
Das 56, Indianapolis 500 (offiziell 56th 500 Mile International Sweepstakes) auf dem Indianapolis Motor Speedway fand am 27. Mai 1972 statt.
Das Rennen ging über eine Distanz von 200 Runden à 4,023 km, was einer Gesamtdistanz von 804,672 km entspricht. Aus der Pole-Position startete Bobby Unser (All American Racers) mit einer Vierrunden-Durchschnittszeit von 3:03.730 Min. oder 195,940 mph (315,335 km/h). Die schnellste Runde im Rennen drehte Mark Donohue (Team Penske) in 47,99 Sekunden (187,539 mph). Das Rennen war der dritte Lauf zur USAC-Saison 1972.
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Wetter: bewölkt, 28°
| Pos. | Nr. | Name | Chassis | Motor | R | Zeit/Rückstand | Runden | Qualifikation ø 4 Rd. mph |
Start |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 66 | McLaren M16B | Offenhauser | G | 3:04:05.54 Std. 162,962 mph |
200 | 191,408 | 3 | |
| 2 | 4 | Parnelli VPJ-1 | Offenhauser | F | 200 | 183,617 | 19 | ||
| 3 | 1 | Parnelli VPJ-1 | Offenhauser | F | 200 | 185,223 | 6 | ||
| 4 | 52 | Lola T270 | Ford | F | 200 | 180,415 | 24 | ||
| 5 | 34 | Eagle 72 | Offenhauser | G | 2 Rd. | 198 | 184,379 | 7 | |
| 6 | 5 | Atlanta 72 | Foyt | F | 4 Rd. | 196 | 181,415 | 11 | |
| 7 | 60 | Eagle 70/71 | Offenhauser | G | 4 Rd. | 196 | 179,015 | 25 | |
| 8 | 9 | Parnelli VPJ-1 | Offenhauser | F | Benzinmangel | 194 | 187,617 | 5 | |
| 9 | 11 | Scorpion 71 | Foyt | F | 6 Rd. | 194 | 178,909 | 31 | |
| 10 | 21 | Atlanta 72 | Foyt | F | 7 Rd. | 193 | 178,864 | 32 | |
| 11 | 84 | Coyote 71 | Foyt | G | 10 Rd. | 190 | 181,855 | 21 | |
| 12 | 48 | Eagle 72 | Offenhauser | G | Strafe | 188 | 189,294 | 15 | |
| 13 | 44 | Peat-Lola 71 | Foyt | G | Benzinmangel | 186 | 180,424 | 23 | |
| 14 | 7 | McLaren M16B | Offenhauser | G | Zündung | 182 | 188,877 | 4 | |
| 15 | 40 | Lola T270 | Foyt | F | 18 Rd. | 182 | 181,626 | 33 | |
| 16 | 89 | Brabham BT25 | Offenhauser | F | Kraftstoffleck | 161 | 179,614 | 14 | |
| 17 | 37 | Gerhardt 69 | Offenhauser | G | Reifenschaden | 131 | 179,265 | 30 | |
| 18 | 23 | Kenyon-Coyote | Ford | G | Einspritzung | 126 | 181,388 | 12 | |
| 19 | 17 | McLaren M15A | Offenhauser | G | Zündung | 116 | 180,027 | 28 | |
| 20 | 24 | McLaren M16B | Offenhauser | G | Ventilschaden | 113 | 188,511 | 26 | |
| 21 | 15 | Kingfish 72 | Offenhauser | F | Zündung | 102 | 181,433 | 10 | |
| 22 | 31 | McLaren M15A | Offenhauser | G | Motor | 99 | 179,497 | 29 | |
| 23 | 56 | Coyote 71 | Foyt | F | Strafe | 94 | 181,050 | 13 | |
| 24 | 14 | Antares 72 | Offenhauser | G | Ventilschaden | 92 | 182,686 | 20 | |
| 25 | 2 | Coyote 72 | Foyt | G | Turbolader | 60 | 188,996 | 17 | |
| 26 | 98 | Eagle 68 | Offenhauser | F | Unfall | 56 | 189,145 | 16 | |
| 27 | 18 | Brabham BT32 | Offenhauser | G | Defekt | 55 | 183,234 | 8 | |
| 28 | 3 | Eagle 72 | Offenhauser | G | Aufhängung | 54 | 184,814 | 18 | |
| 29 | 95 | Eagle 66 | Offenhauser | F | Kühlung | 52 | 180,469 | 22 | |
| 30 | 6 | Eagle 72 | Offenhauser | G | Kühlung | 31 | 195,940 | 1 | |
| 31 | 12 | McLaren M16B | Offenhauser | G | Getriebe | 23 | 192,885 | 2 | |
| 32 | 42 | Eagle 70 | Offenhauser | G | Defekt | 5 | 181,726 | 9 | |
| 33 | 33 | Colt-Lola | Foyt | F | Elektrik | 0 | 180,542 | 27 |
(W)=früherer Gewinner / (R)=Rookie
| Fahrer | Team | Anzahl |
|---|---|---|
| Team Penske | 138 | |
| All American Racers | 30 | |
| All American Racers | 16 | |
| Team Penske | 13 | |
| Leader Card Racers | 3 |