1970 USAC Championship Car season

Last updated

1970 USAC Championship Car season
USAC National Championship Trail
Season
Races18
Start dateMarch 28
End dateNovember 21
Awards
National champion Flag of the United States.svg Al Unser
Indianapolis 500 winner Flag of the United States.svg Al Unser
  1969
1971 (ChampCar)
1971 (Dirt Car) 

The 1970 USAC Championship Car season consisted of 18 races, beginning in Avondale, Arizona on March 28 and concluding at the same location on November 21. There was also one non-championship event at Pikes Peak, Colorado. The USAC National Champion and Indianapolis 500 winner was Al Unser. After this season, dirt courses did not reappear in the USAC Championship until 1981-82. Road courses after this season did not reappear in the USAC Championship until 1977. The Pikes Peak Auto Hill Climb was the only non-championship event.

Contents

Schedule and results

RndDateRace NameLengthTrackLocationTypePole PositionWinning Driver
1March 28 Flag of the United States.svg Phoenix 150 150 mi (240 km) Phoenix International Raceway Avondale, Arizona Paved Flag of the United States.svg Mario Andretti Flag of the United States.svg Al Unser
2April 4 Flag of the United States.svg Golden Gate 150 151.38 mi (243.62 km) Sears Point Raceway Sonoma, California Road Flag of the United States.svg Mark Donohue Flag of the United States.svg Dan Gurney
3April 26 Flag of the United States.svg Trenton 200201 mi (323 km) Trenton International Speedway Trenton, New Jersey Paved Flag of the United States.svg Al Unser Flag of the United States.svg Lloyd Ruby
4May 30 Flag of the United States.svg International 500 Mile Sweepstakes 500 mi (800 km) Indianapolis Motor Speedway Speedway, Indiana Paved Flag of the United States.svg Al Unser Flag of the United States.svg Al Unser
5June 7 Flag of the United States.svg Rex Mays Classic 150 mi (240 km) Wisconsin State Fair Park Speedway West Allis, Wisconsin Paved Flag of the United States.svg Mario Andretti Flag of the United States.svg Joe Leonard
6June 14 Flag of the United States.svg Langhorne 150150 mi (240 km) Langhorne Speedway Langhorne, Pennsylvania Paved Flag of the United States.svg Bobby Unser Flag of the United States.svg Bobby Unser
7June 28 Flag of the United States.svg Rocky Mountain 150151.62 mi (244.01 km) Continental Divide Raceways Mead, Colorado Road Flag of the United States.svg Al Unser Flag of the United States.svg Mario Andretti
8July 4 Flag of the United States.svg Michigan Twin 200s 200 mi (320 km) Michigan International Speedway Brooklyn, Michigan Paved Flag of the United States.svg Gary Bettenhausen Flag of the United States.svg Gary Bettenhausen
NCJuly 4 Flag of the United States.svg Pikes Peak Auto Hill Climb 12.42 mi (19.99 km) Pikes Peak Highway Pikes Peak, Colorado Hill Flag of the United States.svg Orville Nance A Flag of the United States.svg Ted Foltz
9July 26 Flag of the United States.svg Indy 150150 mi (240 km) Indianapolis Raceway Park Clermont, Indiana Road Flag of the United States.svg Mario Andretti Flag of the United States.svg Al Unser
10August 22 Flag of the United States.svg Tony Bettenhausen 100100 mi (160 km) Illinois State Fairgrounds Springfield, Illinois Dirt Flag of the United States.svg Larry Dickson Flag of the United States.svg Al Unser
11August 23 Flag of the United States.svg Tony Bettenhausen 200 200 mi (320 km) Wisconsin State Fair Park Speedway West Allis, Wisconsin Paved Flag of the United States.svg Al Unser Flag of the United States.svg Al Unser
12September 6 Flag of the United States.svg California 500 500 mi (800 km) Ontario Motor Speedway Ontario, California Paved Flag of the United States.svg Lloyd Ruby Flag of the United States.svg Jim McElreath
13September 7 Flag of the United States.svg Ted Horn Memorial 100100 mi (160 km) DuQuoin State Fairgrounds Du Quoin, Illinois Dirt Flag of the United States.svg Al Unser Flag of the United States.svg Al Unser
14September 12 Flag of the United States.svg Hoosier Hundred 100 mi (160 km) Indiana State Fairgrounds Indianapolis, Indiana Dirt Flag of the United States.svg Johnny Parsons Flag of the United States.svg Al Unser
15September 19 Flag of the United States.svg Sedalia 100100 mi (160 km) State Fair Raceway Sedalia, Missouri Dirt Flag of the United States.svg Al Unser Flag of the United States.svg Al Unser
16October 3 Flag of the United States.svg Trenton 300264 mi (425 km) B Trenton International Speedway Trenton, New Jersey Paved Flag of the United States.svg Al Unser Flag of the United States.svg Al Unser
17October 4 Flag of the United States.svg Golden State 100100 mi (160 km) California State Fairgrounds Sacramento, California Dirt Flag of the United States.svg Mario Andretti Flag of the United States.svg Al Unser
18November 21 Flag of the United States.svg Bobby Ball 150 150 mi (240 km) Phoenix International Raceway Avondale, Arizona Paved Flag of the United States.svg Al Unser Flag of the United States.svg Swede Savage
  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.
^B Scheduled for 300 miles, stopped early due to rain.

