1979 SCCA/CART Indy Car Series

1979 CART season
SCCA/CART Indy Car Series
Season
Races 14
Start date March 11
End date October 20
Awards
Drivers' champion United States Rick Mears
Constructors' Cup United States Penske
Manufacturers' Cup United Kingdom Cosworth
Nations' Cup United States United States
Rookie of the Year United States Bill Alsup
Indianapolis 500 winner United States Rick Mears
Chronology
Previous season Next season
1978 (USAC) 1980

The 1979 SCCA/CART Indy Car Series was the inaugural season for the CART Indy car series. It was the first national championship season of American open wheel racing sanctioned by CART. The season consisted of 14 races. Rick Mears was the national champion, and the rookie of the year was Bill Alsup. The 1979 Indianapolis 500 was sanctioned by USAC, but counted towards the CART points championship. Rick Mears won the Indy 500, his first of four victories in the event.

The 1979 season was filled with controversy on and off the track. During the offseason, several Indy car owners broke off from USAC, and formed Championship Auto Racing Teams, a new sanctioning body to govern the sport of open wheel Indy car racing. USAC continued to sanction their Gold Crown Championship, resulting in two parallel national championships for 1979. The controversy over the first "split" in Indy car racing came to its first climax at the 1979 Indianapolis 500, when USAC rejected entries by certain CART owners. The owners won a court injunction to be allowed to race, and later, another controversy erupted, this time involving illegal wastegate exhaust pipes.

The 1979 CART season was held through an arrangement such that it fell under the sanctioning umbrella of SCCA. This one-year, temporary arrangement was such that it would be formally recognized by ACCUS.

With three wins, two poles, and 14 top tens (no finish worse than 7th), Rick Mears ran way with the inaugural CART championship title. Mears took a large points lead after winning the Indy 500, and never relinquished the top spot through the remainder of the season. Bobby Unser won six races, and finished second in points.

USAC/CART "Split"

For more information, see 1979 Indianapolis 500 § Controversies

Drivers and constructors

The following teams and drivers competed for the 1979 CART World Series.

Team/Car Owner Chassis Engine Tires # Driver(s) Notes
United States Jerry O'Connell Racing McLaren Cosworth G 1 United States Tom Sneva
32 United States Johnny Parsons Ontario only.
United States Chaparral Cars Lola
Chaparral
Cosworth G 2 United States Al Unser Used Lola chassis at all races through Atlanta (2).
United States Team McLaren McLaren Cosworth G 4 United States Johnny Rutherford
United States Bob Fletcher Racing Lightning Cosworth G 7 United States Steve Krisiloff All races through Trenton (3) only.
55 United States Spike Gehlhausen Ontario, Michigan (3), Atlanta (3) and Phoenix (2) only.
United States Team Penske Penske Cosworth G 9 United States Rick Mears
12 United States Bobby Unser
68 United States Bill Alsup Indianapolis only.
99 United States Mario Andretti Ontario and Michigan (3) only.
United States Morales Motorsports Lightning Offenhauser
Cosworth
G 10 United States Pancho Carter Used Cosworth engine at Atlanta (1 and 2).
15 United States Bob Harkey Ontario only. Used the Offenhauser engine.
United States Longhorn Racing Penske Cosworth G 11 United States Tom Bagley All races except Atlanta (3).
71 United States Steve Krisiloff Ontario only.
United States Gilmore Racing Parnelli Cosworth G 14 United States A.J. Foyt Indianapolis only. Team ran in conjunction with Vel's Parnelli Jones Racing.
United States Lindsey Hopkins Racing Lightning Drake Goosen Sparks
Offenhauser
G 15 United States Johnny Parsons Indianapolis only. Used the Drake Goosen Sparks engine.
51 United States Hurley Haywood Indianapolis only. Used the Offenhauser engine.
United States Vollstedt Enterprises Vollstedt Offenhauser
AMC
G 17 United States Dick Simon Indianapolis only. Used the Offenhauser engine
27 United States Dick Simon Indianapolis practice only. Used the AMC engine.
United States Frantz Racing Wildcat Drake Goosen Saprks
Offenhauser
G 18 (16) United States Tom Frantz
United States Bill Henderson
Phoenix (1), Atlanta (1), Indianapolis, Michigan (all), Watkins Glen, Trenton (3) and Ontario only. Used the Offenhauser engine at Trenton (3) and Ontario only. Team ran in conjunction with Hoffman Racing at Phoenix (1) and Atlanta (1) only. Henderson drove the car at Trenton (1) only.
United States Gehlhausen Racing Eagle
Wildcat
McLaren
Offenhauser

