1979 Gould Twin Dixie 125

Last updated

Flag of the United States.svg 1979 Atlanta 1
Race details
Race 2 of 14 in the 1979 IndyCar season
Atlanta International Speedway.svg
Atlanta International Speedway until 1996
DateApril 22, 1979
Official name Gould Dixie Twin 125
Location Atlanta Motor Speedway
Hampton, Georgia, United States
CourseOval
1.522 mi / 2.450 km
Distance82 laps
124.804 mi / 200.900 km
Race 1
WeatherUnknown
Pole position
Driver Flag of the United States.svg Johnny Rutherford  (Team McLaren)
Time27.166
Fastest lap
DriverUnknown (Unknown)
TimeUnknown (on lap Unknown of 82)
Podium
First Flag of the United States.svg Johnny Rutherford  (Team McLaren)
Second Flag of the United States.svg Lee Kunzman  (Conqueste Racing Team)
Third Flag of the United States.svg Tom Sneva  (Jerry O'Connell Racing)
Race 2
WeatherUnknown
Pole position
Driver Flag of the United States.svg Johnny Rutherford  (Team McLaren)
TimeNone (Awarded as the Winner of Race 1)[ citation needed ]
Fastest lap
DriverUnknown (Unknown)
TimeUnknown (on lap Unknown of 82)
Podium
First Flag of the United States.svg Johnny Rutherford  (Team Mclaren)
Second Flag of the United States.svg Rick Mears  (Team Penske)
Third Flag of the United States.svg Al Unser  (Chaparral Cars)

The 1979 Gould Dixie Twin 125 were the second and third rounds of the 1979 IndyCar season, held on April 22, at Atlanta Motor Speedway, Hampton, Georgia.

Contents

Race 1

Summary

Johnny Rutherford won the pole for the first race, with Gordon Johncock starting second, Mike Mosley in third, Danny Ongais in fourth, and Tom Sneva in fifth.

In the race, Rutherford and Johncock dominated the first 60 laps. After a caution period ended with just 14 laps to go, Lee Kunzman managed to jump out to the lead. Johnny Rutherford caught up to him with eight laps to go, and the two dueled, with Rutherford passing him on the penultimate lap and holding on to win. [1] Tom Sneva claimed third, Gordon Johncock fourth, and Rick Mears fifth.

Results

PosStaNoDriverTeamLapsTime/RetiredLedPts
114 Flag of the United States.svg Johnny Rutherford Team McLaren 8247:28.00030250
2921 Flag of the United States.svg Lee Kunzman Conqueste Racing Team 82-12200
351 Flag of the United States.svg Tom Sneva Jerry O'Connell Racing 82-7175
4220 Flag of the United States.svg Gordon Johncock Patrick Racing 82-32150
5119 Flag of the United States.svg Rick Mears Team Penske 82-0125
672 Flag of the United States.svg Al Unser Chaparral Cars 82-0100
7812 Flag of the United States.svg Bobby Unser Team Penske 82-175
81611 Flag of the United States.svg Tom Bagley Longhorn Racing 81+ 1 Laps063
91310 Flag of the United States.svg Pancho Carter Morales Motorsports 81+ 1 Laps050
101477 Flag of the United States.svg Salt Walther Walmotor 80+ 2 Laps038
11640 Flag of the United States.svg Wally Dallenbach Patrick Racing 79+ 3 Laps025
121834 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Vern Schuppan Wysard Racing 75+ 7 Laps013
131569 Flag of the United States.svg Joe Saldana Hoffman Racing 58Fire05
14425 Flag of the United States.svg Danny Ongais Interscope Racing 56Fuel Line05
15127 Flag of the United States.svg Steve Krisiloff Bob Fletcher Racing 53Transmission05
161741 Flag of the United States.svg Bill Alsup WASP Racing 42Over-Heating05
17336 Flag of the United States.svg Mike Mosley All American Racers 20Gearbox05
181019 Flag of the United States.svg Spike Gehlhausen Gehlhausen Racing 12Ignition05

