1980 CART PPG Indy Car World Series

American motorsport season February 2025 1980 CART PPG Indy Car World Series 200px 200pxChampion: Johnny Rutherford 12 April 13 November 8 United States Johnny Rutherford United States Penske United Kingdom Cosworth Australia Dennis Firestone United States United States United States Johnny Rutherford 1979 1981 The 1980 CART PPG Indy Car World Series season was the second in the CART era of U.S. open-wheel racing. It consisted of twelve races, beginning in Ontario, California on April 13 and concluding in Avondale, Arizona on November 8. The PPG Indy Car World Series Drivers' Champion and Indianapolis 500 winner was Johnny Rutherford. Rookie of the Year was Dennis Firestone. One year after the first open wheel "Split", USAC and CART came together under the banner of the Championship Racing League (CRL). The entire season was supposed to be co-sanctioned by CART and USAC. However, USAC pulled out the CRL arrangement in July after only five races. USAC declared their 1980 season over, while CART finished out the remainder of the 1980 season on their own. The season-opening race at Phoenix, set for March 2, was cancelled due to local flooding and washed out roads. Johnny Rutherford in Jim Hall's Chaparral 2K ground effects chassis dominated the season. Rutherford won five races, including a dominating performance at the 1980 Indianapolis 500. Rutherford finished in the top five in the first ten races, pulling out to a commanding and unmatchable points lead. Rutherford started the season out by finishing 1st or 2nd in the first six races, and ended with a total of eight finished of 1st or 2nd. Rutherford's season was not without incident, however. In the final race of the season at Phoenix, while battling Tom Sneva for the lead, Rutherford tangled with a lapped car, hit the wall, then flipped over. The car landed upside-down hard on its rollbar, but Rutherford was not seriously injured. Rutherford happened to score the most points under both USAC's five-race points distribution and CART's 12-race points championship, securing what could be considered "undisputed" or "unanimous" top driver honors for the calendar year of 1980. Drivers and constructors The following teams and drivers competed for the 1980 CART World Series. Team/Car OwnerChassisEngine#DriversRounds USA Team Penske Penske Cosworth 1 USA Rick MearsAll 11 USA Bobby UnserAll 12 USA Mario Andretti 2, 4, 10, 12 61 USA Tom Gloy 5, 9–10 USA Leader Card Racing Watson (2–4, 8–10, 12) Eagle (1) Offenhauser 2USA Bill Vukovich II 2–4, 9–10, 12USA Sheldon Kinser8WatsonOffenhauser (1, 7) Cosworth (All other races) 24USA Sheldon Kinser All except 8USA Bill Vukovich II8USA AMI RacingLola (2, 4) Orbiter (3) McLaren (8)Cosworth 7USA Jerry Sneva 2–4, 8 Orbiter (3–10) Lola (12)Cosworth 43USA Tom Bigelow 4, 8 USA Howdy Holmes3-7USA Jerry Sneva9USA Danny Ongais10USA Greg Leffler12LolaCosworth 44USA Greg Leffler 2, 4, 9–10Wildcat (All except 1, 11–12) Orbiter (12)DGS (All except 1, 9, and 11–12) Offenhauser (11) Cosworth (12) 46USA Gary Bettenhausen All except 1 and 11USA Chaparral CarsChaparralCosworth 4USA Johnny RutherfordAll USA Longhorn Racing Longhorn Cosworth 5USA Al UnserAllUSA Jerry O'Connell RacingMcLarenCosworth 7USA Tom Sneva 1McLaren (All except 1, 8, 10, 12) Phoenix (8, 10, 12) 9USA Tom Sneva 2–12 McLaren 89AUS Vern Schuppan 2USA Vollstedt Enterprises VollstedtOffenhauser 8USA Dick Simon All except 1, 10, 12 12USA Dick Simon 12USA Alex Morales MotorsportsPenske (All except 4) Lightning (4)Cosworth 10USA Pancho Carter AllUSA Gilmore RacingParnelliCosworth 14USA A. J. Foyt 1–2, 4 16USA George Snider 2, 4USA Tempero RacingEagleChevrolet 15USA Bill Tempero 1 65 USA Bill Tempero All except 1, 4 USA Lindsey Hopkins Racing Lightning Offenhauser (2) Chevrolet (10) Cosworth (9) 15 USA Johnny Parsons 2, 9–10 Chevrolet 51 USA Johnny Parsons 4, 6Cosworth 55 USA Janet Guthrie 2–3Chevrolet 99 USA Hurley Haywood 2 USA McElreath RacingEagleOffenhauser 16 USA Jim McElreath 11PenskeCosworth 23 USA Jim McElreath 2, 7–8 USA Rhoades Competition Penske Cosworth 18 AUS Dennis Firestone 