1979 USAC Championship Car season

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1979 USAC Championship Car season
USAC National Championship Trail
Season
Races7
Start dateMarch 25
End dateAugust 12
Awards
National championUnited States A. J. Foyt
Indianapolis 500 winnerUnited States Rick Mears
← 1978
1980 →

The 1979 USAC Championship Car season consisted of seven races, beginning in Ontario, California on March 25 and concluding in West Allis, Wisconsin on August 12. The USAC National Champion was A. J. Foyt and the Indianapolis 500 winner was Rick Mears. With the exception of the Indianapolis 500, most top drivers instead competed in races sanctioned by CART.

During the summer of 1979, after the California 500 switched alliances mid-season to become a CART series race, USAC proposed a Labor Day weekend race meet that would consist of a USAC Stock Car/Championship Car doubleheader at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. A 250-mile stock car race on Saturday would be followed by a 250-mile Indy car race on Sunday.[1][2] However, the plan never materialized.

Confirmed entries

Team Chassis Engine No Drivers Rounds
Agajanian-King Racers Kingfish 73 Chevrolet 97 United States Phil Threshie 3–5
United States Jerry Miller 7
98 United States Gary Bettenhausen 3–5
United States George Snider 7
AMI Racing Lola T500B Cosworth 43[N 1] United States Tom Bigelow All
44 United States Roger McCluskey 4–7
45 United States Janet Guthrie 1, 3, 5, 7
United States George Snider 1–2
Wildcat Mk. II DGS 46 United States Gary Bettenhausen 1–2, 6–7
United States Howdy Holmes 3, 5
United States Greg Leffler 4
B/M Enterprises Antares 72 Offenhauser 50 Canada Frank Weiss 1, 3–5, 7
Canada Eldon Rasmussen 3
Beaudoin Racing Wildcat Mk. II DGS 83 United States Billy Engelhart 3
Beith Racing Eagle 72 Offenhauser 28 United States Billy Scott 3
Bruce Crower Eagle 74 Chevrolet 57 United States Jerry Sneva 1–3, 5[N 2]
Fiore Racing McLaren M16C/D Offenhauser 88 United States Ken Nichols 1
Gibson Racing Eagle 74 DGS 75 United States Todd Gibson 1–3
Gilmore Racing Parnelli VPJ6CT
Coyote IV[N 3]
Cosworth
Foyt[N 3]
14 United States A. J. Foyt All
Hodgdon Racing McLaren M24 Cosworth 72 United States Roger McCluskey 1, 3
Spirit 78 AMC 73 United States Neil Bonnett 3
United States Jerry Sneva 3
Hucul Racing McLaren M16E Offenhauser 29 Canada Cliff Hucul All
Jim Hurtubise Mallard 71 Offenhauser 56 United States Jim Hurtubise 3
Joe Hunt Eagle 73 Offenhauser 99 United States Bob Harkey 1
Leader Card Watson 77 Offenhauser 22 United States Bill Vukovich II All
Watson 78 24 United States Sheldon Kinser All
Watson 79 40 United States George Snider 3[N 4]
Lindsey Hopkins Lightning Mk1/79
Lightning X-15[N 5]
Offenhauser 15 United States Johnny Parsons 1–5, 7
51 United States Hurley Haywood 1, 3
United States George Snider 5
Loquasto Racing McLaren M16C/D Offenhauser 86 United States Al Loquasto 5
McElreath Racing Eagle 73/74
Penske PC-6/78[N 6]
Chevrolet 26 United States Tony Bettenhausen Jr. 2
Offenhauser
Cosworth[N 7]
United States Jim McElreath 5–7
23 1–3
United States Phil Threshie 6
Medlin Racing Cicada Mk.IV Offenhauser 35 United States Bill Puterbaugh 3–4, 7
Mergard Racing Eagle 72 Offenhauser 42 United States Herm Johnson 7
Polak Racing Penske PC-5/77 Cosworth 80 United States Larry Dickson 3–7
Rager Racing Eagle 68 Chevrolet 66 United States Roger Rager 3–4, 6–7
Rasmussen Racing Rascar 72 Foyt
Chevrolet[N 8]
58 Canada Eldon Rasmussen 1–3, 5[N 9]
Raymond Reimer March 73A Chevrolet 93 United States Larry McCoy 3
United States Dana Carter 6
United States Jan Sneva 7
Rhoades Competition McLaren M16E Offenhauser 20 United States John Martin 3, 5
Robert LaWarre Eagle 68 Chevrolet 60 United States Tony Bettenhausen Jr. 4–5
McLaren M16C/D Offenhauser 86 6–7
Thunder Racing McLaren M16C/D Offenhauser 30 United States Larry Dickson 1–2
United States Dana Carter 3–5
Vollstedt Racing Vollstedt 77 Offenhauser 17 United States Dick Simon 1, 3–7
Vollstedt 73 27 United States John Martin 1
AMC United States George Snider 4
United States Bob Harkey 5
Wayne Woodward Eagle 72 Offenhauser 42 United States Dick Ferguson 1
Eagle 74 81 United States Dana Carter 1
United States Dick Ferguson[N 10] 2–3
United States Jerry Sneva 4–7
William R. Compton McLaren M16C/D Offenhauser 38 United States Jerry Karl All
CART entrants - ineligible to score points.
Alex Morales Co. Lightning Mk1/77 Offenhauser 10 United States Pancho Carter 3
All American Racers Eagle 78 MkII Cosworth 36 United States Mike Mosley 3
Cannon Racing Team Wildcat Mk. I DGS 95 United States Larry Cannon 3
Chaparral Racing Chaparral 2K Cosworth 2 United States Al Unser 3
Conqueste Racing Parnelli VPJ6CT Cosworth 89 United States Lee Kunzman 3
Fletcher Racing Lightning Mk1/77 Cosworth 7 United States Steve Krisiloff 3
Frantz Auto Body Wildcat Mk. I DGS 16 United States Tom Frantz 3
Gehlhausen-Reath Racing Wildcat Mk. I[N 11] Cosworth 19[N 12] United States Spike Gehlhausen 3
Eagle 74 Offenhauser United States Bob Harkey 3
United States Bill Alsup 3
39 United States Al Loquasto 3
Hoffman Auto Racing Lightning Mk1/77 Offenhauser 59 United States George Snider 3[N 13]
Eagle 72 Offenhauser 69 United States Joe Saldana 3
Intercomp Racing Eagle 72 Offenhauser 92 United States John Mahler 3
Interscope Racing Parnelli VPJ6CT Cosworth 25 United States Danny Ongais[N 14] 3, 5
Jerry O'Connell Racing McLaren M24 Cosworth 1 United States Tom Sneva 3
Longhorn Racing Penske PC-6/78 Cosworth 11 United States Tom Bagley 3
Patrick Racing Penske PC-6/78 Cosworth 3 United States Gordon Johncock 3
6 United States Wally Dallenbach 3
Penske Racing Penske PC-6/78 Cosworth 9 United States Rick Mears 3
Penske PC-7/79 12 United States Bobby Unser 3
68 United States Bill Alsup 3[N 15]
S&M Electric Lightning Mk1/77 Offenhauser 31 United States Larry Rice 3
Team McLaren McLaren M24B Cosworth 4 United States Johnny Rutherford 3
Walmotor Penske PC-6/78 Cosworth 77 United States Salt Walther 3
WASP Racing McLaren M16C/D Offenhauser 41 United States Bill Alsup 3[N 16]
Wysard Motor Co. Wildcat Mk. II DGS 34 Australia Vern Schuppan 3

Schedule and results

All races running on Oval/Speedway.

