[Emerson Fittipaldi] put [Mario Andretti]'s slower car between his and [Al Unser Jr.]'s, using Andretti as a buffer for as long as he could, but Unser got past Andretti, missed an outside shot at Fittipaldi on the main straight, then got inside him on the back straight and beat him into the turn, taking the lead on the 196th lap.

"We came down the back straightaway and Emerson did the slingshot and pulled up beside me. I had the car on my right (Ludwig Heimrath's) and Emerson was on my left and we reached about halfway down the straightaway and because of the car over on my right, I was able to (lead) Emerson a little bit for the last half of the straightaway.

So, the inevitable occurred. Fittipaldi's right front tire touched Unser's left rear, producing a tiny puff of friction smoke and sending Unser's car sideways into the outside wall, where it began disintegrating on contact.