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1979 Gould Twin Dixie 125

Second event of the 1979 CART season


Second event of the 1979 CART season

FieldValue
CountryUnited States
RaceGould Dixie Twin 125
ImageAtlanta_International_Speedway.svg
CaptionAtlanta International Speedway until 1996
DateApril 22
Year1979
Official nameGould Dixie Twin 125
Race_No2 and 3
Season_No14
SeriesCART
LocationAtlanta Motor Speedway
Hampton, Georgia, United States
CourseOval
Course_mi1.522
Course_km2.450
Distance_laps82
Distance_mi124.804
Distance_km200.900
WeatherUnknown
Pole_DriverJohnny Rutherford
Pole_TeamTeam McLaren
Pole_Time27.166
Pole_CountryUnited States
Fast_DriverUnknown
Fast_TeamUnknown
Fast_TimeUnknown
Fast_LapUnknown
Fast_Countrynone
First_DriverJohnny Rutherford
First_TeamTeam McLaren
First_CountryUnited States
Second_DriverLee Kunzman
Second_TeamConqueste Racing Team
Second_CountryUnited States
Third_DriverTom Sneva
Third_TeamJerry O'Connell Racing
Third_CountryUnited States
Weather_2Unknown
Pole_Driver_2Johnny Rutherford
Pole_Team_2Team McLaren
Pole_Time_2None (Awarded as the Winner of Race 1)
Pole_Country_2USA
Fast_Driver_2Unknown
Fast_Team_2Unknown
Fast_Time_2Unknown
Fast_Lap_2Unknown
Fast_Country_2none
First_Driver_2Johnny Rutherford
First_Team_2Team Mclaren
First_Country_2United States
Second_Driver_2Rick Mears
Second_Team_2Team Penske
Second_Country_2United States
Third_Driver_2Al Unser
Third_Team_2Chaparral Cars
Third_Country_2United States

Country = United States| Race = Gould Dixie Twin 125| Image = Atlanta_International_Speedway.svg| Caption = Atlanta International Speedway until 1996| Date = April 22| Year = 1979| Official name = Gould Dixie Twin 125| Race_No = 2 and 3| Season_No = 14| Series = CART| Location = Atlanta Motor Speedway Hampton, Georgia, United States| Course = Oval| Course_mi = 1.522| Course_km = 2.450| Distance_laps = 82| Distance_mi = 124.804| Distance_km = 200.900| Weather = Unknown| Pole_Driver = Johnny Rutherford| Pole_Team = Team McLaren| Pole_Time = 27.166| Pole_Country = United States| Fast_Driver = Unknown| Fast_Team = Unknown| Fast_Time = Unknown| Fast_Lap = Unknown| Fast_Country = none| First_Driver = Johnny Rutherford| First_Team = Team McLaren| First_Country = United States| Second_Driver = Lee Kunzman| Second_Team = Conqueste Racing Team| Second_Country= United States| Third_Driver = Tom Sneva| Third_Team = Jerry O'Connell Racing| Third_Country = United States| Weather_2 = Unknown| Pole_Driver_2 = Johnny Rutherford| Pole_Team_2 = Team McLaren| Pole_Time_2 = None (Awarded as the Winner of Race 1)| Pole_Country_2 = USA| Fast_Driver_2 = Unknown| Fast_Team_2 = Unknown| Fast_Time_2 = Unknown| Fast_Lap_2 = Unknown| Fast_Country_2 = none| First_Driver_2 = Johnny Rutherford| First_Team_2 = Team Mclaren| First_Country_2 = United States| Second_Driver_2 = Rick Mears| Second_Team_2 = Team Penske| Second_Country_2 = United States| Third_Driver_2 = Al Unser| Third_Team_2 = Chaparral Cars| Third_Country_2 = United States|

The 1979 Gould Dixie Twin 125 was an Indy car racing event consisting of the second and third rounds of the 1979 CART season, held on April 22, at Atlanta Motor Speedway, Hampton, Georgia.

