This coming weekend is Memorial Day Weekend, or as those of us from Indianapolis know it: Race Weekend.
To get you ready for the 96th Running of the Indianapolis 500, here is a look back on 12 great moments from the history of the Greatest Spectacle in Racing.
This year’s race airs this Sunday at 11:00 CT on ABC. (Unless you live in Indianapolis, in which case you’ll have to attend the race in person or find it on the radio.)
1930: Billy Arnold leads 198 of 200 laps, becomes first driver to complete the race in under 5 hours.
It’s not unusual for a driver to dominate the field at the Brickyard for much of Sunday afternoon and end up not winning the race. Just ask Michael Andretti.
Yellow flags, mechanical problems, untimely pit stops, and/or crashes can erase a big lead or take the leader out of the race altogether.
But in 1930 Billy Arnold, who started from pole position, secured the lead on the third lap and held it for the rest of the race. Arnold led 198 consecutive laps, a record that still stands today.
Billy Arnold, in his number 4 car, nearly led the 1930 Indy 500 from start to finish.
1936: Louis Meyer wins his third 500, chugs a bottle of milk, starts a tradition.
In 1933 Louis Meyer became the first ever two-time winner at the Brickyard. Following the race he asked for a cold bottle of buttermilk, his beverage of choice.
Three years later, Meyer won again and again requested buttermilk. This time a photographer captured Meyer drinking from the bottle on film. The photo ran in the papers the next day.
An executive from a local dairy saw the picture and, not knowing that Meyer was drinking buttermilk and not regular milk, decided to provide a bottle of milk to the next year’s winner.
A tradition took hold and still today Indy 500 winners drink from a bottle of milk during the post-race celebration. Champions now get a choice of whole milk, 2 percent, or skim.
The tradition continues. (Photo from eBay)
1967: A.J. Foyt wins Indianapolis 500 and 24 Hours of Le Mans in the same year.
The Indianapolis 500, the 24 Hours of Le Mans, and the Monaco Grand Prix comprise the Triple Crown of Motorsport.
British driver Graham Hill is the only person to have completed the triple crown during the course of his career. (Hill won in Indianapolis in 1966.) Several drivers have won two of three races, but only one driver has won two in the same year.
On May 31, 1967 A.J. Foyt overtook Parnelli Jones (who had led 171 laps) late in the race en route to his then record-tying third Indy 500 victory. Less than two weeks later Foyt and fellow American Dan Gurney crossed the pond and won the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
(If you aren’t familiar with the 24 Hours of Le Mans, it is an endurance race on a road course in Le Mans, France. The car that travels the farthest in 24 hours wins. Historically, two drivers shared driving duties on a single car. Today three drivers share each vehicle.)
A.J. Foyt and Dan Gurney's car at the 1967 24 Hours of LeMans
Foyt and Gurney led Le Mans for the final 22 hours and 30 minutes. While other Americans had won in Le Mans, Foyt and Gurney were the first all-American duo to do so.
Ten years later, Foyt would become the first ever four-time winner of the Indianapolis 500, a record that has since been tied but never surpassed.
1969: Mario Andretti recovers from a crash in practice, wins easily in his backup car.
When you think of Brickyard greats, one of the first names that comes to mind is Mario Andretti’s. But Andretti won only a single Indy 500, 43 years ago.
And Mario is the only one of the many Andrettis to have raced in Indianapolis to have his face on the Borg-Warner Trophy. Mario’s grandson, Marco, came closest, in 2006. Mario’s son, Michael, may be the best driver at Indianapolis never to have won the race.
Mario’s lone win was a memorable one.
Andretti crashed during practice and had to qualify in his backup car. He ended up qualifying in second position and dominating the race. Andretti led 116 laps, including the final one.
Mario Andretti pits during the 1969 Indy 500. (Photo from the Indianapolis Motor Speedway)
1977: Janet Guthrie becomes first woman to race at the Brickyard.
Eight women have driven in the Indianapolis 500.
In each of the past two races, four women qualified for the 33-car field. Of all the world’s major sporting events the Indianapolis 500 is the only one that is co-ed (unless you count mixed doubles at the tennis Grand Slams or the Korfball World Championship).
Janet Guthrie was the first woman to compete in the Greatest Spectacle in Racing.
In 1976 the Iowa native competed in five NASCAR Winston Cup Series races. The following season she qualified for the Daytona 500. A few months later she earned a spot in the Indianapolis 500. That year she started 26th and finished 29th with engine troubles.
