1979 Indianapolis 500 - AbsoluteAstronomy.com

The 1979 Indianapolis 500 was held at Indianapolis

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 27, 1979.

The month was filled with controversy on and off the track. A court injunction was issued after USAC denied entries by the start-up CART series. During time trials, several cars were disqualified due to illegal wastegate

Wastegate

A wastegate is a valve that diverts exhaust gases away from the turbine wheel in a turbocharged engine system. Diversion of exhaust gases regulates the turbine speed, which in turn regulates the rotating speed of the compressor. The primary function of the wastegate is to regulate the maximum boost...

manifolds. Qualifying closed with 33 cars in the field. However, the day before the race a special qualifying session was held to allow certain entries a last chance to qualify. Two additional cars were added to the field, for a total of 35 cars (the most since 1933).

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....

dominated the first half in Jim Hall's radical Chaparral 2K chassis. However, Unser's brother Bobby

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...

took over the lead just prior to the halfway point, and Al was soon eliminated when his car began smoking with a failed transmission. When Bobby slowed with gearbox trouble late in the race, young second-year driver Rick Mears

Rick Mears

Rick Ravon Mears is a retired American race car driver. He is one of three men to have won the Indianapolis 500-Mile Race four times , and the current record-holder for pole positions in the race with six...

moved out front with less than 20 laps to go and won his first Indy 500. Born in 1951, Mears became the first Indy winner born after WWII

World War II

World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...

. They also changed to the pace car system during caution periods, instead of the pacer light system during the USAC era.

Race results

Finish	Start	No	Name	Qual	Rank	Laps	Led	Status
1	1	9	United States Rick Mears Rick Mears Rick Ravon Mears is a retired American race car driver. He is one of three men to have won the Indianapolis 500-Mile Race four times , and the current record-holder for pole positions in the race with six...	193.736	1	200	25	Running
2	6	14	United States A.J. Foyt	189.613	6	200	1	Running
3	12	36	United States 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...	186.278	16	200	0	Running
4	27	25	United States Danny Ongais Danny Ongais Danny Ongais is a former racecar driver from the United States.He is the only native Hawaiian to compete at the Indianapolis 500...	188.009	10	199	0	Flagged
5	4	12	United States 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...	189.913	4	199	89	Flagged
6	5	3	United States 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."...	189.753	5	197	0	Flagged
7	13	46	United States Howdy Holmes Howdy Holmes Howdy S. Holmes , is a former driver in the CART Championship Car series. He began racing in the early 1970s and was based in Stockbridge, Michigan, about northeast of Chelsea....	185.864	19	195	0	Flagged
8	34	22	United States Bill Vukovich II 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....	187.042	12	194	0	Flagged
9	15	11	United States Tom Bagley Tom Bagley Tom Bagley , is a former driver in the USAC and CART Championship Car series. He raced in the 1978-1980 and 1983 seasons, with 42 combined career starts, including the 1978-1980 Indianapolis 500. He finished in the top ten 23 times, with a best finish, three times, of 4th position.-Indy 500...	185.414	23	193	0	Flagged
10	31	19	United States 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...	185.061	27	192	0	Flagged
11	28	7	United States 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...	186.287	15	192	0	Flagged
12	16	77	United States 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....	184.162	33	191	0	Flagged
13	25	72	United States 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...	183.908	35	191	0	Flagged
14	30	44	United States Tom Bigelow Tom Bigelow Tom Bigelow , USA, is a former driver in the USAC and CART Championship Car series.-Midget car racing:...	185.147	25	190	0	Flagged
15	2	1	United States 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...	192.999	2	188	0	Crash T4
16	26	69	United States Joe Saldana Joe Saldana Joe Saldana , is a former driver in the USAC and CART Championship Car series. He raced in the 1977-1980 seasons, with 31 combined career starts, including the 1978-1979 Indianapolis 500. He finished in the top ten 10 times, with a best finish of 6th position in 1979 at Atlanta...	188.778	7	186	0	Flagged
17	29	97	United States Phil Threshie Phil Threshie Phil Threshie , is a former driver in the USAC and CART Championship Car series. He raced in the 1977-1981 seasons, with 15 combined career starts, including the 1978-1979 Indianapolis 500. He finished in the top ten once, an 8th position in 1979 at Texas World Speedway.-Indy 500...	185.855	20	172	0	Flagged
18	8	4	United States 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...	188.137	9	168	0	Flagged
19	23	31	United States Larry Rice Larry Rice Larry Rice was an American racing driver in the USAC and CART Championship Car series. He was the 1973 USAC National midget driver's champion and won the USAC Silver Crown series in 1977 and 1981. He was inducted in the National Midget Auto Racing Hall of Fame in 1993.-Racing career:Larry's father...	184.218	31	142	0	Crash T2
20	17	10	United States 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:...	185.806	21	129	0	Wheel Bearing
21	22	34	Australia Vern Schuppan Vern 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:...	184.341	29	111	0	Transmission
22	3	2	United States 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....	192.503	3	104	85	Transmission
23	33	50	Canada 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...	183.927	34	89	0	Header Pipe
24	24	80	United States 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...	184.181	32	86	0	Fuel Pump
25	32	92	United States 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...	184.322	30	66	0	Fuel Pump
26	20	17	United States 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...	185.071	26	57	0	Clutch
27	7	6	United States Wally Dallenbach, Sr. 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...	188.285	8	43	0	Lost Wheel
28	10	24	United States 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...	186.674	13	40	0	Piston
29	18	29	Canada Cliff Hucul Cliff Hucul Cliff Hucul , is a former driver in the USAC and CART Championship Car series. He raced in the 1977-1981 seasons, with 24 combined career starts, including the 1977-1979 Indianapolis 500...	186.200	17	22	0	Rod
30	11	89	United States 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...	186.403	14	18	0	Scavenger Pump
31	21	73	United States Jerry Sneva Jerry Sneva Jerry Sneva , is a former off-road driver who also drove in the USAC and CART Championship Car series. He raced in the 1977-1982 seasons, with 26 combined career starts, including the 1977-1980 and 1982 Indianapolis 500 and was named 1977 Indianapolis 500 Rookie of the Year...	184.379	28	16	0	Piston
32	9	15	United States 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...	187.813	11	16	0	Piston
33	35	59	United States 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...	185.319	24	7	0	Fuel Pump
34	14	45	United States 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....	185.720	22	3	0	Piston
35	19	23	United States 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...	185.880	18	0	0	Valves

