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
Sports History On This Day: August 30
August 30, 1904 – Perhaps the main staple of the Olympics from ancient Greece carried
Sports History On This Day: August 29
August 29, 1967 – The New York Yankees and the Boston Red Sox have been
“One Play” McAfee Still Holds NFL Record Nearly 80 Years Later
Every so often, an NFL team strikes gold with a draft choice. In 2022,
Sports History On This Day: August 28
August 28, 1884 – Baseball pitcher “Smiling “Mickey Welsh made MLB history by setting a
![Ty Cobb & Christy Mathewson, New York, NL during World Series (baseball)[1911] from the Bain News Service](https://sportshistorynetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Ty_Cobb__Christy_Mathewson_1911-300x267.jpg)
Sports History On This Day: August 27
August 27, 1918 – Talk about putting one’s country above self, and sacrificing. Baseball legend, Christy
3 Famous Boxing Matches Believed to Have Been Rigged
Boxing has seen its fair share of controversy over the years. Among the most
Sports History On This Day: August 26
August 26, 1938 – Montreal Maroons were dropped from the NHL. The franchise started up
Sports History On This Day: August 25
August 25, 1968 – It was a pinnacle moment in sports history. Arthur Ashe became