1975 Pocono 500

August 2023 USA Pocono 500 Pocono Raceway.svg June 29 1975 USAC Championship Car 1975 Schaefer 500 8th Long Pond, Pennsylvania Permanent racing facility 2.5 4.023 170 425 683.971 Temperatures up to 84 F C; wind speeds up to 20 mph km/h1975 Pocono 500 weather information https://www.wunderground.com/history/daily/us/pa/avoca/KAVP/date/1975-6-29 Wunderground April 25, 2023 Gordon Johncock Patrick Racing 183.281 mph USA A. J. Foyt A. J. Foyt Racing USA Wally Dallenbach Sr. Patrick Racing USA Bill Vukovich II Fletcher Racing USA The 1975 Pocono 500, the 5th running of the event, was held at the Pocono Raceway in Long Pond, Pennsylvania, on Sunday, June 29, 1975. Branded as the 1975 Schaefer 500 for sponsorship reasons, A. J. Foyt became the first driver to win the Pocono 500 twice, with a rain-shortened victory. Background Beginning in 1975, Olsonite sponsored the Triple Crown award, given to the driver who scored the most points in Indy car's three 500 mile races. The award carried a $1,500 prize, a diamond ring, and an annual trophy.LeMasters Ron USAC Specs for 1976 Include Pop-Offs https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-star-press-1975-usac-triple-crown/161670988/ 3 August 2021 The Star Press January 19, 1975 A.J. Foyt won the California 500 in March. In late May, Bobby Unser won the 1975 Indianapolis 500. Two weeks after Indianapolis, Foyt won a 150-mile race at the Milwaukee Mile.https://www.champcarstats.com/year/1975.htm 1975 USAC Schedule and Results Practice Practice started Wednesday, June 18. Windy conditions slowed speeds. Bobby Unser posted the fastest lap at 179.2 mph.https://ibb.co/0XFJcdy Scranton Tribune Pennsylvania Associated Press Wind Keeps Speeds Low at Schaefer June 19, 1975 13March 2025 medicmedic On Thursday, Gordon Johncock was fastest in practice at 182.038 mph. The session was interrupted by rain at 12:30 p.m. but re-opened for track activity at 3:24 p.m.https://ibb.co/tX6nfV1 https://web.archive.org/web/20230509150447/https://ibb.co/tX6nfV1 usurped May 9, 2023 Morning Call Pennsylvania Associated Press Foyt Fails to Deliver But Isn't Concerned June 20, 1975 38 In Friday's practice, Gordon Johncock posted the fastest speed at 182.741 mph. Bobby Unser was second fastest at 182.334 mph.https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=ZG4sAAAAIBAJ&sjid=iIoFAAAAIBAJ&pg=3310%2C3830449 Herald Journal South Carolina Associated Press Unser, Johncock Lead Practice for Qualifying June 21, 1975 B2 Time Trials The Saturday, June 21, qualifying session consisted of a four-lap, ten-mile average speed. Bobby Unser posted a fast speed early with an average speed of 181.708 mph, and held the pole for several hours. Gordon Johncock waited until late afternoon to make his run and knocked Unser off the pole with average speed of 183.281 mph.https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=bm4sAAAAIBAJ&sjid=iIoFAAAAIBAJ&pg=6942%2C3937736 Herald Journal South Carolina Associated Press Pocono Pole to Johncock June 22, 1975 B4 A.J. Foyt came up just short in his attempt to sweep 500 mile race poles. Foyt was the second fastest qualifier at 182.778 mph. Jerry Grant was the third fastest qualifier at 181.864 mph.https://www.newspapers.com/clip/64044339/21-june-1975-page-1/ Indianapolis Star Indiana Associated Press Johncock Tops AJ For Pole June 22, 1975 57 Johnny Rutherford crashed in his first qualifying attempt. Coming through turn two, Rutherford's car spun 360 degrees and hit the wall with the right-rear corner. His McLaren team prepared a backup car and Rutherford made a second qualifying attempt in the afternoon. Driving