The 1981 Indianapolis 500 race became notable for an incident involving methanol, which burns with an invisible flame. During the race, a collision caused a fire that was not immediately visible. Methanol burns with a clear flame that isn’t easily seen in daylight, which makes the fire challenging to detect initially. Several race cars and a safety vehicle were involved in the incident, but , the response was quick once the fire was realized. | History In Pictures

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