1982: Mario returned full-time to CART, remaining with Patrick racing. At the start, Mario was tangled up in the infamous crash triggered by Kevin Cogan replacing the then retired de facto defending champion Bobby Unser for car owner Roger Penske. Mario was out of the race before the green flag, while his Patrick Racing teammate Gordon Johncock went on to win by a margin of 0.16 seconds, the closest finish in Indy 500 history to that point against Cogan's teammate Rick Mears who had the fastest car all month long.