Guthrie returned in 1978 and did much better, starting 15th and finishing 9th. Her ninth-place finish was the best for a woman at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway until Danica Patrick finished 4th in 2005.
Guthrie’s qualification posed a problem for Speedway management, who had traditionally begun each race with the announcement, “Gentlemen, start your engines.” Management didn’t want to alter the phrase in any way, but after much deliberation settled on, “In company with the first lady ever to qualify at Indianapolis, gentlemen, start your engines.”
Since then the announcer has said, “Lady and gentlemen, start your engines,” or, “Ladies and gentlemen, start your engines.”
Janet Guthrie celebrates with her crew after becoming the first woman to qualify for the Indianapolis 500.
1986: Bobby Rahal wins a three-car sprint to the finish.
Rain on Sunday May 25, 1986 pushed the 70th Running of the Indianapolis 500 to Memorial Day, Monday, May 26. Rain on Monday pushed back the race to the following Saturday. (Apparently race administrators didn’t want people skipping work or school to go to the track. They only encourage playing hooky on Carb Day.)
By lap 150 the 1986 Indy 500 had become a four-car race.
Rick Mears, Kevin Cogan, Michael Andretti, and Bobby Rahal exchanged the lead. Andretti eventually dropped off the lead lap. The final fifteen laps saw several lead changes.
On lap 194, with Cogan in first place, the yellow flag came out. When action resumed with two laps to go, Rahal passed Cogan going into turn one. After posting the fastest single lap to date in Indy 500 history, Rahal held off Cogan and Mears to take the checkered flag.
Rahal became the first driver to complete the race in under three hours. Sadly, less than two weeks after the race, Jim Trueman, owner of Rahal’s winning car, died of cancer at the age of 52.
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Six moments down, still six more great Indy 500 moments to go!
Continue reading to relive Al Unser’s improbable fourth win, Danica Patrick making history, and Helio Castroneves exploding onto the scene. Plus many more.
About Josh Tinley
Why would anyone put a picture of Danica Patrick with a headline reading 12 greatest moments. If this wasnt such a joke Id call it demeaning to the history of the race. Im done with this website. Forever.
Michael, thanks for the visit, and I’m sorry you’ve reacted so harshly. Frankly, “greatest” moments in anything are always up for debate, and we post these articles to get that debate/discussion started. Also, I would not be so quick to dismiss Danica’s achievement as one of the storied race’s greatest moments. Women in the Indy 500 has always been a big story, and she is the only one to actually lead the race, coming damn close to winning it. Certainly her winning would be an undisputed entrant on the list. Frankly, I think what she accomplished even finishing 4th warrants entry.
Also, as editor, I can tell you two things: 1) the author’s original headline was 12 “Great” moments. I changed it to be bolder; 2) The picture of Danica was used on the main page because, quite frankly, she’ll drive more click-throughs and strong reactions than anyone…case in point, your comment.
Now, I would love for you to expound on your comment. Why is including Danica “demeaning to the history of the race”? That is a strong statement. I’d love to know your reasoning for it.
Anyone can lead a lap or two. “She” is not worthy of a “moment”…..
What are you smoking there Ehorne4? “Anyone can lead a lap or two”
You know not if which you speak.
The top 12 moments list for the woman who has won one whopping one race, eh? If she looked like Phyllis Diller, she never would have made the list and would probably be scrambling for a sponsor, to boot. The truth is that she has proven herself as a qualified, journeyman driver who almost never escapes the pack in the end.That simple.
Sorry, but I am weary of the media making her into something she’s not, apparently based upon… well, you can fill it in.
Janet Guthrie and Shirley Muldowney are worthy of recognition, because they were truly the first in the field and had to fight through enormous adversity as well as drive well. And where’s Willy T. Ribbs, the first African American to drive in the 500? Are you honestly suggesting that Patrick’s first-lap-led “feat” surpasses Ribbs entry? Come ON!!!!
I think that was His point Jerod. He was saying you are a greedy clueless scumbag for posting that and the only reason to denegrate the sport is shameless greed for undeserved attention and the deception and low down nature of people like yourself will do to get. He thought you were a worthless piece of crap for doing it. I believe I have interpreted that right. I don’t think he was hoping you would agree with him and remote any doubt anyone might have had that there was another reason.
