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1970 USAC Championship Car season

Sports season


Sports season

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. Also of note, the series added a second 500 mile race at the new Ontario Motor Speedway.

Entrants

(partial list)

TeamChassisEngineDriversRounds
United States Vel's Parnelli Jones RacingColt (1-9, 11-12, 16, 18),
King (10, 13-15, 17)FordUS Al UnserAll
ColtFordUS Joe Leonard4-5, 12
United States Leader Card RacingEagle (1-9, 11-12, 16, 18),
Watson (10, 13-15, 17),
Ward (17)Ford(1-5, 7, 9, 11-12, 16, 18),
Offenhauser (6, 8, 10, 13-15, 17)US Bobby UnserAll
Watson (1-11, 13-18),
Eagle (12)OffenhauserUS Mike MosleyAll
Epperly (1),
Coyote (4),
Watson (8-9, 12, 16, 18),
Dunlop (10, 13-15, 17)Offenhauser (1, 8-10, 12-17), Ford ( 4, 18)US George Snider1, 4, 8-10, 12-18
United States A.J. Foyt EnterprisesGerhardt (1, 3, 5),
Coyote (4, 12),
McElreath (10, 13-15, 17),
Eagle (18)Ford (4, 12, 18),
Chevrolet (10, 13-15, 17),
Offenhauser(1, 3, 5)US Jim McElreathAll
Coyote (1-5, 7-9, 11-12, 18),
Meskowski (10, 13-15)FordUS A.J. Foyt1-5, 7-15, 18
EagleFordUS Donnie Allison4
CoyoteFordUS George Snider4
United States Andy GranatelliGerhardt (1, 3, 5),
Coyote (4, 12),
McElreath (10, 13-15, 17),
Eagle (18)Ford (4, 12, 18), Chevrolet (10, 13-15, 17), Offenhauser (1, 3, 5)US Mario AndrettiAll
KuzmaOffenhauserUS Larry Dickson10, 13-15, 17
HawkFordUS George Folmer4, 12
KuzmaOffenhauserUS Bill Vukovich II17
HawkFordUS Steve Krisiloff16
United States Agajanian-Faas RacersBrabhamOffenhauserUS Bill Vukovich II2
United States Hayhoe Racing EnterprisesScorpion (1, 3-6, 7-9, 11-12, 16, 18),
Meskowski (15, 17)Ford (1, 3-6, 7-9, 11-12, 16, 18),,
Offenhauser (15, 17)US Roger McCluskey1, 3-6, 7-9, 11-12, 15-18
Gerhardt (1), King (3-5),
Vollstedt (7),
Morris (8, 11, 16, 18),
Scorpion (12)"Offenhauser (1, 3-5),
Ford (7-8, 11-12, 16, 18)US Art Pollard1, 3-5, 7-8, 11-12, 16, 18
United States Johncock Racing TeamGerhardt (1, 3-5),
McLaren (6, 8, 12, 16),
Eagle (2, 7, 9)Offenhauser (1, 3-6, 8, 12, 16),
Ford (2, 7, 9)US Gordon Johncock1-9, 12, 16
United States Jerry O-Connell RacingBrabhamOffenhauserUS Bill Vukovich II4, 18
United Kingdom BrabhamBrabhamOffenhauserAustralia Jack Brabham4, 12
United States Dayton-WaltherMorrisOffenhauserUS Bill Vukovich II5, 6
United States Racing InternationalVolstedt (1-6, 8-9, 12, 16, 18),
Morris (7),
Moore (17)Ford (1, 4-5, 7-9, 12, 16), Chevrolet (2-3),
Offenhauser (6, 17)US Dick Simon1-9, 12, 16-18
United States All American RacersEagleFord (2, 4),
Offenhauser (12)US Dan Gurney2, 4, 12
EagleFordUS Swede Savage7, 9, 12, 18
United States PenskeLolaChevrolet (2, 12),
Ford (4, 9)US Mark Donohue2, 4, 9, 12
United States McLarenMclaren (4),
Meskowski (10, 13-15, 17),
Gerhardt (12)OffenhauserUS Carl Williams4, 10, 12-15, 17
United States Patrick RacingEagle (2-6, 7-9, 11-12, 16, 18),
Lesovksy (10, 13-15, 17)Offenhauser (3-4, 8, 10-17),
Ford (2, 5-6, 9, 18)US Johnny Rutherford2-6, 8-18
United States Lindsey Hopkins RacingEagle (4-5, 11),
Kuzma (8-18)Ford (4-5, 11, 18),
Offenhauser (8)US Mel Kenyon4-5, 8, 11, 16
Eagle (1, 3-6, 8-9, 18),
Kuzma (14, 16)Offenhauser (1, 3-6, 8-9, 14, 16),
Ford (18)US Wally Dallenbach1, 3-6, 8-9, 14, 16, 18
United States Gene White RacingFinley (1, 3-6, 11, 16, 18),
Vollstedt (10, 13-15, 17)OffenhauserUS Lloyd Ruby1, 3-5, 7, 11-12, 16, 18
United States Vatis EnterprisesLaycockOffenhauser (1, 3-5, 7),
Ford (11-12, 16, 18)US Bentley Warren1, 3-6, 10-11, 13-17)
United States Don GerhardtGerhardt (1-6, 8-9, 11-12, 16, 18), Ward (10, 13-15), Edmunds (17)Offy (1, 3-6, 8-9, 11-18), Ford (10), Chevy (2)US Gary Bettenhausen1-6, 8-18
GerhardtOffenhauserUS Larry Dickson4
United States Volstedt RacingVolstedtFordUS Larry Dickson18

