ISBN: | 978-5-5109-4312-2 |
High Quality Content by WIKIPEDIA articles! This unexpected 2 day event began with gray skies but the race was underway as Parnelli Jones in the STP-Paxton Turbocar (the 6th qualifier in the race) is in first place before half a lap, with Gurney second and A.J. Foyt in third. Parnelli leads all 18 laps before rain halts the race. The next day is sunny, and the race resumes with Jones leading most of the race. Along the way many of the favorites have problems: defending champion Graham Hill (who almost didn`t make the race) is out after only five laps after the restart. his teammate Jim Clark blows an engine five laps later. Leader Jones has a scare on lap 70 in an altercation with Lee Roy Yarbrough. Both cars spin, but are able to continue racing, however, Dan Gurney briefly takes the lead. But Gurney is forced out of the race after 160 laps. Meanwhile, Mario Andretti loses a wheel on his 59th lap. Carl Williams and Bob Veith tangle in turn three and are both eliminated. Wally Dallenbach crashes on the main straightway, and Cale Yarborough spins out during the caution! Several cars get by Cale, but George Snider and Lee Roy Yarbrough both crash into the infield ditch trying to avoid him. Arnie Knepper is out with engine failure, while Jackie Stewart loses an engine and heads back to the pits on foot. Later, Cale Yarborough (who was able to get back into the race) and Mel Kenyon crash, putting both out of the race for good. Bud Tingelstad spins out after 182 laps. With 12 laps left, Gordon Johncock spins out. At this point Parnelli Jones has the race wrapped up with almost a full lap lead over A.J. Foyt. But amazingly, with only four laps to go, a 6-dollar transmission bearing fails, once again sealing the fate of the STP Granatelli team. A.J. Foyt drives into first place with only four laps to go, but the drama is still not over. A four car-crash at the north end of the straightaway forces Foyt into some savvy driving to miss spinning cars as he takes the checkered flag for his third win at Indianapolis! Foyt`s winning speed of 151.207 mph (243.344 km/h) is a new record.