List of USAC Championship Car seasons

Last updated

A. J. Foyt driving a Championship Car in 1984 AJFoyt1984Pocono.jpg
A. J. Foyt driving a Championship Car in 1984

From 1956 to 1978, USAC Championship Car seasons featured the top teams and drivers in U.S. open-wheel racing. Until 1971, the Championship contained road courses, ovals, dirt courses, and, on occasion, a hill climb. Thereafter, the schedule consisted mainly of paved ovals. In 1979, the majority of car owners left USAC to race in the Indy Car World Series, sanctioned by the Sports Car Club of America and CART. This led to a decline in the number of events in the schedule, and by the 1984–85 season, the Championship comprised only one race, the Indianapolis 500. The era of USAC Championship Cars concluded with the formation of the Indy Racing League (IRL) in 1995, which was sanctioned by USAC until June 1997 when the IRL assumed officiating duties after the controversial finish of the 81st Indianapolis 500 and the scoring mistake that marred the following event. [1] The most successful driver in USAC Championship Car history was A. J. Foyt with seven National Championships and four Indianapolis 500 victories. Foyt competed in every season from 1957 to 1992–93.

Contents

Seasons

USAC Championship Trail

#SeasonRacesNational ChampionIndianapolis 500DriversRef
Dirt OvalHill ClimbPaved OvalRoadTotalRankedFatalities
1 1956 8 (1)(1)4 (1)-12 (3) Flag of the United States.svg Jimmy Bryan Flag of the United States.svg Pat Flaherty 36- [2] [3]
2 1957 9 (1)(1)4 (3)-13 (5) Flag of the United States.svg Jimmy Bryan Flag of the United States.svg Sam Hanks 411 [4] [5]
3 1958 8 (1)(1)5 (3)-13 (5) Flag of the United States.svg Tony Bettenhausen Flag of the United States.svg Jimmy Bryan 383 [6] [7]
4 1959 7 (1)(1)6 (1)-13 (3) Flag of the United States.svg Rodger Ward Flag of the United States.svg Rodger Ward 507 [8] [9]
5 1960 7 (1)(1)5-12 (2) Flag of the United States.svg A. J. Foyt Flag of the United States.svg Jim Rathmann 451 [10] [11]
6 1961 7(1)5-12 (1) Flag of the United States.svg A. J. Foyt Flag of the United States.svg A. J. Foyt 432 [12] [13]
7 1962 7(1)6-13 (1) Flag of the United States.svg Rodger Ward Flag of the United States.svg Rodger Ward 391 [14] [15]
8 1963 6(1)6-12 (1) Flag of the United States.svg A. J. Foyt Flag of the United States.svg Parnelli Jones 36- [16] [17]
9 1964 5(1)8-13 (1) Flag of the United States.svg A. J. Foyt Flag of the United States.svg A. J. Foyt 464 [18] [19]
10 1965 4112118 Flag of the United States.svg Mario Andretti Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Jim Clark 57- [20] [21]
11 1966 41101 (1)16 (1) Flag of the United States.svg Mario Andretti Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Graham Hill 571 [22] [23]
12 1967 4110621 Flag of the United States.svg A. J. Foyt Flag of the United States.svg A. J. Foyt 62- [24] [25]
13 1968 5113928 Flag of the United States.svg Bobby Unser Flag of the United States.svg Bobby Unser 682 [26] [27]
14 1969 5110824 Flag of the United States.svg Mario Andretti Flag of the United States.svg Mario Andretti 72- [28] [29]
15 1970 5(1)10318 (1) Flag of the United States.svg Al Unser Flag of the United States.svg Al Unser 55- [30] [31]
16 1971 --12-12 Flag of the United States.svg Joe Leonard Flag of the United States.svg Al Unser 44- [32] [33]
17 1972 --10-10 Flag of the United States.svg Joe Leonard Flag of the United States.svg Mark Donohue 421 [34] [35]
18 1973 --16-16 Flag of the United States.svg Roger McCluskey Flag of the United States.svg Gordon Johncock 363 [36] [37]
19 1974 --14-14 Flag of the United States.svg Bobby Unser Flag of the United States.svg Johnny Rutherford 37- [38] [39]
20 1975 --13-13 Flag of the United States.svg A. J. Foyt Flag of the United States.svg Bobby Unser 38- [40] [41]
21 1976 --13-13 Flag of the United States.svg Gordon Johncock Flag of the United States.svg Johnny Rutherford 39- [42] [43]
22 1977 --13114 Flag of the United States.svg Tom Sneva Flag of the United States.svg A. J. Foyt 41- [44] [45]
23 1978 --15318 Flag of the United States.svg Tom Sneva Flag of the United States.svg Al Unser 45- [46] [47]
24 1979 --7-7 Flag of the United States.svg A. J. Foyt Flag of the United States.svg Rick Mears 32- [48] [49]

