Defending champion Gordon won the pole position on Thursday August 3 with a track record speed of 172.536 mph. A hot day saw most speeds down, and Gordon was the only driver to break the existing track record. Bobby Hamilton put the fans on their feet when he put the popular Petty #43 Pontiac car on the outside of the front row with a run of 172.222 mph.
Second round qualifying
On Friday August 4, the remnants of Hurricane Erin overtook the midwest, and rain settled in for two days. Friday morning practice was lost, and second round qualifying was also rained out. As a result, all cars reverted to their time trials speed from the first round, and the field was filled accordingly. Without a chance in second round qualifying, A. J. Foyt notably failed to qualify, the first time he failed to qualify in a race he attempted at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway since 1958. The field managed a brief "happy hour" practice late Friday evening, and rain began to fall again.
Race
On Saturday August 5, steady rain fell all morning, and threatened to wash out the day. The forecast was marginal for Sunday as well, threatening to wash out the whole weekend. Many fans left the grounds as local media speculated that the race would be postponed. In an unexpected turn of events, at approximately 3:30 p.m. EST, the skies suddenly cleared, and track drying efforts began in earnest. The teams scrambled to get their cars prepared, and the field hastily lined up in the garage area. The Chevrolet C/K pace truck led them on to the track and the race began with many fans still scurrying to their seats. Many of the pit crews were also scrambling to get their equipment set up in the pit area. Some fans driving home on the interstate reportedly turned around and drove back to the track when the radio reported the race was starting. The green flag dropped at 4:25 p.m. EST with live coverage only on the radio. ABC-TV had signed off before the race began, and it was aired instead tape delay on Sunday afternoon on ESPN. It stands as one of the last NASCAR races not aired live on television. ABC's decision prompted angry phone calls from their affiliate TV stations in North Carolina. Because of the rain earlier in the day, the cars were never lined up on pit road as usual before a race. Instead, the cars remained in the garage area as the track dried. When Nascar decided to go ahead with an attempt to race late in the afternoon, the command was given to start engines. Shortly after, the cars emerged from behind the pit road grandstands near turn 1 to begin their pace laps. While this was the only time such a situation occurred, it nevertheless provided for a completely unplanned, yet amazingly dramatic entrance of the cars onto the racetrack. Dale Earnhardt beat Rusty Wallace to the finish line, in a race slowed by only one caution for four laps. Jeff Burtonspun off turn two right in front of eventual winner Earnhardt with 27 laps to go. The race was completed at 7:03 p.m. EST, shortly before sunset. It was the latest cars had ever raced at Indianapolis until the 2017 Brickyard, which ended at 8:57 p.m. EDT.
Race results
Failed to qualify
44-Jeff Purvis
95-Loy Allen Jr.
66-Billy Standridge
78-Pancho Carter
71-Dave Marcis
65-Steve Seligman
50-A. J. Foyt
80-Joe Ruttman
99-Danny Sullivan
*Danny Sullivan's entry was withdrawn after his career-ending crash in the Marlboro 500 at Michigan.
