1977 Indianapolis 500 Profile and Photo Gallery – Page Three
The previous year's winner Johnny Rutherford was an early media favorite in 1977, but could only manage a 17th qualifying spot and was the race's first retirement after just 12 laps.
Wally Dallenbach ran the 1977 "500" in one of Pat Patrick's Wildcats, finishing 4th.
Dan Gurney (upper right, center) entered this Eagle 7700/Offenhauser TC for Pancho Carter. After an 8th place qualifying effort, the Offy expired on lap 166, leaving Carter with a 15th place finish.
Mario Andretti was able to fit an Indy 500 effort into his Formula 1 program in 1977, qualifying 6th for the "500" on the first qualifying weekend and finishing fifth in the Monaco GP the following Sunday. But the final weekend of May was another Indy disappointment for Mario when he dropped out of the "500" on lap 47, leaving him with a 26th place finish.
Danny Ongais drove Ted Field's Parnelli VPJ6B in the 1977 "500," but engine trouble dropped him from the race on lap 90.
Gordon Johncock walks through the pit lane before practice in 1977.
Al Unser sits in his Vel Miletich Parnelli VPJ6B during a practice day in 1977.
Dan Gurney monitors practice from a Turn 4 observers' stand at the Speedway.
About Bob Harmeyer
The article is flawed from its onset. In 1977, Louis Meyer, Wilbur Shaw, Mauri Rose & A.J. were the only 3-time winners, with A.J. being the ONLY CURRENT / ACTIVE driver at the time poised to win a 4th. Johnny Rutherford and Bobby Unser had 2 Indy 500 wins apiece at the time. Rutherford’s third came in 1980 and Bobby Unser’s third came in 1982. Al Unser, Sr. would become the 2nd 4-time winner (’70, ’71′ 78, & ’87) and Rick Mears joined the list with wins in ’79, ’84, ’88 & ’91.
Today, Helio Castroneves & Dario Franchitti (as of 2012) are the only current / active drivers with 3 wins.
Also note: Tom Sneva broke the 200-mph SINGLE-LAP qualifying record in 1977 AND broke the 200-mph AVERAGE (for 4-laps) qualifying record in 1978. And ALSO broke 210-mph in 1984 !
Yes you are correct about your corrections,save but one.Gordon Johncock won the 82 race.Bobby Unser was declared the winner of the 81 race(his 3rd) in COURT in Oct/81.We all know that Mario was declared the winner the day after the race in a passing under caution dispute that rages to this day.It was proven that they both passed illegally under caution under the blend line
,Mario passed fewer cars than Bobby,so how on earth did anybody with a smattering of rule knowledge not believe the true winner IS 3rd place;Vern Shuppan!
Well, one problem there is that Shuppan didn’t complete 200 laps.
Yes,but they would have had to amend the 200 lap rule like Nascar does all the time.Another solution is they could have run a one lap shootout w/o Mario and Bobby the next day.Either way Shuppan deserves the win. The same goes for the 2007 Daytona 500,Mark Martin was cheated out of that win because Nascar did’nt freeze the field on that last lap wreck as is the rule! I will never forgive them for either race.
A great era. Nice to see Indy without boring spec racing — different cars and motors (what a concept!).
So TRUE, Fred !! Today, even Formula-1 is more interesting that aspect.
’77 was my 2nd attended race (age 13) and our 1st to be seated on the front stretch (Paddock seats). What a sight around Foyt’s pit when Johncock coasted passed the start/finish line with no power ! I don’t think a single spectator was seated for those last 10 laps !
Hey Glenn; I was sitting in turn 1 when Johncock’s crankshaft broke and i then STOOD there and watched him get out and jump in that creek.Never will i forget that sound of the spectators as Foyt roared past to take the lead to make history(4th win) with 16 to go! The only other time i heard racing fans scream like that was when Richard Petty led the first 6 laps of the 1992 Firecracker 400(his final Daytona race in his retirement year) My eardrums are still numb.He had not won in 8 years and when he faded,and was later relieved(Humidity that would kill a horse) i swear 10,000 people got up and left. 2 hours after the race,he was still signing autographs in bare feet on a bench in the garage area!
Sorry,i meant to say 5 laps,hit the key wrong!
Other ear-splitting screams in auto racing is when F1 Drivers lead or Win their Home Grand Prix.Damon Hill led the British Gran Prix in 98 or 99 at the end of his career and i watched on television,it looked insane.