Legacy
Rutherford capped off a three-year stint with finishes of 1st-2nd-1st from 1974–1976, tied for the best in Indy history. It was equaled by Wilbur Shaw in 1937-1940 (1st-2nd-1st-1st), Al Unser, Sr. in 1970-1972 (1st-1st-2nd) and by Helio Castroneves in 2001-2003 (1st-1st-2nd).
As of 2012, the 1976 race is the shortest Indy 500 on record, completing only 102 laps (255 miles) out of the scheduled 200. By USAC rule, the race was required to complete 101 laps - one lap beyond the halfway point - to be considered official. It is also regarded as the "shortest" 500 mile race in a major U.S. series. Among other rain-shortened 500-mile races, the 2007 Pocono 500 went 106 laps (265 miles), the 2003 Daytona 500 went 109 laps (272.5 miles), and the 1987 Southern 500 went only 276 miles due to rain.
Read more about this topic: 1976 Indianapolis 500
Famous quotes containing the word legacy:
“What is popularly called fame is nothing but an empty name and a legacy from paganism.”
—Desiderius Erasmus (c. 1466–1536)