1980 Indianapolis 500 - AbsoluteAstronomy.com

Results of the 1980 Indianapolis 500 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 25, 1980.

Recap

After failing in its 1979 debut, Jim Hall's radically new Chaparral chassis is driven to easy victory by 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...

. Tom Sneva becomes the first driver to place second after starting last. He also became the first driver to start last (33rd) and lead laps during the race. Future 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...

star Tim Richmond

Tim Richmond

Tim Richmond was an American race car driver from Ashland, Ohio. He competed in IndyCar racing before transferring to NASCAR's Winston Cup Series . Richmond was one of the first drivers to change from open wheel racing to NASCAR stock cars full-time, which has since become an industry trend...

is this year's top rookie, despite running out of fuel in the late stages. Following the checkered flag, Johnny Rutherford stopped near the entrance of pit lane to allow Tim Richmond to ride on the side of the winning car. http://www.autoracing1.com/article.asp?id=1222 Ten different drivers led a race slowed by 13 caution flags, new race records that would stand until 1993

1993 Indianapolis 500

The 77th Indianapolis 500 was held at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Sunday, May 30, 1993. Emerson Fittipaldi took the lead with 16 laps to go, and won his second career Indy 500 victory...

and 1988

1988 Indianapolis 500

The 72nd Indianapolis 500 was held Sunday May 29, 1988 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Team Penske dominated the month, sweeping the top three starting positions with Rick Mears winning the pole position, Danny Sullivan on the inside of the front row, and Al Unser, Sr. on the outside...

respectively.

Results

Finish	Start	No	Name	Qual	Rank	Laps	Led	Status
1	1	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...	192.257	1	200	118	Running
2	33	9	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...	185.290	19	200	16	Running
3	32	46	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:...	182.463	33	200	0	Running
4	17	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."...	186.075	15	200	11	Running
5	6	1	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...	187.491	7	199	10	Flagged
6	8	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:...	186.480	11	199	5	Flagged
7	16	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...	186.606	10	199	0	Flagged
8	31	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:...	182.547	32	198	0	Flagged
9	19	21	United States Tim Richmond Tim Richmond Tim Richmond was an American race car driver from Ashland, Ohio. He competed in IndyCar racing before transferring to NASCAR's Winston Cup Series . Richmond was one of the first drivers to change from open wheel racing to NASCAR stock cars full-time, which has since become an industry trend...	188.334	5	197	1	Flagged
10	23	44	United States Greg Leffler Greg Leffler Greg Leffler , is a former driver in the CART Championship Car series. He raced in the 1980-1983 seasons, with 13 career starts, including the 1980 Indianapolis 500. He finished in the top ten twice, with his best finish in 6th position in 1982 at Riverside. In 1979, Leffler was the USAC Sprint Car...	183.749	22	197	0	Flagged
11	22	29	United States 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:*...	184.237	20	193	0	Flagged
12	30	2	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....	182.741	31	192	0	Flagged
13	18	96	United States Don Whittington Don Whittington Reginald "Don" Whittington is a former American racing driver from Lubbock, Texas who won the 1979 24 Hours of Le Mans together with his brother Bill Whittington and Klaus Ludwig on a Porsche 935, although Ludwig, a multiple winner at Le Mans and elsewhere, did most of the driving in the heavy rain...	183.927	21	178	0	Flagged
14	12	14	United States A.J. Foyt	185.500	16	173	0	Valve
15	21	16	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...	185.386	18	169	1	Engine
16	24	18	Australia Dennis Firestone Dennis Firestone Dennis Firestone is a former CART driver from 1979 to 1987. He was the Rookie of the year in CART 1980 season finishing in 12th in season points, his best season. His best finish in a CART race was a pair of 5th places that year...	183.701	23	137	0	Transmission
17	5	7	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...	187.852	6	130	0	Crash T1
18	25	99	United States 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...	183.561	24	127	0	Fire
19	3	11	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...	189.994	3	126	26	Turbocharger
20	2	12	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...	191.012	2	71	10	Engine
21	28	38	United States Jerry Karl Jerry Karl Jerry Karl , was a former driver in the USAC and CART Championship Car series...	183.011	28	64	0	Clutch
22	29	8	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...	182.787	30	58	0	Lost wheel
23	10	66	United States 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...	186.374	13	55	2	Crash SC
24	11	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...	186.249	14	54	0	Crash SC
25	20	70	United States Gordon Smiley Gordon Smiley Gordon Eugene Smiley was an American race car driver from Omaha, Nebraska who was killed in a single-car crash at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. He was inducted into the Nebraska Auto Racing Hall of Fame in 2000....	186.848	9	47	0	Turbocharger
26	7	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...	187.412	8	44	0	Piston
27	9	5	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....	186.442	12	33	0	Cylinder
28	13	40	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...	185.405	17	29	0	Pump
29	4	35	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...	188.344	4	20	0	Crash T1
30	27	94	United States Bill Whittington Bill Whittington Bill Whittington is an American racing driver from Lubbock, Texas who won the 1979 24 Hours of Le Mans together with his brother Don Whittington and Klaus Ludwig in a Porsche 935. The German professional Klaus Ludwig, multiple winner at Le Mans and elsewhere, did most of the driving in the heavy...	183.262	26	9	0	Crash T1
31	15	26	United States 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:*...	182.880	29	9	0	Crash T1
32	26	48	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...	183.449	25	5	0	Gasket
33	14	95	United States Larry Cannon	183.253	27	2	0	Camshaft

