From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

1970 USAC Championship Car season
USAC National Championship Trail
Season
Races18
Start dateMarch 28
End dateNovember 21
Awards
National champion United States Al Unser
Indianapolis 500 winner United States Al Unser
←  1969
1971 (ChampCar)
1971 (Dirt Car) →

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.

Schedule and results

Rnd Date Race Name Length Track Location Type Pole Position Winning Driver
1 March 28 United States Phoenix 150 150 mi (240 km) Phoenix International Raceway Avondale, Arizona Paved United States Mario Andretti United States Al Unser
2 April 4 United States Golden Gate 150 151.38 mi (243.62 km) Sears Point Raceway Sonoma, California Road United States Mark Donohue United States Dan Gurney
3 April 26 United States Trenton 200 201 mi (323 km) Trenton International Speedway Trenton, New Jersey Paved United States Al Unser United States Lloyd Ruby
4 May 30 United States International 500 Mile Sweepstakes 500 mi (800 km) Indianapolis Motor Speedway Speedway, Indiana Paved United States Al Unser United States Al Unser
5 June 7 United States Rex Mays Classic 150 mi (240 km) Wisconsin State Fair Park Speedway West Allis, Wisconsin Paved United States Mario Andretti United States Joe Leonard
6 June 14 United States Langhorne 150 150 mi (240 km) Langhorne Speedway Langhorne, Pennsylvania Paved United States Bobby Unser United States Bobby Unser
7 June 28 United States Rocky Mountain 150 151.62 mi (244.01 km) Continental Divide Raceways Mead, Colorado Road United States Al Unser United States Mario Andretti
8 July 4 United States Michigan Twin 200s 200 mi (320 km) Michigan International Speedway Brooklyn, Michigan Paved United States Gary Bettenhausen United States Gary Bettenhausen
NC July 4 United States Pikes Peak Auto Hill Climb 12.42 mi (19.99 km) Pikes Peak Highway Pikes Peak, Colorado Hill United States Orville Nance A United States Ted Foltz
9 July 26 United States Indy 150 150 mi (240 km) Indianapolis Raceway Park Clermont, Indiana Road United States Mario Andretti United States Al Unser
10 August 22 United States Tony Bettenhausen 100 100 mi (160 km) Illinois State Fairgrounds Springfield, Illinois Dirt United States Larry Dickson United States Al Unser
11 August 23 United States Tony Bettenhausen 200 200 mi (320 km) Wisconsin State Fair Park Speedway West Allis, Wisconsin Paved United States Al Unser United States Al Unser
12 September 6 United States California 500 500 mi (800 km) Ontario Motor Speedway Ontario, California Paved United States Lloyd Ruby United States Jim McElreath
13 September 7 United States Ted Horn Memorial 100 100 mi (160 km) DuQuoin State Fairgrounds Du Quoin, Illinois Dirt United States Al Unser United States Al Unser
14 September 12 United States Hoosier Hundred 100 mi (160 km) Indiana State Fairgrounds Indianapolis, Indiana Dirt United States Johnny Parsons United States Al Unser
15 September 19 United States Sedalia 100 100 mi (160 km) State Fair Raceway Sedalia, Missouri Dirt United States Al Unser United States Al Unser
16 October 3 United States Trenton 300 264 mi (425 km) B Trenton International Speedway Trenton, New Jersey Paved United States Al Unser United States Al Unser
17 October 4 United States Golden State 100 100 mi (160 km) California State Fairgrounds Sacramento, California Dirt United States Mario Andretti United States Al Unser
18 November 21 United States Bobby Ball 150 150 mi (240 km) Phoenix International Raceway Avondale, Arizona Paved United States Al Unser United States Swede Savage
  Paved/Dirt Oval
  Road Course/Hill Climb
  Non-championship race

^A No pole is awarded for the Pikes Peak Hill Climb, in this schedule on the pole is the driver who started first. No lap led was awarded for the Pikes Peak Hill Climb, however, a lap was awarded to the drivers that completed the climb.
^B Scheduled for 300 miles, stopped early due to rain.

Final points standings

Note: Mark Donohue, Kevin Bartlett, Peter Revson, LeeRoy Yarbrough, John Cannon, Donnie Allison, Ron Grable, Jack Eiteljorg and Jack Brabham are not eligible for points.

