1977

INDIANAPOLIS 500

“The Glorious Fourth”

Produced by Championship Racefilms for Goodyear, “The Glorious Fourth” tells and shows the story of the month of May 1977 at Indy, culminating with the spectacular classic on Race Day. Narrated by Bud Lindemann, this film gives visual emphasis to the Foyt-Gilmore Racing team, with three-time Indy winner A. J. Foyt and his quest for an unprecedented 4th victory at the Indianapolis 500. The film begins highlighting each of Foyt’s prior wins capped by his 1967 triumph when he joined the select circle of three-time winners Louis Meyer, Wilbur Shaw and Mauri Rose. By this time, Foyt had crossed the bridge from driving front engine roadsters to rear engine cars and had won Indy three times in just seven years! Always a tough competitor, he became known as a “hard drivin’ two-fisted Texas Man”. But in the ten years that followed, Foyt endured frustration and disappointment. He won the pole for Indy in 1965, ’69, ’74 and ’75, and as a top driver, set the pace for others to follow wherever he raced. Then, on May 29th, 1977, he finally won his 4th Indianapolis 500, something no one else had ever done! This film tells the story of A.J. Foyt and that historic 1977 Indy 500.

Leading up to qualifying day, there’s talk of a 200 MPH lap – no one’s ever officially turned one! On the luck of the draw A.J. Foyt is first out to qualify, but his run is a disappointing 193 (he’d been faster in practice), but he’ll still be starting near the front. Third qualifier is Al Unser, one of the favorites at 195.950 MPH. The fifth qualifying attempt is by Bobby Unser (he and brother Al will both be trying for their third Indy win), and Bobby posts a 197.618. Tom Sneva is next and fans with stopwatches before the end of his first lap already know he’s done it – the first official 200 MPH lap! His next lap is even faster and the ex-school teacher finishes with a pole-winning 198.884! Race fan Phil Hedback is shown pouring 200 silver dollars into Sneva’s helmet in honor of his milestone accomplishment! Tom Bigelow’s qualifying spin down the south short chute is shown. Gordon Johncock in the red North American Van Lines #20 qualifies at over 195. Danny Ongais qualifies 7th at 193.040. Later in his second qualifying attempt, Steve Krisiloff spins and smacks the turn one wall. Krisiloff had made a mess of Bill Finley’s red #93, but was unhurt. On Sunday afternoon, Clay Regazzoni in the red #38 Theodore Racing SPL presents the most spectacular crash of the month. Losing control off turn three, he slides 300 feet across the north chute, spinning once into the grass. The car then hits the earth bank and the infield fence catches his rear wing, twisting the car violently around and throwing the car to the ground right-side up! The car is demolished and Clay is dazed, but unhurt and eventually qualifies 29th. Al Unser is driving a backup car and is shown hitting a car part on the track at over 200 MPH near turn three. Other than a pair of bruised knees as he limped off the track, Al was OK, but the car was junk. Jerry Grant’s incident with a broken gearbox is shown. Larry Dickson’s turn three crash in #80 is also shown, along with the car on the back of a wrecker later. Billy Vukovich qualifies Foyt’s Gilmore #84 at 186.393, and he’ll start 23rd. But the big story of the month is Janet Guthrie, who qualifies the apple-green and white #27 Bryant Heating and Cooling special at 188.403 – The first woman ever to qualify to race in the Indianapolis 500!

On Raceday you’ll see race preparation – morning garage scenes with Janet Guthrie and others in Gasoline Alley, flagman Pat Vidan placing his flags at the flag stand, etc. As fans by the thousands continue to pour in, the Purdue band makes its annual appearance and as cars are pushed to the starting grid you’ll see those of Foyt, Johncock, Al and Bobby Unser, Pancho Carter, Jerry Sneva, Mario Andretti and last year’s winner Johnny Rutherford. “Back Home Again” is sung, the balloons are released and speedway owner Tony Hulman says, “In accompany with, the first lady ever, to qualify at Indianapolis, Gentlemen, Start Your Engines”!

It’s a hot, muggy day and with driver James Garner at the wheel, the Oldsmobile Delta 88 pace car pulls off and the race is on! Al Unser noses out Tom Sneva and Andretti into the first turn to take the lead with Foyt, Johncock and Bobby Unser following in that order. On lap 18 Johncock passes Al and four laps later Foyt leads for two. Johnny Rutherford is the first driver out (gearbox failure) and in the terrific heat and humidity, others soon follow: Sheldon Kinser (engine failure), Regazzoni has a bad fuel leak and on lap 15 Janet Guthrie makes the first of her eight pit stops for a sick engine. The lead passes from George Snider to Vukovich to Foyt by the 125-mile mark of the race. Eldon Rasmussen spins the yellow #58 Rent-A-Racer machine, but continues on to an eventual finish of 13th. Eighteen-year veteran Lloyd Ruby is lucky but not so fortunate, however. He spins out in the south chute and smacks the turn two wall hard, destroying the car in the most fiery and spectacular crash of the race! After 47 laps Andretti is sidelined with a broken header. George Snider exits after 65 laps with a dropped valve. Danny Ongais is out after 90 laps and four laps later Bobby Unser exits with an oil leak. You’ll see pit stops by Tom Sneva and Foyt at this point, then Billy Vukovich is out with a broken rod and Pancho Carter blows his engine after running three-quarters of the race. Meanwhile Johncock and Foyt have been the strongest contenders all day with Gordy leading most of the laps. At lap 180 Johncock makes his last pit stop and second-place Foyt goes into the lead. Foyt also must pit soon and comes in three laps later, as Johncock takes the lead back. When Foyt storms out, he has only 16 laps to catch Gordy! But on lap 184 Johncock’s engine gives up – he’s slowing coming down the front straightaway and pulls off into the grass in turn one as Foyt passes him to take the lead and later win the race! Pole-winner Tom Sneva finishes second and Al Unser third. Foyt is a happy 4-time winner and Tony Hulman is the first to greet A. J. as #14 is pushed up the ramp into Victory Lane! Later, Hulman and Foyt ride together in the Olds 88 pace car around the track as thousands of fans cheer Foyt on his popular victory!

To get your own 26-minute DVD of this historic film, send only $29.95 plus $4.50 shipping. (Illinois residents must add $2.30 state sales tax).