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The 57th Indianapolis 500 was held at Indianapolis on Wednesday, May 30, 1973. The race was held over three days due to rain and 2 major accidents. After 133 laps (332.5 miles), rain halted the race, and Gordon Johncock was declared the winner.

Miserable weather plagued the track throughout the month, and delayed the race for two and a half days. Accidents during the month and during the race took the lives of three competitors (two drivers and one crew member), and injured several spectators. Due to the tragic circumstances, weather problems, rain-shortened finish, and overall glum mood during the month, the 1973 race is widely considered the worst year for the running of the Indianapolis 500.

Race schedule[]

Race schedule — April/May, 1973
Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat
22
 
23
 
24
 
25
 
26
 
27
 
28
Opening Day
29
Practice
30
Practice
1
Practice
2
Practice
3
Practice
4
Practice
5
Practice
6
Practice
7
Practice
8
Practice
9
Practice
10
Practice
11
Practice
12
Pole Day
13
Time Trials
14
Practice
15
Practice
16
Practice
17
Practice
18
Practice
19
Time Trials
20
Bump Day
21
 
22
 
23
 
24
Carb Day
25
 
26
Parade
27
Meeting
28
Indy 500
29
Indy 500
30
Indy 500
31
 

 

 
Color Notes
Green Practice
Dark Blue Time trials
Silver Race day
Red Rained out*
Blank No track activity

* Includes days where track activity
was significantly limited due to rain

Practice and time trials[]

Just one year prior, USAC began allowing bolt-on wings. The increased downforce increased qualifying speeds nearly 30 miles per hour in just three years. The dramatic rise went from 170 mph in 1970, to flirting with the 200 mph barrier for 1973. Experts and officials agree that the safety features in the cars were not prepared for the speeds attained. In addition, engine development with the turbocharged version of the venerable four-cylinder Offenhauser had resulted in horsepower readings in high-boost qualifying trim in excess of 1,100 h.p. According to Mario Andretti, this was sufficient to induce rear wheelspin on the 1/8-mile "short chutes" between turns 1 and 2 and turns 3 and 4—an unnerving sensation for even the bravest, most skilled and experienced of drivers.

During practice on pole day, Art Pollard was killed in a crash in turn 2.

Johnny Rutherford won the pole position with a new 4-lap track record of 198.413 mph. His third lap of 199.071 mph was a one-lap track record, and was 0.21 seconds shy of breaking the elusive 200 mph barrier. Rutherford acknowledged later that the memory of Pollard's accident prevented him from making a truly concerted effort to break the 200 mph mark.

Race running[]

Monday May 28[]

In 1971, the Uniform Monday Holiday Act took effect, moving Memorial Day from the fixed date of May 30 to the final Monday in May. For 1971-1972, the race was scheduled for the Saturday of Memorial Day weekend. The Speedway still maintained a policy of not holding the race on Sunday. For 1973, the race was scheduled for the Monday Memorial Day holiday itself.

On Monday, morning rain delayed the proceedings until 3 p.m. At the start, an 11-car accident stopped the race immediately. Salt Walther's car climbed into the catch fence, sending burning fuel into the grandstand, injuring 11 spectators. Walther's car also significantly damaged portions of the fence. As the front of Walther's car dug into the fence, the front of the car was torn off and Walther's legs were exposed as the car spun, upside down and on fire, down the front straight, coming to rest near the pit exit. Walther suffered severe burns and injuries to his hands. The race was red-flagged, and the start was negated. Safety crews attended to the crash scene, and the fence. Before the repairs were completed, rain began to fall once more, and the race was washed out for the day. Officials rescheduled the start for 9:00 a.m. Tuesday.

Tuesday May 29[]

On Tuesday May 29, rain fell in the morning, delaying the start until 10:15 a.m. All cars that were involved in the crash Monday were allowed to make repairs. Salt Walther, however, was seriously injured and withdrew.

The 32 remaining cars fired, and pulled away for the parade laps. On the second parade lap, rain began to fall, and the track was red-flagged. The cars were halted on the main stretch to wait out the shower. Rain continued to fall most of the day, and around 2:00 p.m., the race was postponed until Wednesday.

Fans began to leave the grounds, and after two days of revelry, the infield was overwhelmed with mud and garbage.

Wednesday May 30[]

On Wednesday, morning rains threatened to wash the race out once again. Most fans had left entirely, and the mood around the garage area was glum. At midday, the sun finally came out for a few hours, the track dried, and the race was finally started at 2:10 p.m. The grandstands were only partially-full as the field took the green flag.

On the 57th lap, Swede Savage made a pit stop. His car was filled with 70 gallons (500 lb.) of fuel and a new right rear tire. Two laps later, he lost control as he exited turn four. His car twitched back and forth, and then slid across to the inside of the track at nearly top speed. It hit the angled inside wall nearly head-on. The force of the impact, with the car carrying a full load of fuel, caused the car to explode in a plume of flame. The force of the fuel exploding was so great that some structural rivets were blown rearward out of the car. The engine and transaxle tumbled end-over-end to the pit lane entrance while Savage, still strapped in his seat, was thrown back across the circuit. Savage came to rest adjacent to the outer retaining wall, fully conscious and completely exposed while he lay in a pool of flaming methanol fuel. The other cars on the track quickly stopped in turn four and the red flag came out. The track was blocked with debris and fire.

