Edition: U.S. / Global  AUTO RACING; As Racer, Mears Reaches End
of the Road  Published: December 14, 1992  When Rick Mears won
his fourth Indianapolis 500, in 1991, tying him with A. J. Foyt
and Al Unser Sr. for the most victories in the event, the only
question at the time seemed to be when he would break the tie
and officially establish himself as the greatest driver in the
nation's greatest race.  Last Thursday, at a Christmas party at
his team's headquarters in Reading, Pa., Mears answered that
question: most likely never.  Mears surprised Indy-car racing
when he used the party at Penske Racing's shops to announce his
retirement. He had turned 41 earlier this month, relatively
young by racing standards, and his long alliance with Penske's
always-powerful team combined with his age seemed to assure that
he would eventually break the Indy victory record. Not Fully
Recovered  But Mears still had some recovery left from an
injured right wrist suffered in a crash during practice for this
year's Indy 500. That