|| *Comments on the 1979 Indianapolis 500:* View the most recent comment <#19> | Post a comment <#post> Tweet 1. RaceFanX posted: 08.20.2010 - 12:34 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) Rick Mears made the pass for the win on Penske teammate Bobby Unser when Unser broke 4th gear in his car and had to pit. It was the first of four Indy 500 wins for Mears. Foyt lost power on the last lap and had to coast over the line to finish 2nd. Al Unser had the car to beat with the new ground effects Chaparral until it broke and knocked him out of the race. This was the firstIndy 500 after the launch of CART and it caused a ton of complications before the race. At first USAC refused the entries of some top CART teams including Penske but eventually relented. The issues between CART and USAC led to this race having a field of 35 cars instead of the traditional 33. 2. cjs3872 posted: 05.26.2011 - 4:22 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) There was a scoring controversy in this race. Late in the race, scoring was showing Mike Mosley two laps behind Rick Mears, and just barely ahead of Danny Ongais for Ongias to lap him, but both Mosley and Ongais knew that they were on the same lap as each other, and only one lap behing Mears and A.J. Foyt. Because Ongais was pressing him, Mosley actually passed Mears on the final lap, unlapping himself, though the scorers still showed him one lap down and running fifth, with Ongais finishing third and Bobby Unser, who lost his top gear while leading, finishing fourth. adding to the drama was the fact that Foyt's car lost power on the final lap (probably ran out of fuel) and just coasted to the finish line, while Mosley was still charging, finishing about 1-2 seconds behind Foyt. It wasn't until well after the race that it was discovered the USAC timing and scoring somehow missed a lap that Mosley completed, and rectified the error and place him third. Can you imagine the furor if, under the same circumstances, the Mosley had been posted one lap down and made the exact same move on Mears, only to have it discovered that the pass would actually have been for the win? The officials would have had no choice but to take the win away from Mears and give it to Mosley. Fortunately, with the current electronic timing and scoring, this situation is never likely to happen again. Interestingly, only four drivers led this race, the Unser brothers, Mears, and Foyt (for one lap during a sequence of pit stops). Those four drivers combined to win the race 13 times. (Foyt, Al Unser, and Mears four times each and Bobby Unser three times.) Also, RaceFanX, this was not only the first Indianapolis 500 to take place after the launch of CART, but the first time since 1933 that more than 33 cars started the race. However, you are incorrect about the reason that there were two additional starters. There was a controversy concerning the pop-off valve, which resulted in an additional qualifying day. During that session, veterans Billy Vukovich II and George Snider qualified better than the slowest speed, so they were added to the field. Also, Bill Alsup, who had qualified, was disqualified for using the same engine that Bobby Unser used. alsup tried to qualify in that extra session, but crashed. Alsup did make his only start at Indy in 1981. By the way Howdy Holmes was the only rookie to make the race, so he won the rookie of the year by default. But he did very well, finishing seventh driving Sherman Armstrong's #46 car (which Gary Bettenhausen finished third in a year later). Also, the 1979 Indianapolis 500 marked the first time that the field was legally able to bunch up during caution periods. Previously, the drivers had to keep their approximate distance between cars in the race. (In fact, Steve Krisiloff was penalized one lap for violating this rule in the 1978 race, but his finishing position was unaffected.) But drivers and safety officials complained about this, reasoning that all other IndyCar races on speedways allowed bunching during caution periods, so why should Indy be any different. (The first 500-mile race in which the cars were allowed to bunch up during cautions was the very first Pocono 500 in 1971, won by Mark Donohue.) 3. cjs3872 posted: 05.26.2011 - 4:23 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) The Unser brothers, Mears and Foyt actually won this race 15 times between them, not 13 as mentioned in the last post. Sorry for that mistake. 4. Pacer posted: 07.26.2011 - 12:21 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) The pace car for this Indy 500 was a Ford Mustang, Ford had just introduced the new Fox-platform version that proved rather iconic. 5. Schroeder51 posted: 10.01.2013 - 3:23 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Neil Bonnett also attempted to qualify for this race driving car #73, (it would have been the NASCAR's driver's only Indy start) but blew an engine before qualifying and did not make a qualifying attempt. 