1973 Pocono 500

August 2023 USA Pocono 500 Pocono Raceway.svg July 1 1973 USAC Championship Car 1973 Schaefer 500 6th Long Pond, Pennsylvania Permanent racing facility 2.5 4.023 200 500 804.672 Temperatures up to 81 F C; wind speeds up to 12 mph km/h1973 Pocono 500 weather information https://www.wunderground.com/history/daily/us/pa/avoca/KAVP/date/1973-7-1 Wunderground April 25, 2023 Peter Revson McLaren 190.468 mph USA A. J. Foyt A. J. Foyt Racing USA Roger McCluskey Lindsey Hopkins Jr. USA Lloyd Ruby Commander Racing Team USA The 1973 Pocono 500, the 3rd running of the event, was held at the Pocono Raceway in Long Pond, Pennsylvania, on Sunday, July 1, 1973. Branded as the 1973 Schaefer 500 for sponsorship reasons, the race was won by A. J. Foyt, who passed Roger McCluskey on the last lap. Background At the 1973 Indianapolis 500, several violent crashes marred on-track activities. Art Pollard was killed in qualifications. Salt Walther was seriously burned in a start crash. At the time of the Pocono 500, Swede Savage remained in critical condition from a lap 57 crash. In the aftermath of Indianapolis, USAC moved quickly to improve safety before Pocono. https://www.newspapers.com/clip/25213379/the-indianapolis-star/ Indianapolis Star Indiana Associated Press USAC Moves Quickly in Quest for Safety June 3, 1973 1 At Indianapolis, cars were permitted to hold 75 gallons of fuel and an additional 275 gallons in a pit road tank. For Pocono, fuel capacity was decreased to 40 gallons and fuel cells were only permitted on the left side of the car. Furthermore, teams were allowed 300 gallons in the tank on pit road. The width of the rear wings were reduced from 64 to 55 inches. It was hoped the smaller wings would reduce speeds.https://www.newspapers.com/clip/35063320/the-indianapolis-news/ Indianapolis News Indiana Associated Press USAC On Trial in Pocono 500 June 30, 1973 27 1972 Indianapolis 500 champion, Mark Donohue's entry in the Pocono 500 was initially disallowed by USAC because he had an SCCA racing license. On June 18, Donohue received approval to race because the Pocono 500 had FIA sanctioning and was approved as a "foreign graded driver."https://www.newspapers.com/clip/35061344/aj-foyt-in-1973/ Indianapolis News Indiana Associated Press Donohue Gets Pocono OK June 19, 1973 27 Practice During Wednesday's opening practice session, Mike Mosley set the fastest speed at 185.6 mph.https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=5gorAAAAIBAJ&sjid=NZoFAAAAIBAJ&pg=6052%2C549128 Reading Eagle Pennsylvania Associated Press Indy Victory No Big Thing For Johncock June 21, 1973 49 Mosley was making his Pocono debut after he was injured in crashes at Indianapolis in both 1971 and 1972. On Thursday, Bobby Unser had the fastest speed at 186.900 mph. Al Unser was second fastest at 186.339 mph, Gordon Johncock third at 186.038 mph. Rain on Friday morning shortened practice time. When the sun came out in the afternoon, Lloyd Ruby posted the fastest speed at 189.122 mph. Peter Revson was second fastest at 188.670 mph. Despite the efforts of USAC to slow the cars with smaller wings, there was little effect on speeds. "What they did wasn't a drop in the bucket," Johnny Rutherford said. "The reduction in wing size was supposed to have cut speeds a bit. But look at these guys go out there. You can hardly tell the difference from Indianapolis."https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=5worAAAAIBAJ&sjid=NZoFAAAAIBAJ&pg=5840%2C952059 Reading Eagle Pennsylvania Associated Press Still Too Fast Says Indy Driver June 22, 1973 21 Time Trials Qualifying runs were a four-lap, ten-mile average speed. On Saturday, June 23, Peter Revson won the pole with a 190.468 mph average. Revson's best single lap was 