1970 Indianapolis 500 - AbsoluteAstronomy.com

The 1970 Indianapolis 500 was held at Indianapolis

Indianapolis Motor Speedway

The Indianapolis Motor Speedway, located in Speedway, Indiana in the United States, is the home of the Indianapolis 500-Mile Race and the Brickyard 400....

on Saturday, May 30, 1970.

Following in the footsteps of his brother, Bobby, Al Unser

Al Unser

Alfred "Al" Unser is a former American automobile racing driver, the younger brother of fellow racing drivers Jerry and Bobby Unser, and father of Al Unser, Jr....

dominates the 500, leading 190 laps, matching Jim Clark

Jim Clark

James "Jim" Clark, Jr OBE was a British Formula One racing driver from Scotland, who won two World Championships, in 1963 and 1965....

's total in 1965, and the most since 1953, when Bill Vukovich

Bill Vukovich

Bill Vukovich was a Serbian American automobile racing driver. He won the 1953 and 1954 Indianapolis 500 plus two more American Automobile Association National Championship races...

led all but five laps in the race. The initial start is aborted when Jim Malloy

Jim Malloy

Jim Malloy , was an American racecar driver.Born in Columbus, Nebraska, Malloy died as a result of injuries sustained in practice for the 1972 Indianapolis 500...

hits the fourth-turn wall at the end of the pace lap.

Race schedule

EWLINE

Race schedule — May, 1970
Sun	Mon	Tue	Wed	Thu	Fri	Sat
					1 Opening Day	2 Practice
3 Practice	4 Practice	5 Practice	6 Practice	7 Practice	8 Practice	9 Practice
10 Practice	11 Practice	12 Practice	13 Practice	14 Practice	15 Practice	16 Pole Day
17 Time Trials	18 Practice	19 Practice	20 Practice	21 Practice	22 Practice	23 Time Trials
24 Bump Day	25	26 Parade	27 Carb Day	28	29 Meeting	30 Indy 500
31

EWLINE

Color	Notes
Green	Practice
Dark Blue	Time trials
Silver	Race day
Red	Rained out*
Blank	No track activity

