1975 SCCA/USAC Formula 5000 Championship

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The 1975 SCCA/USAC Formula 5000 Championship was the ninth running of the Sports Car Club of America's professional open wheel automobile racing series and the second to be sanctioned jointly by the Sports Car Club of America and the United States Automobile Club. [1] The championship was open to cars complying with the SCCA's 5 liter (305 cid) American stock block engine specifications and to cars complying with the USAC's 161 cid turbocharged, 255 cid DOHC or 320 cid stock block engine regulations. [2]

Contents

The 1975 SCCA/USAC Formula 5000 Championship was won by Brian Redman driving a Lola T332 Chevrolet. [3]

In light of the Can Am Series' folding the previous year, the Formula 5000 Championship became the SCCA's flagship series in 1975. However, only two years later, the Formula 5000 category would form the basis for a revived Can Am Series. After 1975, Lola's dominance would end as March and Shadow cars would win events the following year. It would also be the end of Chevrolet's several year sweep of the championship as an engine manufacturer, as a Dodge powered car would garner a victory in 1976.

Calendar

1975 champion Brian Redman (pictured in 1969) Brian Redman 1969 kl.JPG
1975 champion Brian Redman (pictured in 1969)

The 1975 SCCA/USAC Formula 5000 Championship was contested over a nine race series. [2]

RaceDateRace nameLocationDistanceWinning driverWinning vehicleReport
1June 1Purolator 5000 Pocono International Raceway 35 laps Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Brian Redman Lola T332Chevrolet V8
2June 15Labatt's Blue 5000 Mosport Park 40 laps Flag of the United States.svg Mario Andretti Lola T332Chevrolet V8
3July 13 Watkins Glen International 30 laps Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Brian Redman Lola T332Chevrolet V8
4July 27 Road America 25 laps Flag of the United States.svg Mario Andretti Lola T332Chevrolet V8
5August 10Buckeye Cup [4] Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course 42 laps Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Brian Redman Lola T332Chevrolet V8
6August 31Atlanta Grand Prix Road Atlanta 40 laps Flag of the United States.svg Al Unser Lola T332Chevrolet V8
7September 28 Long Beach Grand Prix Long Beach, California 50 laps Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Brian Redman Lola T332Chevrolet V8 1975
8October 12 Monterey Grand Prix Laguna Seca Raceway 50 laps Flag of the United States.svg Mario Andretti Lola T332Chevrolet V8
9October 26 California Grand Prix Riverside International Raceway 40 laps Flag of the United States.svg Mario Andretti Lola T332Chevrolet V8

Points system

Championship points were awarded on a 36-24-16-12-8-5-4-3-2-1 basis for the first ten positions in each race. [2]

Championship standings

Position [5] Driver [5] Car [5] Points [5]
1 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Brian Redman Lola T332 Chevrolet
Lola T400 Chevrolet
227
2 Flag of the United States.svg Mario Andretti Lola T332 Chevrolet 165
3 Flag of the United States.svg Al Unser Lola T332 Chevrolet 161
4 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Jackie Oliver Shadow DN6 Chevrolet
Shadow DN6 Dodge
77
5 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Eppie Wietzes Lola T400 Chevrolet 60
6 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg David Hobbs Lola T332 Chevrolet 50
7 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Warwick Brown Talon MR1A Chevrolet 42
8 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Vern Schuppan Eagle Chevrolet 39
9 Flag of the United States.svg B.J. Swanson Lola T332 Chevrolet 32
10 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Tony Brise Lola T332 Chevrolet 17
11 Flag of the United States.svg John Morton Lola T332 Chevrolet
Lola T400 Chevrolet
15
12 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg John Cannon March 731/751 Chevrolet 13
13 Flag of the United States.svg Elliott Forbes-Robinson Lola T332 Chevrolet 12
= Flag of New Zealand.svg Chris Amon Talon MR1 Chevrolet 12
= Flag of the United States.svg John Woodner Lola T400 Chevrolet
Talon MR1 Chevrolet
12
16 Flag of the United States.svg Evan Noyes Lola T332 Chevrolet 10
17 Flag of the United States.svg Jerry Karl Lola T332 Chevrolet 7
= Flag of the United States.svg John Gunn Lola T332 Chevrolet 7
= Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Tony Dean Chevron B28 Chevrolet 7
= Flag of New Zealand.svg Graham McRae Lola T332 Chevrolet 7
21 Flag of the United States.svg Danny Ongais Lola T400 Chevrolet
Lola T332 Chevrolet
5
= Flag of the United States.svg Bobby Unser Eagle Chevrolet 5
= Flag of the United States.svg Gordon Johncock Lola T332 Chevrolet 5
24 Flag of the United States.svg Tuck Thomas Lola T332 Chevrolet 4
25 Flag of the United States.svg Bob Earle Lola T330 Chevrolet 3
26 Flag of the United States.svg James Dunkel Chevron B24 Chevrolet 2
= Flag of the United States.svg Roger Bighouse Chevron B24 Chevrolet 2
28 Flag of the United States.svg Dan Furey Lola T330 AMC 1
= Flag of the United States.svg Skeeter McKitterick Chevron B24/B28 Chevrolet 1
= Flag of the United States.svg Randy Lewis Lola T332 Chevrolet 1

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References

  1. 1967-1974, myf5000.com Retrieved on 22 May 2014
  2. 1 2 3 Facts Sheet, www.myf5000.com Retrieved on 22 May 2014
  3. Gordon Kirby, The Season in the USA, Automobiles Year 1975/76, pages 173 to 182
  4. "1975 Mid-Ohio F5000" . Retrieved 10 May 2022.
  5. 1 2 3 4 Wolfgang Kopfler, 1975 Formula 5000 Championship, Formula A and Formula 5000 in America - Race by Race, 2003, page 90