1976 Pocono 500

August 2023 April 2023 USA Pocono 500 1976pocono500program.jpg June 27 1976 USAC Championship Car 1976 Schaefer 500 5th Long Pond, Pennsylvania Permanent racing facility 2.5 4.023 200 500 804.672 Temperatures up to 84 F C; wind speeds up to 15 mph km/h1976 Pocono 500 weather information https://www.wunderground.com/history/daily/us/pa/avoca/KAVP/date/1976-6-27 Wunderground April 25, 2023 Johnny Parsons Tassi Vattis Drew for Position USA Al Unser Vel's Parnelli Jones Racing USA Mike Mosley Jerry O'Connell Racing USA Wally Dallenbach Sr. Patrick Racing USA The 1976 Pocono 500, the 6th running of the event, was held at the Pocono Raceway in Long Pond, Pennsylvania, on Sunday, June 27, 1976. Branded as the 1976 Schaefer 500 for sponsorship reasons, it was won by Al Unser. The race is notable as Janet Guthrie became the first woman to start a 500 mile Indy car race. Background Johnny Rutherford won the 1976 Indianapolis 500 one month before the Pocono 500. It was Rutherford's second 500 victory. Practice For 1976, the schedule of events for the Pocono 500 was shortened. Now, two days of practice began on Friday and Sunday was the sole qualification day. In Friday's opening practice, A. J. Foyt ran eight total laps in the morning and posted the fastest speed at 181.305 mph.https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=OMotAAAAIBAJ&sjid=uKAFAAAAIBAJ&pg=1418%2C5238826 Reading Eagle Pennsylvania Associated Press Auto Racing June 19, 1976 8 He then put the car in the garage and left the track at lunchtime. Gordon Johncock and Johnny Rutherford tied for second fastest with a pair of laps at 181.268 mph. Janet Guthrie suffered from mechanical issues and posted a fastest lap of 165.623 mph in her 20-lap refresher test. Larry Cannon was the only car to spin during the session.https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-atlanta-constitution-goddess-of-raci/31422686/ Atlanta Constitution Georgia Associated Press Goddess of Racing June 27, 1976 72 Saturday's practice began at 9 a.m. and extended until noon. After a lunch break, practice ran from 1 p.m. - 6 p.m. Foyt ran a mere 10 laps in practice and posted the fastest speed of the day at 185.950 mph. Al Unser was second fastest at 185.567 mph. Johnny Rutherford was third fastest at 182.852 mph.https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=OcotAAAAIBAJ&sjid=uKAFAAAAIBAJ&pg=3269%2C6098578 Reading Eagle Pennsylvania Associated Press Foyt Choice for Pocono Pole June 20, 1976 66 Janet Guthrie was the slowest car in practice with a speed of 168.823 mph. Next slowest was Bob Harkey at 169.555 mph.https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=OcotAAAAIBAJ&sjid=uKAFAAAAIBAJ&pg=3269%2C6098578 Reading Eagle Pennsylvania Associated Press Foyt Choice for Pocono Pole June 20, 1976 66 Time Trials and Draw For The Pole On Sunday, time trials were scheduled from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Dick Simon and Al Loquasto were the only two cars to post qualifying speeds before rains fell.https://www.newspapers.com/clip/35298335/1976-pocono-500/ Philadelphia Inquirer Pennsylvania Associated Press Pocono Lottery Decides 500 Field June 22, 1976 23 Because of continued forecasted rain for the following days, and all 35 cars still needing to qualify, it was decided to set the starting lineup by random draw. A formula was devised to give the better cars and teams a fair advantage. Starting positions 1 through 16 were reserved for drivers who were former series champions, had won 500 mile races, or were in the top-10 in points in 1976 or 1975, plus the Sunday qualifiers of Simon and Loquasto. All other drivers drew for positions 17 through 30.https://www.newspapers.com/clip/35298335/1976-pocono-500/ Philadelphia Inquirer Pennsylvania Associated Press Pocono Lottery Decides 500 Field June 22, 1976 23 Johnny Parsons Jr's name was drawn for the pole position. Second place went to Bill Vukovich Jr, Mario Andretti was picked third. Because he was fastest of the two cars that posted speeds, Dick Simon was given the $1,500 prize reserved for the fastest qualifier. Simon's name was picked for the fourth