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This is the 59th Indianapolis 500, run on May 25, 1975.
NOTE: While I use the host segments for the Indy 500: The Classics airing of the highlight film, this is, in fact, a combined version between the SpeedVision version and ESPN's Legends of the Brickyard series, which started with this race. Thus virtually the entire film is presented in one upload.
The 1975 Indianapolis 500 seemed to destined to be a historic event. A.J. Foyt, still seeking his fourth Indianapolis 500 win, a feat that yet yet to be achieved at that time, was the dominant factor in the sport in '75, and in qualifications, he didn't disappoint anyone, taking his second consecutive Indy pole and fourth overall, tying Rex Mays' record. And when 1973 winner Gordon Johncock and 1968 winner Bobby Unser qualified second and third, it marked the first time the entire front row was comprised of previous winners.
Only two other drivers had a real shot at the front row, Tom Sneva, who qualified fourth, and Wally Dallenbach. But he had problems that relegated him to the status of a second day qualifier, and although he recorded the fourth-fastest qualifying time, he was forced to start the race 21st.
Something not mentioned is the Carburetion Day crash of Pancho Carter, which caused the team to have to rebuild the car, but Carter ran a quiet race, winding up fourth, despite spinning out on the main straightaway in the chaotic rainy finish.
To add to the feeling of this being destined as a historic race, on the day the race was run, May 25, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway was officially added to the National Register of Historic Places. This was also the 30th Indianapolis 500 for Tony Hulman, which is noted in both the beginning and end of the film, which is narrated by legendary voice actor Marvin Miller.
As for the race itself, some of the true giants of the sport traded the lead, as Foyt, Johncock, and Johnny Rutherford traded the lead early. Even NASCAR legend Bobby Allison got in on the act during the first series of pit stops, leading for one circuit. But charging from the 21st position, and having run only three laps in the 1974 race, Wally Dallenbach was on a mission, and once he got the lead, he dominated the race. Foyt's bid for victory ran came to an end when he ran out of fuel on the 124th lap. Then just three laps later, Tom Sneva and Eldon Rasmussen tangled in turn two, with Sneva having a horrible crash in front of the VIP stands. This crash would have an effect on the outcome of the race.
On lap 162, Dallenbach, still holding a big lead, burned a piston, something he blamed on the fact that they had to run through the grass during the 15-lap caution for Sneva's crash. That wasn't the only way Sneva's crash affected the end of this race. On lap 170, the right rear hub on Gary Bettenhausen's car exploded, bringing out the caution flag. A few laps later, the heavens opened up, causing fans to scatter and a number of drivers to spin out, one of whom was Billy Vukovich II, who actually GAINED TWO positions because he was able to finish the race. Had it not been for Sneva's crash, the race likely would have been run to completion.
Bobby Unser was the biggest beneficiary of the chaotic finish, earning his second win, and bringing Dan Gurney to Indy's victory lane for the only time in his career. A half lap behind Unser was Johnny Rutherford, who splashed his way to the runner-up spot, with Foyt finishing alongside Unser, but almost one lap behind in third. Carter finished fourth with his repaired car, but was five laps behind, with veteran Roger McCluskey finishing another two laps behind in fifth, with Vukovich's heady move to finish after his spin, which is not seen in this presentation, giving him sixth place, ahead of Bill Puterbaugh, who was named Indy's Rookie of the Year, and George Snider, who had the best race of his Indy career, in eighth place.
Al credits go to SPEED (SpeedVision, the predecessor to the SPEED Channel, aired much of the content in this presentation), ESPN/The Walt Disney Company, who also aired quite a bit of what is seen in this video, USAC, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, and Championship Racefilms.
If there are any others who I'm forgetting, please let me know so I can add them to the list of those to credit.
14 авг 2024