2, 4, 6, 9–12McLarenOffenhauser 19 USA Dana Carter 2EagleRam X USA Larry Rice 12 USA Patrick RacingWildcat (1–2, 6) Phoenix (All except 1–2, 6) Cosworth 20 USA Gordon Johncock All Penske (1) Wildcat (2, 4, 6, 9–10) Phoenix (3, 5, 7–8, 11–12) 40 USA Tom Bagley AllPenske 60 USA Gordon Smiley 1Phoenix 70 USA Gordon Smiley 2 USA Mach I Racing Penske (2–6, 8) Eagle (9) Cosworth (2–6, 8) Chevrolet (9) 21 USA Tim Richmond 2–6USA Mike Mosley8-9 USA Davis Racing Wildcat Offenhauser 22 USA Ross Davis 1USA Sanett RacingPenskeCosworth 23USA Dick Ferguson 1 26USA Dick Ferguson 2 USA Interscope RacingParnelli Cosworth 25 USA Danny Ongais All except 1, 8, 10, and 12 USA Menard Racing Lightning Offenhauser 28 USA Herm Johnson All except 5–7 USA Beaudoin RacingMcLarenCosworth 29 USA Billy Engelhart 2–4, 8–9, 12 USA Machinists Union Racing IAM Donovan (2–4, 6) DGS (8) Chevrolet (9, 12) 30 USA Phil Threshie 2–4, 6, 8 USA Larry Dickson9, 12 USA Medlin Racing Eagle Offenhauser 32 USA Tony Bettenhausen Jr. 2–4USA Wysard RacingWildcat (1–2, 4–5, 7) McLaren (9, 12)Offenhauser (1) DGS (2, 4–5, 7) Cosworth (9, 12) 34USA Pete Halsmer 1–2, 12 AUS Vern Schuppan4-5, 7, 9USA Bob Fletcher RacingPenskeCosworth 35USA Spike Gehlhausen 2, 4, 6, 8–9 USA Gordon Smiley10-11 55 USA Spike Gehlhausen 1USA J J EnterprisesWildcatDGS 36USA John Martin 5DGS (2, 6, 8–9) Cosworth (4) 37USA John Martin 2, 4, 6, 8–9 USA Pacific Coast Racing Penske Cosworth 38 USA Rick Muther 1 82 USA Rick Muther 2–3, 5–7, 9LightningOffenhauser 86USA Al Loquasto 2, 4USA Jeff Heywood9 USA Karl Racing McLaren (2, 4–6)Gerhardt (3)Karl (7–9, 11–12) Chevrolet 38 USA Jerry Karl All except 1, 10 USA Alsup Racing Penske Cosworth 41 USA Bill Alsup AllMcLarenOffenhauser 47USA Phil Caliva 1–2, 4–5, 9, 11 USA Mergard RacingEagle Offenhauser 42 USA John Wood 1–2, 4–5, 8 USA All American Racers Eagle Cosworth (1) Chevrolet (2, 4) 48 USA Mike Mosley 1–2, 4USA BFM EnterprisesAntaresOffenhauser 50USA Jan Sneva 1 MantaUSA Rich Vogler2USA Dick Ferguson3USA Milt Harper4MEX Garza RacingPenskeCosworth 55MEX Josele Garza 12 USA Hurtubise Racing Mallard Offenhauser 56 USA Jim Hurtubise 2 USA Frantz Racing McLaren Cosworth 57 USA Tom Frantz 2 USA Hoffman Racing LightningOffenhauser 59 USA Lee Kunzman 2 USA Joe Saldana4-6, 8, 10PenskeCosworth 69USA Joe Saldana 1–2EagleOffenhauserUSA Bob Frey10SpyderOffenhauser 79USA Bob Frey 4 USA Rager RacingWildcatChevrolet 66 USA Roger Rager All except 1, 3, 7, and 10 CAN Rasmussen RacingRascarFoyt 67USA Bob Harkey 2CAN Buddie Boys4McLarenOffenhauser 68CAN Frank Weiss 2 USA Vetrock Racing Eagle Offenhauser 71 USA Dean Vetrock 8USA Hodgdon RacingMcLarenCosworth 72USA Roger Mears 1USA Mike Chandler9 USA Stanton Racing Penske Cosworth 75 USA Ron Shuman 1–2USA O'Hanlon RacingMarchChevrolet 75USA Bruce Hill 3McLarenCosworthUSA Lee Kunzman5McLarenCosworth 81CAN Cliff Hucul 3 USA Lee Kunzman4USA Jerry Sneva10, 12USA Spike Gehlhausen11USA WalmotorPenskeCosworthUSA Salt Walther 2 77USA Salt Walther 6USA RP Racing X X 80USA Larry Dickson 2USA Woodward RacingMcLarenCosworth (9) Chevrolet (6) 81USA Dick Ferguson 6, 9 USA Shade Tree RacingEagleOffenhauser 85MEX Michel Jourdain Sr. 11–12MEX Pronosticos DeportivosPenskeCosworth 88MEX Daniel Muñiz 11USA Intercomp Finley (2) Eagle (9)Offenhauser 91USA John Mahler 2USA Chip Mead9Eagle (3) Penske (5, 7–9, 11) 92USA John Mahler 3, 5, 7–9, 11 MEX OvacionesPenskeCosworth 91MEX Juan Carlos Bolaños 11USA Whittington Bros. RacingParnelliCosworth 94USA Bill Whittington 2Penske 96USA Don Whittington 2, 4USA Cannon RacingWildcatDGS (1–2, 6–7, 9–12)Offenhauser (3–5, 8) 95USA Larry Cannon All except 1 and 11. USAGrant King Racing KingChevrolet 86USA Roger Mears 5 97USA Roger Mears 2, 7–8USA Billie Harvey3USA Jim McElreath4USA Jerry Miller12 98USA Bob Harkey 4USA Tony Bettenhausen Jr.5, 7 Notable team and driver changes After racing only at Indy in 1979, Leader Card Racing moved from USAC to CART, with Sheldon Kinser as lead driver and Bill Vukovich II running a limited schedule. AMI Racing also moved from USAC to CART, with Gary Bettenhausen as the driver. Team McLaren shut down their