1971 USAC Championship Car season

Last updated

1971 USAC Championship Car season
USAC Marlboro Championship Trail
Season
Races12
Start dateFebruary 28
End dateOctober 23
Awards
National champion Flag of the United States.svg Joe Leonard
Indianapolis 500 winner Flag of the United States.svg Al Unser
  1970
1972  

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. [1] [2]

Contents

The existing Championship Car championship was then restricted to only paved ovals, and two new championships were created. The National Dirt Car Championship (which would become the modern Silver Crown Series in 1981) was run over four races, and won by George Snider. [1] The Road Racing championship was originally to be run over between 8 and 10 races, however a lack of interest lead to just two races being held on the same day, on the 7th of August at Seattle International Raceway. Continental Championship cars were allowed, and made up the majority of the grid, with just 5 USAC specification cars entered. Jim Dittemore won the series in a Formula 5000 specification Lola T192-Chevrolet. [1] [3] The Road Racing championship did not continue in 1972.

Schedule and results

All races running on Oval/Speedway. On February 18, the non-championship races at Rafaela were transformed into a points-paying double round, due to a request from race organizers. On June 3, the Langhorne round was cancelled by its promoter because of insufficient entries. He alleged that the event had been boycotted by a number of drivers refusing to race at the outdated venue, which was torn down at the end of the year. On June 30, USAC cancelled the race at the new Mountaineer Speedway, which was never built to completion. The 1971 season was the first time the 500 mile triple crown was on the schedule with the addition of Ontario Motor Speedway's California 500 the previous year & the Pocono 500 added in this season. [1] [2]

RndDateRace NameTrackLocationPole PositionWinning Driver
1February 28 Flag of Argentina.svg Rafaela Indy 300 Heat 1 Autódromo de Rafaela Rafaela, Argentina Flag of the United States.svg Lloyd Ruby Flag of the United States.svg Al Unser
2 Flag of Argentina.svg Rafaela Indy 300 Heat 2 Flag of the United States.svg Al Unser Flag of the United States.svg Al Unser
3March 27 Flag of the United States.svg Phoenix 150 Phoenix International Raceway Avondale, Arizona Flag of the United States.svg Bobby Unser Flag of the United States.svg Al Unser
4April 25 Flag of the United States.svg Trenton 200 Trenton International Speedway Trenton, New Jersey Flag of the United States.svg Bobby Unser Flag of the United States.svg Mike Mosley
5May 29 Flag of the United States.svg International 500 Mile Sweepstakes Indianapolis Motor Speedway Speedway, Indiana Flag of the United States.svg Peter Revson Flag of the United States.svg Al Unser
6June 6 Flag of the United States.svg Rex Mays Classic 150 Wisconsin State Fair Park Speedway West Allis, Wisconsin Flag of the United States.svg Bobby Unser Flag of the United States.svg Al Unser
-June 13 Flag of the United States.svg Langhorne 150 Langhorne Speedway Langhorne, Pennsylvania Race cancelled due to security concerns
7July 3 Flag of the United States.svg Inaugural Pocono 500 Pocono International Raceway Long Pond, Pennsylvania Flag of the United States.svg Mark Donohue Flag of the United States.svg Mark Donohue
8July 18 Flag of the United States.svg Michigan 200 Michigan International Speedway Brooklyn, Michigan Flag of the United States.svg Bobby Unser Flag of the United States.svg Mark Donohue
-August 8 Flag of the United States.svg Mountaineer 150Mountaineer Speedway Parkersburg, West Virginia Race cancelled
9August 15 Flag of the United States.svg Tony Bettenhausen 200 Wisconsin State Fair Park Speedway West Allis, Wisconsin Flag of the United States.svg Bobby Unser Flag of the United States.svg Bobby Unser
10September 5 Flag of the United States.svg California 500 Ontario Motor Speedway Ontario, California Flag of the United States.svg Mark Donohue Flag of the United States.svg Joe Leonard
11October 3 Flag of the United States.svg Trenton 300 Trenton International Speedway Trenton, New Jersey Flag of the United States.svg Bobby Unser Flag of the United States.svg Bobby Unser
12October 23 Flag of the United States.svg Bobby Ball 150 Phoenix International Raceway Avondale, Arizona Flag of the United States.svg Bobby Unser Flag of the United States.svg A. J. Foyt

Final points standings

Note 1: Donnie Allison, Carlos Pairetti, Denny Hulme, David Hobbs and Jim Hurtubise are not eligible for points.

Note 2: John Mahler qualified 21st at Indianapolis. His car was driven in the race by Dick Simon who started 33rd as a result of the driver change.

