 | |||||
| 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 | ||||
| Starter | Pat Vidan[1] | ||||
| Estimated attendance | 300,000[2] | ||||
| TV in the United States | |||||
| Network | ABC | ||||
| Announcers | Keith Jackson and Jackie Stewart | ||||
| Nielsen ratings | 14.9 / 30 | ||||
| Chronology | |||||
| |||||
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 Indianapolis 500. 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. The race was part of the 1975 USAC National Championship Trail.
On the 174th lap (435 miles), a heavy 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.
Tom Sneva survived a spectacular crash in turn two on lap 125. His car touched wheels with the car of 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.
- ^ Fox, Jack C. (1994). The Illustrated History of the Indianapolis 500 1911-1994 (4th ed.). Carl Hungness Publishing. p. 22. ISBN 0-915088-05-3.
- ^ Marquette, Ray (May 26, 1975). "Bobby U. Wins Rain-Cut '500'". The Indianapolis Star. p. 1. Retrieved June 2, 2017 – via Newspapers.com.
