| Race details | |
|---|---|
| Race 12 of 14 in the 1977 USAC Championship Car season | |
 | |
| Date | September 4, 1977 |
| Official name | 1977 California 500 |
| Location | Ontario Motor Speedway, Ontario, California, United States |
| Course | Permanent racing facility 2.500 mi / 4.023 km |
| Distance | 200 laps 500.000 mi / 804.672 km |
| Pole position | |
| Driver |  Johnny Rutherford (McLaren) |
| Time | 195.111 mph (314.001 km/h) |
| Podium | |
| First | Al Unser (Vel's Parnelli Jones Racing) |
| Second | A. J. Foyt (A. J. Foyt Racing) |
| Third | Tom Sneva (Tom Sneva) |
The 1977 California 500, the eighth running of the event, was held at the Ontario Motor Speedway in Ontario, California, on Sunday, September 4, 1977. The event was race number 12 of 14 in the 1977 USAC Championship Car season. The race was won by Al Unser, his first win in the California 500.