Schedule and results

RndDateRace nameLengthTrackLocationTypePole positionWinning driver12345678**NC**9101112131415161718
March 28USA Phoenix 150150 miPhoenix International RacewayAvondale, ArizonaPavedUSA Mario AndrettiUSA Al Unser
April 4USA Golden Gate 150151.38 miSears Point RacewaySonoma, CaliforniaRoadUSA Mark DonohueUSA Dan Gurney
April 26USA Trenton 200201 miTrenton International SpeedwayTrenton, New JerseyPavedUSA Al UnserUSA Lloyd Ruby
May 30USA [International 500 Mile Sweepstakes](1970-indianapolis-500)500 miIndianapolis Motor SpeedwaySpeedway, IndianaPavedUSA Al UnserUSA Al Unser
June 7USA Rex Mays Classic150 miWisconsin State Fair Park SpeedwayWest Allis, WisconsinPavedUSA Mario AndrettiUSA Joe Leonard
June 14USA Langhorne 150150 miLanghorne SpeedwayLanghorne, PennsylvaniaPavedUSA Bobby UnserUSA Bobby Unser
June 28USA Rocky Mountain 150151.62 miContinental Divide RacewaysMead, ColoradoRoadUSA Al UnserUSA Mario Andretti
July 4USA Michigan Twin 200s200 miMichigan International SpeedwayBrooklyn, MichiganPavedUSA Gary BettenhausenUSA Gary Bettenhausen
July 4USA Pikes Peak Auto Hill Climb12.42 miPikes Peak HighwayPikes Peak, ColoradoHillUSA Orville NanceUSA Ted Foltz
July 26USA Indy 150150 miIndianapolis Raceway ParkClermont, IndianaRoadUSA Mario AndrettiUSA Al Unser
August 22USA Tony Bettenhausen 100100 miIllinois State FairgroundsSpringfield, IllinoisDirtUSA Larry DicksonUSA Al Unser
August 23USA Tony Bettenhausen 200200 miWisconsin State Fair Park SpeedwayWest Allis, WisconsinPavedUSA Al UnserUSA Al Unser
September 6USA [California 500](1970-california-500)500 miOntario Motor SpeedwayOntario, CaliforniaPavedUSA Lloyd RubyUSA Jim McElreath
September 7USA Ted Horn Memorial 100100 miDuQuoin State FairgroundsDu Quoin, IllinoisDirtUSA Al UnserUSA Al Unser
September 12USA Hoosier Hundred100 miIndiana State FairgroundsIndianapolis, IndianaDirtUSA Johnny ParsonsUSA Al Unser
September 19USA Sedalia 100100 miState Fair RacewaySedalia, MissouriDirtUSA Al UnserUSA Al Unser
October 3USA Trenton 300264 miTrenton International SpeedwayTrenton, New JerseyPavedUSA Al UnserUSA Al Unser
October 4USA Golden State 100100 miCalifornia State FairgroundsSacramento, CaliforniaDirtUSA Mario AndrettiUSA Al Unser
November 21USA Bobby Ball 150150 miPhoenix International RacewayAvondale, ArizonaPavedUSA Al UnserUSA Swede Savage

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.

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.