Final points standings

Note: Mark Donohue, Kevin Bartlett, Peter Revson, LeeRoy Yarbrough, John Cannon, Donnie Allison, Ron Grable, Jack Eiteljorg and Jack Brabham are not eligible for points.

PosDriver PHX1
Flag of the United States.svg
SON
Flag of the United States.svg
TRE1
Flag of the United States.svg
INDY
Flag of the United States.svg
MIL1
Flag of the United States.svg
LAN
Flag of the United States.svg
CDR
Flag of the United States.svg
MIC
Flag of the United States.svg
IRP
Flag of the United States.svg
SPR
Flag of the United States.svg
MIL2
Flag of the United States.svg
ONT
Flag of the United States.svg
DQSF
Flag of the United States.svg
ISF
Flag of the United States.svg
SED
Flag of the United States.svg
TRE2
Flag of the United States.svg
SAC
Flag of the United States.svg
PHX2
Flag of the United States.svg
Pts
1 Flag of the United States.svg Al Unser 13313251811191111125130
2 Flag of the United States.svg Bobby Unser 218411614224919222DNQDNQ26172260
3 Flag of the United States.svg Jim McElreath 675DNS31Wth1013DNP1652060
4 Flag of the United States.svg Mike Mosley 57521731541410514185438201900
5 Flag of the United States.svg Mario Andretti 13226581211824241017112211481890
6 Flag of the United States.svg Roger McCluskey DNQDNQ252Wth79DNP225105531380
7 Flag of the United States.svg Gordon Johncock 1841528121071234DNQ1160
8 Flag of the United States.svg Art Pollard 11213018DNP1917DNP1126241110
9 Flag of the United States.svg A. J. Foyt 4Wth61024381215715103DNQ231105
10 Flag of the United States.svg Dick Simon  R 2469141191119133DNQDNQ91080
11 Flag of the United States.svg Dan Gurney 13181000
12 Flag of the United States.svg Johnny Rutherford DNP5201814DNQ31711213111DNQ124136960
13 Flag of the United States.svg Mel Kenyon 16DNQ10369860
14 Flag of the United States.svg Lloyd Ruby 31274DNP1720232216790
15 Flag of the United States.svg Bentley Warren  R DNQ8DNQ10654DNQ852011775
16 Flag of the United States.svg Gary Bettenhausen 17211226951222017199DNQ16DNQ919710
17 Flag of the United States.svg Wally Dallenbach Sr. 10171787DNP165928DNS154620
18 Flag of the United States.svg Swede Savage 28271615
19 Flag of the United States.svg Jim Malloy 3319451622DNQ11DNQ12713DNP13570
20 Flag of the United States.svg Greg Weld 1832DNQDNP2771578DNQ4530
21 Flag of the United States.svg George Snider 720232314DNQ414151827460
22 Flag of the United States.svg Carl Williams 9212DNQ15DNQ10440
23 Flag of the United States.svg Jerry Grant 22717DNP621DNQ14420
24 Flag of the United States.svg Rick Muther 8DNQ14DNQ33822400
25 Flag of the United States.svg Sam Sessions 12DNQ21617DNQ411DNP12365
26 Flag of the United States.svg Steve Krisiloff 81510DNQ221318DNQ297DNS315
27 Flag of the United States.svg Larry Dickson DNQ25DNQ3DNQ3DNS11310