the backup car, Rutherford posted the fifth-fastest qualifying speed.https://www.newspapers.com/article/anderson-herald-1975-pocono-500-qualifyi/150284804/ Anderson Herald Indiana Associated Press Johncock Takes Pole at Pocono June 22, 1975 26 Race Massive crowds estimated at over 110,000 spectators created a traffic jam entering the track. A.J. Foyt was forced to abandon his car, call for help on a CB radio, and fly a helicopter from a nearby parking lot into the track's garage area.https://www.newspapers.com/clip/35200134/1975-pocono-500/ Indianapolis News Indiana Associated Press I'm Going to Write a Book Later: Foyt June 30, 1975 27https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-indianapolis-star/123266516/ Indianapolis Star Indiana Associated Press Race Easier Than Getting to Track June 30, 1975 22 Prior to the race, 27 year-old paramentalist, The Astonishing Neal, attempted to set a world record for fastest speed while driving blindfolded. The Astonishing Neal had previously correctly predicted that Gordon Johncock would win the pole, Tom Bigelow would be the 33rd qualifier, and that Johnny Rutherford would hit the wall on his qualifying run.https://www.newspapers.com/article/standard-speaker-1975-astonishing-neal-p/150284642/ Standard Speaker Pennsylvania Speaking of Sports June 28, 1975 18 Neal covered his eyes with Play-Doh, cotton wrap, surgical tape, a blindfold, and a black hood before walking to the pace car, which had been parked where he could not see it. He was joined in the car by Chris Economaki and Associated Press photographer Dave Parker who took pictures of the speedometer from the back seat. The Astonishing Neal successfully completed a lap around the track, reaching a speed of 100 mph. In the days before the race, Guinness World Records backed out of verifying the record out of fear it would inspire others to attempt driving blindfolded.Blindfolded Driver Races at 100 MPH https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-morning-call-1975-pocono-500-astonis/135740505/ Morning Call 17 Newspapers.com June 30, 1975 November 24, 2023 Best-selling author James A. Michener, researching his 1976 book, Sports in America, was introduced to the crowd before the race. The grand marshal of the race was Olympic gold medalist pole vaulter Bob Seagren. Indianapolis Motor Speedway owner Tony Hulman gave the command to start engines for the fifth year in a row.Big Race Could Top 120,000 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-morning-call-1975-pocono-500/135740357/ Morning Call 54 Newspapers.com June 29, 1975 November 24, 2023 The race was delayed two hours by rain. When the track dried, polesitter Gordon Johncock led the first 12 laps. Coming back from a violent crash at Indianapolis, Tom Sneva climbed from the 12th starting position to sixth after two laps. A.J. Foyt took the lead on lap 13, and held it for the next 11 laps.https://www.racing-reference.info/race-results/1975_Schaefer_500/UO/ Race Results - Racing-Reference After leading two laps, Mario Andretti's quest to win at his home track ended on lap 79 with a burned piston. Pancho Carter led for 12 laps before falling out with gearbox problems on lap 84. By the halfway point, it became a two-car battle between Foyt and Johncock, with each taking turns in the lead.https://www.champcarstats.com/races/197508.htm 1975 Schaefer 500 Results Running second on lap 140, Johncock spun in turn two and hit the wall with the rear of his car. Johncock had led 29 laps and finished 20th.https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-indianapolis-star/123266516/ Indianapolis