[FishBurger]

My first, and due to a late decision to attend, we were lucky to pick up tickets for three seats on the backstretch :eek:. Yep, he said "backstretch". When you check the competitors below you will understand why, even with temporary grandstands (about 8 rows deep) all down the backstretch, this 12th annual race was a tough late ticket to grab. Originally scheduled for 9/19/64, we sat through a rain delay, after which they let anyone with a pit pass bring their wheels out of the parking lot to help iron in the muddy, rutted track. After some hot laps a driver vote was taken and we heard later that only Foyt and Marshman opted to run. It was rumored that the others were labeled "wimps and wussies" by some young wannabe promoter( :wink ). Anyway, it was postponed for a week. And here were the results:

LINEUP-----------------------FINISH - 1 Hour, 7 Min, 22 Sec. (89.06 mph)
-1 A.J. Foyt........................................1 - FQ at 34.99
17 Bobby Marshman.............................16
98 Parnelli Jones..................................17
-2 Rodger Ward....................................2
-5 Don Branson....................................3
-7 Mario Andretti..................................7
10 Johnny Rutherford............................18
-3 Ronnie Duman...................................6
51 Norm Hall........................................11
92 Bob Harkey.....................................13
18 Lloyd Ruby.......................................9
-8 Bobby Unser....................................15 - Relieved by Rutherford
97 Jud Larson.......................................4
27 Len Sutton......................................10 - Relieved by Marshman
19 Gordon Johncock..............................14
14 Joe Leonard.....................................12
16 Arnie Knepper....................................8
15 Bud Tinglestad...................................5

Also time trialing but missing the Show (only started 18):
35 Jim McElreath, 74 Dee Jones, and 95 Hal Rettberg

A couple of other notes:

+ We heard that after everyone had left on the rainout Saturday, someone got on the track in their street car and proceeded to kill himself hot lapping. Not being from Indy, and since this was before Al Gore invented the internet, I don't know if this was true.
+Full page ad in the program urging a vote for "continued prosperity" to elect Hartke (Senate), Branigin (Governor) and LBJ (President). Ad apparently worked. Bontrager, Ristine and Goldwater, also with a full page ad, were the GOP candidates.
+Indy area Ford dealers had an ad hawking the '64 Mustand for "Under $2,500".
+Hoosier 100 was broadcast live on 1430 WIRE-Radio.
+Ad for the New "Racing Pictorial" (best of it's kind ever IMO. A Mahoney and Crucean publication as I recall.
+Much more info on this race and other 1960's Championship Trail events in Dick Wallen's Roar from the 60's book which, as with all Wallen offerings, I highly recommend. That being the case, I don't know why I expended the effort and cyber space to dig out my program and make this post. Oh well, too late now. :doh:

One more note, on another thread there was mention of USAC Midget events at Cincinnati Gardens. I have recorded three such races should anyone here have interest. I have no life in the winter, so will post if you would like. :checkered: