1976 Indianapolis 500
Encyclopedia
The 1976 Indianapolis 500 was held at Indianapolis
on Sunday, May 30, 1976.
Rain stopped the race on lap 102. Two hours later, the race was about to be restarted, but the rain fell again. Officials called the race at that point and Johnny Rutherford
was declared the winner. Rutherford walked to Victory Lane, having completed only 255 miles (410 km), the shortest official race on record. It was also the third 500 in four years to have been shortened by rain. Later in the year, the entire track was repaved in asphalt, the first time the entire track had been repaved at once since 1909. The yard of bricks at the start/finish line still remains from the original surface. Longtime Voice of the 500
Sid Collins
called his final race, as he committed suicide eleven months later.
Janet Guthrie
became the first female driver to enter the Indy 500, but experienced numerous mechanical and engine problems during the month. She was unable to pass her rookie test until the second week of practice, but finally got her car up to sufficient speed. She practiced in A. J. Foyt
's back-up car on the morning of final day of time trials, but the day ended without her making an attempt to qualify. She instead flew to Charlotte
and drove in the NASCAR
World 600
.
Failed to qualify: Ed Crombie
(#67), Larry Dickson
(#65), Bill Engelhart (#44), Janet Guthrie
(#1, #17, #27), Mike Hiss
(#11), Jim Hurtubise
(#56), Jerry Karl
(#8), Mel Kenyon
(#61), Lee Kunzman
(#65), John Mahler
(#19, #91, #92), Jim McElreath
(#65, #76), Ed Miller (#46), Rick Muther
(#99), Bobby Olivero
(#78), Eldon Rasmussen
(#58), Bill Simpson
(#38)
Notes: The race was stopped on lap 103 due to rain (which had begun falling on lap 101). Two hours later, the race was about to be restarted but rain started to fall again. Officials at that point called off the race, and reverted scoring back to the completion of the 102nd lap. It is the shortest race in history, and just one lap past the minimum distance of 101 laps.
Indianapolis Motor Speedway
The Indianapolis Motor Speedway, located in Speedway, Indiana in the United States, is the home of the Indianapolis 500-Mile Race and the Brickyard 400....
on Sunday, May 30, 1976.
Rain stopped the race on lap 102. Two hours later, the race was about to be restarted, but the rain fell again. Officials called the race at that point and Johnny Rutherford
Johnny Rutherford
For the Major League Baseball pitcher, see Johnny Rutherford . For other people with a similar name, see John RutherfordJohn Sherman Rutherford III , better known as Johnny Rutherford, and also known as "Lone Star JR" is a former U.S...
was declared the winner. Rutherford walked to Victory Lane, having completed only 255 miles (410 km), the shortest official race on record. It was also the third 500 in four years to have been shortened by rain. Later in the year, the entire track was repaved in asphalt, the first time the entire track had been repaved at once since 1909. The yard of bricks at the start/finish line still remains from the original surface. Longtime Voice of the 500
Indianapolis Motor Speedway Radio Network
The Indianapolis Motor Speedway Radio Network , is an in-house radio syndication arrangement which broadcasts the Indianapolis 500, IndyCar, and the Brickyard 400 to radio stations covering most of North America....
Sid Collins
Sid Collins
Sid Collins was an American broadcaster best known as the radio voice of the Indianapolis 500 on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Radio Network from 1952-1976...
called his final race, as he committed suicide eleven months later.
Janet Guthrie
Janet Guthrie
Janet Guthrie is a retired professional race car driver and the first woman to qualify and compete in both the Indianapolis 500 and the Daytona 500....
became the first female driver to enter the Indy 500, but experienced numerous mechanical and engine problems during the month. She was unable to pass her rookie test until the second week of practice, but finally got her car up to sufficient speed. She practiced in A. J. Foyt
A. J. Foyt
Anthony Joseph Foyt, Jr., or as he is universally known as in motorsports circles, A. J. Foyt , is a retired American automobile racing driver. He raced in numerous genres of motorsports. His open wheel racing includes USAC Champ cars and midget cars. He raced stock cars in NASCAR and USAC. He won...
