The characters of this Indy 500 movie script 30 years ago include a tragic hero, a team of castaways and, in the backdrop a looming open-wheel split.

Get to know Graham Rahal, a 36-year-old IndyCar Series veteran who owns six race victories. He is in his 18th Indianapolis 500.

The result was finally unveiled before last year’s Indy 500, a design based around ultracapacitors rather than heavy ...