Rnd Date Race Name Length Track Location Pole Position Winning Driver
1 March 25 United States Datsun Twin 200 200 mi (320 km) Ontario Motor Speedway Ontario, California United States A. J. Foyt United States A. J. Foyt
2 April 8 United States Coors 200 200 mi (320 km) Texas World Speedway College Station, Texas United States A. J. Foyt United States A. J. Foyt
3 May 27 United States International 500 Mile Sweepstakes 500 mi (800 km) Indianapolis Motor Speedway Speedway, Indiana United States Rick MearsA United States Rick MearsA
4 June 10 United States Rex Mays Classic 150 mi (240 km) Wisconsin State Fair Park Speedway West Allis, Wisconsin United States A. J. Foyt United States A. J. Foyt
5 June 24 United States Music 500 at Pocono 500 mi (800 km) Pocono International Raceway Long Pond, Pennsylvania United States A. J. Foyt United States A. J. Foyt
6 August 5 United States Lubrilon Grand Prix 200 mi (320 km) Texas World Speedway College Station, Texas United States A. J. Foyt United States A. J. Foyt
7 August 12 United States Tony Bettenhausen 200 200 mi (320 km) Wisconsin State Fair Park Speedway West Allis, Wisconsin United States Tom Bigelow United States Roger McCluskey
September 2B California 500 500 mi (800 km) Ontario Motor Speedway Ontario, California

^A Non-USAC drivers
^B Originally scheduled as a USAC race, but was switched mid-season to a CART series race.

Final points standings

The CART drivers were not eligible for points.

Pos Driver ONT
United States
TXS1
United States
INDY
United States
MIL1
United States
POC
United States
TXS2
United States
MIL2
United States
Pts
1 United States A. J. Foyt 1* 1* 2 1* 1* 1* 12* 3320
2 United States Bill Vukovich II 3 6 8 2 6 6 3 1770
3 United States Tom Bigelow 6 12 14 3 8 2 2 1305
4 United States Larry Dickson 16 3 24 4 3 11 Wth 1225
5 United States Gary Bettenhausen 18 2 DNQ 6 9 5 6 1008
6 United States Jim McElreath 9 14 35 2 9 Wth 975
7 United States Jerry Sneva 21 13 31 5 4 12 10 851
8 United States Dick Simon 7 26 13 5 7 17 766
9 United States Roger McCluskey 12 13 17 14 4 1 716
10 United States Sheldon Kinser 4 8 28 15 15 3 14 673
11 Canada Cliff Hucul 5 4 29 7 11 16 19 653
12 United States Howdy Holmes  RY  7 7 600
13 United States Johnny Parsons 2 16 32 14 21 4 598
14 United States George Snider 8 5 33 18 25 11 361
15 United States Janet Guthrie Wth 34 19 5 225
16 Canada Frank Weiss 20 Wth 8 23 7 218
17 United States Tony Bettenhausen Jr.  R  9 9 13 13 15 185
18 United States Dana Carter  R  10 DNQ 11 22 10 165
19 United States Phil Threshie 17 16 16 8 153
20 United States Al Loquasto DNQ 10 150
21 United States Todd Gibson 14 7 DNQ 130
22 United States Jerry Karl DNS 10 DNQ 12 17 14 18 113
23 United States Herm Johnson 8 100
24 Canada Eldon Rasmussen 11 15 23 20 85
25 United States Jerry Miller  R  9 80
26 United States Roger Rager DNQ 10 15 16 65
27 United States Dick Ferguson  R  17 11 DNQ 48
28 United States John Martin 15 DNQ 18 30
29 United States Bob Harkey 19 Wth 24 23
30 United States Bill Puterbaugh DNQ 19 13 10
31 United States Ken Nichols 13 10
32 United States Jan Sneva  R  20 8
- United States Rick Mears 1 0
- United States Mike Mosley 3 0
- United States Danny Ongais 4 12 0
- United States Bobby Unser 5* 0
- United States Gordon Johncock 6 0
- United States Tom Bagley 9 0
- United States Spike Gehlhausen 10 0
- United States Steve Krisiloff 11 0
- United States Salt Walther 12 0
- United States Tom Sneva 15 0
- United States Joe Saldana 16 0
- United States Johnny Rutherford 18 0
- United States Larry Rice 19 0
- United States Pancho Carter 20 0
- Australia Vern Schuppan 21 0
- United States Al Unser 22 0
- United States John Mahler 25 0
- United States Wally Dallenbach Sr. 27 0
- United States Lee Kunzman 30 0
- United States Larry McCoy DNQ 0
- United States Bill Alsup DNQ 0
- United States Larry Cannon DNQ 0
- United States Billy Engelhart DNQ 0
- United States Tom Frantz DNQ 0
- United States Hurley Haywood DNQ 0
- United States Jim Hurtubise DNQ 0
- United States Billy Scott DNQ 0
- United States Neil Bonnett Wth 0
- United States Greg Leffler Wth 0
Pos Driver ONT
United States
TXS1
United States
INDY
United States
MIL1
United States
POC
United States
TXS2
United States
MIL2
United States
Pts
Color Result
Gold Winner
Silver 2nd place
Bronze 3rd place
Green 4th & 5th place
Light Blue 6th-10th place
Dark Blue Finished
(Outside Top 10)
Purple Did not finish
(Ret)
Red Did not qualify
(DNQ)
Brown Withdrawn
(Wth)
Black Disqualified
(DSQ)
White Did not start
(DNS)
Blank Did not
participate
(DNP)
Not competing
In-line notation
Bold Pole position
Italics Ran fastest race lap
* Led most race laps
 RY  Rookie of the Year
 R  Rookie

