Top Moments in Indy 500 History

In this year’s “Month of May” series, on each day leading up to the Indianapolis 500 on May 26, a different topic about the race or about Indianapolis will be discussed. Each of these topics will be ranked to create special “fields of 33” regarding the Indy 500. I hope you enjoy, and I hope you learn something about Indianapolis and the Indy 500, the Greatest Spectacle in Racing.

It’s race day! You know that the 97th Running of the Indianapolis 500 will have many great moments. It is after all the Greatest Spectacle in Racing. What great moments are in store for us today? We’ll just have to wait and see! While we wait, we look back on 500 history and give to you the best of the best: The Field of 33 Greatest Indy 500 Moments

 

Row 11

33. 1996 – “It’s a Newwww Traaaack Recordddd!” – It is likely that speeds will never reach Arie Luyendyk’s during second-day qualifying for the 1996 race. Will we ever hear Tom Carnegie’s voice boom over the track again?

32. 1977 – Tom Sneva Breaks 200 mph – It likely is the last major speed milestone to be broken at the Brickyard, as closed course land speeds being any higher would just be too dangerous.

31. 1981 – Danny Ongais Crash – It’s not a moment we WANT to remember, as it was a horrible crash! However, it’s a moment we are unlikely to ever forget.

Row 10

30. 1997 – Man on Fire –  Robby Gordon stopped his car in the turn three warm-up lane with his car on fire. He jumped out of the car and rolled around on the ground to extinguish the virtually invisible alcohol flames. To show how much Indy means to the drivers, he attempted to return to his car, wanting to keep driving it even though it had just flamed up!

29. 1998 – Tony Stewart Bad Luck – The hometown favorite had the fastest car by far. He took the lead on lap 20 and had already begun pulling away drastically. Then as he exits turn four one lap later, his engine gives. Instead of likely a great hometown victory, he finishes in the back of the pack.

28. 1911 – Ray Harroun – Tough moment to beat, the inaugural Indy 500.

Row 9

27. 1960 – Rathmann/Ward Battle – One of the best battles in 500 history as these two fought to the end, back and forth.

26. 1987 – Al Unser’s Fourth – Unser returns to the Brickyard due to the injury of another driver. He comes right in and finds speed, winning his record-tying fourth Indy 500.

25. 1996 – Buddy Lazier’s Broken Back – Tears of joy? Tears of pain? Maybe both ran down Buddy Lazier’s face after he won the 1996 Indy 500.

Row 8

24. 1971 – Camerastand Crash – Another not-so-happy moment in history, but one that will never be forgotten. 

23. 2008 – Danica’s Walk Up Pit Lane – Danica Patrick got knocked out of the 2008 race in a pit lane crash with Ryan Briscoe. When her car stopped, she got out and took a forceful walk back up pit lane towards Briscoe’s pit. Even more amazing was how everybody cheered her on.

22. 1912 – DePalma Pushes Car across the Finish Line – When Ralph Depalma’s car broke down with two laps left. He and his riding mechanic pushed the car over a half-lap to the finish line.

Row 7

21. 2007 – Dario Wins in the Rain – One of the most amazing images in 500 history is Dario’s car crossing the finish line in the pouring rain.

20. 1985 – Spin and Win – Danny Sullivan is battling for the lead on lap 120. He passes Mario Andretti but spins out right in front of Mario. Luckily, no contact is made. Sullivan comes back and passes Andretti for good twenty laps later and goes on to victory. 

19. 2001 – Spiderman – Helio Castroneves wins in his first Indy 500 attempt, and does his iconic climbing of the fence at the start finish line.

Row 6 – Incredible Finishes

18. 1982 – Johncock vs. Mears – 0.16 seconds is all that separated Gordon Johncock from Rick Mears, the closest finish in Indy 500 history at that time.

17. 2006 – Hornish vs. Andretti – Sam Hornish, Jr. makes the winning pass on the front straight on the last lap just a few hundred yards before the yard of bricks. It is the latest winning pass in the history of the Indy 500.

16. 1999 – Gordon Runs Out of Fuel – Robbie Gordon leads on lap 199 but runs out of fuel coming out of turn four. He has to duck into the pits, allowing Kenny Brack to win the race.

Row 5

15. 1977 – A.J. Foyt Wins Fourth – Foyt becomes the first racer ever to win four Indy 500s.

14. 2009 – The Perfect Month – Helio Castroneves had a horrible start to 2009 being in court for tax evasion charges. Right before the Month of May, he was acquitted of all charges and returned to the Brickyard. He goes on to win the pole, win the pit stop competition, lead the most laps, and win the race in the perfect month.

13. 1946 – The Re-opening – War is over, and racing returns to the Brickyard! Wilbur Shaw helps to get the sale to Tony Hulman and bring the race back!

