1909
1909
1909
1910s
1910s
1920s
1920s
1930s
1930s
1940s
1940s
1950s
1950s
1960s
1960s
1970s
1970s
1980s
1980s
1990s
1990s
2000s
2000s
2010s
2010s
2020
2020
1960s
Experience the decade that brought star power to IMS and revolutionized racing in the Indy 500.
A.J. Foyt became the first driver to win the Indianapolis 500 four times (1961, 1964 and 1967)
May 29, 1977
On the final day of qualifying, Janet Guthrie became the first female to qualify for the Indianapolis 500.
May 22, 1977
Pole-sitter Tom Sneva turned the first official 200-mph laps at the Speedway.
May 14, 1977
The indy 500 year-by-year
IMS 'YELLOW SHIRTS' ORIGINS
DATE BACK TO 1975
NASCAR'S ALLISON BROTHERS EXCELLED IN INDY 500 STARTS
GARY BETTENHAUSEN:
THE 'TOUGH AS NAILS' SHOrT TRACK
IMS HISTORIAN DONALD DAVIDSON
DIGITAL DONALD
03/17/2009
Janet Guthrie at Centennial Gala
VIDEO
02/24/2011
Centennial Moment - Foyt's Fourth Win
VIDEO
04/08/2011
Centennial Moment - Dan Gurney
VIDEO
05/16/2010
1970 Indy 500 Winner - Al Unser
VIDEO
They’re the things that separate the Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge and the Indianapolis Motor Speedway from...
05/19/2020
History of the Gordon Pipers' 1963 Debut
READ MORE
ARTICLE
In the 111-year history of the Indianapolis 500, it’s hard to find a more important and more glorious event for three major reasons...
05/05/2020
The Start of Something, And Someone, New
READ MORE
ARTICLE
The pre-race ceremonies for the Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge today are meticulously scripted....
05/12/2020
A STAR IS BORN: ‘WAIT ‘TILL PARNELLI GETS HERE’
READ MORE
ARTICLE
LOOK BOOK
1970s ALMANAC
Check back next week to learn about a decade defined by close finishes and thrilling on-track action.
Experience the decade that brought star power to IMS and revolutionized racing in the Indy 500.
1960s
IMS DIGITAL ARCHIVE
1909
1909
1909
1910s
1910s
1920s
1920s
1930s
1930s
1940s
1940s
1950s
1950s
1960s
1960s
1970s
1970s
1980s
1990s
2000s
2010s
2020
A.J. Foyt became the first driver to win the Indianapolis 500 four times (1961, 1964 and 1967).
May 29, 1977
On the final day of qualifying, Janet Guthrie became the first female to qualify for the Indianapolis 500.
May 22, 1977
Pole-sitter Tom Sneva turned the first official 200-mph laps at the Speedway.
May 14, 1977
THE INDY 500 YEAR-BY-YEAR
IMS 'YELLOW SHIRTS' ORIGINS
DATE BACK TO THE EARLY 1970S
NASCAR'S ALLISON BROTHERS EXCELLED IN INDY 500 STARTS
GARY BETTENHAUSEN:
THE 'TOUGH AS NAILS' SHOrT TRACK
DIGITAL DONALD
IMS HISTORIAN DONALD DAVIDSON
03/17/2009
Janet Guthrie at Centennial Gala
VIDEO
02/28/2020
Centennial Moment - Foyt's 4th Win
VIDEO
04/08/2011
Centennial Moment - Dan Gurney
VIDEO
05/16/2020
1970 Indy 500 Winner - Al Unser
VIDEO
LOOK BOOK
1970s ALMANAC
IMS DIGITAL ARCHIVE
1909
1909
1909
1910s
1910s
1920s
1930s
1930s
1940s
1940s
1950s
1950s
1960s
1960s
1970s
1980s
1990s
2000s
2010s
2020
IMS DIGITAL ARCHIVE
Experience the decade that broke records, and barriers, at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
1970s
A.J. Foyt became the first driver to win the Indianapolis 500 four times (1961, 1964 and 1967).
On the final day of qualifying, Janet Guthrie became the first female to qualify for the Indianapolis 500.
Pole-sitter Tom Sneva turned the first
official 200-mph laps at the Speedway.
