1978 Indianapolis 500 - AbsoluteAstronomy.com

The 1978 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 28, 1978. For the first time, Mary Fendrich Hulman

Mary Fendrich Hulman

Mary Fendrich Hulman was the wife of the late Indiana industrialist Anton "Tony" Hulman, Jr. and matriarch of the Hulman-George family which today controls Hulman & Co., the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and the Indy Racing League.-Early life:Born in Evansville, Indiana, Mary was the daughter of...

, widow of Tony Hulman

Tony Hulman

Anton "Tony" Hulman, Jr. was a businessman from Terre Haute, Indiana who rescued the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in 1945 and made the Indianapolis 500 popular....

, delivered the command for drivers to start engines.

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...

dominated the early stages of the race but was eventually passed by 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....

before going out with a blown engine. Unser had a large lead but bent his Lola's front wing in the pitlane on lap 180. 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...

charged to catch the crippled Lola but came up 8 seconds short at the finish. Unser led 121 laps and held on for his third win on a very hot day. 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....

finished ninth on this day, the highest finish for a woman in Indy 500 history—a feat that was eventually topped 27 years later

2005 Indianapolis 500

The 89th Indianapolis 500 was held at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Sunday, May 29, 2005. It was the premier event of the 2005 IndyCar Series season, and the tenth Indy 500 sanctioned by the Indy Racing League. Dan Wheldon won the race under a yellow flag...

by Danica Patrick

Danica Patrick

Danica Sue Patrick is an American auto racing driver, model and advertising spokeswoman. She is the most successful woman in the history of American open-wheel racing, being the only woman to win in the IndyCar Series as well as holding the highest finish by a woman at the Indianapolis 500 of 3rd...

Race results

Finish	Start	No	Name	Qual	Rank	Laps	Led	Status
1	5	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....	196.474	7	200	121	Running
2	1	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...	202.156	1	200	3	Running
3	6	20	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."...	195.833	8	199	0	Flagged
4	13	40	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...	191.255	19	198	5	Flagged
5	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...	195.233	9	195	0	Flagged
6	19	48	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...	194.658	10	195	0	Flagged
7	20	14	United States A.J. Foyt	200.122	2	191	0	Flagged
8	23	84	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...	192.626	16	191	0	Flagged
9	15	51	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....	190.325	22	190	0	Flagged
10	8	16	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...	194.280	12	186	0	Flagged
11	30	35	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...	187.392	31	186	0	Engine
12	33	7	United States 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...	194.647	11	185	0	Flagged
13	4	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...	197.098	5	180	0	Flagged
14	28	88	United States Jerry Karl Jerry Karl Jerry Karl , was a former driver in the USAC and CART Championship Car series...	187.549	29	176	0	Flagged
15	24	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...	190.809	21	173	0	Flagged
16	31	98	United States 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:...	187.324	32	147	0	Engine
17	25	78	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...	188.719	26	146	0	Turbocharger
18	2	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...	200.122	3	145	71	Blown Engine
19	10	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...	192.967	15	138	0	Wheel Bearing
20	26	26	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...	188.058	27	132	0	Engine
21	18	43	United States Tom Bigelow Tom Bigelow Tom Bigelow , USA, is a former driver in the USAC and CART Championship Car series.-Midget car racing:...	189.115	25	107	0	Rod
22	9	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...	193.434	13	104	0	Oil Pressure
23	3	71	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...	200.078	4	103	0	Engine
24	21	8	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:...	196.829	6	92	0	Header
25	11	11	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...	192.256	17	82	0	Clutch
26	17	39	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...	189.723	24	58	0	1/2-time gear
27	14	22	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...	190.941	20	25	0	Oil Leak
28	22	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....	193.226	14	24	0	Clutch
29	16	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...	190.325	23	23	0	Crash T2
30	29	47	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...	187.520	30	22	0	Oil Pressure
31	32	30	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...	187.266	33	18	0	Transmission
32	12	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...	192.051	18	15	0	Oil Pressure
33	27	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...	187.805	28	4	0	Oil Line

Failed to qualify: Larry Cannon (#85), 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...

(#4), 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...

(#7, #66), 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:...

, Gary Irvin (#9), Bubby Jones

Bubby Jones

Norman "Bubby" Jones , is a former driver in the USAC Sprint Car series, with 22 victories, and a member of the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame, inducted in 1998. He also raced in the USAC Championship Car series, in the 1977-1978 seasons, with 2 career starts, including the 1977 Indianapolis 500...

(#18), 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...

(#90), 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....

(#8), 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...

(#2), Graham McRae

Graham McRae

Graham McRae is a former racing driver from New Zealand.McRae's single outing in the Formula One World Championship was at the 1973 British Grand Prix on 14 July 1973, where he retired in the first lap...

(#33, #34), 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), 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...

(#9, #97), 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 Vukovich, Jr. (#18, #93),

Race results

See also