on Sunday, May 28, 1978. For the first time,
before going out with a blown engine. Unser had a large lead but bent his Lola's front wing in the pitlane on lap 180.
charged to catch the crippled Lola but came up 8 seconds short at the finish. Unser led 121 laps and held on for his third win on a very hot day.
finished ninth on this day, the highest finish for a woman in Indy 500 history—a feat that was eventually topped
| Finish |
Start |
No |
Name |
Qual |
Rank |
Laps |
Led |
Status |
| 1 |
5 |
2 |
 United States Al UnserAlfred "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....
|
196.474 |
7 |
200 |
121 |
Running |
| 2 |
1 |
1 |
United States Tom Sneva Tom Sneva is a former Indy Car driver who was named to the prestigious Motorsports Hall of Fame of America in 2005. Sneva is best remembered for winning the 1983 Indianapolis 500. Nicknamed "The Gas Man," Sneva was an outstanding qualifier, winning the pole position for the Indianapolis 500 three...
|
202.156 |
1 |
200 |
3 |
Running |
| 3 |
6 |
20 |
United States 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."...
|
195.833 |
8 |
199 |
0 |
Flagged |
| 4 |
13 |
40 |
United States Steve Krisiloff Steve Krisiloff , is a former driver in the USAC and CART Championship Car series. He raced in the 1969–1979, 1981 and 1983 seasons, with 111 combined career starts, and started in the Indianapolis 500 all but 1969–1970...
|
191.255 |
19 |
198 |
5 |
Flagged |
| 5 |
7 |
6 |
United States 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...
|
195.233 |
9 |
195 |
0 |
Flagged |
| 6 |
19 |
48 |
United States 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...
|
194.658 |
10 |
195 |
0 |
Flagged |
| 7 |
20 |
14 |
United States A.J. Foyt |
200.122 |
2 |
191 |
0 |
Flagged |
| 8 |
23 |
84 |
United States 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...
|
192.626 |
16 |
191 |
0 |
Flagged |
| 9 |
15 |
51 |
United States Janet GuthrieJanet Guthrie is a retired professional race car driver and the first woman to qualify and compete in both the Indianapolis 500 and the Daytona 500....
|
190.325 |
22 |
190 |
0 |
Flagged |
| 10 |
8 |
16 |
United States Johnny Parsons Johnny Parsons is an American racecar driver.-Racing family:Parsons is the son of Arza and 1950 Indianapolis 500 winner Johnnie Parsons. His parents divorced, and Johnny was raised with half-brothers Dana and Pancho Carter, the product of Arza'a marriage with Duane Carter. The Carters grew up...
|
194.280 |
12 |
186 |
0 |
Flagged |
| 11 |
30 |
35 |
United States Larry RiceLarry Rice was an American racing driver in the USAC and CART Championship Car series. He was the 1973 USAC National midget driver's champion and won the USAC Silver Crown series in 1977 and 1981. He was inducted in the National Midget Auto Racing Hall of Fame in 1993.-Racing career:Larry's father...
|
187.392 |
31 |
186 |
0 |
Engine |
| 12 |
33 |
7 |
United States 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...
|
194.647 |
11 |
185 |
0 |
Flagged |
| 13 |
4 |
4 |
United States 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...
|
197.098 |
5 |
180 |
0 |
Flagged |
| 14 |
28 |
88 |
United States Jerry Karl Jerry Karl , was a former driver in the USAC and CART Championship Car series...
|
187.549 |
29 |
176 |
0 |
Flagged |
| 15 |
24 |
69 |
United States Joe Saldana Joe Saldana , is a former driver in the USAC and CART Championship Car series. He raced in the 1977-1980 seasons, with 31 combined career starts, including the 1978-1979 Indianapolis 500. He finished in the top ten 10 times, with a best finish of 6th position in 1979 at Atlanta...
|
190.809 |
21 |
173 |
0 |
Flagged |
| 16 |
31 |
98 |
United States Gary BettenhausenGary 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:...
|
187.324 |
32 |
147 |
0 |
Engine |
| 17 |
25 |
78 |
United States 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...
|
188.719 |
26 |
146 |
0 |
Turbocharger |
| 18 |
2 |
25 |
United States Danny OngaisDanny Ongais is a former racecar driver from the United States.He is the only native Hawaiian to compete at the Indianapolis 500...
|
200.122 |
3 |
145 |
71 |
Blown Engine |
| 19 |
10 |
17 |
United States 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...