6. Schroeder51 posted: 10.04.2013 - 5:00 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) And speaking of DNQs, here's a more complete list of the drivers who DNQed for this race: #19, #41, #68 Bill Alsup #73 Neil Bonnett #81 Jan Opperman #30 Dana Carter Earle Canavan (no number given) #44, #98 Gary Bettenhausen #95 Larry Cannon #23, #26 Tony Bettenhausen, Jr. #83 Billy Engelhart #81 Dick Ferguson #62 Ed Finley #16 Tom Frantz #52 Woody Fisher #75 Todd Gibson #19 Bob Harkey #51 Hurley Haywood #56 Jim Hurtubise #38 Jerry Karl #39 Al Loquasto #97 Jerry Miller (note: Failed his rookie test) #20 John Martin #93 Larry McCoy #35 Bill Puterbaugh #50 Frank Weiss (note: Failed his rookie test) #66 Roger Rager #28 Bill Scott #59, #69 Joe Saldana 7. Schroeder51 posted: 10.05.2013 - 2:08 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) And some more teams that DNQed for this race... #78 Pancho Carter #43 Tom Bigelow #19, #90 Spike Gehlhausen #90 Gordon Johncock #23, #26 Jim McElreath #73 Roger McCluskey #58 Eldon Rasmussen #64 Johnny Rutherford #27 Dick Simon #57 Jerry Sneva 8. Schroeder51 posted: 03.14.2015 - 4:16 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) First Indy 500 start for Howdy Holmes (who won RotY by default, as he was the only candidate to successfully qualify for the race). Last Indy 500 starts for Salt Walther, Roger McCluskey, Joe Saldana, Phil Threshie, Larry Rice, Eldon Rasmussen, John Mahler, Cliff Hucul, Lee Kunzman, and Janet Guthrie. 9. Schroeder51 posted: 03.15.2015 - 2:50 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) Add to the DNQs: Bob Harkey, #19 Sta-On/WIRE (Did not qualify) Jim McElreath, #23 McElreath (Did not qualify) Tony Bettenhausen, Jr., #26 McElreath (Did not qualify) Jim McElreath, #26 McElreath (Did not qualify) Dick Simon, #27 Vollstedt Enterprises (Did not qualify) Bill Scott, #28 Wheel Center (Did not qualify) Bill Puterbaugh, #35 Medlin (Did not qualify) Bill Alsup, #41 Insley Excavator Special (Did not qualify) Gary Bettenhausen, #44 Armstrong Moulding (Did not qualify) Frank Weiss, #50 Biovouac/WFMS (Failed rookie orientation) Woody Fisher, #52 Eagle Magnetic of Indy (Did not qualify) Jim Hurtubise, #56 Moran Electric of Indy (Did not qualify) Jerry Sneva, #57 Crower/Smock Special (Did not qualify) Joe Saldana, #59 KBHL (Did not qualify) Ed Finley, #62 Bob Olmstead's V-12 (Did not qualify) Johnny Rutherford, #64 Budweiser (Did not qualify) Roger Rager, #66 Advance Cleen Sweeo (Did not qualify) Neil Bonnett, #73 National Engineering (DNS, too slow) Roger McCluskey, #73 National Engineering (Did not qualify) Pancho Carter, #78 Alex XLNT Foods (Did not qualify) Jan Opperman, #81 Aero Electronics (Did not qualify) Spike Gehlhausen, #90 Foreman Industries (Did not qualify) Gordon Johncock, #90 Foreman Industries (Did not qualify) Jerry Miller, #97 Guiffre Crane (Failed rookie test) Earle Canavan, Kosin's Auto Parts (Did not qualify) 10. nascarman posted: 03.21.2015 - 8:06 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Interesting story behind Bonnett's attempt to qualify. He was entered in the race at Texas World Speedway before this but blew an engine in testing and withdrew from that race. Bonnett practiced the 73 car all month but when it came time for qualifying they had a lot of engine problems. On the final weekend of qualifying he was stuck at Dover waiting to qualify for the Wood Brothers due to a rain delay and then winning the race on Sunday. Jerry Sneva blew an engine in his car trying to qualify on Sunday and noticed that the 73 car didn't have a driver. He got in the car, ran 3 practice laps and put the car directly in the qualifying line wanting only a few wing adjustments. On the qualifying run the throttle stuck and he was forced to run all 4 laps wide open at a time when that was unheard of. 11. Nascar Lead Lap Points posted: 07.20.2015 - 11:47 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Steve Krisiloff finished 11th and should not be in the DNQ list 12. Jolly Mean Giant posted: 01.30.2016 - 10:29 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Qualifying results: 1. Rick Mears-193.736 MPH 2. Tom Sneva-192.999 MPH 3. Al Unesr-192.503 MPH 4. Bobby Unser-189.913 MPH 5. Gordon Johncock-189.753 MPH 6. A. J. Foyt-189.613 MPH 7. Joe Saldana-188.778 MPH 8. Wally Dallenbach-188.285 MPH 9. Johnny Rutherford-188.137 MPH 10. Danny Ongais-188.009 MPH 11. Johnny Parsons-187.813 MPH 12. Billy Vukovich, Jr.