Championship Racing League (CRL)

#SeasonRacesNational ChampionIndianapolis 500DriversRef
Paved OvalRoadTotalRankedFatalities
25 1980 415 Flag of the United States.svg Johnny Rutherford Flag of the United States.svg Johnny Rutherford 57- [50] [51]

USAC Gold Crown Championship

#SeasonRacesNational ChampionIndianapolis 500DriversRef
Dirt OvalPaved OvalTotalRankedFatalities
26 1981–82 336 Flag of the United States.svg George Snider Flag of the United States.svg Bobby Unser*511 [52] [53]
Flag of the United States.svg Gordon Johncock*
27 1982–83 314 Flag of the United States.svg Tom Sneva 39- [54] [55]
28 1983–84 112 Flag of the United States.svg Rick Mears 39- [56] [57]
29 1984–85 -11 Flag of the United States.svg Danny Sullivan 32- [58]
30 1985–86 -11 Flag of the United States.svg Bobby Rahal 33- [59]
31 1986–87 -11 Flag of the United States.svg Al Unser 33- [60]
32 1987–88 -11 Flag of the United States.svg Rick Mears 33- [61]
33 1988–89 -11 Flag of Brazil.svg Emerson Fittipaldi 33- [62]
34 1989–90 -11 Flag of the Netherlands.svg Arie Luyendyk 33- [63]
35 1990–91 -11 Flag of the United States.svg Rick Mears 33- [64]
36 1991–92 -11 Flag of the United States.svg Al Unser Jr. 331 [65]
37 1992–93 -11 Flag of Brazil.svg Emerson Fittipaldi 33- [66]
38 1993–94 -11 Flag of the United States.svg Al Unser Jr. 33- [67]
39 1994–95 -11 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Jacques Villeneuve 33- [68]

* The 1981-82 season included both the 65th and 66th Indianapolis 500 races.
( ) Figures in parentheses denote the number of non-championship races in that season.

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The 1971 USAC Championship Car season consisted of 12 races, beginning in Rafaela, Argentina on February 28 and concluding in Avondale, Arizona on October 23. The USAC National Champion was Joe Leonard and the Indianapolis 500 winner was Al Unser. For 1971 it was decided that there should be three separate points championships, for paved ovals, dirt ovals, and road courses.

The 1972 USAC Championship Car season consisted of ten races, beginning in Avondale, Arizona on March 18 and concluding at the same location on November 4. The USAC National Champion was Joe Leonard and the Indianapolis 500 winner was Mark Donohue. Jim Malloy was killed at Indianapolis in practice; he was 40 years old.

The 1973 USAC Championship Car season consisted of 16 races, beginning in College Station, Texas on April 7 and concluding in Avondale, Arizona on November 3. The first race of the season, in Avondale, Arizona on March 17, was postponed by rain and eventually cancelled due to infrastructure damage caused by the rain and scheduling conflicts. Bob Criss was killed in a private test at Phoenix before he could enter another event. He was 35 years old. The USAC National Champion was Roger McCluskey and the Indianapolis 500 winner was Gordon Johncock.

The 1974 USAC Championship Car season consisted of 14 races, beginning in Ontario, California on March 3 and concluding in Avondale, Arizona on November 2. The USAC National Champion was Bobby Unser and the Indianapolis 500 winner was Johnny Rutherford. Due to the events of the 1973 Indianapolis 500 significant improvements were made to the cars for safety concerns. Wings were reduced in size, and pop-off valves were added to the turbocharger plenums in order to reduce horsepower and curtail speeds.

