May 26, 1974 – The words “Gentlemen start your engines,” was declared for the first time on a Sunday schedule at the Indianapolis 500. The Indy car race had traditionally been conducted on May 30 regardless of the week for almost 60 years prior.
In the great race at the old brickyard, it was Johnny Rutherford claiming the first of his three Indy victories. It got a little hairy for the racer though when oil from A.J. Foyt’s open-wheel racer flew back and landed on Rutherford’s windshield with 150 laps remaining making visibility extremely challenging for the driver.
Want to learn about Indy Car racing from a first-hand account? Listen to the Tim Coffeen Talks Indy car and Racing History podcast here on the Sports History Network.
To find more great daily sports history make sure to check out the Sports Jersey Dispatch and Pigskin Dispatch.
More From Sports History Network
The Evolution of Prediction: From Ancient Gambling to FanDuel Predict
A Modern Take on a Long Tradition of Sports Forecasting Image by David from
The Result No One Expected Is Usually Built Earlier Than It Looks
A true upset does not feel surprising only because the underdog wins. It lands
FIFA World Cup’s Worst Ever Cases of Inter-Squad Turmoil
The 2026 FIFA World Cup is fast approaching, and while excitement levels are ramping
The 2026 Transfer Window Sparks Early Attention
Off-season activity in soccer during 2026 keeps showing familiar patterns: big-name transfers, shifts in
How Online Sportsbooks Have Changed the Way Fans Experience Games
Sports have always been about moments, but the way fans experience those moments has
The Oakland Raiders Depth at Tight End During the 1970s
The Oakland Raiders experienced a good degree of glory during the 1970s, as they
What Happened the First Time Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo Played at the FIFA World Cup?
The upcoming World Cup will be a monumental one for plenty of reasons. But
The Role of Podcasts in Preserving Sports History for New Generations
Remember the old VHS tapes gathering dust in basements? Those bulky cassettes holding grainy