See also

Footnotes

  1. ^ Raced as #44 at the Indianapolis 500.
  2. ^ Jerry Sneva switched to Hodgdon Racing for the second weekend of Indy 500 time trials, and to Wayne Woodward for the Pocono 500 qualifying.
  3. ^ a b Used at the first Texas World race.
  4. ^ Snider switched to Hoffman Auto Racing for a special qualifying session for bumped cars at the Indy 500, after the #40 was withdrawn due to a blown engine.
  5. ^ Used by Parsons at the 500 events and both Milwaukee races.
  6. ^ Used by McElreath at the Indy 500.
  7. ^ Used by McElreath at the Indy 500, and by Threshie.
  8. ^ Used at Pocono.
  9. ^ Rasmussen switched to B/M Enterprises after a crash during Indy 500 practice.
  10. ^ Jan Opperman took some laps for his refresher test at the Indy 500.
  11. ^ Car loaned by Patrick Racing at the Indy 500 for Gehlhausen.
  12. ^ Gehlhausen was bumped from the Indy 500 field and loaned the #90 car from Patrick Racing, which he qualified. Later, the #19 was allowed to requalify in a special session, but it also failed to qualify with other drivers. For race day, the #90 was renumbered as #19.
  13. ^ Eligible to score points at the Indy 500, as he had competed with USAC teams earlier in the year.
  14. ^ George Snider practiced with the car at Indianapolis as a standby for a possible qualifying attempt after Ongais suffered a concussion in a crash.
  15. ^ Alsup switched to Gehlhausen-Reath at the special qualifying session for bumped cars at the Indy 500, after his Penske ride was disqualified for a technical infringement.
  16. ^ Alsup switched to a Penske Racing back-up car for Bump Day at the Indy 500.

References

  1. ^ Miller, Robin (July 10, 1979). "September Race At Speedway?". The Indianapolis Star. p. 1. Retrieved July 3, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.Open access icon
  2. ^ Miller, Robin (July 12, 1979). "Labor Day Show At IMS Just A Joke - Or Is It?". The Indianapolis Star. p. 34. Retrieved July 3, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.Open access icon