IndyCar operations so they could concentrate on their Formula One program. Driver Johnny Rutherford moved to Chaparral Cars, replacing Al Unser. With Al Unser out at Chaparral, he moved to Longhorn Racing, replacing Tom Bagley. Vollstedt Enterprises, which only ran Indy the previous year, moved to a full schedule, driven by Dick Simon. Rookie driver Bill Tempero debuted with owner-driver team Tempero Racing. Wally Dallenbach Sr. retired from CART at the end of the 1979 season, becoming its competition director. His ride at Patrick Racing was filled by Tom Bagley. John Menard Jr. formed the new Team Menard organization, with Herm Johnson as the driver. Jerry Karl moved from USAC to CART, with his owner-driver team Karl Racing. Alsup Racing expanded to a two-car team, with Bill Alsup joined in most races by Phil Caliva. After running a full season in 1979, All American Racers and driver Mike Mosley only ran three races in 1980. Hoffman Racing once again fielded a variety of drivers, with Lee Kunzman, Joe Saldana, and Bob Frey splitting the year. Roger Rager moved his owner-driver team Rager Racing from USAC to CART. After competing in most of the 1979 races, Salt Walther and team Walmotor only raced in two races. Larry Cannon and his Cannon Racing team moved to a full-time schedule after running part-time in 1979. Gehlhausen Racing, which fielded a full-time team in 1979, closed, with driver Spike Gehlhausen moving to Bob Fletcher Racing. Notable equipment changes Longhorn Racing switched from a Penske chassis to its own Longhorn. Morales Motorsports switched from a Lightning chassis to a used Penske. Patrick Racing switched from a Penske to Phoenix chassis. Bob Fletcher Racing switched from a Lightning to Penske chassis. Alsup Racing switched from a McLaren to Penske chassis and from an Offenhauser to Cosworth engine. Schedule CART announced an initial 13-race schedule on October 3, 1979, down from 14 races in 1979. After the creation of the Championship Racing League, a new, 12-race schedule was announced on May 6, 1980, combining seven events from the initial CART calendar with five others that were previously included in USAC's schedule. Icon Legend white O silver Oval/Speedway lightblue R silver Road course +RdDateNameCircuitLocationOriginal sanctioning body1April 13*USA Datsun Twin 200white O silver Ontario Motor SpeedwayOntario, CaliforniaCART2May 25USA Indianapolis 500white O silver Indianapolis Motor SpeedwayIndianapolis, IndianaUSAC3June 8USA Gould Rex Mays Classicwhite O silver Milwaukee MileWest Allis, WisconsinUSAC4June 22USA True Value 500white O silver Pocono RacewayLong Pond, PennsylvaniaUSAC5July 13USA Red Roof Inns 250lightblue R silver Mid-Ohio Sports Car CourseLexington, OhioUSAC6July 20USA Norton Twin 200white O silver Michigan International SpeedwayBrooklyn, MichiganCART7August 3USA Kent Oil 150lightblue R silver Watkins Glen InternationalWatkins Glen, New YorkCART8August 10USA Tony Bettenhausen Classicwhite O silver Milwaukee MileWest Allis, WisconsinUSAC9August 31USA California 500white O silver Ontario Motor SpeedwayOntario, CaliforniaCART10September 20USA Gould Grand Prixwhite O silver Michigan International SpeedwayBrooklyn, MichiganCART11October 26MEX I Copa México 150lightblue R silver Autódromo Hermanos RodríguezMexico City, MexicoCART12November 8USA Miller High Life 150 in Memory of Bobby Ballwhite O silver Phoenix International RacewayAvondale, ArizonaCARTReferences: 1979-10-04 CART Slates 13 Races in '80 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-indianapolis-star-100479-1980-cart/179319558/ 2026-10-20 The Indianapolis Star 421979-12-27 USAC Annnounces 1980 Schedule https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-indianapolis-star/5716090/ 2026-10-20 The Indianapolis Star 311980-05-07 Two New Tracks Added to 12-Race USAC Card https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-indianapolis-star/181415710/ 2026-10-20 The Indianapolis Star 36 1980-07-02 CART Is Back in Indy-Car Scene https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-indianapolis-star-070280-usac-spli/179320288/ 2026-10-20 