Pos Driver PHX1
United States
SON
United States
TRE1
United States
INDY
United States
MIL1
United States
LAN
United States
CDR
United States
MIC
United States
IRP
United States
SPR
United States
MIL2
United States
ONT
United States
DQSF
United States
ISF
United States
SED
United States
TRE2
United States
SAC
United States
PHX2
United States
Pts
1 United States Al Unser 1 3 3 1 3 2 5 18 1 1 1 9 1 1 1 1 1 2 5130
2 United States Bobby Unser 2 18 4 11 6 1 4 2 24 9 19 22 2 DNQ DNQ 2 6 17 2260
3 United States Jim McElreath 6 7 5 DNS 3 1 Wth 10 13 DNP 16 5 2060
4 United States Mike Mosley 5 7 5 21 7 3 15 4 14 10 5 14 18 5 4 3 8 20 1900
5 United States Mario Andretti 13 2 2 6 5 8 1 21 18 24 24 10 17 11 2 21 14 8 1890
6 United States Roger McCluskey DNQ DNQ 25 2 Wth 7 9 DNP 2 25 10 5 5 3 1380
7 United States Gordon Johncock 18 4 15 28 12 10 7 12 3 4 DNQ 1160
8 United States Art Pollard 11 21 30 18 DNP 19 17 DNP 11 2 6 24 1110
9 United States A. J. Foyt 4 Wth 6 10 24 3 8 12 15 7 15 10 3 DNQ 23 1105
10 United States Dick Simon  R  24 6 9 14 11 9 11 19 13 3 DNQ DNQ 9 1080
11 United States Dan Gurney 1 3 18 1000
12 United States Johnny Rutherford DNP 5 20 18 14 DNQ 3 17 11 21 31 11 DNQ 12 4 13 6 960
13 United States Mel Kenyon 16 DNQ 10 3 6 9 860
14 United States Lloyd Ruby 3 1 27 4 DNP 17 20 23 22 16 790
15 United States Bentley Warren  R  DNQ 8 DNQ 10 6 5 4 DNQ 8 5 20 11 775
16 United States Gary Bettenhausen 17 21 12 26 9 5 1 22 20 17 19 9 DNQ 16 DNQ 9 19 710
17 United States Wally Dallenbach Sr. 10 17 17 8 7 DNP 16 5 9 28 DNS 15 4 620
18 United States Swede Savage 2 8 27 1 615
19 United States Jim Malloy 33 19 4 5 16 22 DNQ 11 DNQ 12 7 13 DNP 13 570
20 United States Greg Weld 18 32 DNQ DNP 27 7 15 7 8 DNQ 4 530
21 United States George Snider 7 20 23 23 14 DNQ 4 14 15 18 2 7 460
22 United States Carl Williams 9 2 12 DNQ 15 DNQ 10 440
23 United States Jerry Grant 22 7 17 DNP 6 21 DNQ 14 420
24 United States Rick Muther 8 DNQ 14 DNQ 33 8 22 400
25 United States Sam Sessions 12 DNQ 21 6 17 DNQ 4 11 DNP 12 365
26 United States Steve Krisiloff 8 15 10 DNQ 22 13 18 DNQ 29 7 DNS 315
27 United States Larry Dickson DNQ 25 DNQ 3 DNQ 3 DNS 11 310
28 United States John Mahler  R  13 16 DNQ 15 8 9 6 14 12 DNQ 305
29 United States Joe Leonard 24 1 13 300
30 United States Bill Simpson 22 10 19 DNQ 20 19 14 7 6 DNQ 19 21 295
31 United States Ralph Liguori DNQ 13 5 2 DNQ 15 260
32 United States Bill Vukovich II DNS 20 DNP 23 13 12 DNP DNQ 3 10 200
33 United States Max Dudley 8 22 9 DNQ 10 DNQ 195
34 United States Bruce Jacobi 19 9 DNQ 20 20 4 15 DNQ DNQ DNQ DNQ DNQ 180
35 United States Tom Bigelow DNQ DNQ 17 DNQ 7 13 7 DNQ 6 17 17 DNQ 180
36 United States Bob Harkey 12 16 17 6 13 9 DNQ DNQ 130
37 United States Merle Bettenhausen  R  DNP 8 7 110
38 United States Dee Jones DNQ 8 DNQ 100
39 United States Karl Busson  R  9 11 DNS 18 22 23 DNS DNQ DNQ DNQ 14 15 100
40 United States Bud Tingelstad DNQ 25 24 16 DNQ 10 18 90
41 United States Bruce Walkup 16 29 21 16 DNS 13 26 23 16 14 6 14 DNQ DNQ DNQ 80
42 United States Jimmy Caruthers  R  6 DNP 80
43 United States Jerry Karl 12 24 13 DNQ DNQ 11 DNQ DNP 12 25 DNQ 65
44 Canada Ludwig Heimrath Sr. 23 14 23 DNQ 12 10 60
45 United States Ronnie Bucknum 16 15 DNQ DNP 20 DNP 11 60
46 United States Dick Tobias  R  19 8 50
47 United States Will Cagle  R  21 DNQ 9 DNQ DNQ 40
48 United States Arnie Knepper DNQ 15 11 18 22 DNQ DNQ DNQ 40
49 United States Johnny Parsons DNQ 16 12 17 18 DNQ DNQ 10
50 United States Johnny Anderson 20 12 10
