1973 USAC Championship Car season

Last updated

1973 USAC Championship Car season
USAC National Championship Trail
Season
Races16
Start dateApril 7
End dateNovember 3
Awards
National champion Flag of the United States.svg Roger McCluskey
Indianapolis 500 winner Flag of the United States.svg Gordon Johncock
  1972
1974  

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.

Contents

In this tragic season, two drivers were killed at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Art Pollard died in an accident while practicing for the Indy 500 while Swede Savage, who crashed during the race, died by complications one month later. Another driver, Salt Walther, suffered serious burns surviving a crash at the start of the race. In response to those accidents, USAC revised the rules in time for the Pocono 500. The rear wing width was cut back from 64 inches to 55, fuel tank capacity was drastically reduced (from 75 gallons to 40) and the allowable fuel to be consumed in a 500-mile race was reduced from 375 gallons to 340.

Schedule and results

All races running on Oval/Speedway.

RndDateRace NameTrackLocationPole PositionWinning Driver
-March 17 & 31 A Phoenix 150 Phoenix International Raceway Avondale, Arizona Race postponed twice; eventually cancelled
1April 7Texas 200 Texas World Speedway College Station, Texas Flag of the United States.svg Bobby Unser Flag of the United States.svg Al Unser
2April 15Trentonian 300 Heat #1 Trenton International Speedway Trenton, New Jersey Flag of the United States.svg Gordon Johncock Flag of the United States.svg A. J. Foyt
3Trentonian 300 Heat #2 Flag of the United States.svg A. J. Foyt Flag of the United States.svg Mario Andretti
4May 28, 29 & 30 B International 500 Mile Sweepstakes Indianapolis Motor Speedway Speedway, Indiana Flag of the United States.svg Johnny Rutherford Flag of the United States.svg Gordon Johncock
5June 10 Rex Mays Classic Wisconsin State Fair Park Speedway West Allis, Wisconsin Flag of the United States.svg Bobby Unser Flag of the United States.svg Bobby Unser
6July 1 Schaefer 500 Pocono International Raceway Long Pond, Pennsylvania Flag of the United States.svg Peter Revson Flag of the United States.svg A. J. Foyt
7July 15 Michigan 200 Michigan International Speedway Brooklyn, Michigan Flag of the United States.svg Bobby Unser Flag of the United States.svg Roger McCluskey
8August 12 Tony Bettenhausen 200 Wisconsin State Fair Park Speedway West Allis, Wisconsin Flag of the United States.svg Wally Dallenbach Sr. Flag of the United States.svg Wally Dallenbach Sr.
9August 26California 500 Qualification Heat 1 Ontario Motor Speedway Ontario, California Flag of the United States.svg Gordon Johncock Flag of the United States.svg Wally Dallenbach Sr.
10California 500 Qualification Heat 2 Flag of the United States.svg Johnny Rutherford Flag of the United States.svg Johnny Rutherford
11September 2 California 500 Flag of the United States.svg Peter Revson Flag of the United States.svg Wally Dallenbach Sr.
12September 16 Michigan Twin 125s #1 Michigan International Speedway Brooklyn, Michigan Flag of the United States.svg Gordon Johncock Flag of the United States.svg Bill Vukovich II
13 Michigan Twin 125s #2 Flag of the United States.svg Gary Bettenhausen Flag of the United States.svg Johnny Rutherford
14September 23Trenton 200 Trenton International Speedway Trenton, New Jersey Flag of the United States.svg Gordon Johncock Flag of the United States.svg Gordon Johncock
15October 6Texas 200 Texas World Speedway College Station, Texas Flag of the United States.svg Mario Andretti Flag of the United States.svg Gary Bettenhausen
16November 3 Arizona 150 Phoenix International Raceway Avondale, Arizona Flag of the United States.svg Gordon Johncock Flag of the United States.svg Gordon Johncock
^A Postponed due to infrastructure damage, and again on March 28 due to continued flooding. Eventually cancelled due to scheduling conflicts.
^B Scheduled for 500 miles, stopped early due to rain. See 1973 Indy 500

Final points standings

Note: Sam Posey, Peter Revson, Mark Donohue, David Hobbs, Jerry Grant, John Cannon, Graham McRae and Bobby Allison are not eligible for points. The Rookie of the Year was not awarded, because every rookie was not eligible for points.