The Indianapolis Star 141980-07-09 Milwaukee Vote Goes to CART https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-indianapolis-star-milwaukee-vote-goe/208650327/ 2026-10-20 The Indianapolis Star 19 * Originally scheduled for March 9. Schedule changes The Indianapolis 500 was initially absent from the schedule, as negotiations between CART and USAC were being held. All double-header events at Atlanta, Trenton and Michigan were simplified to a single race. The Datsun Twin 200, which had been a USAC event in 1979, joined the schedule after Ontario Motor Speedway had changed its allegiances for the California 500 during the previous season. A new international race at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez was scheduled, as well as a date at Sears Point Raceway, which was renamed in early 1980 as the Golden State International Raceway, with the track potentially making its Indy Car return since its lone USAC race in 1970. All three of the CART races that were scheduled prior to the Indianapolis 500 suffered postponements or cancellations, due to different circumstances: The season opener at Phoenix, originally scheduled for March 2, was first postponed on February 18 to an April 20 date due to access road damage in the Salt River floods. It was later re-scheduled for April 6, and eventually postponed indefinitely on March 17. The first race at Ontario, originally scheduled for March 9, was postponed on February 11 to an April 13 date for logistical reasons. The Rich's Indy Atlanta Classic, originally scheduled for April 27, was cancelled on March 10 due to the Ontario and Phoenix races being postponed to April dates. As a result of this, the April 4, 1980 agreement between CART and USAC to form the Championship Racing League came before any of the two series had started their season. A compromise was reached to keep races as scheduled until a new set of common races was drafted, though the USAC-sanctioned Texas 200 was cancelled shortly before being held. On May 6, the Championship Racing League announced that eleven of the remaining 19 races would stay on the combined schedule. Among CART-sanctioned events, both dates at Trenton Speedway were discontinued, with the track being auctioned the following month and subsequently dismantled. The new event at Sears Point and the second Atlanta race were also off the new schedule. With the Championship Racing League partnership being dissolved on June 30, CART announced shortly after its intention to become the sanctioning body for the rest of the season. It was decided to keep the Mid-Ohio race as the last one under CRL sanctioning, while the Milwaukee Mile, which was the lone remaining venue under USAC sanctioning for the season, switched to CART sanctioning on July 8. Cancelled events Race nameTrackCityOriginal dateUSA Arizona Republic/Jimmy Bryan 150white O silver Phoenix International RacewayAvondale, ArizonaApril 6*USA Texas 200white O silver Texas World SpeedwayCollege Station, TexasApril 26USA Rich's Indy Atlanta Classicwhite O silver Atlanta International RacewayHampton, GeorgiaApril 27USA Trenton Twin Indywhite O silver Trenton SpeedwayTrenton, New JerseyJune 8USA Trenton 150white O silver Trenton SpeedwayTrenton, New JerseyAugust 17USA Atlanta 150white O silver Atlanta International RacewayHampton, GeorgiaOctober 5USA Sears Point Grand Prixlightblue R silver Golden State International RacewaySonoma, CaliforniaOctober 12References:1979-11-03 Indianapolis Set to Lease Pocono Track https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-times-tribune-indianapolis-set-to-le/208649118/ 2026-10-20 The Times-Tribune 131980-02-19 Phoenix Postponed https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-indianapolis-star-phoenix-postponed/208649054/ 2026-10-20 The Indianapolis Star 241980-02-24 All O'Connell Wants Is To Have Fun Again https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-indianapolis-star-all-oconnell-want/208649180/ 2026-10-20 The Indianapolis Star 311980-03-18 Phoenix Race Off Again https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-indianapolis-star-phoenix-race-off-a/208649217/ 