Full Race Broadcast: 1979 Indianapolis 500

[@blackcatjim]

Thank you, looking forward to 1976 (eventually) and 1972 (complete or otherwise)!

[@jamestomlin8060]

Great point, especially on 1972. We had good, even complete races from earlier years on ESPN Classic. I don't know why I have never seen '72 pop up.

[@IanTheMotorsportsMan_YT]

the only ABC footage of the 1972 Indy 500 that exists is the starting lineup. That is all (hopefully for now)@@jamestomlin8060

[@invisiblepuppet3437]

1975 too

[@Someguy1785]

@@jamestomlin8060 The actual tape from the ABC video archive was damaged, so they only have the first half of the 72 race. I have a feeling 76 might be the same story.

[@jamestomlin8060]

@@Someguy1785 Ah, I hadn't heard that. Damn.

[@indyracingnut]

Can we please take a moment to appreciate the Current Standings at 44:01 right there? There would eventually be 18 Indy 500 wins just among those 5 men, with 3 4-time winners. That is dominance.

[@watsonroadster3707]

I agree....That is a list of some of the greatest drivers in all of motorsports in one list. And, in 6th at that point was Tom Sneva...One more Indy win..

[@nascarmanHistory]

1:13:02 Ongais smacking the wall and never lifting

[@penske369]

Ironically, he did the same thing on the final lap in 1980!

[@MyHumanWreckage]

You need to watch the ‘81 race for classic Danny Ongais.

[@beeemm2578]

He was fearless. On the gas, indeed....RIP.

[@THROTTLEPOWER]

🏁I was there (where does the time go?) really enjoyed the vid!!🏁

[@paulsonj72]

The Monte Carlo Grand Prix is why Mario Andretti missed this race. F1 was his primary focus at the time

[@dietpepsivanilla3095]

In hindsight he probably would have preferred to race at Indy considering how crappy his season turned out in F1. In fact, it would be crappy the next three years before he came back to America to race in CART.

[@paulsonj72]

This whole month was a disaster off the track. The CART lawsuit to get in after their entries was ere rejected. Then the pop off valve issue in qualifying. That issue is why 35 cars started the race. Ten cars affected were given a last chance on Saturday before the race. One attempt with no wave offs. If you were faster than the slowest qualifier you made the field. Two cars did this and thus started the race.

[@otter1972]

Age 6. My first race.

[@shooter7a]

The Chaparral 2K driven by Unser was designed by John Barnard in England. But Jim Hall took credit for the design, breaking the agreement that John would be recognized as the designer. So Barnard quit, joined Ron Dennis, and together they revolutionized race car design and construction by introducing the carbon fiber mono at McLaren.

[@MrFabrizio1962]

It would also be interesting to see the Time Trials and Bump Day.

[@rays7437]

Thank you for this.

[@calvinsallee1180]

Please show 1976 Indy 500 ABC broadcast 🙏 we've been waiting a lifetime to see it Also 1972 if possible

[@JayMac]

Had to come check this out just to see the 1979 mustang pace car that street racing channel gave away. Come to find out there was 3

[@billymc2681]

Guthrie not happy at all; new engine gave up just a few laps into the race. Just can't get over the size of the crowd...good grief! 350,000+

[@KTraska82]

34:17 - RIP Debra "Debbie" Unser - she died in 1982. Mary passed in 2009.

[@SN-nh6pq]

How many versions are there of “Back Home in Indiana “???

[@softhotty]

Holy Cow, Peter Marshall...best voice of all that I remember singing the Back Home song. Better than good ol Jim Neighbors...and Jim sang it well.

[@TimRobinson-hc7mt]

Janet Guthrie if you want a definition of someone who is really pissed off at that moment take a good look at her face. The interviewer was very brave to do that little chat with her at that moment

[@zon3665]

Is that Jack Arute?

[@briantaylor9285]

It's crazy how 50mph looks like FIVE. 😮

[@tonygoodheart2442]

I didn't know Chris Schenkel did the Indy 500 as.a Reporter!

[@brandond73]

Hey Jackie, air jacks were around in the 50's. Nothing new

[@NDWR14]

Good stuff.

[@Chatta-Ortega]

Where was Jim Nabors?

[@beeemm2578]

In the barracks

[@mounttahoma100]

Peter Marshall is no Jim Nabors.

[@invisiblepuppet3437]

17:00

[@tymcfadden8496]

Ok then, no reason to stay and watch, you already told us who won and how it happened. thanks.

[@THEMOFODRIVER.]

I was just thinking the exact same thing

[@scotttoth5112]

Me too, even though I've watched this 100 times. Still enjoy it just the same. Thanks for posting. @@THEMOFODRIVER.

[@FritzAijalonBuelos-y2r]

Whoa

[@filmicallyperfect4106]

Thank you, unfortunately the incredible excitement here reminds me how thoughtless and dull today's Indy 500. And they've worked very hard to do this. Think about it -230 MPH race cars have become boring?

[@gary24fan]

Janet Guthrie acting very much like Bill Belichick.

[@johnhenryclark911]

I Could Be Wrong.🤔 But I Think 🤔 In An Interview Years Later , Rick Mears ( In 2nd Place For A Portion Of This 1979 Indianapolis 500 ) Knew That He Was Not 🚫 Going To Be Able To Pass His Fellow Roger Penske Teammate Bobby Unser On Sheer Speed Alone! So Rick Mears Pushed Bobby Unser Hard Enough To Where Bobby Unser Inadvertently Broke His Transmission To Where Bobby Unser Only Had The 3 Or 4 Bottom Speed Geers In His Indy Car 🏎️Thus Allowing Rick Mears To Pass Bobby Unser For The Lead With About 35 Laps To Go! Right When It Looked Like Bobby Unser Was About To Win His 3rd Indianapolis 500!🏁🏎️🏆🥛 A Fact That Bobby Unser Was Able To Do Two Years Later In 1981!🏁🏎️🏆🥛 I Am Posting 📬 This At 1:04 p.m. , Wednesday Afternoon 🌁🛤️🛣️🏙️ , April 16, 2024.

[@brandond73]

Jim Mckay was a terrible race commentator. He had no clue about racing.

[@johnhenryclark911]

I Could Be Wrong.🤔 But I Think 🤔 In An Interview Years Later , Rick Mears ( In 2nd Place For A Portion Of This 1979 Indianapolis 500 ) Knew That He Was Not 🚫 Going To Be Able To Pass His Fellow Roger Penske Teammate Bobby Unser On Sheer Speed Alone! So Rick Mears Pushed Bobby Unser Hard Enough To Where Bobby Unser Inadvertently Broke His Transmission To Where Bobby Unser Only Had The 3 Or 4 Bottom Speed Geers In His Indy Car 🏎️Thus Allowing Rick Mears To Pass Bobby Unser For The Lead With About 35 Laps To Go! Right When It Looked Like Bobby Unser Was About To Win His 3rd Indianapolis 500!🏁🏎️🏆🥛 A Fact That Bobby Unser Was Able To Do Two Years Later In 1981!🏁🏎️🏆🥛 I Am Posting 📬 This At 1:04 p.m. , Wednesday Afternoon 🌁🛤️🛣️🏙️ , April 16, 2024.