Rules had slowed the cars, but they did not slow the drama. Johnny Rutherford’s pole speed of 198 mph just two years ago was a distant memory. Tom Sneva held the top spot in the first hour of qualifying at just over 190 mph. Bobby Unser topped his speed with an average of 191.073 mph. The next car on track, Gordon Johncock, went faster, 91. 652 mph to move to the provisional pole.

A. J. Foyt had yet to qualify. Foyt had taken the green flag but pulled into the pits after just one lap. The car went back to the garage. Foyt later said there was an engine issue.

After repairs, Foyt went out for his second attempt. His first lap was195.313, and his average of 193.976 easily beat Johncock’s time. Foyt went out with the idea of taking any speed above 190 mph. Only four drivers qualified above that mark. Foyt may also have been concerned about the high number of qualifiers that day. Under the rules of that era, he would have started 21st at best if he would have had to qualify the following day.

The pole was Foyt’s second in a row and fourth of his storied Indianapolis 500 career. He had also won poles in 1965 and 1969. At the time Rex Mays was the only other driver to win four poles at the Speedway (1935, 1936, 1940, 1948.)

The 1975 starting front row marked the first time that three former winners started at the front of the field.

Bobby Unser won his second Indianapolis 500 in an event stopped after 435 miles because of rain. Rutherford was second and Foyt finished third. It was the third race shortened by rain in a four year period, with only the 1974 race running the full distance in that time.