-187.042 MPH 13. Sheldon Kinser-186.674 MPH 14. Lee Kunzman-186.403 MPH 15. Steve Krisiloff-186.287 MPH 16. Mike Mosley-186.278 MPH 17. Cliff Hucul-187.200 MPH 18. Jim McElreath-185.880 MPH 19. Howdy Holmes-185.864 MPH 20. Phil Threshie-185.855 MPH 21. Pancho Carter-185.806 MPH 22. Janet Guthrie-185.720 MPH 23. Tom Bagley-185.414 MPH 24. George Snider-185.319 MPH 25. Tom Bigelow-185.147 MPH 26. Dick Simon-185.071 MPH 27. Spike Gehlhausen-185.061 MPH 28. Jerry Sneva-184.379 MPH 29. Vern Schuppan-184.341 MPH 30. John Mahler-184.322 MPH 31. Larry Rice-184.218 MPH 32. Larry Dickson-184.181 MPH 33. Salt Walther-184.162 MPH 34. Eldon Rasmussen-183.927 MPH 35. Roger McCluskey-183.908 MPH 13. Jolly Mean Giant posted: 05.17.2016 - 7:01 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Withdrew: Neil Bonnett, #73 National Engineering Bonnett practiced during the month and intended to qualify the car on Saturday, May 19th, but qualifying for the Cup race at Dover that weekend was rained out on Friday, and as such, Neil withdrew from the ride, leading to Jerry Sneva competing in his place instead. Frank Weiss, #50 Biovouac Vans Weiss was the original entrant of the #50 car, but failed his rookie test, leading to Eldon Rasmussen driving the car in the race. Jerry Miller, #97 Giuffre Bros. Miller was the original entrant for this car but also failed his rookie test, which resulted in Phil Threshie getting the ride for the 500. Additional DNQs: Bob Harkey, #19 Sta-On/WIRE Bill Scott, #28 Wheel Center Bill Puterbaugh, #35 Medlin Woody Fisher, #52 Eagle Magnetic of Indy Jim Hurtubise, #56 Moran Electric of Indy Ed Finley, #62 Bob Olmstead's V-12 Roger Rager, #66 Advance Cleen Sweep Jan Opperman, #81 Aero Electronics Earle Canavan, Kosin's Auto Parts (Car was numbered #0 according to UltimateRacingHistory.com) 14. nascarman posted: 05.20.2016 - 2:58 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Danny Ongais wrecked in practice and suffered a concussion. For a time, it appeared that he wouldn't be allowed to qualify and someone else would have to qualify his car on the final weekend and Ongais would race it in the 500. Two rumored names to do this were Lloyd Ruby and Parnelli Jones. Ongais did get to qualify. 15. Jolly Mean Giant posted: 10.10.2016 - 5:30 pm Rate this comment: (1) (0) The reason there were 35 cars instead of 33 in this particular Indy 500 was due to a massive amount of controversy, particularly involving turbocharger wastegate manifolds. Several cars who originally qualified for the race were DQed for breaking the rules, including Steve Krisiloff and Tom Bigelow (who later successfully requalified) and Dick Ferguson (who did not). Bill Alsup also initially qualified for the race but was DQed due to using the same engine Bobby Unser qualified with. Owing to the huge amount of controversy, several teams that had failed to qualify filed a protest charging that they'd be denied a fair chance to qualify. USAC announced that the 11 cars that were bumped from the lineup would be given a final chance to qualify before the race if the other 33 teams that had qualified signed a special agreement, but only 31 signed, so initially USAC ruled that proposal void. However, on Saturday, May 26th, the day before the race, they reversed their decision and decided to indeed hold a special qualifying session specifically for those 11 cars that had been bumped from the field. The 33 cars that had already qualified were locked in, and could not be bumped out. Each car and driver in the session had one goal: to post a faster qualifying speed than that of Roger McCluskey, the slowest qualifier out of the initial 33 (at 183.908 MPH). If they could successfully do that, they would be added to the rear of the field and would be allowed to compete in the 500. Each car would only be allowed one attempt and once you started it, you HAD to complete it. If you waved off, missed your turn in line, or had some sort of problem during the run, that was it for you. Ultimately only Billy Vukovich and George Snider succeeded in qualifying faster than McCluskey's time, and they were added to the field in 34th and 35th starting positions. Bill Alsup was well on pace to making his way in when he crashed during his run, and Larry Cannon, Dana Carter, Jerry Karl, Al Loquasto, John Martin (among others) all fell short of the mark. 16. Jolly Mean Giant posted: 03.22.2017 - 12:14 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) First alternate: Dana Carter 17. SweetRich posted: 02.26.2020 - 6:13 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) The commentators for the race were Jim McKay and Sir Jackie Stewart. The pit road reporters were Chris Economaki and Dave Diles. 18. Rich posted: 12.25.2020 - 6:56 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Chris Schenkel was the studio host. 19. JollyMeanGiant posted: 03.03.2021 - 1:48 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) 48 (!) cars completed full qualifying runs. Dana Carter in the #30 (36th), Jerry Karl in the #38 (37th), Joe Saldana in the #69 (38th), Al Loquasto in the #39 (39th), John Mahler in the #92 (40th), Steve Krisiloff in the #7 (41st), Gary Bettenhausen in the #98 (42nd), John Martin in the #20 (43rd), Tom Bigelow in the #43 (44th), Hurley Haywood in the #51 (45th), Larry Cannon in the #95 (46th), Dick Ferguson in the #47 (47th) and Bill Alsup in the #68 (48th) were not able to make the field. (Some of these cars like Ferguson and Alsup were disqualified after initially making qualifying runs.) ------------------------------------------------------------------------ *Post a comment:* Your comment may not appear immediately - all comments must be approved by the moderator. Name: Comment: