1968 Indianapolis 500

Time Trials
1968 was the second and eventually the final year the controversial turbine cars were running in the 1968 race classic. Turbine cars were entered by STP (the Lotus 56 and STP-Paxton Turbocar) and by Carroll Shelby. USAC had imposed revised regulations regarding the maximum inlet size (reduced from 23.999 square inches to 15.999 square inches) that the turbine cars could have, to limit their power output. The Shelby cars were found to be getting around this regulation by the use of variable inlet doors and were disqualified. In qualifications, Graham Hill the 1966 champion in the #70 STP Lotus 56 is first to qualify, and sets a new qualifying record. Later, his STP Lotus 56 teammate Joe Leonard in #60 wins the pole position with a speed of 171.559 mi/h.

Race Day
At the drop of the green flag, Joe Leonard in the #60 STP Turbine leaps in the lead, with Bobby Unser in second and Roger McCluskey up to third at the end of lap 1. After only nine laps, Jim Hurtubise in the PepsiCo Frito-lay special has burned a piston, and is out, finishing 30th. About this time, Bobby Unser is now hard after Leonard, and at the end of the main straightway he passes to take the lead. On lap 41, the caution flag flies for the first time when Al Unser loses a wheel and hits the first-turn wall, with Arnie Knepper and Gary Bettenhausen also involved. After 200 mi, A.J. Foyt is out with a blown engine and the defending champion's bid for his 4th Indy win is over for this year. After 110 laps, Graham Hill loses a wheel and smashes into the turn two wall, bringing out the second caution. On lap 127, Mel Kenyon and rookie Billy Vukovich tangle in turn four. Both are able to re-enter the race, but Johnny Rutherford, trying to slow down, is rear-ended by Jim McElreath. Mike Mosley also loses it in turn four trying to avoid the mess.

When Bobby Unser makes his last pit stop, his car is stuck in high gear. As he leaves his pit struggling to reach racing speed, both Leonard and Ruby pass him. With only 16 laps to go, Joe Leonard still has the #60 turbine in first place, but on the backstretch, Carl Williams hits the wall, bringing out the final caution. After cleanup, the green waves on the 191st lap. At that instant, both leader Joe Leonard in STP turbine #60 and teammate Art Pollard in STP turbine #20 lurch—and instantly slow with identical snapped fuel pump drive shafts. Unser sweeps by into the lead with Dan Gurney inheriting second place. With a nearly full-lap lead, Bobby Unser cruises the final 9 laps to win his first of eventually three Indianapolis 500 victories.

Results of the 1968 Indianapolis 500 held at Indianapolis on Thursday, May 30, 1968.

Topics

 * Jim Hurtubise became the last driver to qualify the race with a front engine roadster.
 * Much of the film of the race was used in the movie Winning starring Paul Newman.
 * Rain hampered most of the month. During qualifying, Bump Day (the final day of time trials) rain kept cars off the track until late in the evening. A handful of cars tooks runs into the night, but qualifying had to be halted due to darkness, with the field short of the traditional 33 cars. Time trials was pushed into a 5th day (Monday), and the field was finally filled to 33 cars.