Cosworth

G 19 United States Spike Gehlhausen
United States Bill Alsup
Italy Phil Caliva
United States Bob Harkey
Gelhausen drove the car at all races through Trenton (3) only. Used the Wildcat chassis and the Cosworth engine at Indianapolis only. Team ran in conjunction with Patrick Racing at Indianapolis only. Used the McLaren chassis at Indianapolis practice only. Harkey and Alsup attempted to qualify the car at Indianapolis only. Caliva drove the car at Ontario only. Used the Eagle chassis and the Offenhauser engine at all races through Ontario, except Indianapolis.
39 United States Al Loquasto Indianapolis and Michigan (1 and 2) only. Used the Eagle chassis and the Offenhauser engine.
United States Patrick Racing Penske
Wildcat
Lightning
Cosworth G 20 (3) United States Gordon Johncock Used the Penske chassis.
40 (6) United States Wally Dallenbach Used the Wildcat chassis at Phoenix (both) only and the Lightning chassis at Atlanta (1 and 2) only.
60 United States Steve Krisiloff
United States Roger Mears
Krisiloff drove the car at Michigan (3) only. Mears drove the car at Ontario only. Used the Penske chassis and the Cosworth engine.
United States Rhoades Competition McLaren Offenhauser G 20 United States John Martin Indianapolis only.
United States Conqueste Racing Team Parnelli Cosworth G 21 (89) United States Lee Kunzman Phoenix (1), Atlanta (1 and 2), Indianapolis, Trenton (1 and 2), Michigan (1 and 2) and Ontario only.
United States Leader Card Racing Watson Offenhauser G 22 United States Billy Vukovich II Indianapolis only.
24 United States Sheldon Kinser Indianapolis only.
40 United States George Snider Indianapolis practice only.
United States McElreath Racing Penske
Eagle
Cosworth
Offenhauser
G 23 United States Jim McElreath Indianapolis only. Used the Penske chassis and the Cosworth engine.
26 United States Tony Bettenhausen, Jr. Indianapolis only. Used the Eagle chassis and the Offenhauser engine.
United States Interscope Racing Parnelli Cosworth G 25 United States Danny Ongais
United States Wheel Center Eagle Offenhauser G 28 United States Billy Scott Indianapolis and Ontario only.
Canada Hucul Racing McLaren Offenhauser G 29 Canada Cliff Hucul Indianapolis only.
United States Thunder Racing McLaren Offenhauser G 30 United States Dana Carter
United States John Martin
Carter drove the car at Indianapolis only. Martin drove the car at Ontario only.
United States Wysard Racing Wildcat Offenhauser G 34 Australia Vern Schuppan Phoenix (both), Atlanta (1 and 2), Indianapolis, Michigan (1 and 3), Watkins Glen, Trenton (3) and Ontario only.
United States S&M Electric Lightning Offenhauser G 35 (31) United States Larry Rice
United States Tim Richmond
Rice drove the car at Phoenix (1), Atlanta (1 and 2), Indianapolis and Trenton (1 and 2) only. Richmond drove the car at Watkins Glen, Trenton (3), Ontario and Phoenix (2) only.
United States Medlin Racing Cicada Offenhauser G 35 United States Bill Puterbaugh Indianapolis only.
United States All American Racers Eagle Cosworth G 36 United States Mike Mosley
United States Karl Racing McLaren Offenhauser G 38 United States Jerry Karl Indianapolis only.
United States WASP Racing McLaren Offenhauser G 41 (67) United States Bill Alsup
United States Mergard Racing Eagle Offenhauser G 42 United States Herm Johnson Atlanta (3) and Phoenix (2) only.
United States AMI Racing Lola
Wildcat
Cosworth
Drake Goosen Sparks
G 43 United States Tom Bigelow Indianapolis practice only. Used the Lola chassis and the Cosworth engine.
44 United States Tom Bigelow
United States Gary Bettenhausen
Indianapolis only. Bettenhausen practiced the car and Bigelow raced in it. Used the Lola chassis and the Cosworth engine.
45 United States Janet Guthrie Indianapolis only. Used the Lola chassis and the Cosworth engine.
46 United States Howdy Holmes Indianapolis only. Used the Wildcat chassis and the Drake Goosen Sparks engine.
United States BFM Enterprises Antares
Manta
Offenhauser G 50 Canada Eldon Rasmussen
Canada Frank Weiss
Rasmussen drove the car at Indianapolis only. Weiss drove in the Indianapolis Rookie Orientation and Atlanta (3) only. Used the Manta chassis at Atlanta (3) only.
United States Hurtubise Racing Mallard
Unknown
Offenhauser
Chevrolet
G 52 United States Woody Fisher Indianapolis only. Used an unknown chassis and the Chevrolet engine.
56 United States Jim Hurtubise Indianapolis only. Used the Mallard chassis and the Offenhauser engine.
United States Crower Cams Eagle Chevrolet G 57 United States Jerry Sneva Indianapolis only.
Canada Rasmussen Racing Rascar Foyt G 58 Canada Eldon Rasmussen Indianapolis only.
United States Hoffman Racing Eagle
Lightning
Spyder
Penske
Offenhauser