The 1975 USAC Championship Car season consisted of 13 races, beginning in Ontario, California on March 2 and concluding in Avondale, Arizona on November 9. The USAC National Champion was A. J. Foyt and the Indianapolis 500 winner was Bobby Unser.

The 1976 USAC Championship Car season consisted of 13 races, beginning in Avondale, Arizona on March 14 and concluding at the same location on November 7. The USAC National Champion was Gordon Johncock and the Indianapolis 500 winner was Johnny Rutherford.

The 1977 USAC Championship Car season consisted of 14 races, beginning in Ontario, California on March 6 and concluding in Avondale, Arizona on October 29. The USAC National Champion was Tom Sneva and the Indianapolis 500 winner was A. J. Foyt. The schedule included a road course for the first time since 1970.

The 1978 USAC Championship Car season consisted of 18 races, beginning at Phoenix on March 18 and concluding at the same location on October 28. The USAC National Champion was Tom Sneva and the Indianapolis 500 winner was Al Unser. This was the last year before the first USAC/CART "Split". By winning the Indianapolis 500, Pocono 500, and California 500, Al Unser swept the Indy car "Triple Crown", the only driver in history to do so.

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.

The 1981–82 USAC Championship Car season consisted of six races, beginning in Speedway, Indiana, on May 24, 1981, and concluding at the same location on May 30, 1982. The USAC National Champion was George Snider. The season included two Indianapolis 500 races. The 1981 winner was Bobby Unser, while the 1982 winner was Gordon Johncock. The schedule included dirt courses for the first time since 1970.

The 1982–83 USAC Championship Car season consisted of four races, beginning in Springfield, Illinois, on August 14, 1982, and concluding in Speedway, Indiana, on May 29, 1983. The USAC National Champion and Indianapolis 500 winner was Tom Sneva.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1983–84 USAC Championship Car season</span> Sports season

The 1983–84 USAC Championship Car season consisted of two races, beginning in Du Quoin, Illinois, on September 5, 1983, and concluding in Speedway, Indiana, on May 27, 1984. The USAC National Champion and Indianapolis 500 winner was Rick Mears. This was the last year that the Championship comprised more than one race.

The 1959 USAC Championship Car season consisted of 13 races, beginning in Daytona Beach, Florida on April 4 and concluding in Sacramento, California on October 25. There were also three non-championship events. The USAC National Champion and Indianapolis 500 winner was Rodger Ward. In this tragic season 7 fatal accidents occurred. During the pre-season, Marshall Teague was fatally injured in a crash at Daytona. He was 37 years old. In the first race of the season at Daytona, 34-year-old George Amick was killed in an accident on the last lap. In the second race of the season at Trenton, Dick Linder was killed; he was 36 years old. The third race of the season, the Indy 500, had two fatalities. On May 2, Jerry Unser was killed in a practice accident, and on May 19 death Bob Cortner was also killed in a practice accident. On July 19 at Mechanicsburg in the Indianapolis Sweepstakes non-championship race Van Johnson was killed in an accident; he was 32 years old. On August 30, 32-year-old Ed Elisian was killed at the Milwaukee Mile. The 1959 season could be considered one of the most tragic seasons in American open-wheel car history.

The 1961 USAC Championship Car season consisted of 12 races, beginning in Trenton, New Jersey on April 9 and concluding in Phoenix, Arizona on November 19. There was also one non-championship event at Pikes Peak, Colorado. The USAC National Champion and Indianapolis 500 winner was A. J. Foyt. The season was marred by the deaths of 1951 and 1958 season champion Tony Bettenhausen at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and Al Keller at Phoenix.

The 1963 USAC Championship Car season consisted of 12 races, beginning in Trenton, New Jersey on April 21 and concluding in Phoenix, Arizona on November 17. There was also one non-championship event at Pikes Peak, Colorado. The USAC National Champion was A. J. Foyt, and the Indianapolis 500 winner was Parnelli Jones. Jim Clark's win at Milwaukee in August marked the first win for a rear-engined car in Champ Car competition.

The 1964 USAC Championship Car season consisted of 13 races, beginning in Avondale, Arizona on March 22 and concluding at the same location on November 22. There was also one non-championship event at Pikes Peak, Colorado. The USAC National Champion and Indianapolis 500 winner was A. J. Foyt. At Indianapolis in the 500 mile race Eddie Sachs and Dave MacDonald were killed during lap 2 of the race; Sachs was 37 years old, and MacDonald was 27. In the Tony Bettenhausen Memorial at Springfield, Bill Horstmeyer died during the race; he was 34 years old. In November, five days after the season ended, Bobby Marshman died in a testing accident at Phoenix; he was 28 years old.