's back-up car on the morning of final day of time trials, but the day ended without her making an attempt to qualify. She instead flew to Charlotte
Charlotte Motor Speedway
Charlotte Motor Speedway is a motorsports complex located in Concord, North Carolina, United States 13 miles from Charlotte, North Carolina. The complex features a quad oval track that hosts NASCAR racing including the prestigious Coca-Cola 600 on Memorial Day weekend and the Sprint All-Star Race...
and drove in the NASCAR
NASCAR
The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing is a family-owned and -operated business venture that sanctions and governs multiple auto racing sports events. It was founded by Bill France Sr. in 1947–48. As of 2009, the CEO for the company is Brian France, grandson of the late Bill France Sr...
World 600
Coca-Cola 600
The Coca-Cola 600, formerly known as the World 600, is a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race held each year at Charlotte Motor Speedway in Concord, North Carolina on Memorial Day weekend...
.
Race schedule
EWLINE
|
EWLINE
|
|||||
Race results
| Finish | Start | No | Name | Qual | Rank | Laps | Led | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | 2 |  Johnny RutherfordJohnny Rutherford For the Major League Baseball pitcher, see Johnny Rutherford . For other people with a similar name, see John RutherfordJohn Sherman Rutherford III , better known as Johnny Rutherford, and also known as "Lone Star JR" is a former U.S... |
188.957 | 2 | 102 | 48 | Running |
| 2 | 5 | 14 | A.J. Foyt |
185.262 | 10 | 102 | 29 | Running |
| 3 | 2 | 20 | Gordon Johncock Gordon Johncock Gordon Johncock is a former racing driver, best known as a two-time winner of the Indianapolis 500 and the 1976 USAC Marlboro Championship Trail champion. Johncock was most often simply referred to as "Gordy."... |
188.531 | 3 | 102 | 18 | Running |
| 4 | 7 | 40 | Wally Dallenbach Wally Dallenbach, Sr. Wally Dallenbach, Sr. is a former long-time open-wheeled race car driver in CART from East Brunswick Township, New Jersey. He drove in 180 Indy Car races between 1965 and 1979, winning five times. He is the father of NASCAR driver and commentator, Wally Dallenbach, Jr.-Biography:Dallenbach nearly... |
184.445 | 12 | 101 | 3 | Flagged |
| 5 | 6 | 48 | Pancho Carter Pancho Carter Duane "Pancho" Carter, Jr. is a retired American race car driver. He is most famous for his participation in CART races.-Background:... |
184.824 | 11 | 101 | 3 | Flagged |
| 6 | 3 | 68 | Tom Sneva Tom Sneva Tom Sneva is a former Indy Car driver who was named to the prestigious Motorsports Hall of Fame of America in 2005. Sneva is best remembered for winning the 1983 Indianapolis 500. Nicknamed "The Gas Man," Sneva was an outstanding qualifier, winning the pole position for the Indianapolis 500 three... |
186.355 | 8 | 101 | 1 | Flagged |
| 7 | 4 | 21 | Al Unser Al Unser Alfred "Al" Unser is a former American automobile racing driver, the younger brother of fellow racing drivers Jerry and Bobby Unser, and father of Al Unser, Jr.... |
186.258 | 9 | 101 | 0 | Flagged |
| 8 | 19 | 6 | Mario Andretti Mario Andretti Mario Gabriele Andretti is a retired Italian American world champion racing driver, one of the most successful Americans in the history of the sport. He is one of only two drivers to win races in Formula One, IndyCar, World Sportscar Championship and NASCAR... |
189.404 | 1 | 101 | 0 | Flagged |
| 9 | 22 | 77 | Salt Walther Salt Walther David "Salt" Walther , is a former driver in the USAC and CART Championship Car series. He also drove NASCAR stock cars, unlimited hydroplane boats, and was a car owner in USAC.... |