* Includes days where track activity
was significantly limited due to rain

Race results

Finish	Start	No	Name	Qual	Rank	Laps	Led	Status
1	1	2	United States Al Unser Al Unser Alfred "Al" Unser is a former American automobile racing driver, the younger brother of fellow racing drivers Jerry and Bobby Unser, and father of Al Unser, Jr....	170.221	1	200	190	Running
2	5	66	United States Mark Donohue Mark Donohue Mark Neary Donohue, Jr. , nicknamed "Captain Nice", was an American racecar driver known for his ability to set up his own race car as well as driving it to victories. Donohue is probably best known as the driver of the 1500+ bhp “Can-Am Killer” Porsche 917-30 and as the winner of the 1972...	168.911	5	200	5	Running
3	11	48	United States Dan Gurney Dan Gurney Daniel Sexton Gurney is an American racing driver, race car constructor, and team owner.The son of a Metropolitan Opera star, he was born in Port Jefferson, New York, but moved to California as a teenager...	166.860	15	200	0	Running
4	23	83	United States Donnie Allison Donnie Allison Dunkiny "Donnie" Allison is a former driver on the NASCAR Grand National/Winston Cup circuit, who won ten times during his racing career, which spanned the 1960s, 1970s and early 1980s. He was part of the "Alabama Gang," and is the brother of 1983 champion Bobby Allison and uncle of Davey Allison...	165.662	29	200	0	Running
5	33	14	United States Jim McElreath Jim McElreath Jim McElreath , is a former driver in the USAC and CART Championship Car series.-Racing career:He raced in the 1961-1983 seasons, with 178 combined career starts, including 15 in the Indianapolis 500 in 1962-1970, 1973–1974, and 1977-1980. He finished in the top ten 101 times, with five victories...	166.821	16	200	0	Running
6	8	1	United States Mario Andretti Mario Andretti Mario Gabriele Andretti is a retired Italian American world champion racing driver, one of the most successful Americans in the history of the sport. He is one of only two drivers to win races in Formula One, IndyCar, World Sportscar Championship and NASCAR...	168.209	9	199	0	Flagged
7	29	89	United States Jerry Grant Jerry Grant Jerry Grant , is a former driver in the USAC Championship Car series. He raced in the 1965-1977 seasons, with 54 career starts, including the Indianapolis 500 in 1965-1968, 1970 and 1972-1976...	165.983	26	198	0	Flagged
8	15	38	United States Rick Muther Rick Muther Rick Muther , was an American racecar driver.Muther was born in Alhambra, California. He was for the most part The Indy 500's first Hippy race driver. Muther started in SCCA sports car racing in Southern California at Riverside winning the prestigious Tim Mayer award...	165.654	30	197	0	Flagged
9	19	75	United States Carl Williams Carl Williams (driver) Carl Williams , was an American racecar driver.Born in Grandview, Missouri, Williams was killed in a motorcycle accident in Kansas City. He drove in the USAC Championship Car series, racing in the 1965-1972 seasons, with 63 career starts, including the Indianapolis 500 in 1966-1970 and 1972...	166.590	18	197	0	Flagged
10	3	7	United States A.J. Foyt	170.004	3	195	2	Flagged
11	7	3	United States Bobby Unser Bobby Unser Robert William "Bobby" Unser is a retired U.S. automobile racer. He is the brother of Al Unser, Jerry Unser and Louie Unser, the father of Robby Unser, and the uncle of Al Unser, Jr. and Johnny Unser...	168.508	8	192	0	Flagged