The race was halted at 3:05 p.m., and track crew rushed to Savage's aid. Moments later, 22-year-old Armando Teran, a crew member of Graham McRae's team (Savage's Patrick Racing teammate) stepped out into the pit lane and began running toward Savage's wreck. As he did, a fire truck driving 50-60 mph northbound in the pits, heading for the crash scene, struck Teran and threw him at least 50 feet. Teran died within minutes from his injuries. Savage was taken to the hospital with serious injures, but was in stable condition. Over an hour after the accident, the race was resumed.

After witnessing the crash, George Snider decided to step out of the car, and turned it over to A. J. Foyt, his car owner, who had retired earlier. Attrition had already taken quite a toll on the field. As the race passed the 101-lap mark, it became official. Only 11 cars were still running, with most many laps behind. Track officials began assembling victory lane, as dark skies were looming, and the race was not expected to go the entire distance.

On the 129th lap a light rain began to fall, and the yellow light came out with Gordon Johncock, another of Savage's Patrick Racing/STP teammates, leading. Only ten cars were still on the track. After 133 laps, at about 5:30 p.m., the rain started to fall much harder, forcing the race to be stopped. A short time later, officials declared the race official, and the tragic race was over with Johncock the winner. The traditional victory banquet was canceled, and the victory celebration was muted. Johncock left the track soon after the race to visit Swede Savage at the hospital. Later in the evening, the lowly day was summed up as a tired Johncock and crew had a "victory dinner" which consisted of a hamburger at Burger King.

Aftermath[]

On July 2, Savage died in the hospital from complications arising from his injuries and treatment. Savage contracted Hepatitis B from a transfusion, causing liver failure.

Sweeping changes would come about in Indycar racing at Indianapolis the following year, all in the interest of safety. Fuel capacity was drastically reduced (from 75 gallons to 40), the large wings used in 1972-1973 were cut back in size, and pop-off valves were introduced to the turbochargers to reduce horsepower. The changes were designed to slow the cars down. At the track, several changes were made. The angled inside wall at the northwest corner of the track (which had also played a role in the Dave MacDonald/Eddie Sachs double-fatality in 1964) was removed, and the pit entrance was widened. Retaining walls and catch fences were improved around the track. In addition, the spectator areas were moved back away from the track, and many rows of "trackside" seats were removed. There was not another on-track fatality at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway until 1982.

Savage's death was the last race-day competitor fatality from a crash during an IMS race (not testing, practice, or qualifying) until the 2010 Red Bull Indianapolis Grand Prix for the USGPRU (600cc 4-stroke Moto2) motorcycles.

Box score[]

Finish Start No Name Qual Rank Laps Led Status
1 11 20 25px USA Gordon Johncock 192.555 13 133 64 Running
2 16 2 25px USA Bill Vukovich II 191.103 20 133 0 Running
3 14 3 25px USA Roger McCluskey 191.929 17 131 0 Flagged
4 19 19 25px USA Mel Kenyon 190.224 25 131 0 Flagged
5 5 5 25px USA Gary Bettenhausen 195.599 5 130 0 Flagged
6 7 24 25px USA Steve Krisiloff 194.932 7 129 0 Flagged
7 25 16 25px USA Lee Kunzman 193.092 11 127 0 Flagged
8 24 89 25px USA John Martin 194.385 9 124 0 Flagged
9 1 7 25px USA Johnny Rutherford 198.413 1 124 0 Flagged
10 21 98 25px USA Mike Mosley 189.753 28 120 0 Rod Bolt
11 22 73 25px Great Britain David Hobbs 189.454 30 107 0 Flagged
12 30 84 25px USA George Snider
(relieved by Foyt)
190.355 23 101 0 Gearbox
13 2 8 25px USA Bobby Unser 198.183 2 100 39 Blown Engine
14 27 44 25px USA Dick Simon 191.276 19 100 0 Piston
15 3 66 25px USA Mark Donohue 197.412 3 92 0 Piston
16 13 60 25px New Zealand Graham McRae 192.030 15 91 0 Header
17 26 6 25px USA Mike Hiss 191.939 16 91 0 Drive Train
18 29 1 25px USA Joe Leonard 189.953 27 91 0 Wheel
19 18 48 25px USA Jerry Grant 190.235 24 77 0 Blown Engine
20 8 4 25px USA Al Unser 194.879 8 75 18 Piston
21 9 21 25px USA Jimmy Caruthers 194.217 10 73 0 Suspension
22 4 40 25px USA Swede Savage 196.582 4 57 12 Fatal Crash T4
23 33 35 25px USA Jim McElreath 188.640 33 54 0 Blown Engine
24 20 62 25px USA Wally Dallenbach, Sr. 190.200 26 48 0 Broken Rod
25 23 14 25px USA A.J. Foyt 188.927 32 37 0 Rod Bolt
26 28 30 25px USA Jerry Karl 190.799 21 22 0 Flagged
27 15 18 25px USA Lloyd Ruby 191.622 18 21 0 Piston
28 32 9 25px USA Sammy Sessions 188.986 31 17 0 Out of Oil
29 31 28 25px USA Bob Harkey 189.734 29 12 0 Seized Engine
30 6 11 25px USA Mario Andretti 195.059 6 4 0 Piston
31 10 15 25px USA Peter Revson 192.607 12 3 0 Crash T4
32 12 12 25px USA Bobby Allison 192.308 14 1 0 Rod
33 17 77 25px USA Salt Walther 190.739 22 0 0 Crash FS

See also[]

1972 Indianapolis 500
Mark Donohue
1973 Indianapolis 500
Gordon Johncock
1974 Indianapolis 500
Johnny Rutherford


Indianapolis 500 seasons

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