Cosworth

G 59 United States Joe Saldana
United States George Snider
United States Dick Ferguson
Snider drove the car at Indianapolis only. Saldana drove the car at Michigan (1 and 2) and Ontario only. Ferguson drove the car at Phoenix (2) only. Used the Lightning chassis and Offenhauser engine at Indianapolis, Michigan (1 and 2) and Ontario only. Used the Penske chassis and Cosworth engine at Phoenix (2) only.
69 United States Joe Saldana
United States Al Loquasto
Saldana drove the car at all races except Michigan (1 and 2), Ontario, Atlanta (3) and Phoenix (2) only. Loquasto drove the car at Ontario only. Used the Eagle chassis and Offenhauser engine.
79 United States Dick Ferguson
United States Joe Saldana
Canada Cliff Hucul
Ferguson drove the car at Michigan (1 and 2) only. Saldana drove the car at Atlanta (3) and Phoenix (2) only. Hucul drove the car at Ontario only. Used the Eagle chassis at Ontario, Atlanta (3) and Phoenix (2), the Spyder chassis at Michigan (1 and 2) only and the Offenhauser engine in each of those races.
United States Bob Olmstead's V12 Eagle Volker G 62 United States Ed Finley Indianapolis only.
United States Rager Racing Eagle
Wildcat
Chevrolet G 66 Australia Roger Rager Indianapolis only. Used both the Eagle and Wildcat chassis in practice.
United States Mach I Racing Eagle Offenhauser G 69 United States Tim Richmond Michigan (1) only.
United States Hodgdon Racing McLaren
Spirit
Cosworth
AMC
G 72 United States Roger McCluskey
United States Jerry Sneva
McCluskey drove the car at Indianapolis only. Sneva drove the car at Ontario only. Used the McLaren chassis and Cosworth engine.
73 United States Neil Bonnet
United States Jerry Sneva
Indianapolis only, Sneva drove in the race and Bonnet drove in practice. Used the Spirit 78 chassis and the AMC engine.
United States Gibson Racing Eagle Offenhauser G 75 United States Todd Gibson Indianapolis only.
United States Walmotor McLaren

