1983 Indianapolis 500 1983 Indianapolis 500 The 67th Indianapolis 500 was held at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Speedway, Indiana on Sunday, May 29, 1983. After finishing second three times (1977, 1978, 1980), winning the pole position twice (1977–1978), and being the fastest qualifier one additional time (1981), Tom Sneva finally shook his "bridesmaid" status and won his first Indianapolis 500. The win also represented the record seventh Indy victory that chief mechanic George Bignotti was involved with. In the final twenty laps, three-time winner Al Unser Sr. was leading Tom Sneva. Unser was seeking his record-tying fourth Indy victory. His son, rookie
Indianapolis 500 firsts Program"<br> "2006 Indianapolis 500-Mile Race Program" Indianapolis 500 firsts †- During time trials, Bill Vukovich II turned his first lap at , to set the one-lap track record, and was the first driver to officially break the barrier. He, however, crashed on his second lap, and did not complete the four-lap qualifying run. Later in the afternoon, Joe Leonard qualified a four-lap average of to break the four-lap barrier. Later in the day, however, Bobby Unser qualified even faster, over , and became the first pole position winner to break and for his four-lap average. "Indianapolis 500 Chronicle", John Pope,