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...

(#41), 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...

(#32), Phil Caliva

Phil Caliva

Phil Caliva is an Italian-born American racing driver who competed in the CART Championship Car series from 1979 to 1984. After racing in the North American Formula Super Vee series in 1977 and 1978, he made his CART debut in 1979 driving for Spike Gehlhausen at Ontario Motor Speedway...

(#47), 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...

(#80), 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...

(#57), 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....

(#51, #55), Pete Halsmer

Pete Halsmer

Pete Halsmer , is a former driver in the CART Championship Car series. He raced in 5 seasons , with 33 career starts, and started in the Indianapolis 500 in 1981-1982. He finished in the top five three times in the CART series, with his best finish in 2nd position in 1983 at Cleveland...

(#34), 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...

(#67), 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....

(#43, #45), 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), Herm Johnson

Herm Johnson

Herm Johnson , is a former driver in the CART Championship Car series. He raced in 7 seasons , with 35 career starts, including the 1984 Indianapolis 500. He also raced at Indy in 1982, but the race was not part of CART that year...

(#28), 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...

(#24), 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...

(#59), 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....

(#81), 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...

(#91), 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...

(#37), Roger Mears

Roger Mears

Roger Mears , is a former off-road driver who also drove in the USAC and CART Championship Car series. He raced in the 1978-1984 seasons, with 31 combined career starts, and started in the 1982 and 1983 Indianapolis 500...

(#97), 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...

(#82), 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...

, 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...

(#69), 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:...

(#89), Ron Shuman

Ron Shuman

Ron Shuman is an American racecar driver from Tempe, Arizona. A champion sprint car racer Shuman won the Turkey Night Grand Prix sprint car race four consecutive times from 1979 to 1982 and eight times in total and the Knoxville Nationals in 1979...

(#78), Jan Sneva

Jan Sneva

Jan J. Sneva is a former racing driver and the brother of Jerry Sneva and Indianapolis 500 winner Tom Sneva....

(#50, #77), Bill Tempero

Bill Tempero

Bill Tempero is an American former racing driver from Milwaukee. He raced in the CART Championship Car series from 1980 to 1984 competing in full seasons his first two years and partial schedules thereafter. He failed to qualify for both the races he attempted in 1984, so he was not credited with...

(#65), 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...

(#30), Rich Vogler

Rich Vogler

Rich Vogler was a champion sprint car and midget car driver. He was nicknamed "Rapid Rich". He competed in the Indianapolis 500 five times, his best finish was eighth in 1989.-Racing career:...

(#50), 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....

(#76), Frank Weiss

Frank Weiss

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

(#68), John Wood

John Wood (driver)

John J. Wood is an American former racing driver. He began his career in sports car racing, then ventured briefly into open wheel racing from 1978 to 1980, then returned to sports cars....

(#42)

Recap

Results

See also