MAY 14,
1977
MAY 22,
1977
1977
MAY 29,
From the time the Indianapolis Motor Speedway opened in 1909 until immediately after World War II, all events at the track were policed by the Indiana National Guard...
ARTICLE
05/14/2020
IMS 'Yellow Shirt' Origins Date
Back To The Early 1970s
READ MORE
READ MORE
There was a glorious period for both fans and participants during the 1960s and '70s when it seemed as if the leading drivers of the world...
05/11/2020
NASCAR'S Allison Brothers Excelled In Indy 500 Starts
ARTICLE
Gary Bettenhausen, a veteran of 21 Indianapolis 500 races and one of the United States Auto Club’s greatest ever short-track performers...
05/14/2020
GARY BETTENHAUSEN:
THE 'TOUGH AS NAILS' SHOrT TRACK
READ MORE
ARTICLE
READ MORE
1970: A major milestone was reached when the total purse topped $1 million for the first time, the actual amount being $1,000,002. Running under the threat of rain throughout...
05/15/2020
The Indy 500 Year-by-Year
ARTICLE
IMS HISTORIAN DONALD DAVIDSON
DIGITAL DONALD
READ MORE
05/16/2020
In the 111-year history of the Indianapolis 500, it’s hard to find a more important and more glorious event for three major reasons...
FOYT CAREER HIGHLIGHT: 1977 INDY 500 WIN
ARTICLE
The pre-race ceremonies for the Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge today are meticulously scripted...
04/28/2020
READ MORE
NABORS SANG HIS WAY INTO HOOSIER HEARTS
ARTICLE
1970s ALMANAC
In the spring of 1977, expectations ran high that the first 200-mph lap would be achieved at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway...
04/22/2020
READ MORE
SNEVA BECaME FIRST TO BREAK 200 MPH AT INDY
ARTICLE
LOOK BOOK
1920s
03/17/2009
Janet Guthrie at Centennial Gala
VIDEO
02/24/2011
Centennial Moment - Number Four for Foyt
VIDEO
04/08/2011
Centennial Moment - Dan Gurney
VIDEO
05/16/2010
1970 Indy 500 Winner - Al Unser
VIDEO
10/10
Rick Mears takes his first swig of milk after winning the 1979 Indianapolis 500 for Roger Penske in just his second Indy 500 start. Starting from the pole, it was Mears’ first of a record four “500” wins and his first of a record six pole positions.
9/10
A.J. Foyt crosses the Yard of Bricks in 1977 and becomes the first driver ever to win the Indianapolis 500 for a fourth time.
8/10
Janet Guthrie is all smiles on pit lane after becoming the first woman to qualify for the Indianapolis 500 in 1977. She failed to finish but would place ninth the following year.
7/10
Johnny Rutherford enthusiastically celebrates his second Indianapolis 500 win in 1976, which was halted just past halfway due to rain. This was the second year in a row rain ended the “500” early.
6/10
Future President of the United States Ronald Reagan stands with IMS owner Tony Hulman as he visits the Indianapolis Motor Speedway during a tire test in the Spring of 1976 while campaigning in Indianapolis for President of the United States.
5/10
Bobby Unser celebrates in Victory Circle after winning his second Indianapolis 500. Unser, the older brother of Al Unser, would go on to win a third “500” and become one of just two drivers to win Indy 500 races in three different decades.
4/10
The Indianapolis Motor Speedway was named to the National Register of Historic Places in 1975. The National Register recognizes more than 90,000 properties for their significance in American history, architecture, art, archeology, engineering, and culture.
Mark Donohue, with Roger Penske to his right, and the crew after qualifying in 1972. That year, Donohue gave team owner Penske his first of a record 18 Indianapolis 500-Mile race wins.
3/10
Al Unser is interviewed by the legendary Chris Economaki in the new Victory Circle at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway - now located by the master control tower - in 1971 after winning back-to-back Indy 500’s. This is the approximate location of the Victory Circle that race fans know today.
2/10
1/10
Al Unser celebrates his first Indianapolis 500 victory, which he won driving the iconic Johnny Lightning Special. This is the final year that Victory Circle was located near Turn 1 on the south end of the main straightaway.