12	32	67	United States Sammy Sessions Sammy Sessions Allen Dale "Sammy" Sessions was an American racecar driver.Born in Nashville, Michigan, Sessions died in a snowmobile racing accident in Alexandria, Minnesota. He drove in the USAC Championship Car series, racing in the 1965-1975 seasons with 62 starts, including the Indianapolis 500 in 1968-1973...	165.373	33	190	0	Flagged
13	26	32	Australia Jack Brabham Jack Brabham Sir John Arthur "Jack" Brabham, AO, OBE is an Australian former racing driver who was Formula One champion in , and . He was a founder of the Brabham racing team and race car constructor that bore his name....	166.397	22	175	1	Piston
14	31	44	United States Dick Simon Dick Simon Dick Simon is one of the oldest men to ever have raced in the Indianapolis 500. He was 55 years old during his final Indy 500 start in 1988. A multiple starter and top-ten finisher in the race, he also became a car owner, founding Dick Simon Racing helping to begin the IndyCar careers of Stéphan...	165.548	32	168	0	Flagged
15	27	19	United States Ronnie Bucknum Ronnie Bucknum Ronnie Bucknum was an American racecar driver, born in Alhambra, California.Bucknum participated in 11 Formula One World Championship grands prix, debuting on August 2, 1964. He scored a total of 2 championship points...	166.136	23	162	0	Crash T3
16	22	23	United States Mel Kenyon Mel Kenyon Mel Kenyon is a former midget car driver. He is known as the "King of the Midgets", "Miraculous Mel", and "Champion of Midget Auto Racing." The Motorsports Hall of Fame of America says "Many consider him to be midget car racing's greatest driver ever." -Racing career:He attended his first auto...	165.906	27	160	0	Crash T3
17	24	22	United States Wally Dallenbach, Sr. Wally Dallenbach, Sr. Wally Dallenbach, Sr. is a former long-time open-wheeled race car driver in CART from East Brunswick Township, New Jersey. He drove in 180 Indy Car races between 1965 and 1979, winning five times. He is the father of NASCAR driver and commentator, Wally Dallenbach, Jr.-Biography:Dallenbach nearly...	165.601	31	143	0	Coil
18	2	18	United States Johnny Rutherford Johnny Rutherford For the Major League Baseball pitcher, see Johnny Rutherford . For other people with a similar name, see John RutherfordJohn Sherman Rutherford III , better known as Johnny Rutherford, and also known as "Lone Star JR" is a former U.S...	170.213	2	135	0	Header
19	13	27	United States LeeRoy Yarbrough LeeRoy Yarbrough Lonnie "LeeRoy" Yarbrough was a NASCAR racer. His best season was 1969 when he won seven races, tallied 21 finishes in the top-ten and earned $193,211...	166.559	19	107	0	Turbo Gear
20	10	84	United States George Snider George Snider George "Ziggy" Snider is a retired American race car driver. A longtime driver in the United States Automobile Club Silver Crown series, Snider is also a 22-time starter of the Indianapolis 500, the most starts without winning the race. His best finish was eighth in the 1975 Indianapolis 500...	167.660	12	105	0	Suspension
21	12	9	United States Mike Mosley Mike Mosley Mike Mosley , was an American racecar driver.Born in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, Mosley died in an off-road vehicle accident near Riverside, California. His young son, Michael, was also riding in the van Mosley was driving, but was uninjured. He was a driver in the USAC and CART Championship Car series...	166.651	17	96	0	Radiator
22	16	73	United States Peter Revson Peter Revson Peter Jeffrey Revson was an American race car driver who had successes in Formula One and the Indianapolis 500.-Background:Peter Revson was born in New York City, the son of Julie and Martin Revson....	167.942	10	87	0	Magneto