191.367 mph. Both four-lap average and single lap speeds were track records. Revson was joined on the front row by Al Unser and Mario Andretti.https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=hW4sAAAAIBAJ&sjid=r8sEAAAAIBAJ&pg=5930%2C4341002 Herald Journal South Carolina Associated Press Revson Cracks Record in Trials June 24, 1973 B3 Jerry Karl, driving a car prepared by Smokey Yunick, crashed on his qualifying run.https://www.newspapers.com/clip/35061551/the-indianapolis-news/ Indianapolis News Indiana Associated Press Revson, Karl Have Opposite Pocono Luck June 25, 1973 27 Engine problems kept Gordon Johncock and Mark Donohue from making qualifying runs on day one. 21 cars posted speeds. Day two of qualifying was led by Gordon Johncock with an average of 187.578 mph. Mark Donohue was second at 185.510 mph. Johncock and Donohue started 22nd and 23rd respectively. The day's track activity was shortened by rain before all cars could make a qualifying attempt.https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=g24sAAAAIBAJ&sjid=r8sEAAAAIBAJ&pg=6678%2C4730009 Herald Journal South Carolina Associated Press Schaefer Field Complete-Johncock, Donohue Qualify June 25, 1973 B2 With only 27 cars qualified and six spots still needing to be filled, a final qualifying session was scheduled for Wednesday.https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=7AorAAAAIBAJ&sjid=NZoFAAAAIBAJ&pg=6346%2C4154021 Reading Eagle Pennsylvania Associated Press Six Berths on the Line At Pocono June 27, 1973 57 Dick Simon was the fastest car in Wednesday's session at 180.054 mph. Jerry Karl's car was repaired from his Saturday crash and he qualified on Wednesday.https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=lm4sAAAAIBAJ&sjid=r8sEAAAAIBAJ&pg=6723%2C5128848 Herald Journal South Carolina Associated Press Dick Simon Tops Qualifying June 28, 1973 D3 In a repeat of the 1972 race, massive rains fell at Pocono leading up to the race. On Thursday night, a nearby city recorded five inches of rain in a half hour. Continued rain on Friday added an additional two inches of precipitation. The majority of Pocono's infield was still dirt from the recent construction which turned to red mud. Water stood knee-high in some garage areas and infield tunnels were flooded.https://www.newspapers.com/clip/35063269/the-indianapolis-news/ Indianapolis News Indiana Associated Press And You Thought Our 500 Was Wet June 30, 1973 1 Race USAC's new rules meant fuel consumption would play a major role in the race. With only 40 gallon fuel cells onboard, and cars getting 1.8 miles per gallon fuel economy, it was predicted teams would need to refuel 12 or 13 times.https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=7QorAAAAIBAJ&sjid=NZoFAAAAIBAJ&pg=4290%2C4756697 Reading Eagle Pennsylvania Associated Press Loads of Pit Stops For Gas Ahead at Pocono June 28, 1973 43 Chasing the 1973 Formula One title, Peter Revson was required to run USAC's Triple Crown of 500 mile races as part of his contract with McLaren.Revson Peter 1974 Speed with Style Doubleday 144 9780718304430 Revson was forced to miss the French Grand Prix to run the Pocono 500. 1957 Indianapolis 500 winner Sam Hanks drove the pace car for the race, a 1973 AMC Javelin AMX specially prepared by Raybestos to be given to the race winner after the checkered flag.Sam Hanks to Drive Schaefer Pace Car https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-pocono-record-1973-pocono-500-pace-c/135737224/ Pocono Record 13 Newspapers.com June 5, 1973 November 24, 2023 When the green flag was waved, polesitter Peter Revson was passed by Mario Andretti who started on the outside of the front row in third. Entering turn one, Johnny Rutherford hit the wall and brought out the