|
192.967 |
15 |
138 |
0 |
Wheel Bearing |
| 20 |
26 |
26 |
United States 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...
|
188.058 |
27 |
132 |
0 |
Engine |
| 21 |
18 |
43 |
United States Tom Bigelow Tom Bigelow , USA, is a former driver in the USAC and CART Championship Car series.-Midget car racing:...
|
189.115 |
25 |
107 |
0 |
Rod |
| 22 |
9 |
80 |
United States Larry Dickson Larry Dickson , is a former driver in the USAC and CART Championship Car series. He raced in the 1965-1981 seasons, with 105 combined career starts, including the Indianapolis 500 in 1966-1969, 1971, 1978–1979, and 1981. He finished in the top ten 44 times, with his best finish in 2nd position in...
|
193.434 |
13 |
104 |
0 |
Oil Pressure |
| 23 |
3 |
71 |
United States Rick Mears Rick Ravon Mears is a retired American race car driver. He is one of three men to have won the Indianapolis 500-Mile Race four times , and the current record-holder for pole positions in the race with six...
|
200.078 |
4 |
103 |
0 |
Engine |
| 24 |
21 |
8 |
United States Pancho Carter Duane "Pancho" Carter, Jr. is a retired American race car driver. He is most famous for his participation in CART races.-Background:...
|
196.829 |
6 |
92 |
0 |
Header |
| 25 |
11 |
11 |
United States 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...
|
192.256 |
17 |
82 |
0 |
Clutch |
| 26 |
17 |
39 |
United States John Mahler John Mahler , is a former open wheel race car driver in the USAC and CART Championship Car series. He raced in the 1970-1973 and 1976-1981 seasons, with 39 combined career starts, including the 1972 and 1977-1979 Indianapolis 500...
|
189.723 |
24 |
58 |
0 |
1/2-time gear |
| 27 |
14 |
22 |
United States Tom Bagley Tom Bagley , is a former driver in the USAC and CART Championship Car series. He raced in the 1978-1980 and 1983 seasons, with 42 combined career starts, including the 1978-1980 Indianapolis 500. He finished in the top ten 23 times, with a best finish, three times, of 4th position.-Indy 500...
|
190.941 |
20 |
25 |
0 |
Oil Leak |
| 28 |
22 |
77 |
United States Salt Walther David "Salt" Walther , is a former driver in the USAC and CART Championship Car series. He also drove NASCAR stock cars, unlimited hydroplane boats, and was a car owner in USAC....
|
193.226 |
14 |
24 |
0 |
Clutch |
| 29 |
16 |
19 |
United States Spike Gehlhausen Daniel William "Spike" Gehlhausen , is a former driver in the USAC and CART Championship Car series. He raced in 11 seasons , with 79 combined career starts, including the Indianapolis 500 in 1976, 1978-1980, and 1984...
|
190.325 |
23 |
23 |
0 |
Crash T2 |
| 30 |
29 |
47 |
United States Phil Threshie Phil Threshie , is a former driver in the USAC and CART Championship Car series. He raced in the 1977-1981 seasons, with 15 combined career starts, including the 1978-1979 Indianapolis 500. He finished in the top ten once, an 8th position in 1979 at Texas World Speedway.-Indy 500...
|
187.520 |
30 |
22 |
0 |
Oil Pressure |
| 31 |
32 |
30 |
United States Jerry Sneva Jerry Sneva , is a former off-road driver who also drove in the USAC and CART Championship Car series. He raced in the 1977-1982 seasons, with 26 combined career starts, including the 1977-1980 and 1982 Indianapolis 500 and was named 1977 Indianapolis 500 Rookie of the Year...
|
187.266 |
33 |
18 |
0 |
Transmission |
| 32 |
12 |
24 |
United States Sheldon Kinser Sheldon Kinser , was an American race-car driver.Kinser, a Bloomington, Indiana native, died of cancer. He was a three-time USAC Sprint Car Series Champion . He also drove in the USAC and CART Championship Car series...
|
192.051 |
18 |
15 |
0 |
Oil Pressure |
| 33 |
27 |
29 |
 Canada Cliff HuculCliff Hucul , is a former driver in the USAC and CART Championship Car series. He raced in the 1977-1981 seasons, with 24 combined career starts, including the 1977-1979 Indianapolis 500...
|
187.805 |
28 |
4 |
0 |
Oil Line |