position.https://www.newspapers.com/clip/35298335/1976-pocono-500/ Philadelphia Inquirer Pennsylvania Associated Press Pocono Lottery Decides 500 Field June 22, 1976 23 Janet Guthrie benefitted the most from the draw. Being the slowest car in practice meant qualifying on speed would have been difficult in time trials. Guthrie was picked for the 22nd starting spot, making her the first woman to start a 500 mile Indy car race.https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-atlanta-constitution-goddess-of-raci/31422686/ Atlanta Constitution Georgia Associated Press Goddess of Racing June 27, 1976 72 The five cars that did not draw spots in the top 30 were forced to qualify for the final three spots on Thursday. An option was given that the starting field would be expanded and all 35 cars would be allowed to start if every team signed a petition in support, but some teams declined. Of the five cars left to qualify, Bob Harkey ran the fastest speed at 173.963 mph. Jan Opperman was second fastest at 172.678 mph while Larry Dickson earned the last spot at 171.054. Bill Puterbaugh and Bobby Olivero failed to qualify for the race.https://www.newspapers.com/clip/35298408/1976-pocono-500/ Philadelphia Inquirer Pennsylvania Associated Press Harkey Protests Lottery For Pocono 500 Berths June 25, 1976 35 Race Indianapolis Motor Speedway owner, Tony Hulman, annually gave the command to start engines at Pocono. However, due to an illness, Hulman sent his 16 year-old grandson, Tony George, to deliver the command in his place. As this was the first time a woman competed in a 500 mile Indy car race, there were questions over whether the traditional "gentlemen start your engines" command would be given, or changed to include Guthrie. George delivered the traditional command as instructed by his grandfather. Pocono track owner, Joseph Mattioli, later recalled, "all the women wanted to kill him. And I found out later, that's what Tony Hulman told him to say." Seeking his first win at Pocono, Mario Andretti from third on the grid, got a fast start and beat Johnny Parsons and Bill Vukovich into turn one to take the lead. Eldon Rasmussen brought out the caution flag on lap one when he hit the turn two wall. Rasmussen was able to continue.https://www.racing-reference.info/race-results/1976_Schaefer_500/UO/ Race Results - Racing-Reference Janet Guthrie pulled into the pits under caution on lap three with a loose windshield. Guthrie was plagued by mechanical problems with the engine repeatedly overheating and the clutch failed. Guthrie retired after completing 89 laps when the crew discovered the transmission case was broken. Guthrie finished 24th and earned $4,210. As she walked back to the garage, spectators gave her a standing ovation.https://www.newspapers.com/clip/35298562/1976-pocono-500/ Philadelphia Inquirer Pennsylvania Associated Press Janet Guthrie Finished 24th June 28, 1976 17 When the race restarted on lap seven after Rasmussen's crash, A.J. Foyt took the lead, going for his second consecutive at Pocono. On lap 17, Salt Walther suffered a pit fire caused by a fuel leak. His crew spent 40 laps repairing the car. Al Unser climbed from his 16th starting spot and took the lead from Foyt in turn one on lap 19.https://www.newspapers.com/clip/35298562/1976-pocono-500/ Philadelphia Inquirer Pennsylvania Associated Press Unser triumphs in Pocono 500 June 28, 1976 17 After leading 12 laps, AJ Foyt blew an engine in turn two on lap 31 and retired from the race. On lap 58, Unser experienced a long pit stop when the pneumatic jacks on his car failed and the crew needed to use a mechanical jack. On lap 76, Unser cut a tire on the frontstretch and had to limp around track. Unser fell nearly two laps behind the leaders.https://www.newspapers.com/clip/35298562/1976-pocono-500/ Philadelphia Inquirer Pennsylvania Associated Press Unser triumphs in Pocono 500 June 28, 1976 17 While Al Unser had problems, Mario Andretti led 45 laps. On lap 88, Al Loquasto spun in turn one to bring out a caution. Unser passed Andretti on lap 104 to get back on the lead lap. When John Martin blew an engine on lap 114, Unser was able to