182.796 | 17 | 100 | 0 | Flagged |
| 10 | 12 | 3 | Bobby Unser Bobby Unser Robert William "Bobby" Unser is a retired U.S. automobile racer. He is the brother of Al Unser, Jerry Unser and Louie Unser, the father of Robby Unser, and the uncle of Al Unser, Jr. and Johnny Unser... |
187.520 | 5 | 100 | 0 | Flagged |
| 11 | 30 | 51 | Lloyd Ruby Lloyd Ruby Lloyd Ruby was an American racecar driver.Ruby raced in the USAC Championship Car series in the 1958-1977 seasons, with 177 career starts, including every Indianapolis 500 race during 1960-1977. He finished in the top ten 88 times, with 7 victories. His best Indy finish was 3rd in 1964... |
186.480 | 7 | 100 | 0 | Flagged |
| 12 | 14 | 93 | Johnny Parsons Johnny Parsons Johnny Parsons is an American racecar driver.-Racing family:Parsons is the son of Arza and 1950 Indianapolis 500 winner Johnnie Parsons. His parents divorced, and Johnny was raised with half-brothers Dana and Pancho Carter, the product of Arza'a marriage with Duane Carter. The Carters grew up... |
182.843 | 16 | 98 | 0 | Flagged |
| 13 | 27 | 23 | George Snider George Snider George "Ziggy" Snider is a retired American race car driver. A longtime driver in the United States Automobile Club Silver Crown series, Snider is also a 22-time starter of the Indianapolis 500, the most starts without winning the race. His best finish was eighth in the 1975 Indianapolis 500... |
181.141 | 31 | 98 | 0 | Flagged |
| 14 | 32 | 24 | Tom Bigelow Tom Bigelow Tom Bigelow , USA, is a former driver in the USAC and CART Championship Car series.-Midget car racing:... |
181.965 | 24 | 98 | 0 | Flagged |
| 15 | 11 | 12 | Mike Mosley Mike Mosley Mike Mosley , was an American racecar driver.Born in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, Mosley died in an off-road vehicle accident near Riverside, California. His young son, Michael, was also riding in the van Mosley was driving, but was uninjured. He was a driver in the USAC and CART Championship Car series... |
187.588 | 4 | 98 | 0 | Flagged |
| 16 | 33 | 8 | Jan Opperman Jan Opperman Jan Opperman , was an American racecar driver. He won the 1971 Knoxville Nationals, the premiere event in sprint car racing... |
181.717 | 27 | 97 | 0 | Flagged |
| 17 | 10 | 69 | Larry Cannon |
181.388 | 29 | 97 | 0 | Flagged |
| 18 | 17 | 9 |  Vern SchuppanVern Schuppan Vernon "Vern" Schuppan is a racing driver from Whyalla, South Australia. Schuppan drove in various categories, participating in Formula One, the Indianapolis 500 and most successfully in sports car racing.-Formula One:... |
182.011 | 21 | 97 | 0 | Flagged |
| 19 | 29 | 97 | Sheldon Kinser Sheldon Kinser Sheldon Kinser , was an American race-car driver.Kinser, a Bloomington, Indiana native, died of cancer. He was a three-time USAC Sprint Car Series Champion . He also drove in the USAC and CART Championship Car series... |
181.114 | 33 | 97 | 0 | Flagged |
| 20 | 28 | 96 | Bob Harkey Bob Harkey Bob Harkey , is a former driver in the USAC Championship Car series. He raced in the 1963-1979 seasons, with 85 career starts, including the Indianapolis 500 in 1964, 1971 and 1973-1976... |
181.141 | 32 | 97 | 0 | Flagged |
| 21 | 15 | 98 | John Martin John Martin (driver) John Martin , is a former driver in the USAC and CART Championship Car series. He raced in the 1970-1977 and 1979-1980 seasons, with 52 career starts, including the 1972-1976 Indianapolis 500 races. He finished in the top ten 17 times, with his best finish in 5th position at Ontario Motor... |
182.417 | 18 | 96 | 0 | Flagged |