28 Flag of the United States.svg John Mahler  R 1316DNQ158961412DNQ305
29 Flag of the United States.svg Joe Leonard 24113300
30 Flag of the United States.svg Bill Simpson 221019DNQ20191476DNQ1921295
31 Flag of the United States.svg Ralph Liguori DNQ1352DNQ15260
32 Flag of the United States.svg Bill Vukovich II DNS20DNP231312DNPDNQ310200
33 Flag of the United States.svg Max Dudley 8229DNQ10DNQ195
34 Flag of the United States.svg Bruce Jacobi 199DNQ2020415DNQDNQDNQDNQDNQ180
35 Flag of the United States.svg Tom Bigelow DNQDNQ17DNQ7137DNQ61717DNQ180
36 Flag of the United States.svg Bob Harkey 1216176139DNQDNQ130
37 Flag of the United States.svg Merle Bettenhausen  R DNP87110
38 Flag of the United States.svg Dee Jones DNQ8DNQ100
39 Flag of the United States.svg Karl Busson  R 911DNS182223DNSDNQDNQDNQ1415100
40 Flag of the United States.svg Bud Tingelstad DNQ252416DNQ101890
41 Flag of the United States.svg Bruce Walkup 16292116DNS1326231614614DNQDNQDNQ80
42 Flag of the United States.svg Jimmy Caruthers  R 6DNP80
43 Flag of the United States.svg Jerry Karl 122413DNQDNQ11DNQDNP1225DNQ65
44 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Ludwig Heimrath Sr. 231423DNQ121060
45 Flag of the United States.svg Ronnie Bucknum 1615DNQDNP20DNP1160
46 Flag of the United States.svg Dick Tobias  R 19850
47 Flag of the United States.svg Will Cagle  R 21DNQ9DNQDNQ40
48 Flag of the United States.svg Arnie Knepper DNQ15111822DNQDNQDNQ40
49 Flag of the United States.svg Johnny Parsons DNQ16121718DNQDNQ10
50 Flag of the United States.svg Johnny Anderson 201210
- Flag of the United States.svg Mark Donohue 2522300
- Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg John Cannon 11DNQDNP4DNQ0
- Flag of the United States.svg Donnie Allison  R 40
- Flag of the United States.svg Peter Revson 2250
- Flag of the United States.svg LeeRoy Yarbrough 1980
- Flag of the United States.svg Jack Eiteljorg 10DNQ0
- Flag of the United States.svg Ron Grable  R 110
- Flag of Australia (converted).svg Kevin Bartlett 12DNQ16260
- Flag of the United States.svg Ned Spath 141713DNQ0
- Flag of the United States.svg Larry Cannon  R DNQDNQ1813DNQDNQ16DNPDNQ0
- Flag of Australia (converted).svg Jack Brabham 13DNQ0
- Flag of the United States.svg Darrell Dockery  R 152314DNQ2323DNQDNQ0
- Flag of the United States.svg Al Loquasto 24DNQDNQ14DNP230
- Flag of the United States.svg John Martin  R 15DNQ0
- Flag of the United States.svg Al Miller 150
- Flag of the United States.svg Bill Puterbaugh DNQDNSDNQDNQ1617DNP0
- Flag of the United States.svg Sonny Ates DNQ16DNP0
- Flag of the United States.svg Salt Walther  R DNS180
- Flag of the United States.svg Jerry Poland  R DNQ18DNQ0
- Flag of the United States.svg Crockey Peterson  R 1920DNQ0
- Flag of the United States.svg Scooter Patrick  R 190