Lap Leader Breakdown

LeaderFrom
Lap
To
Lap
Total #
Of Laps
Johnny Rutherford11010
Gordon Johncock114232
Johnny Rutherford436018
Bobby Unser61611
Tom Sneva62687
Lee Kunzman698012
Johnny Rutherford81822

Points standings after this race

Note: Only top ten are listed

RankDriverPointsDiffPos Change
1Johnny Rutherford460+2
2Gordon Johncock450-10-1
3Rick Mears365-95-1
4Al Unser280-180=0
5Lee Kunzman260-200+4
6Bobby Unser225-235-1
7Tom Sneva181-279+13
8Tom Bagley138-322=0
9Mike Mosley125-335-3
10Wally Dallenbach115-345-3

Race 2

Summary

Johnny Rutherford won the pole for the second straight race, with Lee Kunzman, Tom Sneva, Gordon Johncock, and Rick Mears rounding out the top five. The race was dominated by Rutherford, who led 61 of the 82 laps, being only challenged by Bobby Unser and Salt Walther, who led 13 laps thanks to pit shuffling. Rick Mears placed second, Al Unser, who ran out of fuel on the last lap [1] claimed third, Bobby Unser fourth and Tom Sneva fifth. This was the last race victory for McLaren in IndyCar until the 2021 XPEL 375 at Texas Motor Speedway when Pato O'Ward took the win.

Results

PosStNoDriverTeamLapsTime/RetiredLedPts
114 Flag of the United States.svg Johnny Rutherford Team McLaren 8245:40.00061250
259 Flag of the United States.svg Rick Mears Team Penske 82-1200
362 Flag of the United States.svg Al Unser Chaparral Cars 82-0175
4712 Flag of the United States.svg Bobby Unser Team Penske 82-7150
531 Flag of the United States.svg Tom Sneva Jerry O'Connell Racing 81+ 1 Lap0125
61411 Flag of the United States.svg Tom Bagley Longhorn Racing 81+ 1 Laps0100
7825 Flag of the United States.svg Danny Ongais Interscope Racing 81+ 1 Lap075
81140 Flag of the United States.svg Wally Dallenbach Patrick Racing 80+ 2 Laps063
9420 Flag of the United States.svg Gordon Johncock Patrick Racing 80+ 2 Laps050
101077 Flag of the United States.svg Salt Walther Walmotor 79+ 3 Laps1338
11910 Flag of the United States.svg Pancho Carter Morales Motorsports 78+ 4 Laps025
121234 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Vern Schuppan Wysard Racing 74Out of Fuel013
131369 Flag of the United States.svg Joe Saldana Hoffman Racing 72+ 10 Laps05
141835 Flag of the United States.svg Larry Rice S&M Electric 62+ 20 Laps05
151541 Flag of the United States.svg Bill Alsup WASP Racing 52Over-Heating05
161719 Flag of the United States.svg Spike Gehlhausen Gehlhausen Racing 13Oil Leak05
171636 Flag of the United States.svg Mike Mosley All American Racers 3Engine05
18221 Flag of the United States.svg Lee Kunzman Conqueste Racing Team 3Gearbox05

Lap Leader Breakdown

LeaderFrom LapTo Lap# Of Laps
Johnny Rutherford177
Bobby Unser8147
Johnny Rutherford152511
Salt Walther263813
Johnny Rutherford396830
Rick Mears69691
Johnny Rutherford708213

Points standings after this race

Note: Only top ten are listed

RankDriverPointsDiffPos Change
1Johnny Rutherford710=0
2Rick Mears565-145+1
3Gordon Johncock500-210-1
4Al Unser455-255=0
5Bobby Unser375-335+1
6Tom Sneva306-404+1
7Lee Kunzman265-445-2
8Tom Bagley213-497=0
9Wally Dallenbach178-532+1
10Mike Mosley130-580-1

References

  1. 1 2 "Asbury Park Press from Asbury Park, New Jersey on April 23, 1979 · Page 40". Newspapers.com. Retrieved October 1, 2018.
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1979 Arizona Republic /
Jimmy Bryan 150
Indy Car Indycar World Series
1979 season
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1979 Indianapolis 500
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Gould Twin Dixie 125 Next race:
1979 Rich's Atlanta Classic
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