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. Tom Sneva claimed third, Gordon Johncock fourth, and Rick Mears fifth.

Results

PosStaNoDriverTeamLapsTime/RetiredLedPts123456789101112131415161718
14USA Johnny RutherfordTeam McLaren8247:28.00030250
921USA Lee KunzmanConqueste Racing Team82-12200
51USA Tom SnevaJerry O'Connell Racing82-7175
220USA Gordon JohncockPatrick Racing82-32150
119USA Rick MearsTeam Penske82-0125
72USA Al UnserChaparral Cars82-0100
812USA Bobby UnserTeam Penske82-175
1611USA Tom BagleyLonghorn Racing81+ 1 Laps063
1310USA Pancho CarterMorales Motorsports81+ 1 Laps050
1477USA Salt WaltherWalmotor80+ 2 Laps038
640USA Wally DallenbachPatrick Racing79+ 3 Laps025
1834AUS Vern SchuppanWysard Racing75+ 7 Laps013
1569USA Joe SaldanaHoffman Racing58Fire05
425USA Danny OngaisInterscope Racing56Fuel Line05
127USA Steve KrisiloffBob Fletcher Racing53Transmission05
1741USA Bill AlsupWASP Racing42Over-Heating05
336USA Mike MosleyAll American Racers20Gearbox05
1019USA Spike GehlhausenGehlhausen Racing12Ignition05

Lap Leader Breakdown

LeaderFrom
LapTo
LapTotal #
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 Change12345678910
Johnny Rutherford460+2
Gordon Johncock450-10-1
Rick Mears365-95-1
Al Unser280-180=0
Lee Kunzman260-200+4
Bobby Unser225-235-1
Tom Sneva181-279+13
Tom Bagley138-322=0
Mike Mosley125-335-3
Wally 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 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/RetiredLedPts123456789101112131415161718
14USA Johnny RutherfordTeam McLaren8245:40.00061250
59USA Rick MearsTeam Penske82-1200
62USA Al UnserChaparral Cars82-0175
712USA Bobby UnserTeam Penske82-7150
31USA Tom SnevaJerry O'Connell Racing81+ 1 Lap0125
1411USA Tom BagleyLonghorn Racing81+ 1 Laps0100
825USA Danny OngaisInterscope Racing81+ 1 Lap075
1140USA Wally DallenbachPatrick Racing80+ 2 Laps063
420USA Gordon JohncockPatrick Racing80+ 2 Laps050
1077USA Salt WaltherWalmotor79+ 3 Laps1338
910USA Pancho CarterMorales Motorsports78+ 4 Laps025
1234AUS Vern SchuppanWysard Racing74Out of Fuel013
1369USA Joe SaldanaHoffman Racing72+ 10 Laps05
1835USA Larry RiceS&M Electric62+ 20 Laps05
1541USA Bill AlsupWASP Racing52Over-Heating05
1719USA Spike GehlhausenGehlhausen Racing13Oil Leak05
1636USA Mike MosleyAll American Racers3Engine05
221USA Lee KunzmanConqueste Racing Team3Gearbox05

Lap Leader Breakdown

LeaderFrom LapTo Lap# Of LapsJohnny RutherfordBobby UnserJohnny RutherfordSalt WaltherJohnny RutherfordRick MearsJohnny Rutherford
177
8147
152511
263813
396830
69691
708213

Points standings after this race

Note: Only top ten are listed

RankDriverPointsDiffPos Change12345678910
Johnny Rutherford710=0
Rick Mears565-145+1
Gordon Johncock500-210-1
Al Unser455-255=0
Bobby Unser375-335+1
Tom Sneva306-404+1
Lee Kunzman265-445-2
Tom Bagley213-497=0
Wally Dallenbach178-532+1
Mike Mosley130-580-1

References

References

  1. "Asbury Park Press from Asbury Park, New Jersey on April 23, 1979 · Page 40". Newspapers.com.
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