- United States Mark Donohue 25 2 2 30 0
- Canada John Cannon 11 DNQ DNP 4 DNQ 0
- United States Donnie Allison  R  4 0
- United States Peter Revson 22 5 0
- United States LeeRoy Yarbrough 19 8 0
- United States Jack Eiteljorg 10 DNQ 0
- United States Ron Grable  R  11 0
- Australia Kevin Bartlett 12 DNQ 16 26 0
- United States Ned Spath 14 17 13 DNQ 0
- United States Larry Cannon  R  DNQ DNQ 18 13 DNQ DNQ 16 DNP DNQ 0
- Australia Jack Brabham 13 DNQ 0
- United States Darrell Dockery  R  15 23 14 DNQ 23 23 DNQ DNQ 0
- United States Al Loquasto 24 DNQ DNQ 14 DNP 23 0
- United States John Martin  R  15 DNQ 0
- United States Al Miller 15 0
- United States Bill Puterbaugh DNQ DNS DNQ DNQ 16 17 DNP 0
- United States Sonny Ates DNQ 16 DNP 0
- United States Salt Walther  R  DNS 18 0
- United States Jerry Poland  R  DNQ 18 DNQ 0
- United States Crockey Peterson  R  19 20 DNQ 0
- United States Scooter Patrick  R  19 0
- United States George Follmer 31 21 20 0
- United States Bud Morley 21 DNQ 0
- Italy Nick Dioguardi  R  21 0
- United States Gig Stephens 22 26 0
- United States Bob DeJong  R  DNP DNQ DNQ 22 DNQ DNQ 0
- United States Don Brown  R  24 DNQ 0
- United States Jim Hurtubise DNQ 32 0
- United States Ron Burke DNQ DNQ DNQ DNS 0
- United States Ed Marshall DNQ DNS 0
- United States Leigh Earnshaw DNQ DNQ DNQ DNQ 0
- United States Jigger Sirois DNQ DNP DNQ 0
- United States Keith Rachwitz DNQ DNP DNQ 0
- United States Lee Kunzman DNQ DNQ 0
- United States Denny Zimmerman DNQ DNQ 0
- United States Rollie Beale DNQ DNQ 0
- United States Jim Reynard DNQ DNQ 0
- United States Bob Gregg DNP DNQ 0
- United States Tony Adamowicz DNQ 0
- New Zealand Chris Amon DNQ 0
- United States Charlie Glotzbach DNQ 0
- New Zealand Denny Hulme DNQ 0
- New Zealand Bruce McLaren DNQ 0
- Australia Butch Morley DNQ 0
- Argentina Carlos Pairetti DNQ 0
- United States Sam Posey DNQ 0
- United States Bob Veith DNQ 0
- United States Les Scott DNQ 0
- United States Gary Ponzini DNQ 0
- United States Bob Allen DNQ 0
- United States Tom Sneva DNQ 0
- United States Dave Strickland DNQ 0
- United States Carl Adams DNP 0
Pos Driver PHX1
United States
SON
United States
TRE1
United States
INDY
United States
MIL1
United States
LAN
United States
CDR
United States
MIC
United States
IRP
United States
SPR
United States
MIL2
United States
ONT
United States
DQSF
United States
ISF
United States
SED
United States
TRE2
United States
SAC
United States
PHX2
United States
Pts
Color Result
Gold Winner
Silver 2nd place
Bronze 3rd place
Green 4th & 5th place
Light Blue 6th-10th place
Dark Blue Finished
(Outside Top 10)
Purple Did not finish
(Ret)
Red Did not qualify
(DNQ)
Brown Withdrawn
(Wth)
Black Disqualified
(DSQ)
White Did not start
(DNS)
Blank Did not
participate
(DNP)
Not competing
In-line notation
Bold Pole position
Italics Ran fastest race lap
* Led most race laps
 RY  Rookie of the Year
 R  Rookie

References

  • Åberg, Andreas. "USAC National Championship 1970". Driver Database. Archived from the original on March 25, 2008. Retrieved May 12, 2009.
  • "1970 USAC National Championship Trail". ChampCarStats.com. Archived from the original on November 22, 2008. Retrieved May 12, 2009.
  • Harms, Phil. "1970 Championship Driver Summary" (PDF). Motorsport.com. Archived from the original (PDF) on August 10, 2012. Retrieved May 3, 2011.
  • http://media.indycar.com/pdf/2011/IICS_2011_Historical_Record_Book_INT6.pdf Archived 2016-03-04 at the Wayback Machine (p. 232-237)

See also