PosDriverPHX1
USASON
USATRE1
USA[INDY](1970-indianapolis-500)
USAMIL1
USALAN
USACDR
USAMIS
USAIRP
USASPR
USAMIL2
USAONT
USADQSF
USAISF
USASED
USATRE2
USASAC
USAPHX2
USAPts1513022260320604190051890613807116081110911051010801110001296013860147901577516710176201861519570205302146022440234202440025365263152731028305293003029531260322003319534180351803613037110381003910040904180428043654460456046504740484049105010-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0PosDriverPHX1
USASON
USATRE1
USA[INDY](1970-indianapolis-500)
USAMIL1
USALAN
USACDR
USAMIS
USAIRP
USASPR
USAMIL2
USAONT
USADQSF
USAISF
USASED
USATRE2
USASAC
USAPHX2
USAPts
USA Al Unser13**3****1**32**5**1811**1**9**1**1**1****1**1**2**
USA Bobby Unser2184116**1**4224919222DNQDNQ2617
USA Jim McElreath675DNS31Wth1013165
USA Mike Mosley5752173154141051418543820
USA Mario Andretti**13**226**5**8121**18**2424101711221**14**8
USA Roger McCluskeyDNQDNQ252Wth7922510553
USA Gordon Johncock1841528121071234DNQ
USA Art Pollard112130181917112624
USA A. J. Foyt4Wth61024381215715103DNQ23
USA Dick Simon2469141191119133DNQDNQ9
USA Dan Gurney1318
USA Johnny Rutherford5201814DNQ31711213111DNQ124136
USA Mel Kenyon16DNQ10369
USA Lloyd Ruby312741720**23**2216
USA Bentley WarrenDNQ8DNQ10654DNQ852011DNQ
USA Gary Bettenhausen1721122695**1**222017199DNQ16DNQ919
USA Wally Dallenbach Sr.10171787165928DNS154
USA Swede Savage28271
USA Jim Malloy3319451622DNQ11DNQ1271313
USA Greg Weld1832DNQ2771578DNQ4
USA George Snider720232314DNQ414151827
USA Carl Williams9212DNQ15DNQ10
USA Jerry Grant22717621DNQ14
USA Rick Muther8DNQ14DNQ33822
USA Sam Sessions12DNQ21617DNQ41112
USA Steve Krisiloff81510DNQ221318DNQ297DNS
USA Larry DicksonDNQ**25**DNQ3DNQ3DNS11
USA John Mahler1316DNQ158961412DNQ
USA Joe Leonard24113
USA Bill Simpson221019DNQ20191476DNQ1921
USA Ralph LiguoriDNQ1352DNQ15
USA Bill Vukovich IIDNS20DNP231312DNQ310
USA Max Dudley8229DNQ10DNQ
USA Bruce Jacobi199DNQ2020415DNQDNQDNQDNQDNQ
USA Tom BigelowWthDNQ17DNQ7137DNQ61717DNQ
USA Bob Harkey1216176139DNQDNQ
USA Merle Bettenhausen87
USA Dee JonesDNQ8DNQ
USA Karl Busson911DNS182223DNSDNQDNQDNQ1415
USA Bud TingelstadWth252416DNQ1018
USA Bruce Walkup16292116DNS1326231614614DNQDNQDNQ
USA Jimmy Caruthers6DNP
USA Jerry Karl122413WthDNQ11DNQ1225DNQ
CAN Ludwig Heimrath Sr.231423DNQ1210
USA Ronnie Bucknum1615DNQDNP2011
USA Dick Tobias198
USA Will Cagle21DNQ9DNQDNQ
USA Arnie KnepperDNQ15111822DNQDNQDNQ
USA Johnny ParsonsDNQ1612**17**18DNQDNQ
USA Johnny Anderson2012
USA Mark Donohue**25**2230
CAN John Cannon11DNQ4DNQ
USA Donnie Allison4
USA Peter Revson225
USA LeeRoy Yarbrough198
USA Jack Eiteljorg10DNQ
USA Ron Grable11
AUS Kevin Bartlett12DNQ1626
USA Ned Spath141713DNQ
USA Larry CannonDNQDNQWth1813DNQDNQ16DNQ
AUS Jack Brabham13DNQ
USA Darrell Dockery152314DNQ2323DNQDNQ
USA Al Loquasto24DNQDNQ1423
USA John Martin15DNQ
USA Al MillerWth15
USA Bill PuterbaughDNQDNSDNQDNQ1617
USA Sonny AtesWth16
USA Salt WaltherDNS18
USA Jerry PolandDNQ18DNQ
USA Crockey Peterson1920DNQ
USA Scooter Patrick19
USA George Follmer312120
USA Bud MorleyWth21DNQ
ITA Nick Dioguardi21
USA Gig Stephens2226
USA Bob DeJongDNQDNQ22DNQDNQ
USA Don Brown24DNQ
USA Jim HurtubiseDNQ32
USA Ron BurkeDNQDNQDNQDNS
USA Ed MarshallDNQDNS
USA Leigh EarnshawDNQDNQDNQDNQ
USA Jigger SiroisDNQDNQ
USA Keith RachwitzDNQDNQ
USA Lee KunzmanWthDNQ
USA Denny ZimmermanDNQDNQ
USA Rollie BealeDNQDNQ
USA Jim ReynardDNQDNQ
USA Bob GreggDNQ
USA Tony AdamowiczDNQ
USA Sam PoseyDNQ
USA Charlie GlotzbachWth
NZL Chris AmonWth
NZL Denny HulmeWth
ARG Carlos PairettiWth
USA Bob VeithWth
USA Les ScottDNQ
USA Gary PonziniDNQ
USA Bob AllenDNQ
USA Tom SnevaDNQ
USA Dave StricklandDNQ
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

|- |

Rookie

|} |}

References

  • http://media.indycar.com/pdf/2011/IICS_2011_Historical_Record_Book_INT6.pdf (p. 232-237)
  • https://www.oldracingcars.com/indy/results/1970/indianapolis500/ Retrieved July 30, 2025
  • https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/database/championships/1970-usac-national-championship/ Retrieved July 30, 2025
  • https://www.oldracingcars.com/indy/results/1970/indianapolis500/ Retrieved July 30, 2025
  • http://www.ultimateracinghistory.com/racelist.php?year=1970 Retrieved July 30, 2025
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