- Flag of the United States.svg George Follmer 3121200
- Flag of the United States.svg Bud Morley 21DNQ0
- Flag of Italy.svg Nick Dioguardi  R 210
- Flag of the United States.svg Gig Stephens 22260
- Flag of the United States.svg Bob DeJong  R DNPDNQDNQ22DNQDNQ0
- Flag of the United States.svg Don Brown  R 24DNQ0
- Flag of the United States.svg Jim Hurtubise DNQ320
- Flag of the United States.svg Ron Burke DNQDNQDNQDNS0
- Flag of the United States.svg Ed Marshall DNQDNS0
- Flag of the United States.svg Leigh Earnshaw DNQDNQDNQDNQ0
- Flag of the United States.svg Jigger Sirois DNQDNPDNQ0
- Flag of the United States.svg Keith Rachwitz DNQDNPDNQ0
- Flag of the United States.svg Lee Kunzman DNQDNQ0
- Flag of the United States.svg Denny Zimmerman DNQDNQ0
- Flag of the United States.svg Rollie Beale DNQDNQ0
- Flag of the United States.svg Jim Reynard DNQDNQ0
- Flag of the United States.svg Bob Gregg DNPDNQ0
- Flag of the United States.svg Tony Adamowicz DNQ0
- Flag of New Zealand.svg Chris Amon DNQ0
- Flag of the United States.svg Charlie Glotzbach DNQ0
- Flag of New Zealand.svg Denny Hulme DNQ0
- Flag of New Zealand.svg Bruce McLaren DNQ0
- Flag of Australia (converted).svg Butch Morley DNQ0
- Flag of Argentina.svg Carlos Pairetti DNQ0
- Flag of the United States.svg Sam Posey DNQ0
- Flag of the United States.svg Bob Veith DNQ0
- Flag of the United States.svg Les ScottDNQ0
- Flag of the United States.svg Gary Ponzini DNQ0
- Flag of the United States.svg Bob Allen DNQ0
- Flag of the United States.svg Tom Sneva DNQ0
- Flag of the United States.svg Dave Strickland DNQ0
- Flag of the United States.svg Carl Adams DNP0
PosDriver PHX1
Flag of the United States.svg
SON
Flag of the United States.svg
TRE1
Flag of the United States.svg
INDY
Flag of the United States.svg
MIL1
Flag of the United States.svg
LAN
Flag of the United States.svg
CDR
Flag of the United States.svg
MIC
Flag of the United States.svg
IRP
Flag of the United States.svg
SPR
Flag of the United States.svg
MIL2
Flag of the United States.svg
ONT
Flag of the United States.svg
DQSF
Flag of the United States.svg
ISF
Flag of the United States.svg
SED
Flag of the United States.svg
TRE2
Flag of the United States.svg
SAC
Flag of the United States.svg
PHX2
Flag of the United States.svg
Pts
ColorResult
GoldWinner
Silver2nd place
Bronze3rd place
Green4th & 5th place
Light Blue6th-10th place
Dark BlueFinished
(Outside Top 10)
PurpleDid not finish
(Ret)
RedDid not qualify
(DNQ)
BrownWithdrawn
(Wth)
BlackDisqualified
(DSQ)
WhiteDid not start
(DNS)
BlankDid not
participate
(DNP)
Not competing
In-line notation
Bold Pole position
ItalicsRan fastest race lap
*Led most race laps
 RY  Rookie of the Year
 R  Rookie

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References

See also