Bill Engelhart celebrates after winning the Hoosier Hundred at the Indiana State Fairgrounds.
Indianapolis, Ind. (September 9, 1978) — Billy Engelhart won the battle, but Pancho Carter won the war.
Engelhart slipped past Rich Vogler with 10 laps remaining Saturday to capture the United States Auto Club's Hoosier Hundred dirt car race and a first-prize of $14,000.
But Carter, who finished a disappointing ninth, still clinched the USAC division championship when Gary Bettenhausen wound up third in the race. Had Bettenhausen won, he would have edged Carter by four points for the USAC title.
“I was really helpless to do much about it,” said Carter, who completed 99 of the 100 laps on the Indianapolis Fairgrounds’ one-mile dirt oval.
“I’m not sure why, but we just couldn’t get the chassis hooked up with the ground all day. We just ran good enough to get the championship.”
Carter became the first driver ever to win USAC national titles in three open-wheel divisions. He won the 1972 midget car crown, then took two sprint car titles (1974 and ’76).
Engelhart took the green flag in Saturday’s race from the outside of the third row. He moved into third place after one lap, trailing polesitter George Snider and Vogler, who charged from seventh to second.
Snider led the first 12 laps before losing it to Vogler. By the halfway point, Vogler held nearly a straightaway lead over Engelhart, but the 36-year-oId driver from Madison, Wis., steadily closed the gap and went in front on the 90th circuit.
At the checkered flag, Engelhart had about 10-car lead on Vogler.
“I really thought I could win if I was patient,” said Engelhart. “When I got up behind Rich I could see he wasn't handling very well, and I was confident then I was going to get him.”
Third place went to Bettenhausen, followed by Billy Vukovich, Junior Parkinson, Bubby Jones, Johnny Parsons, Larry Dickson and Carter. Carter's younger brother, Dana, finished 10th.
Results –
1. Bill Engelhart
2. Rich Vogler
3. Gary Bettenhausen
4. Billy Vukovich
5. Ralph Parkinson Jr.
6. Bubby Jones
7. Johnny Parsons
8. Larry Dickson
9. Duane Carter
10.Dana Carter
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