Penske

Cosworth G 77 United States Salt Walther Phoenix (1), Atlanta (1 and 2), Indianapolis, Michigan (all) and Ontario only. Used McLaren chassis at Phoenix (1) only.
United States R.P. Racing Penske Cosworth G 80 United States Larry Dickson Indianapolis only.
United States Woodward Racing Eagle Offenhauser G 81 United States Dick Ferguson
United States Jan Opperman
Indianapolis only.
United States Beaudoin Racing Wildcat Drake Goosen Sparks G 83 United States Billy Engelhart Indianapolis only.
United States AMSoil Lola Cosworth G 86 Australia Dennis Firestone Ontario only.
United States Intercomp Eagle
Bear
Offenhauser
Drake Goosen Sparks
G 92 United States John Mahler Phoenix (1), Atlanta (1), Indianapolis, Trenton (1 and 2), Michigan (1 and 2) and Watkins Glen only. Used the Eagle chassis and the Offenhauser engine at Phoenix (1), Atlanta (1), Indianapolis and Watkins Glen only and the Bear chassis and the Drake Goosen Sparks engine at Trenton (1 and 2).
United States O'Hanlon Racing March Chevrolet G 93 United States Larry McCoy Indianapolis only.
United States Whittington Bros. Racing McLaren
Parnelli
Cosworth G 94 United States Don Whittington Ontario only. Used the McLaren chassis.
98 United States Bill Whittington Ontario only. Used the Parnelli chassis.
United States Cannon Racing Wildcat Drake Goosen Sparks
Offenhauser
G 95 United States Larry Cannon Indianapolis, Michigan (1 and 3), Trenton (3), Ontario, Atlanta (3) and Phoenix (2). Used the Drake Goosen Sparks engine at Michigan (1) only.
United States Agajanian-Grant King Racers King Chevrolet
Offenhauser
G 97 United States Phil Threshie

United States Jerry Miller

Indianapolis only. Miller drove the car in the rookie orientation and Threshie raced it. Used the Chevrolet engine.
98 United States Gary Bettenhausen Indianapolis only. Used the Offenhauser engine.
United States Canavan Racing McLaren Offenhauser G X United States Earle Canavan Indianapolis only. Number was unknown.

Season Summary

Race Results

Rd Date Name Circuit Location Pole Position Winning driver Winning team Report
1 March 11 Arizona Republic / Jimmy Bryan 150 Phoenix International Raceway Avondale, Arizona United States Bobby Unser United States Gordon Johncock Patrick Racing Report
2 April 22 Gould Twin Dixie 125 Atlanta Motor Speedway Hampton, Georgia United States Johnny Rutherford United States Johnny Rutherford Team McLaren Report
3 United States Johnny Rutherford Team McLaren
4 May 27 Indianapolis 500 Indianapolis Motor Speedway Indianapolis, Indiana United States Rick Mears United States Rick Mears Team Penske Report
5 June 10 Trenton Twin Indy Trenton Speedway Trenton, New Jersey United States Gordon Johncock United States Bobby Unser Team Penske Report
6 United States Bobby Unser Team Penske
7 July 15 Norton Twin 125 Michigan International Speedway Brooklyn, Michigan United States Bobby Unser United States Gordon Johncock Team Penske Report
8 United States Bobby Unser Team Penske
9 August 5 Kent Oil 150 Watkins Glen International Watkins Glen, New York United States Al Unser United States Bobby Unser Team Penske Report
10 August 19 Ditzler 150 Trenton Speedway Trenton, New Jersey United States Bobby Unser United States Rick Mears Team Penske Report
11 September 2 California 500 Ontario Motor Speedway Ontario, California United States Rick Mears United States Bobby Unser Team Penske Report
12 September 15 Gould Grand Prix Michigan International Speedway Brooklyn, Michigan United States Bobby Unser United States Bobby Unser Team Penske Report
13 September 30 Rich's Atlanta Classic Atlanta Motor Speedway Hampton, Georgia United States Bobby Unser United States Rick Mears Team Penske Report
14 October 20 Miller High Life 150 Phoenix International Raceway Avondale, Arizona United States Bobby Unser United States Al Unser Chaparral Cars Report
  Oval/Speedway
  Road Course/Street Circuit