PosDriver RAF
Flag of Argentina.svg
PHX1
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
POC
Flag of the United States.svg
MIC
Flag of the United States.svg
MIL2
Flag of the United States.svg
ONT
Flag of the United States.svg
TRE2
Flag of the United States.svg
PHX2
Flag of the United States.svg
Pts
1 Flag of the United States.svg Joe Leonard 63424192219DNQ13103015
2 Flag of the United States.svg A. J. Foyt 17320317216512320
3 Flag of the United States.svg Bill Vukovich II 2553521410432250
4 Flag of the United States.svg Al Unser 11121113124171517212200
5 Flag of the United States.svg Lloyd Ruby 225131178216423241830
6 Flag of the United States.svg Bobby Unser 27241214918121181805
7 Flag of the United States.svg Gary Bettenhausen 11720161016622332451800
8 Flag of the United States.svg Mark Donohue 6192511186161760
9 Flag of the United States.svg Mario Andretti Wth91830114121933241370
10 Flag of the United States.svg Wally Dallenbach Sr. 722441544239111220
11 Flag of the United States.svg Art Pollard 24626516161622091170
12 Flag of the United States.svg Peter Revson 22171100
13 Flag of the United States.svg Roger McCluskey 54222292325318282221050
14 Flag of the United States.svg Jim Malloy 1421114DNS2613DNQ61030
15 Flag of the United States.svg Steve Krisiloff DNQ1131107245720990
16 Flag of the United States.svg Cale Yarborough 8813516DNQ32581411DNQ710
17 Flag of the United States.svg Mike Mosley 3231011319655
18 Flag of the United States.svg Swede Savage 453121623590
19 Flag of the United States.svg Johnny Rutherford 720211718671026Wth22570
20 Flag of the United States.svg Dick Simon 1361271491715DNQ22257405
21 Flag of the United States.svg Jim McElreath DNQ278276370
22 Flag of the United States.svg Bud Tingelstad 7DNQ1917300
23 Flag of the United States.svg LeeRoy Yarbrough 3Wth280
24 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg George Eaton  RY 9111018270
25 Flag of the United States.svg Greg Weld DNQ18121030814260
26 Flag of the United States.svg Denny Zimmerman 24191982224262013DNQ250
27 Flag of the United States.svg Gordon Johncock 910815291020232527DNQDNQ225
28 Flag of the United States.svg Sam Sessions DNQ2711DNQ7DNQ13220
29 Flag of the United States.svg George Snider 18332133145321415200
30 Flag of the United States.svg John Mahler 161623Wth239200
31 Flag of the United States.svg Larry Dickson 2861513DNS160
32 Flag of the United States.svg Bentley Warren 1024162623822Wth120
33 Flag of the United States.svg Karl Busson DNQ823DNQDNQ100
34 Flag of the United States.svg Bruce Walkup DNQ8DNQ29DNQ100
35 Flag of the United States.svg John Martin DNQ15912DNQDNQ100
36 Flag of the United States.svg Al Loquasto 9DNQDNQDNQ80
37 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Ludwig Heimrath Sr. 251810DNQ60
38 Flag of the United States.svg Jerry Karl 12Wth112260
39 Flag of the United States.svg Carl Williams DNQ1131261740
40 Flag of the United States.svg Salt Walther 1511DNQDNQ2030
41 Flag of the United States.svg Mel Kenyon 32DNQ2512DNQ30
42 Flag of the United States.svg Bill Simpson 171323DNQ1918DNQDNQ281215
43 Flag of the United States.svg Jimmy Caruthers Wth121319DNQ15
44 Flag of the United States.svg Dee Jones 261215DNQ15
- Flag of the United States.svg Donnie Allison 61728240
- Flag of Argentina.svg Carlos Pairetti  R 1290
- Flag of the United States.svg Bill Puterbaugh DNQ14DNQ13190
- Flag of the United States.svg Jerry Grant DNQ130
- Flag of the United States.svg Don Brown 1814142115DNQ0
- Flag of the United States.svg Bob Harkey 142229DNQDNQ0
- Flag of the United States.svg Dave Strickland 1915Wth0
- Flag of the United States.svg George Follmer 15DNQ0
- Flag of the United States.svg Max Dudley 2017DNQ0
- Flag of New Zealand.svg Denny Hulme 170
- Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Eldon Rasmussen  R 18DNQ0
- Flag of the United States.svg Arnie Knepper 20DNQ2520DNQ0
- Flag of the United Kingdom.svg David Hobbs 200
- Flag of the United States.svg Rick Muther 2225DNQDNQ21240
- Flag of the United States.svg Tom Bigelow 2122DNQ0
- Flag of the United States.svg Tom Sneva  R 21DNQ0
- Flag of the United States.svg Larry Cannon 2326WthDNQ0
- Flag of the United States.svg Jim Hurtubise DNQ30DNQ0
- Flag of Argentina.svg Jorge Cupeiro DNS0
- Flag of Argentina.svg Omar Cuvertino DNS0
- Flag of Argentina.svg Ángel Monguzzi DNS0
- Flag of Argentina.svg Carlos Salatino DNS0
- Flag of the United States.svg Jigger Sirois DNQ0
- Flag of the United States.svg Les ScottDNQ0
- Flag of the United States.svg Ralph Liguori DNQ0
- Flag of the United States.svg Danny Ongais DNQ0
- Flag of the United States.svg Bobby AllenDNQ0
- Flag of the United States.svg Jim Reynard DNQ0
- Flag of the United States.svg Gig Stephens DNQ0
- Flag of the United States.svg Bobby Johns DNQ0
- Flag of the United States.svg Sam Posey DNQ0
- Flag of the United States.svg Dick Tobias DNQ0
- Flag of the United States.svg Don Hawley DNQ0
- Flag of the United States.svg Johnny Parsons DNQ0
- Flag of the United States.svg Crockey Peterson DNQ0
- Flag of the United States.svg Bruce Jacobi Wth0
- Flag of the United States.svg Tony Adamowicz Wth0
- Flag of the United States.svg Ronnie Bucknum Wth0
PosDriver RAF1
Flag of Argentina.svg
RAF2
Flag of Argentina.svg
PHX1
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
POC
Flag of the United States.svg
MIC
Flag of the United States.svg
MIL2
Flag of the United States.svg
ONT
Flag of the United States.svg
TRE2
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

  1. 1 2 3 4 Waltz, Keith. "Sweeping Changes For USAC After 1970 Season". Speed Sport. Retrieved August 15, 2019.
  2. 1 2 Braddock, Bill (November 15, 1970). "$300,000 Marlboro Auto Slate Hits Paved Oval Trail in 1971". The New York Times. Retrieved August 15, 2019.
  3. Klopfer, Wolfgang (2004). Formula A and Formula 5000 in America. Books on Demand. p. 79. ISBN   383340566X.

See also