2026-10-20 The Indianapolis Star 221980-03-11 CART race off https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-greenville-news-cart-race-off/208649303/ 2026-10-20 The Greenville News 181980-04-16 Mysterious circumstances cancel TWS Indy race https://www.newspapers.com/article/bryan-college-station-eagle-mysterious-c/194835776/ 2026-10-20 Bryan-College Station Eagle 17 * Originally scheduled for March 2, first postponed to April 20. Results Rd Race Pole position Winning driver Winning teamRace time Report 1 USA Datsun Twin 200 USA Johnny Rutherford USA Johnny Rutherford Chaparral Cars1:14:03 Report 2 USA Indianapolis 500 USA Johnny Rutherford USA Johnny Rutherford Chaparral Cars3:29:59 Report 3 USA Gould Rex Mays Classic USA Gordon Johncock USA Bobby Unser Team Penske1:19:48 Report 4 USA True Value 500 USA Bobby Unser USA Bobby Unser Team Penske3:18:04 Report 5 USA Red Roof Inns 150 USA Al Unser USA Johnny Rutherford Chaparral Cars1:48:04 Report 6 USA Norton 200 USA Bobby Unser USA Johnny Rutherford Chaparral Cars1:20:48 Report 7 USA Kent Oil 150 USA Al Unser USA Bobby Unser Team Penske1:30:51 Report 8 USA Tony Bettenhausen 200 USA Johnny Rutherford USA Johnny Rutherford Chaparral Cars1:54:13 Report 9 USA California 500 USA Bobby Unser USA Bobby Unser Team Penske3:11:51 Report 10 USA Gould Grand Prix USA Mario Andretti USA Mario Andretti Team Penske0:53:44 Report 11 MEX I Copa México 150 USA Bobby Unser USA Rick Mears Team Penske1:16:43 Report 12 USA Miller High Life 150 USA Mario Andretti USA Tom Sneva Jerry O'Connell Racing1:30:04 Report CART and USAC united in 1980 under the banner of the Championship Racing League (CRL).The first five races of the season were run under CRL banner sanction by USAC. The union dissolved after the Mid-Ohio race. CART sanctioned the seven remaining races on the schedule and combined the results of those along with the CRL events for their championship. Race summaries Race 1: Datsun Twin 200 For the opening race of the year, Johnny Rutherford qualified on the pole, with Bobby Unser, Al Unser, Rick Mears, and Tom Sneva making up the rest of the top five starters. Johnny Rutherford led the first eight laps, before Bobby Unser caught and passed in lap traffic.https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/185306691/ Philadelphia Daily News from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on April 14, 1980 · Page 62 Newspapers.com 2018-10-04 en However, while leading on lap 14, he suffered a cracked radiator and dropped out. This moved Rutherford back in front, and he was mostly uncontested for the remainder of the race as most challengers had problems. Rick Mears dropped out due to electrical issues while running second. Pancho Carter moved up to second, but he dropped out with fuel pump problems, followed by Al Unser dropping out on lap 45 with a broken transmission. With most of his competition out, Rutherford cruised to an easy victory over Tom Sneva. Gordon Johncock finished third, Spike Gehlhausen fourth, and Tom Bagley fifth. Race 2: Indianapolis 500 Race 3: Rex Mays Classic Gordon Johncock qualified on the pole, with Johnny Rutherford starting second, Al Unser starting third, Rick Mears starting fourth, and Bobby Unser rounding out the top five starters. In the race Rutherford jumped out to the lead on lap 7, and controlled most of the next 50 laps before Gordon Johncock took the lead on lap 55. 60 laps later, under the fourth caution of the day, Al Unser, who was running in second had an engine failure and dropped out.https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/156080298/ The Morning News from Wilmington, Delaware on June 9, 1980 · Page 22 Newspapers.com 2018-10-04 en This moved his brother Bobby Unser into second, and on the restart he managed to catch and pass Johncock for the lead, holding on to win. Johnny Rutherford rose to second, Gordon Johncock ended up third, Pancho Carter finished fourth, and Rick Mears fifth. With his second place, Rutherford now had a 400-point lead over second place Tom Sneva, with Gordon Johncock 550 points