1980 USAC Championship Car season

Last updated

1980 USAC Championship Car season
Championship Racing League
Chaparral 2K.jpg
Champion: Johnny Rutherford
Season
Races5
Start dateApril 13
End dateJuly 13
Awards
National champion Flag of the United States.svg Johnny Rutherford
Indianapolis 500 winner Flag of the United States.svg Johnny Rutherford
  1979
1981–82  

The 1980 USAC Championship Car season consisted of five races, beginning in Ontario, California on April 13 and concluding in Lexington, Ohio on July 13. The USAC National Champion and Indianapolis 500 winner was Johnny Rutherford.

Contents

USAC and CART united in early 1980 to form a co-sanctioning agreement under the banner of the Championship Racing League (CRL). The entire season was supposed to run under this agreement, but only the first five races of the 1980 Indy/Championship Car season were run under CRL banner. Unhappy with the arrangement, USAC pulled out of the CRL after the Mid-Ohio race in July. USAC declared their 1980 season over after the five races, while CART finished out the remainder of the 1980 season on their own.

Johnny Rutherford, driving Jim Hall's revolutionary ground effects Chaparral 2K won three of the five races (including Indianapolis), and finished second in the other two. Rutherford won the USAC championship by a commanding point margin. Rutherford happened to score the most points under both USAC's five-race points distribution and CART's 12-race points championship, securing what could be considered "undisputed" or "unanimous" top driver honors for the calendar year of 1980.

Schedule and results

In January 1980, USAC initially released a ten-race schedule, with new venues Talladega, Charlotte, and Road Atlanta added to the schedule. [1] However, these three events were eventually scrapped when USAC entered into a joint sanctioning effort with CART.

Original schedule

RndDateRace NameLengthTrackLocation
1April 26Texas 200200 mi (320 km) O  Texas World Speedway College Station, Texas
2May 26 500 Mile International Sweepstakes 500 mi (800 km) O  Indianapolis Motor Speedway Speedway, Indiana
3June 8 Gould Rex Mays Classic 150 mi (240 km) O  Wisconsin State Fair Park Speedway West Allis, Wisconsin
4June 22 True Value 500 500 mi (800 km) O  Pocono International Raceway Long Pond, Pennsylvania
5July 13 Red Roof Inns 150 150 mi (240 km) R  Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course Lexington, Ohio
6July 27Road Atlanta 200150 mi (240 km) R  Road Atlanta Braselton, Georgia
7August 10 Tony Bettenhausen 150 200 mi (320 km) O  Wisconsin State Fair Park Speedway West Allis, Wisconsin
8August 24Alabama 200500 mi (800 km) O  Alabama International Motor Speedway Talladega, Alabama
9September 14Mosport 200150 mi (240 km) R  Mosport International Raceway Bowmanville, Ontario
10September 28Charlotte 500300 mi (480 km) O  Charlotte Motor Speedway Charlotte, North Carolina
O Oval/Speedway
R Road Course

Revised schedule

In the spring of 1980, USAC and CART merged their schedules for the newly created CRL Championship. With Talladega, Charlotte, and Road Atlanta already scrapped, Texas World Speedway was cancelled too. That track would soon cease to hold any more professional races, and Indy cars never raced at Texas World again. Mosport, which had held races in the past, was also dropped. Indianapolis, Milwaukee, Mid-Ohio, and Pocono, all were kept as part of the final merged schedule.

The co-sanctioning effort ended after only five races. USAC declared their involvement in the 1980 season over after Mid-Ohio. The remaining seven races were sanctioned solely by CART, and paid points to the CART championship only.

RndDateRace NameLengthTrackLocationPole PositionWinning Driver
1April 13Datsun Twin 200200 mi (320 km) O  Ontario Motor Speedway Ontario, California Flag of the United States.svg Johnny Rutherford Flag of the United States.svg Johnny Rutherford
2May 26 500 Mile International Sweepstakes 500 mi (800 km) O  Indianapolis Motor Speedway Speedway, Indiana Flag of the United States.svg Johnny Rutherford Flag of the United States.svg Johnny Rutherford
3June 8 Gould Rex Mays Classic 150 mi (240 km) O  Wisconsin State Fair Park Speedway West Allis, Wisconsin Flag of the United States.svg Gordon Johncock Flag of the United States.svg Bobby Unser
4June 22 True Value 500 500 mi (800 km) O  Pocono International Raceway Long Pond, Pennsylvania Flag of the United States.svg Bobby Unser Flag of the United States.svg Bobby Unser
5July 13 Red Roof Inns 150 150 mi (240 km) R  Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course Lexington, Ohio Flag of the United States.svg Al Unser Flag of the United States.svg Johnny Rutherford
Races sanctioned by CART only
NCJuly 20 Norton 200 200 mi (320 km) O  Michigan International Speedway Brooklyn, Michigan Flag of the United States.svg Bobby Unser Flag of the United States.svg Johnny Rutherford
NCAugust 3 Kent Oil 150 150 mi (240 km) R  Watkins Glen International Watkins Glen, New York Flag of the United States.svg Al Unser Flag of the United States.svg Bobby Unser
NCAugust 10 Tony Bettenhausen 200 200 mi (320 km) O  Wisconsin State Fair Park Speedway West Allis, Wisconsin Flag of the United States.svg Johnny Rutherford Flag of the United States.svg Johnny Rutherford
NCAugust 31 California 500 500 mi (800 km) O  Ontario Motor Speedway Ontario, California Flag of the United States.svg Bobby Unser Flag of the United States.svg Bobby Unser
NCSeptember 20 Gould Grand Prix 150 mi (240 km) O  Michigan International Speedway Brooklyn, Michigan Flag of the United States.svg Mario Andretti Flag of the United States.svg Mario Andretti
NCOctober 26 I Copa México 150 150 mi (240 km) R  Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez Mexico City, Mexico Flag of the United States.svg Bobby Unser Flag of the United States.svg Rick Mears
NCNovember 8 Miller High Life 150 150 mi (240 km) O  Phoenix International Raceway Avondale, Arizona Flag of the United States.svg Mario Andretti Flag of the United States.svg Tom Sneva
O Oval/Speedway
R Road Course/Street Circuit

