The 1977 Indianapolis 500 Parade Lap
The 1977 Indianapolis 500 Parade Lap
The 1977 Indianapolis 500 Parade Lap
Posted on: January 27, 2011 | Comments(7) | Gasoline Alley Unplugged |
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the other first that year is the first woman to start the 500- Janet Guthrie
I was there starting my career as a professional photographer at age 17 and got a full sequence of Eldon Rasmussen’s harmless spin in T3
Awesome !! I WAS THERE !! My very first INDY 500 in person and have not missed one since !! From Houston , TX. and A J wins his 4th !! It was perfect !!
Man, what a weekend that was. I ordered eight tickets for the race but because I was an usher in my cousin’s wedding the day before the race I had to come over with a buddy of mine separate from the other group. Needless to say, we finally met up in our seats for the race the next day. We parked in a lot across from the main straightaway. I slept, or did the best I could to sleep, on the hood of my car. The night sky was mostly overcast but there was one, single star out. I swear, I wasn’t sedated. I’m not making this up. I told my buddy the next morning that because of seeing just that lone star a Texan was going to win the race. And then sitting in C stand and seeing Gordy’s engine hand grenade in front of us. I can still smell the burnt fluids from his car and the way the stands reverberated when Gordy pulled to the inside wall and A.J. took the lead.
The first thing that caught my eye in this picture is how close to the fence the Turn 1 seats are. I thought after 1973 that a buffer zone existed all the way around the track. I’d like to have one of those pace cars!
I have too many memories from 1977 to print here. Glad I got to see AJ & Mr. Hulman take that Victory Lap in the Pace Car, two great winners.
so many changes at the track since this photo….. the famous creek is now “under” the MotoGP track. formula 1
garages have been added. the scoring tower gave way to the new pagoda. I can barely see it in this photo, but the flagman’s pole has been redone. most of the trees that are visable in the infield at turn three have been removed. the cars are in great formation……unlike these days. the stands were PACKED. I hope the day returns when the stands are packed as they use to be. I have a great feeling that things are turning for open wheel racing……….can’t wait to be sitting in my seats up behind the start finish line in May…….. I love that place !!!
Rick
I was there too… my first race. It was hot and a blast!