References

  1. ↑ "Indy Racing League takes scoring, timing from USAC". Las Vegas Sun . June 17, 1997. Archived from the original on March 1, 2016.
  2. ↑ Åberg, Andreas. "USAC National Championship 1956". Driver Database. Retrieved 2009-05-25.
  3. ↑ "1956 USAC National Championship Trail". ChampCarStats.com. Retrieved 2009-05-25.
  4. ↑ Åberg, Andreas. "USAC National Championship 1957". Driver Database. Retrieved 2009-05-25.
  5. ↑ "1957 USAC National Championship Trail". ChampCarStats.com. Retrieved 2009-05-25.
  6. ↑ Åberg, Andreas. "USAC National Championship 1958". Driver Database. Retrieved 2009-05-25.
  7. ↑ "1958 USAC National Championship Trail". ChampCarStats.com. Retrieved 2009-05-25.
  8. ↑ Åberg, Andreas. "USAC National Championship 1959". Driver Database. Retrieved 2009-05-25.
  9. ↑ "1959 USAC National Championship Trail". ChampCarStats.com. Retrieved 2009-05-25.
  10. ↑ Åberg, Andreas. "USAC National Championship 1960". Driver Database. Retrieved 2009-05-25.
  11. ↑ "1960 USAC National Championship Trail". ChampCarStats.com. Retrieved 2009-05-25.
  12. ↑ Åberg, Andreas. "USAC National Championship 1961". Driver Database. Retrieved 2009-05-25.
  13. ↑ "1961 USAC National Championship Trail". ChampCarStats.com. Retrieved 2009-05-25.
  14. ↑ Åberg, Andreas. "USAC National Championship 1962". Driver Database. Retrieved 2009-05-25.
  15. ↑ "1962 USAC National Championship Trail". ChampCarStats.com. Retrieved 2009-05-25.
  16. ↑ Åberg, Andreas. "USAC National Championship 1963". Driver Database. Retrieved 2009-05-25.
  17. ↑ "1963 USAC National Championship Trail". ChampCarStats.com. Retrieved 2009-05-25.
  18. ↑ Åberg, Andreas. "USAC National Championship 1964". Driver Database. Retrieved 2009-05-25.
  19. ↑ "1964 USAC National Championship Trail". ChampCarStats.com. Retrieved 2009-05-25.
  20. ↑ Åberg, Andreas. "USAC National Championship 1965". Driver Database. Retrieved 2009-05-25.
  21. ↑ "1965 USAC National Championship Trail". ChampCarStats.com. Retrieved 2009-05-25.
  22. ↑ Åberg, Andreas. "USAC National Championship 1966". Driver Database. Retrieved 2009-05-25.
  23. ↑ "1966 USAC National Championship Trail". ChampCarStats.com. Retrieved 2009-05-25.
  24. ↑ Åberg, Andreas. "USAC National Championship 1967". Driver Database. Retrieved 2009-05-25.
  25. ↑ "1967 USAC National Championship Trail". ChampCarStats.com. Retrieved 2009-05-25.
  26. ↑ Åberg, Andreas. "USAC National Championship 1968". Driver Database. Retrieved 2009-05-25.
  27. ↑ "1968 USAC National Championship Trail". ChampCarStats.com. Retrieved 2009-05-25.
  28. ↑ Åberg, Andreas. "USAC National Championship 1969". Driver Database. Retrieved 2009-05-25.
  29. ↑ "1969 USAC National Championship Trail". ChampCarStats.com. Retrieved 2009-05-25.
  30. ↑ Åberg, Andreas. "USAC National Championship 1970". Driver Database. Retrieved 2009-05-25.
  31. ↑ "1970 USAC National Championship Trail". ChampCarStats.com. Retrieved 2009-05-25.
  32. ↑ Åberg, Andreas. "USAC National Championship 1971". Driver Database. Retrieved 2009-05-25.
  33. ↑ "1971 USAC Marlboro Championship Trail". ChampCarStats.com. Retrieved 2009-05-25.
