Two-time Indy 500 runner-up ready for winner's circle

Posted: Thu May 21, 1998 at 12:54 PM ET

Goodyear was second at the Indy 500 in 1992, coming in a half-car length behind Al Unser Jr.    (AP)

INDIANAPOLIS (CNN/SI) -- As Scott Goodyear prepares for his eighth Indianapolis 500 on Sunday, he still yearns to take the checkered flag. More importantly, he is adamant about where he doesn't want to finish.

"I think this year I'd rather finish 30th than second," said the two-time Indy 500 runner-up.

Goodyear knows the frustration of just missing in racing's biggest event. In 1992, he was on the wrong end of the closest finish in 500 history -- coming in a half-car length behind the winner, Al Unser Jr. Three years later, Goodyear was the leader on la p 191, but officials ruled he had passed the pace car during a restart. He was black-flagged and came in 14th. Then last year Goodyear was again runner-up -- only a half-second behind then-teammate Arie Luyendyk.

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"At the moment I passed him I actually felt bad," said two-time Indy 500 winner Luyendyk. "Of course, I didn't let up so I feel for him and he really deserves to have won this race for sure, once."

IRL Points Leader Tony Stewart said: "He's had the car to win the race. He's either come up too late to try to win it, or else he's just had misfortune. A lot of it is just bad luck."

Goodyear has long dreamed of what it would be like to finally win the big one.

"The biggest goal for me as a driver is obviously to taste the milk at victory circle and I have a bit of a saying actually. I want to turn left five times on the last lap ... four turns on the race circuit and the fifth left turn is in victory circle com ing down pit lane."

Goodyear doesn't so much drive Indy as he is driven by it. Four years ago, he moved his family to Indiana so he could concentrate even more on winning this race. Goodyear hopes his thorough dissection of the 500, will help him avoid any more late-race sur prises.

"It really does come down to the last ten laps, and then its almost the last five and then the last one," said Goodyear. "You actually just take it in stages and keep working with it, and its almost like taking small steps."

Those steps have been filled with disappointment at the Brickyard. But on race day, that frustration is forgotten just before the green flag drops.

"All of a sudden you walk out to get in your car on the grid on race day morning ... and the balloons are going off ... and the National Anthem is being played ... it's a moving moment not only for the drivers, but for all the fans."

Those memories are why this race has become his obsession and this state his home.