1977 Indianapolis 500

61st Indianapolis 500

Indianapolis Motor Speedway
Indianapolis 500
Sanctioning body	USAC
Season	1977 USAC Trail
Date	May 29, 1977
Winner	A. J. Foyt, Jr.
Winning team	A. J. Foyt Enterprises
Average speed	161.331 mph (259.637 km/h)
Pole position	Tom Sneva
Pole speed	198.884 mph (320.073 km/h)
Fastest qualifier	Tom Sneva
Rookie of the Year	Jerry Sneva
Most laps led	Gordon Johncock (129)
Pre-race ceremonies
National anthem	Purdue band
"Back Home Again in Indiana"	Jim Nabors
Starting command	Tony Hulman
Pace car	Oldsmobile Delta 88
Pace car driver	James Garner
Starter	Pat Vidan[1]
Estimated attendance	350,000[2]
TV in the United States
Network	ABC
Announcers	Jim McKay and Jackie Stewart
Nielsen ratings	15.6 / 32
Chronology
Previous Next 1976 1978

The 61st 500 Mile International Sweepstakes was held at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Speedway, Indiana, on Sunday, May 29, 1977. Considered one of the most historically significant editions of the Indianapolis 500, several sidebar stories complemented the unprecedented accomplishment of race winner A. J. Foyt.^[3] Foyt became the first driver to win the Indianapolis 500 four times. As of 2024, Foyt's record has been tied by Al Unser Sr., Rick Mears and Hélio Castroneves, but still stands as an Indy 500 record. Foyt's victory is also the last time the winning car (both chassis and engine) was built entirely within the United States.

The race was sanctioned by USAC, and was part of the 1977 USAC National Championship Trail. After rain-shortened races in three of the past four years (1973, 1975, 1976), the 1977 race was run the full distance under hot and sunny conditions.

Two major stories headlined qualifying. During time trials, Tom Sneva won the pole position with a new track record. He became the first driver to break the 200 mph barrier at the Speedway. On the final day of time trials, Janet Guthrie broke the gender barrier by becoming the first female driver to qualify for the Indy 500.

During the summer of 1976, the entire track was repaved in asphalt. It marked the first time since the original brick surface was laid in the fall of 1909 that the Indianapolis Motor Speedway was repaved in its entirety. The surface was allowed to cure over the winter, and during a tire test in March, Gordon Johncock ran a lap of 200.401 mph, an unofficial track record.^[4]

This would be the final Indy 500 for track owner Tony Hulman, who would die of heart failure on October 27, 1977. IMS Radio Network anchor Sid Collins did not call the race for the first time since 1951. Collins committed suicide on May 2,^[5] just five days before opening day, after being diagnosed with ALS. Collins was replaced by new "Voice of the 500" Paul Page. Then less than a year later, eight USAC officials would be killed in a plane crash.

Other historical milestones during the month included the first grandson of a former driver entering (Teddy Pilette) and the first father and son combination attempting to qualify for the same race (Jim and James McElreath Jr.). However, neither Pilette (grandson of 1913 competitor Théodore Pilette) nor McElreath Jr. succeeded in making the field.^[6]