Thirty Days in May: The Day-by-Day Drama of the 1970 Indy 500

by Hal Higdon

Thirty days! From the moment the drivers entered in the 1970 Indianapolis 500 rolled their cars onto the track for practice until the command “Gentlemen, start your engines,” they faced thirty days of intense action. The drivers needed to go fast enough to earn one of thirty-three starting positions. Only then would they have a chance to win what sportswriters and fans called “the Greatest Spectacle in Racing.” And award-winning sportswriter Hal Higdon was there to report on the hovering in the pits next to the racers in their cars, wandering into Gasoline Alley to tell their stories, absorbing all the excitement the month of May brings to Indianapolis. Here is the tale, day by day, of those thirty crucial days—the drivers with fast cars and slow cars, the drivers with rich sponsors and those with little money, the drivers with talent and those who need good luck to place high or even qualify. The list of competitors in 1970 was formidable, and included Mario Andretti, Dan Gurney, Mark Donahue, A.J. Foyt, and the Unser brothers. Add the Roger Penske and Andy Granatelli. Once the gentlemen start their engines, the race begins. The danger builds. A tiny twitch heading into a turn can result in bent metal and lost lives. Even the fans live in danger. This is the story of the 1970 Indy 500, but the scenes are repeated on the stained turns of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway year after year.

154 pages, Paperback

Published April 4, 2022

About the author

Hal Higdon is an American writer and runner. He has contributed to Runner's World magazine longer than any other writer. He is the author of 34 books, including the best-selling Marathon: The Ultimate Training Guide. He has worked as a freelance writer since 1959, and has written a variety of subjects including a children's book that was made into an animated feature. He ran eight times in the United States Olympic Trials and won four World Masters Championships. He is one of the founders of the Road Runners Club of America (RRCA).

Reviews

[Todd Lang · Rating 3 out of 5]

This daily account of the 30 days leading up to the 1970 Indianapolis 500 race is full of interesting details about the chaotic preparation and attempts to qualify for the greatest race in the world. The descriptions are interesting, but there isn’t a lot of insight or substantive analysis. Though originally published in 1970, the book does provide perspective on indycar racing today.

What is striking is the huge variety in quality and design and effectiveness of the various entries. While many race fans criticize the current Indycar structure with virtually spec racing cars, there’s something to be said for the safety and consistency of the current program.

[Matt · Rating 3 out of 5]

I originally read this when I was about ten years old, having taken it out from the school library, at the beginnings of my interest in motor sports. I remember having written a book report on it as well. After mentioning the book to my partner, she found that it had actually been reprinted and picked it up for me as a gift. It was pretty amazing to reread a book from so far back in my past and was the perfect lead-in to my annual Memorial Sunday race fest, with Indy as the jewel event.