first caution of the day. Rutherford was able to continue and finished fifth. Three laps after the race restarted, Al Unser hit the wall in turn one with the rear of the car and punctured a hole in the circuit's signature boiler plate steel barriers (the wall was replaced with concrete in 1990). Unser was hospitalized with a mild concussion, sprained neck, and minor lacerations of both legs. The race was stopped for 45 minutes to repair the wall.https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=IQUrAAAAIBAJ&sjid=75cFAAAAIBAJ&pg=4099%2C1711086 Reading Eagle Ohio Associated Press Foyt's Fortune Is McCluskey's Misfortune July 2, 1973 18https://www.newspapers.com/clip/35063469/the-philadelphia-inquirer/ Philadelphia Inquirer Pennsylvania Associated Press Foyt Captures Pocono 500 Race July 2, 1973 18 Gary Bettenhausen crashed in turn three on lap 38.https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=IQUrAAAAIBAJ&sjid=75cFAAAAIBAJ&pg=4099%2C1711086 Reading Eagle Ohio Associated Press Foyt's Fortune Is McCluskey's Misfortune July 2, 1973 18 Johnny Rutherford brought out another caution on lap 55 when he spun in turn two. The polesitter, Peter Revson, fell out of the race after 75 laps with engine failure.https://www.champcarstats.com/races/197306.htm 1973 Schaefer 500 Lee Kunzman hit the wall in turn one on lap 83. While leading on lap 137, Indianapolis 500 champion, Gordon Johncock, blew a tire on the frontstretch and avoided contact with the wall. Johncock was unable to continue after leading 46 laps. Debris from Johncock's car cut both rear tires on A.J. Foyt's car.https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=cfNOAAAAIBAJ&sjid=DQIEAAAAIBAJ&pg=7318%2C1900955 Toledo Blade Ohio Associated Press McCluskey's Tank Empty as Foyt Wins July 2, 1973 18 Roger McCluskey held a one-second lead over A. J. Foyt as the cars approached the final pit stop. Jim McElreath stalled on lap 171 to bring out the final caution. McCluskey pitted on lap 172. Although the car's fuel cell held 40 gallons, McCluskey's chief mechanic Don Koda calculated they only needed 30 gallons to make it to the finish of the race returned the car to the track.https://www.newspapers.com/clip/35063481/the-philadelphia-inquirer/ Indianapolis News Indiana Associated Press Tank Holds 40 Gallons July 2, 1973 17 Foyt pitted one lap later and took a similar amount of fuel, but stalled the engine leaving the pits. Shortly after the restart, McCluskey had a four-second lead over Foyt. Foyt's car developed a vibration and McCluskey extended his lead to ten seconds.https://www.newspapers.com/clip/35063481/the-philadelphia-inquirer/ Indianapolis News Indiana Associated Press Tank Holds 40 Gallons July 2, 1973 17 Foyt made a green flag pitstop for fuel with seven laps remaining, while McCluskey tried to stretch his fuel to the finish. McCluskey had a 42-second lead over Foyt as he entered the final five laps.https://www.newspapers.com/clip/35063469/the-philadelphia-inquirer/ Philadelphia Inquirer Pennsylvania Associated Press Foyt Captures Pocono 500 Race July 2, 1973 18 As the race began the final lap, it became apparent that McCluskey's crew failed to put in enough fuel on the final pit stop. Entering turn one on lap 200, McCluskey ran out of fuel. Foyt passed the slowing car and won his first 500-mile race since the 1967 Indianapolis 500. He became the first man to win four 500-mile Indy car races, the Pocono race joining his then-three wins at Indianapolis. It was the first time a 500-mile Indy car race was decided by a last lap pass. Foyt won $94,808 and was the only car on the lead lap. McCluskey failed to complete the final lap, but finished second, which earned him $48,933.https://www.racing-reference.info/race-results/1973_Schaefer_500/UO/ Race Results - Racing-Reference Only eight cars were running at the finish. The race saw 29 lead changes, a Pocono 500 record that stood until 2015. One day after the Pocono 500, Swede Savage succumbed to his injuries suffered at Indianapolis.https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-indianapolis-star-swede-savage-1973/78063381/ Indianapolis Star Indiana Associated Press 500 Crash Victim Swede Savage Dies July 3, 1973 23 Box score FinishGridNo Car numberNameEntrantChassisEngineLapsTime/StatusLed Laps ledPoints 1 14 14 USA A. J. Foyt Gilmore Racing Team Coyote Foyt 200 3:26:58.240 11 1000 2 16 3 USA Roger McCluskey Lindsey Hopkins Racing Riley Offenhauser 199 Out of fuel 62 800 3 4 18 USA Lloyd Ruby Commander Racing Team Eagle Offenhauser 199 Flagged 0 700 4 8 98 USA Mike Mosley Leader Card Racers Eagle 68 Offenhauser 199 Flagged 0 600 5 7 7 USA Johnny Rutherford Team McLaren McLaren M16C Offenhauser 195 Flagged 0 500 6 12 6 USA Mike Hiss Don Gerhardt Eagle Offenhauser 191 Flagged 0 400 7 3 11 USA Mario Andretti Vel's Parnelli Jones Racing Parnelli Offenhauser 184 Valve 10 300 8 15 1 USA Joe Leonard Vel's Parnelli Jones Racing Parnelli Offenhauser 183 Flagged 0 250 9 24 35 USA Sam Posey Champ Carr Inc. Eagle Offenhauser 168 Oil line 0 200 10 5 8 USA Bobby Unser All American Racers Eagle Offenhauser 167 Clutch 36 150 11 25 34 USA Jim McElreath Champ Carr Inc. Eagle Offenhauser 166 Ignition 0 100 12 28 44 USA Dick Simon Dick Simon Racing Eagle Foyt 163 Turbocharger 0 50 13 20 9 USA Sammy Sessions MVS Eagle Foyt 155 Valve 0 0 14 22 20 USA Gordon Johncock Patrick Racing Eagle 73 Offenhauser 136 Crash 46 0 15 30 17 USA Bob Harkey Vollstedt Enterprises Vollstedt Offenhauser 135 Flagged 0 0 16 9 21 USA Jimmy Caruthers Fletcher Racing Team Eagle Offenhauser 124 Piston 24 0 17 23 66 USA Mark Donohue Penske Racing Eagle Offenhauser 104 Piston 8 0 18 33 19 USA Mel Kenyon Lindsey Hopkins Racing Eagle Foyt 94 Rear end 0 0 19 26 77 USA Rick Muther Leader Card Racers Eagle Offenhauser 91 Magneto 0 0 20 18 16 USA Lee Kunzman Lindsey Hopkins Racing Eagle Offenhauser 82 Crash 1 0 21 1 15 USA Peter Revson Team McLaren McLaren M16C Offenhauser 75 Valve 0 0 22 6 24 USA Steve Krisiloff Grant King Racers King Offenhauser 67 Engine 0 0 23 32 56 USA Jim Hurtubise Gohr Racing Lola Foyt 64 Piston 0 0 24 13 2 USA Bill Vukovich II Jerry O'Connell Racing Eagle 73 Offenhauser 64 Fuel pump 2 0 25 19 84 USA George Snider Gilmore Racing Team Coyote Foyt 62 Brakes 0 0 26 29 30 USA Jerry Karl Smokey Yunick Eagle Chevrolet 54 Timing gear 0 0 27 11 5 USA Gary Bettenhausen Team McLaren McLaren M16C Offenhauser 37 Crash 0 0 28 31 89 USA John Martin Automotive Technology McLaren M16B Offenhauser 28 Ignition 0 0 29 10 40 USA Wally Dallenbach Andy Granatelli Eagle 73 Offenhauser 25 Valve 0 0 30 21 94 USA Johnny Parsons Vatis Enterprises Eagle Offenhauser 25 Engine 0 0 31 17 73 GBR David Hobbs Roy Woods Racing Eagle 73 Offenhauser 24 Engine 0 0 32 27 27 USA Tom Bigelow Vollstedt Enterprises Vollstedt Offenhauser 22 Oil pressure 0 0 33 2 4 USA Al Unser Vel's Parnelli Jones Racing Parnelli Offenhauser 8 Crash 0 0 Source:1973 Schaefer 5001973 Pocono 500 - Round 6 Television For the first time, the Pocono 500 was aired on ABC Wide World of Sports, broadcast on July 7, six days after the race was held, paired with a US vs USSR Wrestling Championship. Jim McKay, Chris Economaki, and Roger Penske served as commentators.https://ibb.co/D7vSwJP https://web.archive.org/web/20230509003457/https://ibb.co/D7vSwJP usurped May 9, 2023 Ledger-Enquirer Pennsylvania Associated Press Pocono 500 Will Be Seen on ABC's Wide World of Sports July 7, 1973 25 References 2 Category:Pocono 500 Pocono 500 Schaefer Category:1973 in motorsport