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1975 Indianapolis 500

59th Indianapolis 500
Indy500winningcar1975.JPG
Indianapolis Motor Speedway
Indianapolis 500
Sanctioning body USAC
Season 1975 USAC Trail
Date May 25, 1975
Winner Bobby Unser
(435 miles, rain)
Winning team All American Racers
Average speed 149.213 mph (240.135 km/h)
Pole position A. J. Foyt
Pole speed 193.976 mph (312.174 km/h)
Fastest qualifier Foyt
Rookie of the Year Bill Puterbaugh
Most laps led Wally Dallenbach (96)
Pre-race ceremonies
National anthem Purdue Band
"Back Home Again in Indiana" Jim Nabors
Starting Command Tony Hulman
Pace car Buick Century Custom V-8
Pace car driver James Garner
Attendance 300,000 (estimated)
TV in the United States
Network ABC
Announcers Keith Jackson and Jackie Stewart
Nielsen Ratings 14.9 / 30
Chronology
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1974 1976

The 59th 500 Mile International Sweepstakes was held at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Speedway, Indiana on Sunday, May 25, 1975. A. J. Foyt started on the pole position and Bobby Unser won his second Indy 500.

On the 174th lap, a huge downpour pelted the Speedway, and officials immediately ended the race, just 26 laps short of the scheduled distance. Bobby Unser was leading the race at the red flag, and was declared the winner. Defending champion Johnny Rutherford was in second place, and pole-sitter A. J. Foyt came home third.

Dan Gurney, one of the founders of All American Racers, who finished second as a driver himself in 1968–1969, won his first and only Indy 500 as a car owner. Gurney's Eagle chassis itself scored its third "500" win.

Tom Sneva survived a spectacular crash in turn two on lap 125. His car touched wheels with Eldon Rasmussen, and flipped into the catch fence near the Turn Two Suites. The engine on Sneva's car ripped off in a huge fire-flash, and the car came to rest upright with Sneva trapped in the cockpit. Sneva miraculously suffered only minor injuries, and walked away from the wreck with assistance from the safety crews.

On the morning of the race, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway was ceremoniously designated to the National Register of Historic Places. In addition, the Hulman family celebrated thirty years of ownership of the facility.

A year earlier (1974), the race was held in the wake of the energy crisis. USAC cut out a week of practice, and trimmed time trials from four days to two days, in order to reduce energy consumption. These changes were well-received by competitors and fans, and USAC decided to make the reduction of practice time permanent; however, time trials were restored back to four days for 1975 and beyond.


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