SWC75
Bored Historian
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They needed a clean race and a good story. Johnny Rutherford made the biggest comeback of the post war era, coming from 25th place to win and the classic American race made a comeback with it. A key aspect of this race was the limits on fuel consumption, a result of the energy crisis. I suspect the amount of fuel consumed at Indy was insubstantial compared to the nation’s consumption, (and it was a different sort of fuel), so this was basically a public relations gimmick. But it brought fuel consumption strategy into the race as a major factor. We went from tragedy to strategy.
Drivers not previously mentioned:
- Larry McCoy’s racing career came to an end due to an “unspecified neurological illness” that caused him to quit in 1976 at the age of 34 and to commit suicide three years later. His best finish at Indy was 26th.
- Duane “Pancho” Carter Jr. was the son of Duane Carter, a regular at Indy from 1948-63. Pancho had an even longer career there, from 1974-94 and finished in the top 10 five times. But neither father or son ever made the winner’s circle. Pancho has a neat bit of driving in this race, spinning, avoiding two car and any other obstruction and then getting back in the race.
- Jan Opperman, per Wikipedia: “Early in his career, Opperman was known as a hippie and part of the drug culture. He later became a dynamic Christian, who, until his catastrophic accident, was working toward creating a ranch in western Montana for troubled youth.” He was in the 1974 and 196 Indy 500s. He had along racing career, dying in 1997 after a crash in a sprint car race, (his real specialty), in Florida.
- Tom Sneva began a long career of being a major contender at Indy in 1974. From then until 1992 he won three pols, finishing second 3 times and finally winning it in 1983. But he’s probably best remembered for his fiery crash in 1975, which he survived because of some the safety changes that had been made in recent years and went on to a distinguished career.
- Mike Hiss had been Rookie of the Year at Indy in 1972. In 1973 he became the first celebrity centerfold in Playgirl, with his helmet protecting his privates:
http://rallyeracing.files.wordpress.com/2012/10/mike-hiss-playgirl-1973.jpg
In 1974 he got a ride when Mark Donahue temporarily retired and Peter Revson was killed in a crash in South Africa. He never matched his 7th place finish that first year and was gone after 1975.
- Wally Dallenbach Sr. was another long-time contender at Indy. From 1967-79 he qualified every year and had 4 top 10 finishes. This was not one of them, despite a strong start. He blew a piston in the third lap after taking the lead. His son, Wally Jr. became a NASCAR driver and commentator.
- Jimmy Carruthers drove in four Indys before dying of cancer at the age of 31 in 1975.His best finish had been 9th in 1972.
- Larry Cannon, known as “Boom Boom”, qualified at Indy three times. And all three times Johnny Rutherford won the race. Johnny was his biggest fan. Boom Boom’s best finish was 17th.
- Jerry Karl was at Indy from 1970-85. His qualified 6 times and his best finish was 13th.
- Jim McElreath was at Indy from 1962-82 and had 6 top ten finishes, including a 6th in 1974. He’d been as high as 3rd back in 1966. He was 46 years old at the time of the 1974 race.
Here is ABC’s full presentation of the race, shown that evening:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CHGYATrHFhc
It was the beginning of Sam Posey’s long career as a race commentator. At the 28 minute mark you’ll see Jackie Stewart doing an update of his discussion of safety measures and concerns from the previous year.
Drivers not previously mentioned:
- Larry McCoy’s racing career came to an end due to an “unspecified neurological illness” that caused him to quit in 1976 at the age of 34 and to commit suicide three years later. His best finish at Indy was 26th.
- Duane “Pancho” Carter Jr. was the son of Duane Carter, a regular at Indy from 1948-63. Pancho had an even longer career there, from 1974-94 and finished in the top 10 five times. But neither father or son ever made the winner’s circle. Pancho has a neat bit of driving in this race, spinning, avoiding two car and any other obstruction and then getting back in the race.
- Jan Opperman, per Wikipedia: “Early in his career, Opperman was known as a hippie and part of the drug culture. He later became a dynamic Christian, who, until his catastrophic accident, was working toward creating a ranch in western Montana for troubled youth.” He was in the 1974 and 196 Indy 500s. He had along racing career, dying in 1997 after a crash in a sprint car race, (his real specialty), in Florida.
- Tom Sneva began a long career of being a major contender at Indy in 1974. From then until 1992 he won three pols, finishing second 3 times and finally winning it in 1983. But he’s probably best remembered for his fiery crash in 1975, which he survived because of some the safety changes that had been made in recent years and went on to a distinguished career.
- Mike Hiss had been Rookie of the Year at Indy in 1972. In 1973 he became the first celebrity centerfold in Playgirl, with his helmet protecting his privates:
http://rallyeracing.files.wordpress.com/2012/10/mike-hiss-playgirl-1973.jpg
In 1974 he got a ride when Mark Donahue temporarily retired and Peter Revson was killed in a crash in South Africa. He never matched his 7th place finish that first year and was gone after 1975.
- Wally Dallenbach Sr. was another long-time contender at Indy. From 1967-79 he qualified every year and had 4 top 10 finishes. This was not one of them, despite a strong start. He blew a piston in the third lap after taking the lead. His son, Wally Jr. became a NASCAR driver and commentator.
- Jimmy Carruthers drove in four Indys before dying of cancer at the age of 31 in 1975.His best finish had been 9th in 1972.
- Larry Cannon, known as “Boom Boom”, qualified at Indy three times. And all three times Johnny Rutherford won the race. Johnny was his biggest fan. Boom Boom’s best finish was 17th.
- Jerry Karl was at Indy from 1970-85. His qualified 6 times and his best finish was 13th.
- Jim McElreath was at Indy from 1962-82 and had 6 top ten finishes, including a 6th in 1974. He’d been as high as 3rd back in 1966. He was 46 years old at the time of the 1974 race.
Here is ABC’s full presentation of the race, shown that evening:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CHGYATrHFhc
It was the beginning of Sam Posey’s long career as a race commentator. At the 28 minute mark you’ll see Jackie Stewart doing an update of his discussion of safety measures and concerns from the previous year.