Final driver standings

Note: Non-CART members in CART events haven't points in officially: Don Whittington, Jr., Bill Whittington, Roger Mears, John Martin, Frank Weiss, Bob Harkey, Dennis Firestone, Johnny Parsons, Jr. and Cliff Hucul

Rounds 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 Pts
Races 1 1 2 1 1 2 1 2 1 3 1 3 3 2
Pos Driver PHX ATL INDY TRT MIC WTG TRT ONT MIC ATL PHX
1 United States Rick Mears 2 5 2 1 5 7 4 5 2 1 2 3 1 3 4,060
2 United States Bobby Unser 5 7 4 5 1 1 Ret 1 1 2 1 1 3 2 3,820
3 United States Gordon Johncock 1 4 9 6 3 5 1 4 3 Ret Ret Ret 2 4 2,211
4 United States Johnny Rutherford 3 1 1 18 Ret 3 3 Ret Ret 5 4 4 Ret 6 2,163
5 United States Al Unser 4 6 3 Ret 2 Ret 13 3 5 6 5 Ret 5 1 2,085
6 United States Danny Ongais Ret Ret 6 4 7 6 Ret Ret 4 Ret 6 DNQ Ret Ret 1,473
7 United States Tom Sneva Ret 3 5 15 6 Ret Ret 2 Ret 3 Ret 2 8 5 1,360
8 United States Tom Bagley 8 8 7 9 8 4 6 6 6 7 Ret 5 9 1,208
9 United States Wally Dallenbach 7 11 8 Ret 4 2 5 Ret Ret 4 Ret 6 4 12 1,149
10 United States Mike Mosley 6 Ret Ret 3 Ret DNS 2 Ret Ret Ret Ret Ret 10 1,126
11 United States Mario Andretti 3 DNQ 700
12 United States Lee Kunzman 9 2 Ret Ret Ret DNS 14 Ret 9 490
13 United States Pancho Carter Ret 9 11 Ret 10 8 7 Ret Ret DNQ Ret 8 Ret 7 452
14 Australia Vern Schuppan Ret 12 12 Ret Ret DNS 7 7 DNS Ret 449
15 United States Bill Alsup 11 Ret Ret DNQ 12 9 9 Ret 9 10 Ret 9 10 11 400
16 United States Joe Saldana 13 Ret 13 16 Ret Ret 10 8 Ret 8 Ret DNQ 6 Ret 368
17 United States Spike Gehlhausen Ret Ret Ret 10 Ret Ret Ret Ret Ret Ret Ret Ret Ret 8 343
18 United States Salt Walther 12 10 10 12 8 7 Ret Ret 314
19 United States Steve Krisiloff Ret Ret DNS 11 9 Ret Ret Ret Ret Ret 6 279
20 United States Tom Frantz 14 DNQ 11 Ret Ret 9 Ret Ret 236
21 United States Jerry Sneva Ret Ret 155
22 United States Tim Richmond Ret DNS 8 Ret Ret Ret 112
23 United States Larry Rice 10 14 19 Ret 10 105
24 United States Herm Johnson 7 13 98
25 United States John Mahler Ret Ret 11 11 12 Ret 74
26 United States Al Loquasto DNQ Ret 9 Ret 70
27 United States Larry Cannon DNQ Ret Ret DNS Ret Ret 56
28 United States Dick Ferguson DNQ 15 Ret Ret DNQ 35
29 United States Billy Scott DNQ Ret 20
30 Italy Phil Caliva Ret 10
- United States A.J. Foyt 2 -
- United States Howdy Holmes 7 -
- United States Billy Vukovich II 8 -
- United States Don Whittington, Jr. 8 -
- Canada Frank Weiss DNQ 9 -
- United States Bill Whittington Ret -
- United States Roger McCluskey 13 -
- United States Tom Bigelow 14 -
- United States Phil Threshie 17 -
- United States John Martin DNQ Ret -
- Canada Eldon Rasmussen Ret -
- United States Larry Dickson Ret -
- United States Dick Simon Ret -
- United States Sheldon Kinser Ret -
- United States Bob Harkey DNQ Ret -
- Canada Cliff Hucul Ret Ret -
- Australia Dennis Firestone Ret -
- United States Johnny Parsons Ret Ret -
- United States George Snider Ret -
- United States Janet Guthrie Ret -
- United States Jim McElreath Ret -
Pos Driver United States
PHX
United States
ATL
United States
INDY
United States
TRT
United States
MIC
United States
WTG
United States
TRT
United States
ONT
United States
MIC
United States
ATL
United States
PHX
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
DNS Any driver who qualifies
but does not start (DNS)
Rookie of the Year
Rookie

