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

In the era when Indy cars ran on methanol fuel, fire presented a uniquely terrifying challenge. Unlike gasoline, methanol burns with a faint, almost colorless flame that can be extremely hard to detect in daylight, making fires easy to miss for both drivers and pit crews. In many cases, the first clues were visual distortions in the air or the sudden movements of nearby crew members rather than visible flames. The 1981 Indianapolis 500 produced one of the most cited examples when Rick Mears’ car