The 63rd running of the Indianapolis 500 took place at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Sunday, May 27, 1979, under conditions that mixed high drama on and off the track with competitive racing on it. After a month of controversy surrounding the split between the United States Auto Club and the newly formed CART series, nearly all of the top teams and drivers came together for the 500‑mile event, which remained sanctioned by USAC and was part of the 1979 USAC National Championship. Despite the governance dispute earlier in the month that required a court injunction to allow CART‑affiliated entries, the race itself proceeded amid intense competition. Second‑year driver Rick Mears of Penske Racing, starting from the pole position, worked his way through the field and took the lead with 18 laps remaining, ultimately winning the race at an average speed of just under 159 miles per hour. Mears’ victory marked the first of his four Indianapolis 500 wins and was also the first Indy 500 victory for a driver born after World War II. Veteran A.J. Foyt finished second, showing his enduring competitiveness, and Mike Mosley took third place after completing all 200 laps. Brothers Al and Bobby Unser dominated much of the early and middle stages of the race, combining to lead the majority of laps, but Al retired before the finish and Bobby faded to fifth as mechanical issues slowed his Penske entry. The month of May drew significant attention both for the racing and for the off‑track disagreements between sanctioning bodies, but on race day the focus shifted to the speed and strategy that define “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing,” with a large crowd in attendance and memorable performances throughout the field.