Failed to Qualify: Bill Alsup

Bill Alsup

Bill Alsup is a former race car driver. He was the first CART Rookie of the Year in 1979 and competed in the 1981 Indianapolis 500, finishing 11th. He made 57 CART & USAC Champ Car starts in his career...

(#19, #41, #68 - Disqualified), 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:...

(#44, #98), Tony Bettenhausen, Jr.

Tony Bettenhausen, Jr.

Tony Bettenhausen, Jr. was a Champ Car team owner and driver who died in a 2000 plane crash. He was the son of former 14-time Indianapolis 500 competitor Tony Bettenhausen and the brother of 21-time Indy racer Gary Bettenhausen. The family holds the dubious distinction of the most combined starts...

(#23, #26), Neil Bonnett

Neil Bonnett

Lawrence Neil Bonnett was a NASCAR driver who compiled 18 victories and 20 poles over his 18-year career. The Alabama native currently ranks 35th in all-time NASCAR Cup victories. He appeared in the 1983 film Stroker Ace and the 1990 film Days of Thunder...

(#73), Earle Canavan

Earle Canavan

Earle Samuel Canavan is an American racing driver from Fort Johnson, New York.Canavan participated in NASCAR Winston Cup part-time from 1969 to 1986. His best points result came in 1975 when he drove in 12 of the 30 races and finished 32nd in points...

, Larry Cannon (#95), Dana Carter (#30), Billy Engelhart

Billy Engelhart

Billy Engelhart , is a former driver in the CART Championship Car series. He raced in the 1980-1981 seasons, with 9 career starts, including the 1980 Indianapolis 500. He finished in the top ten 4 times, with his best finish in 8th position in 1981 at Milwaukee.-External Links:*...

(#83), Dick Ferguson

Dick Ferguson

Dick Ferguson , is a former driver in the CART Championship Car series. He raced in the 1979-1985 and 1987-1988 seasons, with 26 career starts, including the 1980 Indianapolis 500. He finished in the top ten 5 times, with a best finish of 6th position in 1981 at Michigan.-External Links:*...

(#81), Ed Finley (#62), Woody Fisher (#52), Tom Frantz

Tom Frantz

Tom Frantz is an American former racing driver from Denver, Colorado. He made his USAC Championship Car debut in 1975 and made 6 starts with 2 11th place finish and competitive drives in every event...

(#16), Todd Gibson

Todd Gibson

Todd Gibson is an American former racing driver from Morral, Ohio.An accomplished Modified stock car racer, Gibson made his USAC Championship Car debut on in 1969 at the Milwaukee Mile. He competed in one other race that year and failed to qualify for two more...

(#75), 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...

(#19), Hurley Haywood

Hurley Haywood

Hurley Haywood is an American race-car driver who won the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1977 , 1983 and 1994 and is the most successful driver at the 24 Hours of Daytona with 5 wins . He won the 12 Hours of Sebring in 1973 and 1981...

(#51), 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...

(#38), 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....

(#39), 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...

(#20), 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...

(#93), Jerry Miller

Jerry Miller (driver)

Jerry Wayne Miller was an American racing driver from Salem, Indiana who excelled at sprint car racing and made a 3 year foray into Championship Car....

(#97), Jan Opperman

Jan Opperman

Jan Opperman , was an American racecar driver. He won the 1971 Knoxville Nationals, the premiere event in sprint car racing...

, 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...

(#35), Roger Rager

Roger Rager

Roger Rager , is a former driver in the USAC and CART Championship Car series.Rager wasn't quite five years old when he ran a "space ship" go-kart around the track during an intermission for a race program that included his dad, Bob, at the Nebraska State Fair in Lincoln.At age 14, Rager purchased...

(#66), Billy Scott (#28), Frank Weiss

Frank Weiss

Frank Weiss is a retired Canadian racecar driver. He competed in the USAC and CART Championship Car series....

(#50)

Race results

See also