But as for me, I find you ridicious and disenginious. You admitted that you wanted to use absurdity to drive more clicks through but then you ask Michael4yah to answer why the thing you knew was absurd and upsetting was absurd and upsetting and demeaning to the sport. She is not demeaning to the sport. You are. He wasn’t made at Danica, he was mad at some guy named Jerod Morris for extreme hubris. At least, thats the way I see it…
you have to be kidding jerod,she only led because they let her stay out longer while the leaders were in for refuleing,it was contrived and a meaningless stunt,just like her win in Japan,were she was 8th and everyone was given orders to slow down so she could win,what a circus
Jerod is truly an idiot. Danica does not deserve to be on any list involving the Indy 500. Lets see, where are names like Ray Harroun, Bill Vukovich, Sam Hornish, Arie for the fastest lap ever. So much has been missed. I could write a better story.
For me, it was really cool when Penske finished 1-2-3. Also, I think I would have put the 1989 race up here with Bob Lamey screaming, “They touched wheels! THEY TOUCHED WHEELS!”
Those (along with 1992) are the best of my lifetime…but this was a great list.
Roberto Guerro having trouble in the pits with a big lead as the crowd anxiously watched it play out. Being there, watching the pit action was heart wrenching. His pit crew hesitated a few seconds and allowed Al Unser, Sr. to win his fourth.
Too bad the Indy 500 is no longer worth watching. No inovation, no real heros, no real racing…it was fun while it lasted. Thank you Unser Family, Granetelli Family, Smokey, PJ, Andretti Family, Mr. Ruthaford, and of course The Mears Gang.
Thank God my mom took some pictures.
While we are handing out “Thank You’s” you had better include Gordy Johncock and Pat Patrick Racing!!
Just what I dream for, a white trash WOMAN, supposedly, who drives Nascar. I can only imagine that she drinks beer out of the bottle, likes country music, fishing, camping, hunting and drives a pickup truck. So this is news because she is a so called successful REDNECK WHITE TRASH WOMAN WHO WINS NOTHING? Sorry, honey, go buy some Coors and fish in the dirty cannals of San Antonio. Would love to pay you see hunting an elk, weaponless, and the elk jabbs you a;;;; to death. Now That would be a sport. I bet when the elk chases you, you would be taking a left turn…..
And, ur a dipshit… so get over it!
How about the year 1995? Jacques Villeneuve won after getting a 2-Lap penalty. A lot more worthy that Danika Patrick’s “achievement”, don’t you think?
You missed the boat on this one…… stating Danica’s leading at the Indy 500 in 2005 (with no victory) and not mentioning Sam Hornsh Jr victory over Marco Andrettti in 2006 is sad……
Are you kidding me???
The single greatest moment was the 1982 Johncock/Mears finish by a LONG SHOT. It has been called the greatest lap in motorsports history. Gordie does not get near the recognitionhe deserves as a great racing driver.
I agree 100%
As a side note I also consider this Jim McKay’s finest moment announcing a live sporting event in his long, storied career.
Danny Sullivan spinnig on the fron stretch and still winning is one of my favorites.
The closer I got to the end, the more impressed I was going to be when I would see that you put Tom Sneva in the top 3 for being the first to break the 200 mph barrier. This was back in the day when Pole Day would draw 100,000+ fans. You are almost immediately discredited. Then, to draw attention to Bobby Rahal’s mildly (by comparison) win to Sam Hornish’s thrilling down-the-stretch pass of Marco Andretti is pathetic.
Danny Sullivan “SPiN and WiN” a top 5 for sure!
American motor Sports suffers every time they try to sell us Danica Patrick. She reps everything that isn’t great about Racing.
ur an idiot
like i said ur an idiot
Janet Guthrie, 1st woman to start Indpls 500 in ’78, would put nasty D. Patrick to shame, would be eating dust & fumes. Drivers are elated D. Patrick couldn’t handle IndyCar racing, and so will NASCAR when Patrick returns to the dirt track circuit in SW Indiana in the near future. Tony Stewart may enjoy her $$ hefty endorsements now, but will forgo that funding to ship D. Patrick back where she belongs. D. Patrick is a menace behind the wheel. She’s nasty, that’s why she’s at GoDaddy.
/ps/ I was there in ’78.
give DANICA credit where credit is due-she’s a great driver u people are anti women. ffor some of the men race drivers, even a blind hog will find an acorn, now and then
And why is Danica Patrick on here again? She only finished 4th at Indy because everyone else crashed out. Please do not make a big deal about her. She is NOT competitive. What a joke.
All that and you leave off Jacques Villenueve coming from 2 laps down to win??? Seriously?????