Johnny Rutherford won the shortest “500-mile race” in history after taking the checkered flag in the 1976 Indianapolis 500, called off after 102 of its scheduled 200 laps due to rain. It marked the third time in four years that the Indianapolis Motor Speedway crowned a champion of its marquee event before completing its scheduled distance—in this case, just one lap above the USAC minimum (halfway plus one lap).
The event marked a period of changes for the event and facility. Rutherford’s victory was the 27th and final one for the Offenhauser engine, but also saw the opening of the brand new IMS Hall of Fame Museum that remains a fabled attraction to this day.
METAL FUEL + RUBBER 