  34. ↑ Åberg, Andreas. "USAC National Championship 1972". Driver Database. Retrieved 2009-05-25.
  35. ↑ "1972 USAC National Championship Trail". ChampCarStats.com. Retrieved 2009-05-25.
  36. ↑ Åberg, Andreas. "USAC National Championship 1973". Driver Database. Retrieved 2009-05-25.
  37. ↑ "1973 USAC National Championship Trail". ChampCarStats.com. Retrieved 2009-05-25.
  38. ↑ Åberg, Andreas. "USAC National Championship 1974". Driver Database. Retrieved 2009-05-25.
  39. ↑ "1974 USAC National Championship Trail". ChampCarStats.com. Retrieved 2009-05-25.
  40. ↑ Åberg, Andreas. "USAC National Championship 1975". Driver Database. Retrieved 2009-05-25.
  41. ↑ "1975 USAC National Championship Trail". ChampCarStats.com. Retrieved 2009-05-25.
  42. ↑ Åberg, Andreas. "USAC National Championship 1976". Driver Database. Retrieved 2009-05-25.
  43. ↑ "1976 USAC National Championship Trail". ChampCarStats.com. Retrieved 2009-05-25.
  44. ↑ Åberg, Andreas. "USAC National Championship 1977". Driver Database. Retrieved 2009-05-25.
  45. ↑ "1977 USAC National Championship Trail". ChampCarStats.com. Retrieved 2009-05-25.
  46. ↑ Åberg, Andreas. "USAC National Championship 1978". Driver Database. Retrieved 2009-05-25.
  47. ↑ "1978 USAC National Championship Citicorp Cup". ChampCarStats.com. Retrieved 2009-05-25.
  48. ↑ Åberg, Andreas. "USAC National Championship 1979". Driver Database. Retrieved 2009-05-25.
  49. ↑ "1979 USAC National Championship Trail". ChampCarStats.com. Retrieved 2009-05-25.
  50. ↑ Åberg, Andreas. "USAC National Championship 1980". Driver Database. Retrieved 2009-05-25.
  51. ↑ "1980 Championship Racing League". ChampCarStats.com. Retrieved 2009-05-25.
  52. ↑ Åberg, Andreas. "USAC National Championship 1982". Driver Database. Retrieved 2009-05-25.
  53. ↑ "1981-82 Gold Crown Championship". ChampCarStats.com. Retrieved 2009-05-25.
  54. ↑ Åberg, Andreas. "USAC National Championship 1983". Driver Database. Retrieved 2009-05-25.
  55. ↑ "1982-83 Gold Crown Championship". ChampCarStats.com. Retrieved 2009-05-25.
  56. ↑ Åberg, Andreas. "USAC National Championship 1984". Driver Database. Retrieved 2009-05-25.
  57. ↑ "1983-84 Gold Crown Championship". ChampCarStats.com. Retrieved 2009-05-25.
  58. ↑ "1984-85 Gold Crown Championship". ChampCarStats.com. Retrieved 2009-05-25.
  59. ↑ "1985-86 Gold Crown Championship". ChampCarStats.com. Retrieved 2009-05-25.
  60. ↑ "1986-87 Gold Crown Championship". ChampCarStats.com. Retrieved 2009-05-25.
  61. ↑ "1987-88 Gold Crown Championship". ChampCarStats.com. Retrieved 2009-05-25.
  62. ↑ "1988-89 Gold Crown Championship". ChampCarStats.com. Retrieved 2009-05-25.
  63. ↑ "1989-90 Gold Crown Championship". ChampCarStats.com. Retrieved 2009-05-25.
  64. ↑ "1990-91 Gold Crown Championship". ChampCarStats.com. Retrieved 2009-05-25.
  65. ↑ "1991-92 Gold Crown Championship". ChampCarStats.com. Retrieved 2009-05-25.
  66. ↑ "1992-93 Gold Crown Championship". ChampCarStats.com. Retrieved 2009-05-25.
  67. ↑ "1993-94 Gold Crown Championship". ChampCarStats.com. Retrieved 2009-05-25.
  68. ↑ "1994-95 Gold Crown Championship". ChampCarStats.com. Retrieved 2009-05-25.

See also

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