The remarkable story of the 1977 Indianapolis 500 and the many factors that made this a memorable event are highlighted in this book. Could AJ Foyt win a record breaking fourth race? Johnny Rutherford won in 1974 and 1976, but could he win back to back Indy 500's? What about other men who could win a third time like Bobby Unser or his brother Al Unser. Mario Andretti had won the race once before, would this be the year to win it again?
Janet Guthrie would try to become the first female driver to start the great race if everything went well. She had tried the previous year but she wasn't fast enough. Would she be fast enough this time?
The track was repaved since last year and speeds would be expected to escalate. But could a driver get everything out of his car to claim the honor of being the first to exceed 200 mph?
Jim and James McElreath could become the first father and son drivers to compete in the same Indy 500. Jim was a veteran of numerous Indy races, but could his son master the track and be brave enough to put the car into the starting field?
Would this race mark the first time a third generation driver competes? Theodore Pilette raced in the 1916 race and now his grandson Teddy was attempting to earn a spot in the race.
Front engine cars have competed at Indianapolis since its inception, but in the last dozen years the rear engine cars have dominated. Could veteran driver Jim Hurtubise duplicate his performance of 1968 and return a front engine roadster to prominence in the Memorial Day Classic?
Would an up and coming California guy crack into the line-up? The off road racer was named Rick Mears, but could he be successful on an oval track?
All of these things were coming together for track owner Tony Hulman Jr, the man who rescued the speedway from oblivion at the end of World War II. If Janet Guthrie made the race would Hulman have to change his world famous starting command of "gentlemen, start your engines?"
Is the British built and Ford financed Cosworth engine ready for the punishment of 500 miles at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway? Could an Offenhauser engine win again even though it was getting "long in the tooth?"
Janet Guthrie would try to become the first female driver to start the great race if everything went well. She had tried the previous year but she wasn't fast enough. Would she be fast enough this time?
The track was repaved since last year and speeds would be expected to escalate. But could a driver get everything out of his car to claim the honor of being the first to exceed 200 mph?
Jim and James McElreath could become the first father and son drivers to compete in the same Indy 500. Jim was a veteran of numerous Indy races, but could his son master the track and be brave enough to put the car into the starting field?
Would this race mark the first time a third generation driver competes? Theodore Pilette raced in the 1916 race and now his grandson Teddy was attempting to earn a spot in the race.
Front engine cars have competed at Indianapolis since its inception, but in the last dozen years the rear engine cars have dominated. Could veteran driver Jim Hurtubise duplicate his performance of 1968 and return a front engine roadster to prominence in the Memorial Day Classic?
Would an up and coming California guy crack into the line-up? The off road racer was named Rick Mears, but could he be successful on an oval track?
All of these things were coming together for track owner Tony Hulman Jr, the man who rescued the speedway from oblivion at the end of World War II. If Janet Guthrie made the race would Hulman have to change his world famous starting command of "gentlemen, start your engines?"
Is the British built and Ford financed Cosworth engine ready for the punishment of 500 miles at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway? Could an Offenhauser engine win again even though it was getting "long in the tooth?"