back in third, Gary Bettenhausen 925 points back in fourth, and Rick Mears 984 points behind in fifth. Race 4: True Value 500 Bobby Unser won the pole, with A.J. Foyt starting second, Mario Andretti starting third, Mike Mosley starting in fourth, and Johnny Rutherford starting fifth. In the race, A.J. Foyt took the lead on the first lap, and led most of the first half of the race, giving up the lead only for pit shuffling. The first caution came on lap 11, when Al Loquasto lost a wheel and Dennis Firestone wrecked in the same part of the track.https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/125192339/ Florida Today from Cocoa, Florida on June 23, 1980 · Page 4C Newspapers.com 2018-10-10 en The second caution came on lap 26, after Howdy Holmes lost control, Jim McElreath slowed and Roger Rager hit the rear of his car. While leading on lap 82, Foyt encountered a bad valve, and dropped out. This gave the lead to Bobby Unser, who led most of the rest of the race. Johnny Rutherford led 1 lap due to pit stop shuffling,https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/147688651/ Asbury Park Press from Asbury Park, New Jersey on June 23, 1980 · Page 28 Newspapers.com 2018-10-10 en followed by 5 laps under caution after Pancho Carter spun,https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/437429634/ Citizens' Voice from Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania on June 23, 1980 · 37 Newspapers.com 2018-10-10 en but when the green flag flew after a caution on lap 165, Unser pulled away. Rutherford's hopes of winning ended with 20 laps to go when his engine stalled in the pits, allowing Unser to win the race by a wide margin over Rutherford. Tom Sneva finished third, Bill Alsup fourth, and Vern Schuppan fifth. Most other stars were taken out due to attrition. Al Unser was never a factor and dropped out with handling problems on lap 35. Mike Mosley broke a piston while running in third on lap 46, Danny Ongais dropped out with clutch problems on lap 100, Mario Andretti was sidelined with a broken transmission on lap 105, and Rick Mears blew his engine on lap 163. Johnny Rutherford extended his lead to 500 points over Tom Sneva, with Bobby Unser rising to third, 1114 points behind, Gordon Johncock, who didn't enter, falling to fourth, 1350 points back, and Pancho Carter rising to fifth, 1452 points behind. Race 5: Red Roof Inns 250 Al Unser qualified on the pole, followed by brother Bobby Unser in second, Rick Mears in third, Johnny Rutherford in fourth, and Danny Ongais rounding out the top five starters. The start of the race was problematic. Starter Duane Sweeney didn't give the green flag when the pace car pulled off as the back rows were strung out, but the field got going anyway, with Al Unser spinning off track in the first turn. Two laps later they got back in two-by-two order for the official start.https://www.newspapers.com/clip/6183366/the_indianapolis_star/ Clipping from The Indianapolis Star - Newspapers.com Newspapers.com 2018-10-10 en Danny Ongais and Sheldon Kinser didn't make it to the green flag, with Ongais having ignition problems and Kinser a blown engine. On the first lap, Tim Richmond spun off course and was hit by John Wood. Bobby Unser jumped out to the lead after his brother spun, and led the first 12 laps, But he encountered a valve problem while leading and dropped out. Rick Mears then took the lead, and throughout the next 20 laps dueled with Johnny Rutherford. After a poor pit stop by Rutherford, Mears had a 20-second lead, but due to heat exhaustion lost concentration and spun out while leading on lap 47. This gave the lead to Rutherford, with Mears's day ending on lap 54 after Rick Muther spun out and Mears hit him. This brought out the caution, allowing second place Gordon Johncock to close. But when the green flew, Rutherford pulled away and won, a rare road course win. Bill Alsup finished third, Roger Mears fourth, and Vern Schuppan fifth. Polesitter Al Unser lost a lap due to an unscheduled pit stop, and dropped out with suspension problems while running fifth. Rutherford now had a 770-point