The 63rd 500 Mile International Sweepstakes was held at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Sunday May 27, 1979. Second-year driver Rick Mears took the lead for the final time with 18 laps to go, and won his first of four Indy 500 races. Brothers Al and Bobby Unser combined to lead 174 laps, but Al dropped out, and Bobby slipped to 5th place at the finish nursing mechanical issues.