Driver Breakdown

Pos Driver Team/Car Owner Starts Wins Podiums Top 5s Top 10s Poles Points
1 United States Mears United States Team Penske 14 3 9 13 14 2 4,060
2 United States B. Unser United States Team Penske 14 6 9 12 13 7 3,820
3 United States Johncock United States Patrick Racing 14 2 5 9 11 2 2,211
4 United States Rutherford United States Team McLaren 14 2 5 8 9 2 2,163
5 United States A. Unser United States Chaparral Cars 14 1 4 8 10 1 2,085
6 United States Ongais United States Interscope Racing 13 0 0 2 6 0 1,473
7 United States T. Sneva United States Jerry O'Connel Racing 14 0 2 6 8 0 1,360
8 United States Bagley United States Longhorn Racing 13 0 0 2 12 0 1,208
9 United States Dallenbach United States Patrick Racing 14 0 1 5 8 0 1,149
10 United States Mosley United States All American Racers 12 0 2 2 3 0 1,126
11 United States Andretti United States Team Penske 1 0 1 1 1 0 700
12 United States Kunzman United States Conqueste Racing Team 8 0 1 1 3 0 490
13 United States Carter United States Morales Motorsports 13 0 0 0 6 0 452
14 Australia Schuppan United States Wysard Racing 8 0 0 0 2 0 449
15 United States Alsup (R) United States WASP Racing/Team Penske/Gehlhausen Racing 13 0 0 0 6 0 400
16 United States Saldana United States Hoffman Racing 13 0 0 0 4 0 368
17 United States Gehlhausen United States Gehlhausen Racing/Bob Fletcher Racing 14 0 0 0 2 0 343
18 United States Walther United States Walmotor 8 0 0 0 4 0 314
19 United States Krisiloff United States Bob Fletcher Racing/Patrick Racing/Longhorn Racing 10 0 0 0 2 0 279
20 United States Frantz United States Frantz Racing 7 0 0 0 1 0 236
21 United States J. Sneva United States Hodgdon Racing 2 0 0 0 0 0 155
22 United States Richmond United States Mach 1 Racing/S&M Electric 5 0 0 0 1 0 112
23 United States Rice United States S&M Electric 5 0 0 0 2 0 105
24 United States Johnson United States Mergard Racing 2 0 0 0 1 0 98
25 United States Mahler United States Intercomp 6 0 0 0 0 0 74
26 United States Loquasto United States Gehlhausen Racing 3 0 0 0 1 0 70
27 United States Cannon United States Canon Racing 4 0 0 0 0 0 56
28 United States Ferguson United States Hoffman Racing 3 0 0 0 0 0 35
29 United States Scott United States Wheel Center 1 0 0 0 0 0 20
30 Italy Caliva United States Gehlhausen Racing 1 0 0 0 0 0 10

References

See also

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