PosDriver TXS TRE INDY MIL POC MIC MIL ONT MIC TRE TXS PHX Pts
200150500150500200200Q-H1Q-H2500125200200150
1 Flag of the United States.svg Roger McCluskey 78632216244131843705
2 Flag of the United States.svg Wally Dallenbach Sr. DNQDNQ244296111233622620
3 Flag of the United States.svg Johnny Rutherford 4159552181313142Wth2595
4 Flag of the United States.svg Bill Vukovich II 15322222433122411562032440
5 Flag of the United States.svg Mario Andretti 254130875191225271772400
6 Flag of the United States.svg Mike Mosley 3981024410253181423202345
7 Flag of the United States.svg Gordon Johncock 2322111814917532161712240
8 Flag of the United States.svg Gary Bettenhausen 2617532724202192824162093
9 Flag of the United States.svg Lloyd Ruby DNQ272134DNQ8286484111610
10 Flag of the United States.svg A. J. Foyt 11111251132510131420101580
11 Flag of the United States.svg Lee Kunzman 81197620123132010351260
12 Flag of the United States.svg Bobby Unser 2019151311020DNQ71016215181108
13 Flag of the United States.svg Al Unser 17320933222649212516191080
14 Flag of the United States.svg Mike Hiss 221413171062553279321111050
15 Flag of the United States.svg Joe Leonard 51351878237921127919151018
16 Flag of the United States.svg Mel Kenyon 1212104188916DNQ9940
17 Flag of the United States.svg John Martin 813287135870
18 Flag of the United States.svg Steve Krisiloff DNS186162218216127611821845
19 Flag of the United States.svg Jim McElreath 2311114620516650
20 Flag of the United States.svg Dick Simon 610714171217221122DNS23218440
21 Flag of the United States.svg Jimmy Caruthers 21162112161984158922DNS9408
22 Flag of the United States.svg Johnny Parsons DNQ30141392511515522390
23 Flag of the United States.svg Bentley Warren 2116DNQDNQ1678DNQ122210375
24 Flag of the United States.svg Swede Savage 135422330
25 Flag of the United States.svg Tom Bigelow DNQ143215711160
26 Flag of the United States.svg Lee Brayton 101712DNQ15DNQ1510161217133
27 Flag of the United States.svg Sam Sessions 9DNQ28131123DNQ120
28 Flag of the United States.svg John Hubbard DNQ19DNQ10141273
29 Flag of the United States.svg John Mahler Wth82650
30 Flag of the United States.svg Jerry Karl 2623261118DNQ40
31 Flag of the United States.svg Tom Sneva  R 26DNQDNQDNQ21141017191430
32 Flag of the United States.svg George Snider 1225141229
33 Flag of the United States.svg Larry Cannon DNQDNQ1611171425
34 Flag of the United States.svg Jigger Sirois DNQWth12DNS13DNQ20
- Flag of the United States.svg Sam Posey DNQ91160
- Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg John Cannon 10300
- Flag of the United Kingdom.svg David Hobbs 113113DNQ0
- Flag of the United States.svg Bob Harkey 2915DNQ130
- Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Eldon Rasmussen DNQDNQ130
- Flag of the United States.svg Larry McCoy 142014DNQDNQDNQ26152226240
- Flag of the United States.svg Bill Simpson DNQ14DNQ260
- Flag of the United States.svg Mark Donohue 1517DNQ290
- Flag of the United States.svg Al Loquasto DNQDNQDNQ1624DNQ19180
- Flag of the United States.svg Salt Walther 1622330
- Flag of New Zealand.svg Graham McRae  R 16DNQ0
- Flag of the United States.svg Dee Jones 172419Wth0
- Flag of the United States.svg Rick Muther 18DNQ19DNQDNQ250
- Flag of the United States.svg Crockey Peterson 2318200
- Flag of the United States.svg Jerry Grant 19330
- Flag of the United States.svg Art Pollard 19DNQWth0
- Flag of the United States.svg Joe Tetz DNQ200
- Flag of the United States.svg Peter Revson 3121230
- Flag of the United States.svg Jim Hurtubise DNQ23DNQ0
- Flag of the United States.svg Larry Dickson 24Wth0
- Flag of the United States.svg Bobby Allison  R 320
- Flag of the United States.svg Gig Stephens DNS0
- Flag of the United States.svg Billy Shuman DNQ0
- Flag of the United States.svg Arnie Knepper DNQ0
- Flag of the United States.svg Bill Puterbaugh DNQ0
- Flag of the United States.svg Greg Weld DNQ0
- Flag of the United States.svg Dan Murphy DNQ0
- Flag of the United States.svg Benny Rapp DNQ0
PosDriver TXS1