Final points standings

PosDriver ONT
Flag of the United States.svg
INDY
Flag of the United States.svg
MIL
Flag of the United States.svg
POC
Flag of the United States.svg
MOH
Flag of the United States.svg
Pts
1 Flag of the United States.svg Johnny Rutherford 1*1*2212740
2 Flag of the United States.svg Tom Sneva 2263111970
3 Flag of the United States.svg Bobby Unser 23911*151334
4 Flag of the United States.svg Gordon Johncock 343*DNQ21330
5 Flag of the United States.svg Pancho Carter 1864671078
6 Flag of the United States.svg Bill Alsup 7DNQ943990
7 Flag of the United States.svg Rick Mears 2155129*766
8 Flag of the United States.svg Gary Bettenhausen 3123320726
9 Flag of the United States.svg Sheldon Kinser 13DNQ11724345
10 Flag of the United States.svg Danny Ongais 7241821330
11 Flag of the United States.svg Howdy Holmes DNQ15814266
12 Flag of the United States.svg Tom Bigelow 8250
13 Flag of the United States.svg Spike Gehlhausen 429DNQ245
14 Flag of the United States.svg Tom Bagley 5282329DNS220
15 Flag of the United States.svg Tim Richmond 9DNQDNQ22205
16 Flag of the United States.svg Larry Cannon 33DNQ9DNQ205
17 Flag of the United States.svg Roger Mears 9DNQ4180
18 Flag of the United States.svg Gordon Smiley 625170
19 Flag of the United States.svg Billy Engelhart 111013170
20 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Vern Schuppan DNQ55150
21 Flag of the United States.svg Lee Kunzman DNQ10DNQ150
22 Flag of the United States.svg Greg Leffler 10DNQ150
23 Flag of the United States.svg Tom Gloy 6120
24 Flag of the United States.svg Jerry Sneva 17814120
25 Flag of the United States.svg Herm Johnson 14DNQ1711116
26 Flag of the United States.svg Dick Ferguson 831DNQ105
27 Flag of the United States.svg Roger Rager 23268100
28 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Cliff Hucul 790
29 Flag of the United States.svg Bill Vukovich II 12212865
30 Flag of the United States.svg Jan Sneva 10DNQ60
31 Flag of the United States.svg Rick Muther 24DNQ181057
32 Flag of the United States.svg Jerry Karl 2114151854
33 Flag of the United States.svg Phil Caliva 15DNQ161250
34 Flag of the United States.svg Al Unser 162720241349
35 Flag of the United States.svg A. J. Foyt DNS141945
36 Flag of the United States.svg Ron Shuman 11DNQ40
37 Flag of the United States.svg Mario Andretti 201740
38 Flag of the United States.svg Dick Simon 221321DNQ38
39 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Dennis Firestone 163030
40 Flag of the United States.svg John Martin DNQ201628
41 Flag of the United States.svg Mike Mosley 19322328
42 Flag of the United States.svg John Wood 12DNQDNQ2325
43 Flag of the United States.svg Don Whittington 13DNQ25
44 Flag of the United States.svg George Snider 15DNQ25
45 Flag of the United States.svg Jim McElreath 242725
46 Flag of the United States.svg Bill Tempero 17DNQ161722
47 Flag of the United States.svg Joe Saldana 25DNQ22DNQ19
48 Flag of the United States.svg Phil Threshie DNQ222515
49 Flag of the United States.svg Johnny Parsons 26DNQ10
50 Flag of the United States.svg Billie Harvey 196
51 Flag of the United States.svg John Mahler DNQDNQ196
52 Flag of the United States.svg Bill Whittington 305
53 Flag of the United States.svg Al Loquasto DNQ315
54 Flag of the United States.svg Tony Bettenhausen Jr. DNQDNQ32DNQ5
- Flag of the United States.svg Hurley Haywood 180
- Flag of the United States.svg Pete Halsmer 20DNQ0
- Flag of the United States.svg Ross Davis 220
- Flag of the United States.svg Bob Frey DNQDNQ0
- Flag of the United States.svg Janet Guthrie DNQDNQ0
- Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Buddie Boys DNQDNQ0
- Flag of the United States.svg Rich Vogler DNQDNQ0
- Flag of the United States.svg Bob Harkey DNQDNQ0
- Flag of the United States.svg Dana Carter DNQ0
- Flag of the United States.svg Larry Dickson DNQ0
- Flag of the United States.svg Tom Frantz DNQ0
- Flag of the United States.svg Jim Hurtubise DNQ0
- Flag of the United States.svg Bill Puterbaugh DNQ0
- Flag of the United States.svg Salt Walther DNQ0
- Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Frank Weiss DNQ0
- Flag of the United States.svg Bruce Hill DNQ0
- Flag of the United States.svg Milt Harper DNQ0
PosDriver ONT
Flag of the United States.svg
INDY
Flag of the United States.svg
MIL
Flag of the United States.svg
POC
Flag of the United States.svg
MOH
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
Rookie of the Year
Rookie

References

  1. Miller, Robin (December 27, 1979). "USAC Announces 1980 Schedule". The Indianapolis Star. p. 31. Retrieved June 29, 2016 via Newspapers.com. Open Access logo PLoS transparent.svg

See also