Rear-engined roadsters, early turbo boost and a series still run by USAC: this decade crowned some champions twice and left others one Indy win short of legend.
1A.J. FoytTexan legend who won the 1975 and 1979 USAC titles and became the first four-time Indianapolis 500 winner in 1977.1000pts
2Rick MearsYoung Penske star who won the 1979 Indianapolis 500 and the inaugural CART championship that year.679pts
3Al UnserWon back-to-back Indianapolis 500s in 1970 and 1971, the 1970 USAC title and a third Indy win in 1978.555pts
4Johnny RutherfordMcLaren driver who won the Indianapolis 500 in 1974 and again in 1976.555pts
5Bobby UnserDominant Eagle driver who took the 1974 USAC championship and won the 1975 Indianapolis 500.0pts
6Tom SnevaPenske driver who won back-to-back USAC titles in 1977 and 1978 and broke the 200 mph barrier at Indianapolis.0pts
7Mark DonohueEngineer-driver who gave Roger Penske his first Indianapolis 500 win in 1972.0pts
8Mario AndrettiFormer USAC champion who kept winning Indy car races through the decade while chasing Formula One glory.0pts
9Danny OngaisFearless Hawaiian who won five races for Interscope in 1978, the most of any driver that season.0pts
Photo credits
- A.J. Foyt — SarahStierch, CC BY 4.0
- Rick Mears — Zach Catanzareti Photo, CC BY 2.0
- Al Unser — Zach Catanzareti Photo, CC BY 2.0
- Johnny Rutherford — Ted Van Pelt from Mechanicsburg, PA, USA, CC BY 2.0
- Bobby Unser — SarahStierch, CC BY 4.0
- Tom Sneva — Ted Van Pelt, CC BY 2.0
- Mark Donohue — Gillfoto, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Mario Andretti — United Autosports, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Danny Ongais — Ted Van Pelt from Mechanicsburg, PA, USA, CC BY 2.0
