Indianapolis 500
Starting Grid for the 1976 Indianapolis 500
| Position | Car Num. | Driver | Car Name/Entrant* | Make/Model | Qual Speed |
| 1 | 2 | Johnny Rutherford (W) | Hy-Gain | McLaren/Offy | 188.950 |
| 2 | 20 | Gordon Johncock (W) | Sinmast | Wildcat/DGS | 188.530 |
| 3 | 68 | Tom Sneva | Norton Spirit | McLaren/Offy | 186.350 |
| 4 | 21 | Al Unser (W) | American Racing | Parnelli/Cosworth | 186.250 |
| 5 | 14 | A.J. Foyt (W) | Gilmore Racing Team | Coyote/Foyt | 185.260 |
| 6 | 48 | Pancho Carter | Jorgensen | Eagle/Offy | 184.820 |
| 7 | 40 | Wally Dallenbach | Sinmast | Wildcat/DGS | 184.440 |
| 8 | 45 | Gary Bettenhausen | Thermo-King | Eagle/Offy | 181.790 |
| 9 | 5 | Bill Vukovich II | Alex Foods | Eagle/Offy | 181.430 |
| 10 | 69 | Larry Cannon | American Financial Corp. | Eagle/Offy | 181.380 |
| 11 | 12 | Mike Mosley | Sugaripe Prune | Eagle/Offy | 187.580 |
| 12 | 3 | Bobby Unser (W) | Cobre Tire | Eagle/Offy | 187.520 |
| 13 | 7 | Roger McCluskey | Hopkins | Lightning/Offy | 186.500 |
| 14 | 93 | Johnny Parsons | Ayr-Way/WIRE | Eagle/Offy | 182.840 |
| 15 | 98 | John Martin | Genesse Beer | Dragon/Offy | 182.410 |
| 16 | 17 | Dick Simon | Bryant Heating & Cooling | Vollstedt/Offy | 182.340 |
| 17 | 9 | Vern Schuppan (R) | Jorgensen | Eagle/Offy | 182.010 |
| 18 | 83 | Bill Puterbaugh | McNamara Motor Express | Eagle/Offy | 182.000 |
| 19 | 6 | Mario Andretti (W) | CAM2 Motor Oil | McLaren/Offy | 189.400 |
| 20 | 73 | Jerry Grant | California/Oklahoma | Eagle/AMC | 183.610 |
| 21 | 28 | Billy Scott (R) | Spirit of Public Enterprise | Eagle/Offy | 183.380 |
| 22 | 77 | Salt Walther | Dayton-Walther | McLaren/Offy | 182.790 |
| 23 | 92 | Steve Krisiloff | 1st National City Travelers Checks | Eagle/Offy | 182.130 |
| 24 | 86 | Al Loquasto (R) | Frostie Root Beer | McLaren/Offy | 182.002 |
| 25 | 19 | Spike Gehlhausen (R) | Spirit of Indiana | McLaren/Offy | 181.710 |
| 26 | 63 | Larry McCoy | Shurfine Foods | Ras-Car/Offy | 181.380 |
| 27 | 23 | George Snider | Hubler Chevrolet | Eagle/Offy | 181.140 |
| 28 | 96 | Bob Harkey | Dave McIntire Chevy/Ford Centers | Kingfish/Offy | 181.140 |
| 29 | 97 | Sheldon Kinser | THE BOTTOMHALF | Dragon/Offy | 181.110 |
| 30 | 51 | Lloyd Ruby | Fairco Drugs | Eagle/Offy | 186.480 |
| 31 | 33 | David Hobbs | Dayton-Walther | McLaren/Offy | 183.580 |
| 32 | 24 | Tom Bigelow | Leader Card Racers | Eagle/Offy | 181.960 |
| 33 | 8 | Jan Opperman | Routh Meat Packing | Eagle/Offy | 181.710 |
- * complete car name/entrant data not available for all entries
- (R) - Indicates Rookie
- (W) - Indicates Past Winner