lead over Tom Sneva, who had crashed out. Bobby Unser was third, 1406 points back, Gordon Johncock fourth, 1410 points back, and Pancho Carter fifth, 1662 points back. Final driver standings List of American Championship car racing point scoring systems Pos Driver ONT USA INDY USA MIL USA POC USA MOH USA MIS USA WGL USA MIL USA ONT USA MIS USA MXC MEX PHX USA Pts 1 USA Johnny Rutherford 1 1 2 2 1 1 5 1 2 4 10 13 4,723 2 USA Bobby Unser 23 19 1 1 15 2 1 3 1 2 2DNS 3,714 3 USA Tom Sneva 2 2 6 3 11 6 4 16 26 6 4 1 2,930 4 USA Rick Mears 21 5 5 12 9 4 2 2 3 3 1 7 2,866 5 USA Pancho Carter 18 6 4 6 7 3 7 22 7 7 22 19 1,855 6 USA Gordon Johncock 3 4 3 Wth 2 5 21 23 23 24 19 24 1,572 7 USA Bill Alsup 7 DNQ 9 4 3 10 8 21 16 10 16 21 1,214 8 USA Al Unser 16 27 20 24 13 7 19 13 4 5 3 151,153 9 USA Gary Bettenhausen 3 12 33 20 9 11 Wth 31 19 3 1,057 10 AUS Vern Schuppan DNQ 5 5 18 10 806 11 USA Tom Bagley 5 28 23 29DNS 8 6 4 15 8 18 16 794 12 AUS Dennis Firestone yellow RY silver 16 30 14 6DNS 5 5 743 13 USA Sheldon Kinser 13 DNQ 11 7 24 16 20 17 12 14 7 4 697 14 USA Tom Gloy 6 5 9680 15 USA Danny Ongais 7 24 18 23 21 3 19 11 24 601 16 USA Mario Andretti 20 17 1 2 580 17 USA Spike Gehlhausen 4 29 Wth 12 5 33 25 473 18 USA Roger Rager 23 26 8 24 8 11 11 10 381 19 USA Rick Muther 24 DNQ 18 10 25 10 8 356 20 USA Bill Tempero orange R silver 17 DNQ 16 17 17 15 6 18 16 8 11 331 21 USA Dick Ferguson 8 31 Wth 13 9 315 22 USA Howdy Holmes DNQ 15 8 14 11 13 314 23 USA Larry Cannon 33 Wth 9 Wth 20 DNQ 24 22 9 18 299 24 USA Roger Mears 9 DNQ 4 16 26 272 24 USA Herm Johnson 14 DNQ 17 11 11 13 13 14 8 272 26 USA Tom Bigelow 8 14 260 27 USA Billy Engelhart 11 10 13 Wth 10 28 17 246 28 USA Jim McElreath 24 27 12 9 6 240 29 USA Jerry Karl 21 14 15 18 15 9 24 27 12 9 215 30 USA Tim Richmond 9DNS 21 26 209 31 USA Dick Simon 22 13 21DNS 18 17 7 37 23 25 185 32 USA Greg Leffler orange R silver 10 20 15 20 184 33 USA Gordon Smiley orange R silver 6 25 20 DNQ 176 34 USA Lee Kunzman DNQ 10 Wth 150 35 USA Jerry Sneva 17 8 14 25 36 12 23 149 36 USA Pete Halsmer orange R silver 20 DNQ 6 128 37 USA Bill Vukovich II 12 21 28 19 34 25 12 96 38 CAN Cliff Hucul 7 90 39 USA Phil Caliva 15 DNQ 16 12 21 21 70 40 USA Jan Sneva 10 Wth 60 41 USA John Martin DNQ 20 16 19 15 25 56 41 USA Mike Mosley 19 32 23 20 17 56 43 USA Joe Saldana 25 DNQ 22 Wth 23 12 21 50 44 USA A. J. Foyt DNS 14 19 45 45 USA Ron Shuman 11 DNQ 40 46 USA Johnny Parsons 26 DNQ 22 22 23 36 47 USA John Mahler DNQ DNQ 19 14 18 30 13 35 48 USA John Wood orange R silver 12 DNQ 22 DNQ 25 48 USA Don Whittington 13 25 48 USA Mike Chandler orange R silver 14 25 48 USA George Snider 15 Wth 25 52 USA Hurley Haywood 18 20 53 USA Phil Threshie DNQ 22 25 Wth DNQ 15 54 USA Larry Dickson 35 22 10 55 USA Jerry Miller 14 8 55 MEX Daniel Muñiz orange R silver 15 8 57 USA Bob Frey orange R silver Wth 17 6 57 MEX Juan Carlos Bolaños orange R silver 17 6 57 USA Salt Walther DNQ 18 6 57 MEX Michel Jourdain Sr. 18 DNQ 6 57 USA Billie Harvey 19 6 57 USA Ross Davis 22 6 63 USA Chip Mead orange R silver 29 5 63 USA Bill Whittington 30 5 63 USA Al Loquasto DNQ 31 5 63 USA Tony Bettenhausen Jr. DNQ DNQ 32 DNQDNS 5 63 USA Jeff Heywood orange R silver 32 5 - USA Janet Guthrie DNQ DNQ 0 - USA Bob Harkey DNQ DNQ 0 - USA Rich Vogler DNQ 0 - USA Tom Frantz DNQ 0 - USA Bill Puterbaugh DNQ 0 - USA Bruce Hill DNQ 0 - CAN Frank Weiss Wth 0 - USA Dana Carter Wth 0 - USA Milt Harper Wth 0 Pos Driver ONT USA INDY USA MIL USA POC USA MOH USA MIS USA WGL USA MIL USA ONT USA MIS USA MXC MEX PHX USA 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 Red Did not qualify(DNQ) Brown Withdrawn(Wth) Black Disqualified(DSQ) White Did not start(DNS) Blank Did notparticipate(DNP) Not competing In-line notationBoldPole positionItalicsRan fastest race lap*Led most race lapsyellow RY silver Rookie of the Yearorange R silver Rookie Driver Breakdown Pos Driver Team/Car Owner Starts Wins Podiums Top 5s Top 10s Poles Points 1 USA Rutherford USA Chaparral Cars 12 5 8 10 10 3 4,723 2 USA B. Unser USA Team Penske 11 4 8 8 8 3 3,714 3 USA T. Sneva USA Jerry O'Connell Racing 12 1 4 6 9 0 