catch up to the cars on the lead lap. On lap 122, Unser passed Andretti to retake the lead. After the last pit stop with 22 laps to go, Andretti was in third position, and close behind Wally Dallenbach, when he broke a link on the sway bar and caused a poor handling car. With two laps remaining, Andretti entered the pits with a burned piston and finished fifth with only 198 laps completed.https://www.newspapers.com/clip/35298562/1976-pocono-500/ Philadelphia Inquirer Pennsylvania Associated Press Unser triumphs in Pocono 500 June 28, 1976 17 Unser beat Mike Mosley by 3.4 seconds to claim his first Pocono 500 win. Unser led 109 laps and took home $84,360 in purse money.https://www.racing-reference.info/race-results/1976_Schaefer_500/UO/ Race Results - Racing-Reference Unser's win was the first victory for the eight-cylinder Cosworth DFX engine, which would soon dominate Indy car racing over the next several years. Box score FinishGridNo Car numberNameEntrantChassisEngineLapsTime/StatusLed Laps ledPoints 1 16 21 USA Al Unser Vel's Parnelli Jones Racing Parnelli VPJ6B Cosworth DFX 200 3:28:52.880 109 1000 2 6 12 USA Mike Mosley Jerry O'Connell Racing Eagle Offenhauser 200 +3.400 14 800 3 14 40 USA Wally Dallenbach Patrick Racing Wildcat Mk2 DGS 200 Running 7 700 4 15 2 USA Johnny Rutherford Team McLaren McLaren M16E Offenhauser 200 Running 1 600 5 3 6 USA Mario Andretti Penske Racing McLaren M16C/D Offenhauser 198 Flagged 45 500 6 12 36 USA Roger McCluskey James Bidwell McLaren Offenhauser 198 Flagged 0 400 7 13 68 USA Tom Sneva Penske Racing McLaren M16C/D Offenhauser 197 Flagged 0 300 8 11 92 USA Steve Krisiloff Vatis Enterprises Eagle Offenhauser 196 Flagged 0 250 9 25 23 USA George Snider Leader Card Racers Eagle Offenhauser 195 Flagged 0 200 10 4 17 USA Dick Simon Vollstedt Enterprises Vollstedt Offenhauser 195 Flagged 0 150 11 33 44 USA Larry Dickson Dick Simon Racing Eagle Foyt 188 Flagged 0 100 12 31 96 USA Bob Harkey J. C. Agajanian King Offenhauser 187 Flagged 0 50 13 28 65 USA Lee Kunzman Pat Santello Eagle Offenhauser 186 Flagged 0 0 14 7 48 USA Pancho Carter All American Racers Eagle Offenhauser 183 Suspension 8 0 15 9 86 USA Al Loquasto Loquasto Racing McLaren Offenhauser 183 Flagged 0 0 16 24 63 USA Larry McCoy James Bidwell Rascar Offenhauser 159 Flagged 0 0 17 20 8 USA Todd Gibson Routh Meat Packaging Eagle Offenhauser 156 Oil leak 0 0 18 30 77 USA Salt Walther Dayton-Walther McLaren M16C/D Offenhauser 151 Flagged 0 0 19 32 42 USA Jan Opperman Mergard Racing Eagle Offenhauser 145 Flagged 0 0 20 26 58 CAN Eldon Rasmussen Rasmussen Racing Rascar Offenhauser 115 Brakes 0 0 21 17 98 USA John Martin J. C. Agajanian King Offenhauser 113 Engine 00 22 1 93 USA Johnny Parsons Vatis Enterprises Eagle Offenhauser 110 Valve 0 0 23 29 38 USA Bill Simpson Bill Simpson Eagle Offenhauser 93 Gearbox 0 0 24 22 27 USA Janet Guthrie Vollstedt Enterprises Vollstedt Offenhauser 89 Gearbox 0 0 25 18 19 USA Spike Gehlhausen Carl Gehlhausen McLaren M16 Offenhauser 74 Engine 0 0 26 2 5 USA Bill Vukovich II Alex Morales Motorsports Eagle Offenhauser 60 Gear 0 0 27 8 20 USA Gordon Johncock Patrick Racing Wildcat Mk2 DGS 54 Engine 4 0 28 27 97 USA Sheldon Kinser J. C. Agajanian King Offenhauser 47 Overheating 0 0 29 19 24 USA Tom Bigelow Leader Card Racers Eagle Offenhauser 43 Ignition 0 0 30 23 69 USA Larry Cannon Hoffman Racing Eagle Offenhauser 37 Piston 0 0 31 5 14 USA A. J. Foyt A. J. Foyt Enterprises Coyote Foyt 31 Engine 12 0 32 10 3 USA Bobby Unser Fletcher Racing Team Eagle Offenhauser 25 Piston 0 0 33 21 45 USA Gary Bettenhausen Don Gerhardt Eagle Offenhauser 16 Steering 0 0 Source:1976 Schaefer 5001976 Pocono 500 - Round 5 Broadcasting For the first time, the Pocono 500 was broadcast by CBS Sports Spectacular, aired six days after the race, on July 3. The broadcasting team was Ken Squier, David Hobbs, and Ned Jarrett reporting from the pits.https://ibb.co/5sQBr6r https://web.archive.org/web/20230508213341/https://ibb.co/5sQBr6r usurped May 8, 2023 Charlotte News North Carolina Associated Press Pocono Race, Diving Air on Spectacular July 3, 1976 14D References 2 Category:Pocono 500 Pocono 500 Pocono 500