23	30	58	United States Bill Vukovich II Bill Vukovich II William John Vukovich, Jr. , better known as Bill Vukovich II is a former driver in the championship car division of USAC and CART series....	165.753	28	78	0	Clutch
24	18	15	United States Joe Leonard Joe Leonard Joe Leonard , is a retired American motorcycle racer and racecar driver.Leonard won the first A.M.A. Grand National Championship Series in 1954 and won it again in 1956 and 1957. His record totals 27 wins, including the 1957 and 1958 Daytona 200...	166.898	14	73	0	Switch
25	4	11	United States Roger McCluskey Roger McCluskey Roger McCluskey was an American race car driver. He was from Tucson, Arizona.He won championship titles in three divisions of USAC -Sprints, Stocks, and Champ Cars. He won the USAC Sprint Car title in 1963 and 1966, the USAC Stock car title in 1969 and 1970. The Champ Car title in 1973...	169.213	4	62	0	Suspension
26	20	16	United States Gary Bettenhausen Gary Bettenhausen Gary Bettenhausen is a retired American auto racing driver. He was born in Blue Island, Illinois, raised in Tinley Park, Illinois, and currently resides in Monrovia, Indiana.-Racing family:...	166.451	21	55	0	Valve
27	25	25	United States Lloyd Ruby Lloyd Ruby Lloyd Ruby was an American racecar driver.Ruby raced in the USAC Championship Car series in the 1958-1977 seasons, with 177 career starts, including every Indianapolis 500 race during 1960-1977. He finished in the top ten 88 times, with 7 victories. His best Indy finish was 3rd in 1964...	168.895	6	54	2	Drive Gear
28	17	5	United States Gordon Johncock Gordon Johncock Gordon Johncock is a former racing driver, best known as a two-time winner of the Indianapolis 500 and the 1976 USAC Marlboro Championship Trail champion. Johncock was most often simply referred to as "Gordy."...	167.015	13	45	0	Piston
29	14	97	United States Bruce Walkup Bruce Walkup Bruce Walkup is a retired American racecar driver.Walkup raced in the USAC Championship Car series in the 1967-1971 seasons, with 35 career starts, including the 1969 and 1970 Indianapolis 500 races. He finished in the top ten 11 times, with his best finish in 4th position in 1969 at...	166.459	20	44	0	Timing Gear
30	6	10	United States Art Pollard Art Pollard Art Pollard , was an American racecar driver.Born in Dragon, Utah, Pollard died in Indianapolis, Indiana as a result of injuries sustained in practice for the 1973 Indianapolis 500. The car clipped the wall coming out of turn one and did a half-spin as it headed to the grass on the inside of the...	168.595	7	28	0	Piston
31	21	20	United States George Follmer George Follmer George Follmer is a retired American race car driver, and one of the most successful road racers of the 1970s. He was born in Phoenix, Arizona....	166.052	25	18	0	Oil Gasket
32	28	93	United States Greg Weld Greg Weld Greg Weld was an American racecar driver.Weld won the 1963 Knoxville Nationals, the premiere event in sprint car racing. Weld raced in the USAC Championship Car series in the 1965-1972 seasons, with 36 career starts, including the 1970 Indianapolis 500. He finished in the top ten 11 times, with...	166.121	24	12	0	Piston
33	9	31	United States Jim Malloy Jim Malloy Jim Malloy , was an American racecar driver.Born in Columbus, Nebraska, Malloy died as a result of injuries sustained in practice for the 1972 Indianapolis 500...	167.895	11	0	0	Crash T4