2,930 4 USA Ri. Mears USA Team Penske 12 1 5 8 9 0 2,866 5 USA Carter USA Alex Morales Motorsports 12 0 1 2 8 0 1,855 6 USA Johncock USA Patrick Racing 11 0 3 5 5 1 1,572 7 USA Alsup USA Alsup Racing 11 0 1 2 7 0 1,214 8 USA A. Unser USA Longhorn Racing 12 0 1 3 4 2 1,153 9 USA G. Bettenhausen USA AMI Racing 9 0 2 2 3 0 1,149 10 AUS Schuppan USA Jerry O'Connell Racing USA Wysard Racing 4 0 0 2 3 0 806 11 USA Bagley USA Patrick Racing 11 0 0 2 5 0 794 12 AUS Firestone USA Rhoades Competition 6 0 0 2 3 0 743 13 USA Kinser USA Leader Card Racing 11 0 0 1 3 0 697 14 USA Gloy USA Team Penske 3 0 0 1 3 0 680 15 USA Ongais USA Interscope RacingUSA AMI Racing 9 0 0 1 2 0 601 16 USA Andretti USA Team Penske 4 1 2 2 2 3 580 17 USA Gehlhausen USA Bob Fletcher Racing 6 0 0 2 2 0 473 18 USA Rager USA Rager Racing 8 0 0 0 2 0 381 19 USA Muther USA Pacific Coast Racing 6 0 0 0 2 0 356 20 USA Tempero USA Tempero Racing 10 0 0 0 2 0 331 21 USA Ferguson USA Sanett Racing 4 0 0 0 2 0 315 22 USA Holmes USA AMI Racing 5 0 0 0 1 0 314 23 USA Cannon USA Cannon Racing 7 0 0 0 2 0 299 24 USA Johnson USA Menard Racing 8 0 0 0 1 0 272 24 USA Ro. Mears USA Hodgdon Racing USA Agajanian-Grant King Racers 4 0 0 1 2 0 272 26 USA Bigelow USA AMI Racing 2 0 0 0 1 0 260 27 USA Engelhart USA Beaudoin Racing 6 0 0 0 2 0 246 28 USA McElreath USA McElreath Racing 5 0 0 0 2 0 240 29 USA Karl USA Karl Racing 10 0 0 0 1 0 215 30 USA Richmond USA Mach I Racing 3 0 0 0 1 0 209 31 USA Simon USA Vollstedt Enterprises 10 0 0 0 1 0 185 32 USA Leffler USA AMI Racing 4 0 0 0 1 0 184 33 USA Smiley USA Patrick Racing USA Bob Fletcher Racing 3 0 0 0 1 0 176 34 USA Kunzman USA O'Hanlon Racing 1 0 0 0 1 0 150 35 USA Je. Sneva USA AMI Racing USA O'Hanlon Racing 7 0 0 0 1 0 149 36 USA Halsmer USA Wysard Racing 2 0 0 0 1 0 128 37 USA Vukovich USA Leader Card Racing 7 0 0 0 0 0 96 38 CAN Hucul USA O'Hanlon Racing 1 0 0 0 1 0 90 39 USA Caliva USA Alsup Racing 5 0 0 0 0 0 70 40 USA Ja. Sneva USA BFM Enterprises USA Walmotor 1 0 0 0 1 0 60 41 USA Martin USA JJ Enterprises 5 0 0 0 0 0 56 41 USA Mosley USA All American Racers USA Mach I Racing 5 0 0 0 0 0 56 43 USA Saldana USA Hoffman Racing 5 0 0 0 0 0 50 44 USA Foyt USA Gilmore Racing 3 0 0 0 0 0 45 45 USA Shuman USA Stanton Racing 1 0 0 0 0 0 40 46 USA Parsons USA Lindsey Hopkins Racing 4 0 0 0 0 0 36 47 USA Mahler USA Intercomp 5 0 0 0 0 0 35 48 USA D. Whittington USA Whittington Bros. Racing 1 0 0 0 0 0 25 48 USA Wood USA Mergard Racing 2 0 0 0 0 0 25 48 USA Chandler USA Hodgdon Racing 1 0 0 0 0 0 25 48 USA Snider USA Gilmore Racing 1 0 0 0 0 0 25 52 USA Haywood USA Linsey Hopkins Racing 1 0 0 0 0 0 20 53 USA Threshie USA Machinists Union Racing 2 0 0 0 0 0 15 54 USA Dickson USA Machinists Union 2 0 0 0 0 0 10 55 MEX Muñiz MEX Pronosticos Deportivos 1 0 0 0 0 0 8 55 USA Miller USA Agajanian-Grant King Racers 1 0 0 0 0 0 8 57 USA Harvey USA Agajanian-Grant King Racers 1 0 0 0 0 0 6 57 USA Frey USA Hoffman Racing 1 0 0 0 0 0 6 57 MEX Bolaños MEX Ovaciones 1 0 0 0 0 0 6 57 MEX Jourdain Sr. MEX Shade Tree Racing 1 0 0 0 0 0 6 57 USA Davis USA Davis Racing 1 0 0 0 0 0 6 57 USA Walther USA Walmotor 1 0 0 0 0 0 6 63 USA Loquasto USA Pacific Coast Racing 1 0 0 0 0 0 5 63 USA B. Whittington USA Whittington Bros. Racing 1 0 0 0 0 0 5 63 USA Mead USA Intercomp 1 0 0 0 0 0 5 63 USA T. Bettenhausen Jr. USA Bettenhausen Racing 1 0 0 0 0 0 5 63 USA Heywood USA Pacific Coast Racing 1 0 0 0 0 0 5 See also 1980 Indianapolis 500 1980 USAC Championship Car season References http://www.driverdb.com/standings/5-1980/ PPG Indy Car World Series 1980 Åberg, Andreas Driver Database 2009-05-19 http://www.champcarstats.com/year/1980.htm 1980 PPG Indy Car World Series Champ Car Stats 2009-05-19 http://www.indy500.com/stats/view/boxscore/year/1980/ Official Box Score: 64th Indianapolis 500-Mile Race at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Indianapolis Motor Speedway 2009-05-19 2008-05-14 https://web.archive.org/web/20080514015124/http://www.indy500.com/stats/view/boxscore/year/1980 dead Category:Champ Car seasons CART PPG Indy Car World Series CART PPG Indy Car World Series