200
TRE1

150
TRE2

150
INDY

500
MIL1

150
POC

500
MIC1

200
MIL2

200
ONT

Q-H1
ONT

Q-H2
ONT

500
MIC2

125
MIC3

125
TRE3

200
TXS2

200
PHX

150
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

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1957 Indianapolis 500</span> 41st running of the Indianapolis 500

The 41st International 500-Mile Sweepstakes was held at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Thursday, May 30, 1957. The event was part of the 1957 USAC National Championship Trail and it was the third race of the eight-race 1957 World Championship of Drivers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1973 Indianapolis 500</span> 57th running of the Indianapolis 500

The 57th 500 Mile International Sweepstakes was held at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Speedway, Indiana, on Wednesday, May 30, 1973. The race was held over three days due to rain and suffered two major accidents. Three competitors—two drivers and one pit crew member—died from injuries suffered as a result of accidents that occurred during the month, another driver was critically injured, and over a dozen spectators suffered injuries and/or burns. After 133 laps, rain halted the race, and Gordon Johncock was declared the winner, the first of his two Indy triumphs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1986 Indianapolis 500</span> 70th running of the Indianapolis 500

The 70th Indianapolis 500 was held at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Speedway, Indiana on Saturday, May 31, 1986. After being rained out on May 25–26, the race was rescheduled for the following weekend. Bobby Rahal was the winner, becoming the first driver in Indy history to complete the 500 miles (800 km) in less than three hours. At an average speed of 170.722 mph (274.750 km/h), it was the fastest 500-mile Indy car race to that point.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1984 CART PPG Indy Car World Series</span> Sports season

The 1984 CART PPG Indy Car World Series season, the sixth in the CART era of U.S. open-wheel racing, consisted of 16 races, beginning in Long Beach, California on March 31 and concluding in Las Vegas, Nevada on November 10. The PPG Indy Car World Series Drivers' Champion was Mario Andretti and the Indianapolis 500 winner was Rick Mears. Rookie of the Year was Roberto Guerrero. The 68th Indianapolis 500 was sanctioned by the USAC, but counted in the CART points standings.

The 1981 CART PPG Indy Car World Series season, the third in the CART era of U.S. open-wheel racing, consisted of 11 races, beginning in Avondale, Arizona on March 22 and concluding at the same location on October 31. The PPG Indy Car World Series Drivers' Champion was Rick Mears despite missing Round 2 at Milwaukee due to injuries sustained in the Indianapolis 500. Rookie of the Year was Bob Lazier. After the disagreement with the USAC during the previous season, the 65th Indianapolis 500 was not part of the Series, however no competing race was scheduled and most CART teams and drivers did take part.

The 1982 CART PPG Indy Car World Series season, the fourth in the CART era of U.S. open-wheel racing, consisted of 11 races, beginning in Avondale, Arizona on March 28 and concluding at the same location on November 6. The PPG Indy Car World Series Drivers' Champion was Rick Mears. Rookie of the Year was Bobby Rahal.

The 1983 CART PPG Indy Car World Series season was the 5th national championship season of American open wheel racing sanctioned by CART. The season consisted of 13 races. Al Unser was the national champion, and the rookie of the year was Teo Fabi. The 1983 Indianapolis 500 was sanctioned by USAC, but an arrangement was made such that it counted towards the CART points championship. Tom Sneva won the Indy 500, after three previous runner-up finishes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1986 CART PPG Indy Car World Series</span> Sports season

The 1986 CART PPG Indy Car World Series season was the 8th national championship season of American open wheel racing sanctioned by CART. The season consisted of 17 races, and one non-points exhibition event. Bobby Rahal was the national champion, and the rookie of the year was Chip Robinson. The 1986 Indianapolis 500 was sanctioned by USAC, but counted towards the CART points championship. Bobby Rahal won the Indy 500, and would later become the first driver since 1980 to win Indy and the CART championship in the same season.

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 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 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.

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.

The 1967 USAC Championship Car season consisted of 21 races, beginning in Avondale, Arizona, on April 9 and concluding in Riverside, California, on November 26. This season saw three new road courses added to the schedule in addition to the Hoosier Grand Prix at IRP: Mosport in Canada; Circuit Mont-Tremblant also in Canada; and the season finale at Riverside International Raceway in southern California in the United States. The USAC National Champion and Indianapolis 500 winner was A. J. Foyt.

The Hoosier Hundred is a USAC Silver Crown Series race scheduled for Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park as of 2023. It is a revival of the original race held from 1953-2020 at the Indiana State Fairgrounds Speedway, a one-mile dirt oval in Indianapolis, Indiana. The race was first held in 1953, and through 1970 was part of the National Championship.

References

See also