| 22 | 18 | 83 | Bill Puterbaugh Bill Puterbaugh Bill Puterbaugh , is a former driver in the USAC Championship Car series. He raced in the 1967-1971 and 1975–1977, and 1979 seasons, with 31 career starts, including the 1975-1977 Indianapolis 500. He finished in the top ten 11 times, with his best finish in 6th position in 1968 at Springfield... |
182.002 | 22 | 96 | 0 | Flagged |
| 23 | 21 | 28 | Billy Scott |
183.383 | 15 | 96 | 0 | Flagged |
| 24 | 23 | 92 | Steve Krisiloff Steve Krisiloff Steve Krisiloff , is a former driver in the USAC and CART Championship Car series. He raced in the 1969–1979, 1981 and 1983 seasons, with 111 combined career starts, and started in the Indianapolis 500 all but 1969–1970... |
182.131 | 20 | 95 | 0 | Flagged |
| 25 | 24 | 86 | Al Loquasto Al Loquasto Albert John Loquasto , was a Sicilian-Italian-American racecar driver, a descendant of Libertino lo Guasto of Serradifalco, Caltanissetta, Sicily. Surviving spouse Sandra Loquasto and son A.J. Loquasto.... |
182.002 | 23 | 95 | 0 | Flagged |
| 26 | 26 | 63 | Larry McCoy Larry McCoy (driver) Larry McCoy III , was an American race car driver in open wheel racing.Born in Langhorne, Pennsylvania, McCoy graduated from Bristol High School in Bristol, Pennsylvania, and then entered law school at the University of Miami but did not graduate.He drove in the USAC Championship Car series, racing... |
181.387 | 30 | 91 | 0 | Flagged |
| 27 | 20 | 73 | Jerry Grant Jerry Grant Jerry Grant , is a former driver in the USAC Championship Car series. He raced in the 1965-1977 seasons, with 54 career starts, including the Indianapolis 500 in 1965-1968, 1970 and 1972-1976... |
183.617 | 13 | 91 | 0 | Flagged |
| 28 | 8 | 45 | Gary Bettenhausen Gary Bettenhausen Gary Bettenhausen is a retired American auto racing driver. He was born in Blue Island, Illinois, raised in Tinley Park, Illinois, and currently resides in Monrovia, Indiana.-Racing family:... |
181.791 | 25 | 52 | 0 | Turbocharger |
| 29 | 31 | 33 |  David Hobbs |
183.580 | 14 | 10 | 0 | Water Leak |
| 30 | 13 | 7 | Roger McCluskey Roger McCluskey Roger McCluskey was an American race car driver. He was from Tucson, Arizona.He won championship titles in three divisions of USAC -Sprints, Stocks, and Champ Cars. He won the USAC Sprint Car title in 1963 and 1966, the USAC Stock car title in 1969 and 1970. The Champ Car title in 1973... |
186.499 | 6 | 8 | 0 | Crash T3 |
| 31 | 9 | 5 | Bill Vukovich, Jr Bill Vukovich II William John Vukovich, Jr. , better known as Bill Vukovich II is a former driver in the championship car division of USAC and CART series.... |
181.433 | 28 | 2 | 0 | Rod |
| 32 | 16 | 17 | Dick Simon Dick Simon Dick Simon is one of the oldest men to ever have raced in the Indianapolis 500. He was 55 years old during his final Indy 500 start in 1988. A multiple starter and top-ten finisher in the race, he also became a car owner, founding Dick Simon Racing helping to begin the IndyCar careers of Stéphan... |
182.342 | 19 | 1 | 0 | Rod |
| 33 | 25 | 19 | Spike Gehlhausen Spike Gehlhausen Daniel William "Spike" Gehlhausen , is a former driver in the USAC and CART Championship Car series. He raced in 11 seasons , with 79 combined career starts, including the Indianapolis 500 in 1976, 1978-1980, and 1984... |
181.717 | 26 | 0 | 0 | Oil Pressure |
Failed to qualify: Ed Crombie
Ed Crombie
Ed Crombie is a former Canadian-born United States Automobile Club Championship Car racecar driver....
(#67), Larry Dickson
Larry Dickson
Larry Dickson , is a former driver in the USAC and CART Championship Car series. He raced in the 1965-1981 seasons, with 105 combined career starts, including the Indianapolis 500 in 1966-1969, 1971, 1978–1979, and 1981. He finished in the top ten 44 times, with his best finish in 2nd position in...
