| Race details | |
|---|---|
| Race 10 of 13 in the 1976 USAC Championship Car season | |
 | |
| Date | September 5, 1976 |
| Official name | 1976 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 |  A. J. Foyt (A. J. Foyt Racing) |
| Time | 190.416 mph (306.445 km/h) |
| Podium | |
| First | Bobby Unser (Fletcher Racing) |
| Second | Johnny Rutherford (McLaren) |
| Third | Gordon Johncock (Patrick Racing) |
The 1976 California 500, the seventh running of the event, was held at the Ontario Motor Speedway in Ontario, California, on Sunday, September 5, 1976. The event was race number 10 of 13 in the 1976 USAC Championship Car season. The race was won by Bobby Unser, becoming the first man to win the California 500 twice. The race was also the first Indy Car race for Rick Mears.