics
Back in 1981 at the Indy 500, something truly scary happened during Rick Mears’ pit stop on lap 58. Fuel spilled, and a fire started in the pit, but what made it even scarier was that the flames were invisible because they were made of methanol. 🔥 Like history? Follow us @historyphotographed 🌟 | History In Pictures
0:29
Back in 1981 at the Indy 500, something truly scary happened during Rick Mears’ pit stop on lap 58. Fuel spilled, and a fire started in the pit, but what made it even scarier was that the flames were invisible because they were made of methanol. 🔥 Like history? Follow us @historyphotographed 🌟 | History In Pictures
299.6K viewsNov 5, 2023
FacebookHistory In Pictures
"I quit breathing" - When Rick Mears narrated the horrifying 'invisible fire' story from the 1981 Indy 500
"I quit breathing" - When Rick Mears narrated the horrifying 'invisible fire' story from the 1981 Indy 500
Feb 16, 2025
sportskeeda.com
🏎 The Invisible Fire 🔥: Indy 500 (1981)
0:07
🏎 The Invisible Fire 🔥: Indy 500 (1981)
15.7K views5 months ago
YouTubeChronica
0:26
The Invisible Fire Incident Of 1981😯
300.5K viewsNov 25, 2023
YouTubeTrue Archives
0:07
The Fire You Couldn’t See #history #motorsport
33.3K views2 weeks ago
YouTubeBizarre History
History on Instagram: "At the 1981 Indianapolis 500, Rick Mears was engulfed in a dangerous pit-lane fire caused by methanol fuel. Because methanol burns with an almost invisible flame in daylight, the blaze was difficult for crews and spectators to see, even as Mears suffered severe burns. The incident underscored the risks of using methanol and helped push for improved safety measures, eventually leading to the adoption of ethanol, which produces a clearly visible flame."
3.4K views6 months ago
Instagramarchivedhistoryreels
0:32
Incendio invisible💀 . En las 500 Millas de Indianápolis de 1981, durante la vuelta 58, el pit stop de Rick Mears se convirtió en una experiencia aterradora. Durante el reabastecimiento, el combustible se derramó y las llamas comenzaron a propagarse por el pit. - Lo que lo hacía aún más escalofriante era que el fuego era invisible, ya que el combustible utilizado era metanol. El metanol tiene la peculiaridad de que arde con una llama transparente y sin humo, lo que dificulta su detección inmedia
8.5K viewsMay 13, 2024
TikTokfraquimicoo
0:38
Invisible Methanol Fire
2.7M viewsDec 8, 2024
YouTubeScience Explained
0:56
The invisible flames of a methanol fire turned a pit stop for Rick Mears at the 1981 Indy 500 into a sudden crisis after a fuel hose failure.Nearly colorless in daylight, the fire delayed response as he escaped and crew reacted without clear visual cues.
138.1K views1 month ago
x.comScience girl
5:25
Rick Mears 1981 Pit Fire - Rocket Rick Mears
125.6K viewsAug 5, 2021
YouTubeIndianapolis Motor Speedway Museum
1:00
The invisible fire🥶🥶🥶| Refueling Incident|
80.9K viewsJan 24, 2022
YouTubeF1_EDITS
RelateNShine | At the 1981 Indianapolis 500, a terrifying moment occurred when driver Rick Mears’ car was engulfed in an invisible methanol fire during a... | Instagram
6 months ago
Instagram
0:57
Purely History on Instagram: "At the 1981 Indianapolis 500, driver Rick Mears was caught in a pit-lane fire caused by methanol fuel. Methanol burns with a nearly invisible flame in daylight, making the blaze hard to detect. Spectators and even crew members couldn’t see the fire right away, though Mears suffered serious burns. This incident highlighted the dangers of methanol and led to changes in safety protocols, including the later switch to ethanol fuel, which burns with a visible flame."
1.3M views8 months ago
Instagrampurelyhistory
1:41
The INVISIBLE FIRE of the Indy 500 Race
1.3K viewsMar 21, 2025
YouTubeSimone Altrocchi's V C R
Consumer Coverage | During the 1981 Indianapolis 500, racing legend Rick Mears experienced a terrifying pit fire caused by a methanol fuel spill. ⛽️ Because... | Instagram
107.9K viewsApr 2, 2025
Instagramconsumercoverage
0:49
The Invisible Fire: IndyCar's Safety Transformation
7K viewsMay 8, 2025
TikTokformulafolds
DRBEZGJASzD
6 months ago
Instagram
3:15
The Invisible Fire | Indy 500
760 viewsJul 2, 2024
YouTubeTOP Facts Daily
1981 Racing Car Incident Shows Why Invisible Methanol Fires Are So Dangerous
Nov 21, 2024
iflscience.com
1:34
One of the scariest racing incidents of all time involved INVISIBLE fire 😳⚠️ Rick Mears caught on fire during the 1981 Indy 500, except there were no flames and no smoke… #indy500 #motorsport #racingcar #racingincident #racingaccident #formula1 #f1tiktok #didyouknow #mindblowingfacts #sciencefacts #sciencetok #edutok
2.7K viewsJan 18, 2024
TikToktilscience
Fearless Beings on Instagram: "A terrifying moment in racing history! During the 1981 Indianapolis 500, driver Rick Mears and his pit crew were caught in a nearly invisible methanol fire. Since methanol burns without visible flames, the danger wasn’t immediately clear—crew members were unknowingly engulfed in fire. Thanks to quick reactions and safety gear, Mears and his team escaped with minimal injuries. This incident served as a wake-up call for improved safety measures in motorsports. Could
70.2K viewsMar 6, 2025
Instagramfearlessbeings
0:37
Surreal Footage on Instagram: "At the 1981 Indianapolis 500 on May 24, 1981, driver Rick Mears came into the pits on lap 58 for a routine refuel when methanol fuel began gushing from the refueling hose before it was properly connected. The leaking fuel sprayed over Mears’s car, into the cockpit, and onto several mechanics. When the spilled methanol touched the hot engine or exhaust, it ignited in flames that were almost impossible to see because methanol burns with a nearly transparent flame and
22.9K views3 months ago
Instagramsurrealfootage
0:38
Rick Mears has a pit fire, 1981 Indy 500
348.5K viewsOct 17, 2009
YouTube2002damatta6
0:08
The Invisible Fire No One Could See #shorts
19.8K views2 months ago
YouTubeHistoryRapid
0:28
History Photographed on Instagram: "Back in 1981 at the Indy 500, something truly scary happened during Rick Mears’ pit stop on lap 58. Fuel spilled, and a fire started in the pit, but what made it even scarier was that the flames were invisible because they were made of methanol. 🔥 Like history? Follow us @historyphotographed 🌟"
8.6M viewsNov 5, 2023
Instagramhistoryphotographed
0:44
motorchive 🏴‍☠️ on Instagram: "During the 1981 Indy 500, all hell broke loose when an invisible fire started caused by methanol fuel. Rick Mears’ pit crew was refueling his car during a pit stop when his fuel consisting of methanol, which burns without visible flames or smoke, accidentally ignited. The fire was undetected at first, as crew members unknowingly ran into the blaze, suffering burns before realizing they were on fire. Methanol was favored because it produced less smoke and reduced t
7.5M viewsSep 8, 2024
Instagrammotorchive
See more