(#65), Bill Engelhart (#44), Janet Guthrie
Janet Guthrie
Janet Guthrie is a retired professional race car driver and the first woman to qualify and compete in both the Indianapolis 500 and the Daytona 500....
(#1, #17, #27), Mike Hiss
Mike Hiss
Mike Hiss is a former driver in the USAC Championship Car series. He raced in the 1972-1976 seasons, with 28 career starts, including the Indianapolis 500 in 1972-1975. He finished in the top ten 13 times, with his best finish in 2nd position in 1972 at Ontario...
(#11), Jim Hurtubise
Jim Hurtubise
In 1957, Hurtubise started his NASCAR career running two races. Over the next twenty years, he would race 36 races, winning one race at Atlanta Motor Speedway, and amassing eleven top ten finishes.-Award:...
(#56), Jerry Karl
Jerry Karl
Jerry Karl , was a former driver in the USAC and CART Championship Car series...
(#8), Mel Kenyon
Mel Kenyon
Mel Kenyon is a former midget car driver. He is known as the "King of the Midgets", "Miraculous Mel", and "Champion of Midget Auto Racing." The Motorsports Hall of Fame of America says "Many consider him to be midget car racing's greatest driver ever." -Racing career:He attended his first auto...
(#61), Lee Kunzman
Lee Kunzman
Lee Kunzman , is a former driver in the USAC and CART Championship Car series. He raced in the 1969, 1972–1973 and 1975-1980 seasons, with 48 combined career starts, including the 1971-1972, 1977, and 1979 Indianapolis 500...
(#65), John Mahler
John Mahler
John Mahler , is a former open wheel race car driver in the USAC and CART Championship Car series. He raced in the 1970-1973 and 1976-1981 seasons, with 39 combined career starts, including the 1972 and 1977-1979 Indianapolis 500...
(#19, #91, #92), Jim McElreath
Jim McElreath
Jim McElreath , is a former driver in the USAC and CART Championship Car series.-Racing career:He raced in the 1961-1983 seasons, with 178 combined career starts, including 15 in the Indianapolis 500 in 1962-1970, 1973–1974, and 1977-1980. He finished in the top ten 101 times, with five victories...
(#65, #76), Ed Miller (#46), Rick Muther
Rick Muther
Rick Muther , was an American racecar driver.Muther was born in Alhambra, California. He was for the most part The Indy 500's first Hippy race driver. Muther started in SCCA sports car racing in Southern California at Riverside winning the prestigious Tim Mayer award...
(#99), Bobby Olivero
Bobby Olivero
Bobby Olivero , is a former driver in the USAC Championship Car series. He raced in the 1976-1978 seasons, with 17 career starts, including the 1977 Indianapolis 500. He finished in the top ten 11 times, with his best finish in 5th position in 1977 at Ontario.In 1979, Olivero was the USAC Silver...
(#78), Eldon Rasmussen
Eldon Rasmussen
Eldon Rasmussen , is a former driver in the USAC Championship Car series. He raced in the 1971 and 1973-1979 seasons, with 23 career starts, including the 1975, 1977, and 1979 Indianapolis 500...
(#58), Bill Simpson
Bill Simpson
Bill Simpson , is a retired American racecar driver, but is best known as a pioneer in the racing safety business with his company Simpson Performance Products. He left Simpson Performance in a controversy surrounding Dale Earnhardt's death and started Impact! Racing...
(#38)
Notes: The race was stopped on lap 103 due to rain (which had begun falling on lap 101). Two hours later, the race was about to be restarted but rain started to fall again. Officials at that point called off the race, and reverted scoring back to the completion of the 102nd lap. It is the shortest race in history, and just one lap past the minimum distance of 101 laps.
See also
- 1976 USAC Championship Car season1976 USAC Championship Car seasonThe 1976 USAC Championship Car season consisted of 13 races, beginning in Avondale, Arizona on March 14 and concluding at the same location on November 7. The USAC National Champion was Gordon Johncock and the Indianapolis 500 winner was Johnny Rutherford....