1976 Indianapolis 500

The 1976 Indianapolis 500 was held at Indianapolis on Sunday, May 30, 1976.

Rain stopped the race on lap 102. Two hours later, the race was about to be restarted, but the rain fell again. Officials called the race at that point and Johnny Rutherford was declared the winner. Rutherford walked to Victory Lane, having completed only 255 miles (410 km), the shortest official race on record. It was also the third 500 in four years to have been shortened by rain. Later in the year, the entire track was repaved in asphalt, the first time the entire track had been repaved at once since 1909. The yard of bricks at the start/finish line still remains from the original surface. Longtime Voice of the 500 Sid Collins called his final race, as he committed suicide eleven months later.

Janet Guthrie became the first female driver to enter the Indy 500, but experienced numerous mechanical and engine problems during the month. She was unable to pass her rookie test until the second week of practice, but finally got her car up to sufficient speed. She practiced in A. J. Foyt's back-up car on the morning of final day of time trials, but the day ended without her making an attempt to qualify. She instead flew to Charlotte and drove in the NASCAR World 600.

Race results
Failed to qualify: Ed Crombie (#67), Larry Dickson (#65), Bill Engelhart (#44), Janet Guthrie (#1, #17, #27), Mike Hiss (#11), Jim Hurtubise (#56), Jerry Karl (#8), Mel Kenyon (#61), Lee Kunzman (#65), John Mahler (#19, #91, #92), Jim McElreath (#65, #76), Ed Miller (#46), Rick Muther (#99), Bobby Olivero (#78), Eldon Rasmussen (#58), Bill Simpson (#38)

Notes: The race was stopped on lap 103 due to rain (which had begun falling on lap 101). Two hours later, the race was about to be restarted but rain started to fall again. Officials at that point called off the race, and reverted scoring back to the completion of the 102nd lap. It is the shortest race in history, and just one lap past the minimum distance of 101 laps.