1966 USAC Championship Car season

1966 USAC Championship Car season
1966 USAC Championship Car season
USAC National Championship Trail
Season
Races	16
Start date	March 20
End date	November 20
Awards
National champion	Mario Andretti
Indianapolis 500 winner	Graham Hill
	← 1965 1967 →

Last updated March 11, 2025

The 1966 USAC Championship Car season consisted of 16 races, beginning in Avondale, Arizona on March 20 and concluding at the same location on November 20. There was also one non-championship event at Fuji Speedway in Japan. The USAC National Champion was Mario Andretti, and the Indianapolis 500 winner was Graham Hill. At Indianapolis, Chuck Rodee was killed while qualifying for the 1966 Indianapolis 500. Also of note was the end of the career of two-time 500 and two-time National Champion Rodger Ward as he ran the final three races of his IndyCar career at the start of the season which included the final IndyCar victory of his career at Trenton.

Schedule and results

Rnd	Date	Race Name	Track	Location	Type	Pole Position	Winning Driver
1	March 20	Jimmy Bryan Memorial	Phoenix International Raceway	Avondale, Arizona	Paved	Mario Andretti	Jim McElreath
2	April 24	Trenton 150	Trenton International Speedway	Trenton, New Jersey	Paved	Mario Andretti	Rodger Ward
3	May 30	International 500 Mile Sweepstakes	Indianapolis Motor Speedway	Speedway, Indiana	Paved	Mario Andretti	Graham Hill
4	June 5	Rex Mays Classic	Milwaukee Mile	West Allis, Wisconsin	Paved	Mario Andretti	Mario Andretti
5	June 12	Langhorne 100	Langhorne Speedway	Langhorne, Pennsylvania	Paved	Mario Andretti	Mario Andretti
6	June 26	Atlanta 300	Atlanta Motor Speedway	Hampton, Georgia	Paved	Mario Andretti	Mario Andretti
7	July 4	Pikes Peak Auto Hill Climb	Pikes Peak Highway	Pikes Peak, Colorado	Hill	Bobby Unser ^A	Bobby Unser
8	July 24	Hoosier Grand Prix	Indianapolis Raceway Park	Clermont, Indiana	Road	Lloyd Ruby	Mario Andretti
9	August 7	Langhorne 150	Langhorne Speedway	Langhorne, Pennsylvania	Paved	Don Branson	Roger McCluskey
10	August 20	Tony Bettenhausen Memorial	Illinois State Fairgrounds	Springfield, Illinois	Dirt	Don Branson	Don Branson
11	August 27	Tony Bettenhausen 200	Milwaukee Mile	West Allis, Wisconsin	Paved	Mario Andretti	Mario Andretti
12	September 5	Ted Horn Memorial	DuQuoin State Fairgrounds	Du Quoin, Illinois	Dirt	Bobby Unser	Bud Tingelstad
13	September 10	Hoosier Hundred	Indiana State Fairgrounds	Indianapolis, Indiana	Dirt	A. J. Foyt	Mario Andretti
14	September 25	Trenton 200	Trenton International Speedway	Trenton, New Jersey	Paved	Mario Andretti	Mario Andretti
NC	October 9	Fuji Race	Fuji Speedway	Oyama, Japan	Road	Jackie Stewart	Jackie Stewart
15	October 23	Golden State 100	California State Fairgrounds	Sacramento, California	Dirt	Don Branson	Dick Atkins
16	November 19	Bobby Ball Memorial	Phoenix International Raceway	Avondale, Arizona	Paved	Mario Andretti	Mario Andretti

Paved/Dirt Oval

Road Course/Hill Climb

Non-championship race

^A No pole is awarded for the Pikes Peak Hill Climb, in this schedule on the pole is the driver who started first. No lap led was awarded for the Pikes Peak Hill Climb, however, a lap was awarded to the drivers that completed the climb.

Final points standings

Note: Jerry Grant, Dan Gurney, Jim Clark, Jackie Stewart, Graham Hill, Peter Revson and Cale Yarborough are not eligible for points.