Qualifying Chronology

Att #	Date	Time	Qual Day	Car #	Driver Name	Laps	Qual Time	Qual Speed	Rank	Start	Comment
1	05-16	1	1	38	RICK MUTHER	4	3:37.3200	165.654	30	15
2	05-16	2	1	31	JIM MALLOY	4	3:34.3200	167.973	10	9
3	05-16	3	1	5	GORDON JOHNCOCK	3	—	—	—	—	FLAGGED OFF
4	05-16	4	1	5	GORDON JOHNCOCK	2	—	—	—	—	WAVED OFF
5	05-16	5	1	7	A. J. FOYT	4	—	170.004	3	3
6	05-16	6	1	97	BRUCE WALKUP	4	3:36.2700	166.459	20	14
7	05-16	7	1	36	TONY ADAMOWICZ	4	—	164.820	—	—	BUMPED BY #58
8	05-16	8	1	84	GEORGE SNIDER	4	3:34.7200	167.660	12	10
9	05-16	9	1	48	DAN GURNEY	4	3:35.7500	166.860	15	11
10	05-16	10	1	95	SAM POSEY	0	—	—	—	—	BLOWN ENGINE
11	05-16	11	1	2	AL UNSER	4	3:31.4900	170.221	1	1
12	05-16	12	1	66	MARK DONOHUE	4	—	168.911	5	5
13	05-16	13	1	92	STEVE KRISILOFF	4	—	162.448	—	—	BUMPED BY #89
14	05-16	14	1	18	JOHNNY RUTHERFORD	4	—	170.213	2	2
15	05-16	15	1	23	MEL KENYON	2	—	—	—	—	PULLED OFF
16	05-16	16	1	10	ART POLLARD	4	3:33.5300	168.595	7	6
17	05-16	17	1	76	KEVIN BARTLETT	1	—	—	—	—	WAVED OFF
18	05-16	18	1	27	LEE ROY YARBROUGH	4	3:36.0700	166.613	18	13
19	05-16	19	1	9	MIKE MOSLEY	4	3:36.0200	166.651	17	12
20	05-16	20	1	94	BENTLEY WARREN	0	—	—	—	—	PULLED OFF
21	05-16	21	1	1	MARIO ANDRETTI	4	3:34.0200	168.209	9	8
22	05-16	22	1	93	GREG WELD	3	—	—	—	—	ACCIDENT
23	05-16	23	1	11	ROGER MCCLUSKEY	4	3:32.7500	169.213	4	4
24	05-16	24	1	3	BOBBY UNSER	4	3:33.6400	168.508	8	7
25	05-16	25	1	74	JIM MCELREATH	1	—	—	—	—	PULLED OFF
26	05-17	26	2	16	GARY BETTENHAUSEN	4	3:36.2800	166.451	21	20
27	05-17	27	2	73	PETER REVSON	4	3:34.3600	167.942	11	16
28	05-17	28	2	19	RONNIE BUCKNUM	2	—	—	—	—	WAVED OFF
29	05-17	29	2	12	LLOYD RUBY	3	—	—	—	—	BLOWN ENGINE
30	05-17	30	2	22	WALLY DALLENBACH	4	3:37.3900	165.601	31	24
31	05-17	31	2	23	MEL KENYON	4	3:36.9900	165.906	27	22
32	05-17	32	2	74	JIM MCELREATH	4	—	163.592	—	—	BUMPED BY #32
33	05-17	33	2	75	CARL WILLIAMS	4	3:36.1000	166.590	19	19
34	05-17	34	2	76	KEVIN BARTLETT	3	—	—	—	—	WAVED OFF
35	05-17	35	2	12	LLOYD RUBY	1	—	—	—	—	PULLED OFF
36	05-17	36	2	83	DONNIE ALLISON	4	3:37.3100	165.662	29	23
37	05-17	37	2	15	JOE LEONARD	4	3:35.7000	166.898	14	18
38	05-17	38	2	5	GORDON JOHNCOCK	4	3:35.5500	167.015	13	17
39	05-17	39	2	20	GEORGE FOLLMER	4	—	166.052	25	21
40	05-17	40	2	56	JIM HURTUBISE	3	—	—	—	—
41	05-23	41	3	94	BENTLEY WARREN	4	3:38.4400	164.805	—	—	BUMPED BY #44
42	05-23	42	3	56	JIM HURTUBISE	3	—	—	—	—
43	05-23	43	3	67	SAM SESSIONS	4	3:37.6900	165.373	33	32
44	05-23	44	3	19	RONNIE BUCKNUM	4	3:36.6900	166.136	23	27
45	05-23	45	3	93	GREG WELD	4	3:36.7100	166.121	24	28
46	05-23	46	3	25	LLOYD RUBY	4	3:33.1500	168.895	6	25
47	05-23	47	3	77	KEVIN BARTLETT	4	3:37.8400	165.259	—	—	BUMPED BY #14
48	05-23	48	3	89	JERRY GRANT	4	3:36.8900	165.983	26	29	BUMPS #92
49	05-23	49	3	78	LARRY DICKSON	1	—	—	—	—	PULLED OFF
50	05-23	50	3	32	JACK BRABHAM	4	—	166.397	22	26	BUMPS #74
51	05-23	51	3	50	ARNIE KNEPPER	2	—	—	—	—	WAVED OFF
52	05-23	52	3	17	JOHN CANNON	2	—	—	—	—	WAVED OFF
53	05-23	53	3	44	DICK SIMON	4	3:37.4600	165.548	32	31	BUMPS #94
54	05-23	54	3	58	BILLY VUKOVICH II	4	3:37.1900	165.753	28	30	BUMPS #36
55	05-24	55	4	54	JIGGER SIROIS	4	3:38.5900	164.692	—	—	TOO SLOW
56	05-24	56	4	14	JIM MCELREATH	4	3:35.8000	166.821	16	33	BUMPS #77
57	05-24	57	4	95	SAM POSEY	0	—	—	—	—	ACCIDENT
58	05-24	58	4	99	DENNY ZIMMERMAN	4	3:46.5400	158.912	—	—	TOO SLOW
59	05-24	59	4	21	JOHN CANNON	3	—	—	—	—	WAVED OFF
60	05-24	60	4	53	ARNIE KNEPPER	4	3:37.7600	165.320	—	—	TOO SLOW
61	05-24	61	4	8	LARRY DICKSON	4	3:47.1600	158.479	—	—	TOO SLOW

Race schedule

Race results

Qualifying Chronology

See also