Row 4

12. 2012 – TK Passes Five – On a restart with just 16 laps left, Tony Kanaan gets everybody on their feet when he passes five cars before turn one. He goes from sixth to first on the restart. The fan-favorite would finish third.

11. 2012 – Sato Spins – On the last lap, Takuma Sato dives to the inside of leader Dario Franchitti. The rear end doesn’t stick, and he spins and hits the wall. So close to winning, so close to taking both cars out, one of the most exciting finishes.

10. 1989 – Thumbs Up – Al Unser, Jr. and Emerson Fittipaldi battle down the stretch. As they approach the white flag, the cars touch and Little Al ends up in the wall. Instead of flipping off Emo, Little Al gives a celebratory thumbs up as Emo gets the checkered flags.

Row 3

9. 1992 – Andretti Woes –Michael Andretti dominates the race, but with just 11 laps left his car fails him. A broken fuel pump ends his day. He led 160 laps, but again cannot find Victory Lane.

8. 1936 – Milk – Louis Meyer wins his record third Indy 500. On a hot day, he followed his mother’s advice: drink buttermilk on a hot day to refresh you. A milk representative from Indianapolis saw the image of him drinking milk in Victory Lane, and the company vowed to make milk a tradition of the Brickyard.

7. 1957 – Sam Hanks Retirement – Hanks leads 136 laps in the 1957 race, then retires from Victory Lane. He is the only known driver to race before WWII, serve in the war, and then return to race.

Row 2

6. 2005 – Danica – The loudest you ever have heard the Indianapolis Motor Speedway is when rookie Danica Patrick took the lead in the 2005 race. She would have to conserve fuel in the final laps, finishing fourth. However, a legend and fan-favorite was born.

5. 2011 – Hildebrand Crash – Rookie J.R. Hildebrand is about to win for National Guard in the 100th anniversary of the Indy 500. On the final turn of the final lap, he gets high in turn four passing a lapped car and hits the wall. He keeps the power down and still crosses the start/finish line, but Dan Wheldon made the pass to win the race.

4. 1992 – “You just don’t know what Indy means.” –Al Unser, Jr. said these words in Victory Lane after the 1992 close finish with Scott Goodyear (0.043 seconds, still the closest in 500 history).

Row 1

3. 1977 – Ladies and Gentlemen – Janet Guthrie becomes the first woman to qualify for the Indianapolis 500. “Along with the first woman in Indianapolis 500 history, Gentlemen start your engines!”

2. 2012 – Dan Wheldon Memoriam – After the passing of defending race winner Dan Wheldon, race fans and drivers all made sure that Dan would not be forgotten. White glasses were passed out to all fans in attendance, worn on laps 26 (2005 winning car) and 98 (2011 winning car) by the fans. His car made a lap around the Speedway during the playing of Taps. It was a special moment, one that I surely will never forget.

1. First Laps of Your First Indy 500 – Nothing will ever, EVER, top your first moment at the Brickyard: the first laps of your first Indy 500 will never be beat. …unless your first laps were when you were two, in that case call it the first laps you REMEMBER! Enjoy today’s laps, from lap 1 to lap 200. Pray for the Window!!!

The Field of 33 – Top Moments in Indy 500 History

Row 1	1. Your First Laps	2. 2012 – Dan Wheldon Memoriam	3. 1977 – Ladies and Gentlemen
Row 2	4. 1992 – “What Indy Means”	5. 2001 – Hildebrand Crash	6. 2005 – Danica Patrick
Row 3	7. 1957 – Sam Hanks Retirement Speech	8. 1936 – Milk	9. 1992 – Andretti Slows on the Backstretch
Row 4	10. 1989 – Thumbs Up	11. 2012 – Sato Crashes	12. 2012 – TK Passes Five
Row 5	13. 1946 – The Reopening	14. 2009 – Helio’s Perfect Month of May	15. 1977 – Foyt’s Fourth
Row 6	16. 1999 – Gordon Runs out of Fuel	17. 2006 – Hornish vs. Andretti	18. 1982 – Johncock vs. Mears
Row 7	19. 2001 - Spiderman	20. 1985 – Spin and Win	21. 2007 – Dario in the Rain
Row 8	22. 1912 – DePalma Pushes Car	23. 2008 – Danica’s Pit Crash	24. 1971 – Camerastand Crash
Row 9	25. 1996 – Lazier Wins with Broken Back	26. 1987 – Al Unser Returns and Wins	27. 1960 – Rathmann/Ward Battle
Row 10	28. 1911 – Harroun Wins Indianapolis Sweepstakes	29. 1998 – Tony Stewart Loses Engine	30. 1997 – Man on Fire
Row 11	31. 1981 – Ongais Crash	32. 1977 – Sneva Breaks 200 mph	33. 1996 – Luyendyk’s Record Speeds