Pos	Driver	PHX1	TRE1	INDY	MIL1	LAN	ATL	PIP	IRP	LAN	SPR	MIL2	DQSF	ISF	TRE2		FUJ		SAC	PHX2	Pts
1	Mario Andretti	15	4	18	1	1	1		1	21	2	1	15	1	1		DNS		10	1	3070
2	Jim McElreath	1	3	3	21	2	12		3	22	11	4	10	10	6		17		7	3	2430
3	Gordon Johncock	9	2	4	DNQ	19	3		5	2		2			12		DNS			DNQ	2050
4	Joe Leonard	14		9	3	3	21		8	Wth	4	3	4	DNQ	DNQ					5	1275
5	Al Unser	20		12	6	9	16		2	3		20			2		DNS		18	2	1260
6	Bobby Unser	19	18	8	16	14	14	1	4	19	5	8	3	17	DNQ		2		5	4	1210
7	Don Branson	16	10	23	15	4	6		9	5	1	23	6	4	23				4		1135
8	Chuck Hulse	3	DNQ	20	5	12	4		18	7	18	21	16	5	13		11		2	DNQ	1030
9	Billy Foster	7	22	24	DNQ	5	2		13	20		5	9	15	18		9		DNQ	12	930
10	Bud Tingelstad	4	5	21	12	18	28		17	6	7	11	1	7	14		20		8	25	870
11	Dick Atkins	22		DNQ	20	DNQ	23		10	9	12	12	2	6	4		DNS		1		815
12	Roger McCluskey		20	13	2	6	27		22	1	14	18	18	14	5				DNS	11	780
13	A. J. Foyt	11	15	26	Wth		29		24	Wth	3	24	7	2	3				17	17	775
14	Mel Kenyon			5	7							22			DNP					23	560
15	Rodger Ward	2	1	15																	540
16	Al Smith RY						5		DNQ	17		25			7					13	420
17	Gary Congdon	17	13	25	9	20	24		20	4	15	6	12	DNQ	15		4		14	15	390
18	Arnie Knepper		19	29	14	8	8		21	12	DNQ	DNQ	11	3	21		3		13	21	375
19	George Snider	6		19	10	21	DNQ		6	11	6	10	DNQ	12	DNP				11		365
20	Lloyd Ruby	12	21	11	DNP				16	24		9			22		12			6	355
21	Larry Dickson		11	32	13	11	19		DNQ	DNQ	9	17	8	9	20		6		3	DNQ	320
22	Eddie Johnson			7																	300
23	Art Pollard			DNQ	4	22	22		DNQ	23		7					DNS		9	22	280
24	Bobby Grim		7	31	8	DNQ	13		12			13			25		8			7	275
25	Ralph Liguori								DNQ	10	8		5	16	10				16	26	260
26	Carl Williams	5	14	16	DNQ	10	15		19	15	10	DNQ	17	13	DNQ		21		15	18	210
27	Sam Sessions		9	DNQ	DNQ	15	9		11	DNQ		DNQ			24		18				210
28	Al Miller			30			10		15	14		19	14	11	9		19			DNQ	190
29	Greg Weld			DNQ			DNQ					14			8		16		6	14	180
30	Johnny Boyd			22	DNQ		7		23												180
31	Ron Lux R		6	DNQ	11		18														140
32	Ronnie Duman		16	33	DNQ	13	17		7	16	17	DNQ		8	26		22		DNQ	DNQ	140
33	Bob Harkey			DNQ	DNQ	7	20		14	8	13	16			19		DNS			DNQ	135
34	Bruce Jacobi			DNQ	19	DNQ	25		DNP	18									DNQ	8	100
35	Wes Vandervoort							2													80
36	Norm Brown R																			9	80
37	Bob Hurt		8	DNQ	17	16									16						75
38	Bob Mathouser	8		DNQ																	75
39	Paul Kleinschmidt							3													70
40	Ted Foltz							4													60
41	Parnelli Jones			14	DNS															10	60
42	Chuck Arnold						11			DNQ	DNQ										60
43	Orville Nance							5													50
44	John Hollansworth R	10	17		DNQ	DNQ	DNQ	13		DNQ	DNQ						13			DNQ	45
45	Clyde McFarlin							6													40
46	Wally Dallenbach Sr.						DNQ			13		15			11		DNS			24	40
47	Grier Manning							7													30
48	Jack Hahn							8													25
49	Rick Vermillion							9													20
50	Don Anderson R							10													15
51	Red Riegel		12	DNQ	DNQ																15
52	Bob Lacy R							11													10
53	Bob Tattersall			DNQ							16		13	18					12	DNQ	5
54	Clark Yowell							12													5
–	Graham Hill R			1													5				0
–	Jim Clark			2													DNS				0
–	Jackie Stewart R			6													1				0
–	Jerry Grant			10													10			20	0
–	Jim Hurtubise	13		17	22	17	26				DNQ	26			17		15			DNQ	0
–	Bob Daly							14													0
–	Butch Hardman R							15													0
–	Malcolm Brazier							16													0
–	Peter Revson R																			16	0
–	Bob Werner							17											0
–	Gig Stephens		DNQ	DNP	18	DNQ	DNQ			DNQ					DNQ				0
–	Johnny Rutherford	18		DNP															0
–	Paul Wigton R							18											0
–	Gary Bettenhausen R	DNQ	DNQ	DNP	DNQ	DNQ	DNQ		DNQ	DNQ	DNQ	DNQ		DNQ	DNQ		DNQ	19	0
–	Walter Miller							19											0
–	Mike McGreevy	21	DNQ	DNQ															0
–	Dee Jones	23																	0
–	Dan Gurney			27															0
–	Cale Yarborough R			28					DNQ	DNQ									0
–	Tommy Copp						30												0
–	Bob Herring							DNS											0
–	Gordon Sullivan																DNS		0
–	Bob King		DNQ			DNQ			DNP	DNQ	DNQ			DNQ					0
–	Ray Duckworth						DNQ		DNQ	DNQ			DNQ		DNQ				0
–	Don Meacham			DNQ	DNQ												DNQ	DNQ	0
–	Dave Paul			DNQ		DNQ	DNQ												0
–	Skip Hedrick								DNQ			DNQ						DNQ	0
–	Bill Cheesbourg	DNP		DNQ	DNP											7		DNQ	0
–	Dick Fries			DNP	DNQ	DNQ													0
–	Hal Minyard			DNQ	DNQ														0
–	Dempsey Wilson			DNQ	DNQ														0
–	Bud Randall										DNQ		DNQ						0
–	Bob Wente			DNQ												DNS		DNQ	0
–	Jud Larson		DNQ	DNP															0
–	Dick Guldstrand			DNP			DNQ												0
–	Ronnie Bucknum			DNQ															0
–	Masten Gregory			DNQ															0
–	Bobby Johns			DNQ															0
–	Art Malone			DNQ															0
–	Chuck Rodee			DNQ															0
–	Chuck Stevenson			DNQ															0
–	Bob Veith			DNQ															0
–	LeeRoy Yarbrough			DNQ															0
–	Bay Darnell					DNQ													0
–	Leo Caldwell						DNQ												0
–	George Landry								DNQ										0
–	Chuck Booth																DNQ		0
–	Jim Adams			DNP															0
–	Jack Conely			DNP															0
–	Ebb Rose			DNP															0
–	Billy Wilkerson			DNP															0
–	Bob Pratt								DNP										0
–	Chris Amon															14			0
–	Rick Muther															DNS			0
Pos	Driver	PHX1	TRE1	INDY	MIL1	LAN	ATL	PIP	IRP	LAN	SPR	MIL2	DQSF	ISF	TRE2	FUJ	SAC	PHX2	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)
Blank	Not competing

