Indianapolis Motor Speedway | |||||
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Indianapolis 500 | |||||
Sanctioning body | USAC | ||||
Season | 1976 USAC Trail | ||||
Date | May 30, 1976 | ||||
Winner | Johnny Rutherford | ||||
Winning team | McLaren | ||||
Average speed | 148.725 mph (239.350 km/h) | ||||
Pole position | Johnny Rutherford | ||||
Pole speed | 188.957 mph (304.097 km/h) | ||||
Fastest qualifier | Mario Andretti 189.404 mph (304.816 km/h) | ||||
Rookie of the Year | Vern Schuppan | ||||
Most laps led | Johnny Rutherford (48) | ||||
Pre-race ceremonies | |||||
National anthem | Tom Sullivan & Up with People | ||||
"Back Home Again in Indiana" | Jim Nabors | ||||
Starting Command | Tony Hulman | ||||
Pace car | Buick Century | ||||
Pace car driver | Marty Robbins | ||||
Attendance | 250,000 (estimated) | ||||
TV in the United States | |||||
Network | ABC | ||||
Announcers | Jim McKay and Jackie Stewart | ||||
Nielsen Ratings | 17.9 / 34 | ||||
Chronology | |||||
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The 60th 500 Mile International Sweepstakes was held at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Speedway, Indiana on Sunday, May 30, 1976. Polesitter Johnny Rutherford took the lead on lap 80, and was leading when rain halted the race on lap 103. Two hours later, the race was about to be resumed, but rain fell again. USAC officials called the race at that point, reverted the scoring back to the completion of lap 102, and Johnny Rutherford was declared the winner. Rutherford famously walked to Victory Lane, his second career Indy 500 triumph, having completed only 255 miles (410 km), the shortest official race on record.
During time trials, Janet Guthrie became the first female driver to enter the Indianapolis 500. However, her team was underfunded, and she experienced numerous mechanical and engine problems during the month. While she managed to pass her rookie test, she was unable to make an attempt to qualify. She would return with a successful effort a year later in 1977.
Hours after the race, IMS Vice President in charge of the IMS Radio Network and former driver Elmer George (husband of Mari Hulman George) was shot and killed during a confrontation. The confrontation was unrelated to the running of the race. In addition, 1976 would be the final Indy 500 for longtime radio anchor Sid Collins. After a surgery to repair a disk in his neck, Collins was still suffering muscular and neurological ailments, which made his work at the 1976 race physically difficult. He was later diagnosed with ALS, and committed suicide on May 3, 1977.
Rutherford's victory would be the final win at Indy for the venerable Offenhauser engine. It was the beginning of the end of an era which had seen 27 Indy 500 victories for the Offy powerplant.