1978 Indianapolis 500

The 1978 Indianapolis 500 was the 62nd running of “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing”. The event was held at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Indiana, United States on Sunday, 28 May 1978. Tom Sneva started on pole position and Al Unser was the race winner.

1978 Indianapolis 500 Race Result
Pos.No.DriverChassisEngineTireStartedLapsTotal TimeLaps LedStatusAvg. SpeedPrize Money
12Al UnserLolaCosworthGoodyear52003:05:54.99121Running161.363$290,364
21Tom SnevaPenskeCosworthGoodyear1200+8.093Running161.244$112,704
320Gordon JohncockWildcatDGSGoodyear61990Running$61,769
440Steve KrisiloffWildcatDGSGoodyear131985Running$39,504
56Wally DallenbachMcLarenCosworthGoodyear71950Running$35,632
648Bobby UnserEagleCosworthGoodyear191950Running$29,478
714A.J. FoytCoyoteFoytGoodyear201910Running$29,628
884George SniderCoyoteFoytGoodyear231910Running$25,818
951Janet GuthrieWildcatDGSGoodyear151900Running$24,115
1016Johnny ParsonsLightningOffenhauserGoodyear81860Running$26,129
1135Larry RiceLightningOffenhauserGoodyear301860Engine$24,276
127Mario AndrettiPenskeCosworthGoodyear331850Running$23,252
134Johnny RutherfordMcLarenCosworthGoodyear41800Running$31,805
1488Jerry KarlMcLarenOffenhauserGoodyear281760Running$20,930
1569Joe SaldanaEagleOffenhauserGoodyear241730Running$20,691
1698Gary BettenhausenKingfishOffenhauserGoodyear311470Engine$20,130
1778Mike MosleyLightningOffenhauserGoodyear251460Turbocharger$20,247
1825Danny OngaisParnelliCosworthGoodyear214571Blown engine$33,242
1917Dick SimonVollstedtOffenhauserGoodyear101380Wheel bearing$18,516
2026Jim McElreathEagleOffenhauserGoodyear261320Engine$19,119
2143Tom BigelowWildcatDGSGoodyear181070Rod$18,000
2280Larry DicksonPenskeCosworthGoodyear91040Oil pressure$22,659
2371Rick MearsPenskeCosworthGoodyear31030Engine$22,396
248Pancho CarterLightningCosworthGoodyear21920Header$20,262
2511Roger McCluskeyEagleAMCGoodyear11820Clutch$18,707
2639John MahlerEagleOffenhauserGoodyear17580Timing gear$16,330
2722Tom BagleyWatsonOffenhauserGoodyear14250Oil leak$16,281
2877Salt WaltherMcLarenCosworthGoodyear22240Clutch$16,560
2919Spike GehlhausenEagleOffenhauserGoodyear16230Accident$15,968
3047Phil ThreshieLightningOffenhauserGoodyear29220Oil pressure$15,705
3130Jerry SnevaMcLarenOffenhauserGoodyear32180Transmission$18,120
3224Sheldon KinserWatsonOffenhauserGoodyear12150Oil pressure$15,813
3329Cliff HuculMcLarenOffenhauserGoodyear2740Oil line$15,534