In-line notation
Bold	Pole position
Italics	Ran fastest race lap
*	Led most race laps
RY Rookie of the Year
R Rookie

References

Åberg, Andreas. "USAC National Championship 1966". Driver Database. Archived from the original on September 10, 2012. Retrieved December 31, 2010.
"1966 USAC National Championship Trail". ChampCarStats.com. Archived from the original on February 24, 2012. Retrieved December 31, 2010.
http://media.indycar.com/pdf/2011/IICS_2011_Historical_Record_Book_INT6.pdf Archived 2016-03-04 at the Wayback Machine (p. 256-259)

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v t e American Championship car racing (Indy car) seasons
AAA	1905 1906–1908 1909 1910 1911 1912 1913 1914 1915 1916 1917 1918 1919 1920 1921 1922 1923 1924 1925 1926 1927 1928 1929 1930 1931 1932 1933 1934 1935 1936 1937 1938 1939 1940 1941 1942–1945 1946 1947 1948 1949 1950 1951 1952 1953 1954 1955
USAC	1956 1957 1958 1959 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981–82 1982–83 1983–84 1984–85 1985–86 1986–87 1987–88 1988–89 1989–90 1990–91 1991–92 1992–93 1993–94 1994–95
CART	1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003
CCWS	2004 2005 2006 2007 ~~2008~~
IRL	1996 1996–97 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002
IndyCar	2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025
Years marked in italics are not official championship years or upcoming seasons.

v t e USAC Championship Cars (1956-1970)
Seasons	1956 1957 1958 1959 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970
Indianapolis 500s	1956 1957 1958 1959 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970
National Champions	Mario Andretti (three times) Tony Bettenhausen Jimmy Bryan (twice) A. J. Foyt (five times) Al Unser Bobby Unser Rodger Ward (twice)
Tracks	Arizona State Fair Atlanta Brainerd California State Fair Continental Divide Darlington Daytona Dover DuQuoin State Fair Hanford Illinois State Fair Indianapolis Indianapolis Raceway Park Indiana State Fair Lakewood Langhorne Michigan Michigan State Fair Milwaukee Missouri State Fair Mont-Tremblant Mosport Nazareth New York State Fair Ontario Phoenix Pikes Peak Riverside Stardust Sears Point Seattle Trenton

1966 USAC Championship Car season

Contents

Schedule and results

Final points standings

See also

References