10/10
Rick Mears takes his first swig of milk after winning the 1979 Indianapolis 500 for Roger Penske in just his second Indy 500 start. Starting from the pole, it was Mears’ first of a record four “500” wins and his first of a record six pole positions.
9/10
A.J. Foyt crosses the Yard of Bricks in 1977 and becomes the first driver ever to win the Indianapolis 500 for a fourth time.
8/10
Janet Guthrie is all smiles on pit lane after becoming the first woman to qualify for the Indianapolis 500 in 1977. She failed to finish but would place ninth the following year.
7/10
Johnny Rutherford enthusiastically celebrates his second Indianapolis 500 win in 1976, which was halted just past halfway due to rain. This was the second year in a row rain ended the “500” early.
6/10
Future President of the United States Ronald Reagan stands with IMS owner Tony Hulman as he visits the Indianapolis Motor Speedway during a tire test in the Spring of 1976 while campaigning in Indianapolis for President of the United States.
5/10
Bobby Unser celebrates in Victory Circle after winning his second Indianapolis 500. Unser, the older brother of Al Unser, would go on to win a third “500” and become one of just two drivers to win Indy 500 races in three different decades.
4/10
The Indianapolis Motor Speedway was named to the National Register of Historic Places in 1975. The National Register recognizes more than 90,000 properties for their significance in American history, architecture, art, archeology, engineering, and culture.
Mark Donohue, with Roger Penske to his right, and the crew after qualifying in 1972. That year, Donohue gave team owner Penske his first of a record 18 Indianapolis 500-Mile race wins.
3/10
Al Unser is interviewed by the legendary Chris Economaki in the new Victory Circle at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway - now located by the master control tower - in 1971 after winning back-to-back Indy 500’s. This is the approximate location of the Victory Circle that race fans know today.
2/10
1/10
Al Unser celebrates his first Indianapolis 500 victory, which he won driving the iconic Johnny Lightning Special. This is the final year that Victory Circle was located near Turn 1 on the south end of the main straightaway.
10/10
Rick Mears takes his first swig of milk after winning the 1979 Indianapolis 500 for Roger Penske in just his second Indy 500 start. Starting from the pole, it was Mears’ first of a record four “500” wins and his first of a record six pole positions.
9/10
A.J. Foyt crosses the Yard of Bricks in 1977 and becomes the first driver ever to win the Indianapolis 500 for a fourth time.
8/10
Janet Guthrie is all smiles on pit lane after becoming the first woman to qualify for the Indianapolis 500 in 1977. She failed to finish but would place ninth the following year.
7/10
Johnny Rutherford enthusiastically celebrates his second Indianapolis 500 win in 1976, which was halted just past halfway due to rain. This was the second year in a row rain ended the “500” early.
6/10
Future President of the United States Ronald Reagan stands with IMS owner Tony Hulman as he visits the Indianapolis Motor Speedway during a tire test in the Spring of 1976 while campaigning in Indianapolis for President of the United States.
5/10
Bobby Unser celebrates in Victory Circle after winning his second Indianapolis 500. Unser, the older brother of Al Unser, would go on to win a third “500” and become one of just two drivers to win Indy 500 races in three different decades.
4/10
The Indianapolis Motor Speedway was named to the
National Register of Historic Places in 1975. The National Register recognizes more than 90,000 properties for their significance in American history, architecture, art, archeology, engineering, and culture.
Mark Donohue, with Roger Penske to his right, and the crew after qualifying in 1972. That year, Donohue gave team owner Penske his first of a record 18 Indianapolis 500-Mile race wins.
3/10
Al Unser is interviewed by the legendary Chris Economaki in the new Victory Circle at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway - now located by the master control tower - in 1971 after winning back-to-back Indy 500’s. This is the approximate location of the Victory Circle that race fans know today.
2/10
1/10
Al Unser celebrates his first Indianapolis 500 victory, which he won driving the iconic Johnny Lightning Special. This is the final year that Victory Circle was located near Turn 1 on the south end of the main straightaway.
“I have reflected on how Mr. Andrews could never have imagined the impact his drawings would have on the American automobile and motorsports. I have placed my hands on the very spot where a laborer laid some of the most historic brick on record. They had a job to get done - never realizing they were setting 3.2 million pieces of history.” –Kevin Forbes