Star Indiana Associated Press It's AJ's Turn to Sing in the Rain June 30, 1975 22 With rain approaching the track, Foyt increased the turbocharger boost on his car to build his lead.https://www.newspapers.com/clip/35200037/1975-pocono-500/ Philadelphia Inquirer Pennsylvania Associated Press Foyt's Pocono Victory is Short But Sweet June 30, 1975 23 Foyt held a 15-second lead over Wally Dallenbach when rain brought out a caution on lap 168. A double rainbow in turn one gave way to a heavy rain that moved from turn two towards the frontstretch. After two laps under yellow, the race was stopped and called official due to the wet conditions. Foyt became the first repeat winner at Pocono. One month earlier, the Indianapolis 500 was also shortened by rain. Foyt led 115 laps and earned $83,250 for the victory. Box score FinishGridNo Car numberNameEntrantChassisEngineLapsTime/StatusLed Laps ledPoints 1 2 14 USA A. J. Foyt A. J. Foyt Enterprises Coyote Foyt 170 3:01:13.300 115 1000 2 6 40 USA Wally Dallenbach Patrick Racing Wildcat Offenhauser 170 Running 0 800 3 14 6 USA Bill Vukovich II Fletcher Racing Team Eagle Offenhauser 169 Flagged 4 700 4 13 15 USA Roger McCluskey Lindsey Hopkins Racing Riley Offenhauser 169 Flagged 0 600 5 31 45 USA Gary Bettenhausen Don Gerhardt Eagle Offenhauser 168 Flagged 0 500 6 5 2 USA Johnny Rutherford Team McLaren McLaren M16D Offenhauser 168 Flagged 0 400 7 26 89 USA John Martin Automotive Technology McLaren M16B Offenhauser 166 Flagged 0 300 8 15 78 USA Jimmy Caruthers Alex Morales Motorsports Eagle Offenhauser 166 Flagged 5 250 9 25 83 USA Bill Puterbaugh Lee Elkins Eagle 75 Offenhauser 166 Flagged 0 200 10 18 97 USA George Snider Leader Card Racers Eagle Offenhauser 165 Flagged 0 150 11 28 24 USA Bentley Warren Grant King Racers King Offenhauser 165 Flagged 0 100 12 20 86 USA Al Loquasto Loquasto Racing McLaren M16B Offenhauser 165 Flagged 0 50 13 24 46 USA Rick Muther Don Gerhardt Eagle Offenhauser 164 Flagged 0 0 14 3 73 USA Jerry Grant Fred Carillo Eagle Offenhauser 151 Flagged 2 0 15 23 19 USA Sheldon Kinser Grant King Racers King Offenhauser 150 Flagged 0 0 16 22 38 USA Jerry Karl Carl Gehlhausen King Offenhauser 149 In pits 0 0 17 27 94 USA Lee Kunzman Vatis Enterprises Fiore Offenhauser 147 Engine 0 0 18 29 63 USA Larry McCoy James Bidwell Rascar Offenhauser 143 Flagged 0 0 19 30 58 CAN Eldon Rasmussen Rasmussen Racing Rascar Foyt 141 Flagged 0 0 20 1 20 USA Gordon Johncock Patrick Racing Wildcat DGS 139 Crash 29 0 21 33 17 USA Tom Bigelow Vollstedt Enterprises Vollstedt Offenhauser 127 Flagged 0 0 22 4 48 USA Bobby Unser All American Racers Eagle Offenhauser 101 Gearbox 0 0 23 21 44 USA Dick Simon Dick Simon Racing Eagle Foyt 86 Wheel bearing 0 0 24 9 11 USA Pancho Carter Fletcher Racing Team Eagle Offenhauser 84 Gearbox 12 0 25 10 21 USA Mario Andretti Vel's Parnelli Jones Racing Eagle Offenhauser 79 Piston 2 0 26 16 93 USA Johnny Parsons Vatis Enterprises Eagle Offenhauser 68 Piston 0 0 27 11 16 USA Bobby Allison Penske Racing McLaren M16C Offenhauser 57 Ignition 0 0 28 19 10 USA Steve Krisiloff Leader Card Racers Eagle Offenhauser 54 Valve 1 0 29 12 68 USA Tom Sneva Penske Racing McLaren M16C Offenhauser 38 Injector 0 0 30 32 33 USA Bob Harkey Dayton-Walther McLaren M16C/D Offenhauser 37 Radiator 0 0 31 7 12 USA Mike Mosley Jerry O'Connell Racing Eagle Offenhauser 26 Piston 0 0 32 8 4 USA Al Unser Vel's Parnelli Jones Racing Eagle Offenhauser 6 Intake valve 0 0 33 17 77 USA Salt Walther Dayton-Walther McLaren M16C/D Offenhauser 3 Piston 0 0 Source:1975 Schaefer 5001975 Pocono 500 - Round 8 References 2 Category:Pocono 500 Pocono 500 Schaefer