1970 USAC Championship Car season

Sports season August 2023 USAC Championship Car 1970 USAC National Championship Trail 18 March 28 November 21 National champion United States Al Unser United States Al Unser 1969 1971 (Championship Car) 1971 (Dirt Car) The 1970 USAC Championship Car season consisted of 18 races, beginning in Avondale, Arizona on March 28 and concluding at the same location on November 21. There was also one non-championship event at Pikes Peak, Colorado. The USAC National Champion and Indianapolis 500 winner was Al Unser. After this season, dirt courses did not reappear in the USAC Championship until 1981-82. Road courses after this season did not reappear in the USAC Championship until 1977. The Pikes Peak Auto Hill Climb was the only non-championship event. Also of note, the series added a second 500 mile race at the new Ontario Motor Speedway. Entrants (partial list) TeamChassisEngineDriversRounds United States Vel's Parnelli Jones RacingColt (1-9, 11-12, 16, 18), King (10, 13-15, 17)FordUS Al Unser All Colt FordUS Joe Leonard 4-5, 12 United States Leader Card RacingEagle (1-9, 11-12, 16, 18), Watson (10, 13-15, 17), Ward (17)Ford(1-5, 7, 9, 11-12, 16, 18), Offenhauser (6, 8, 10, 13-15, 17)US Bobby Unser All Watson (1-11, 13-18), Eagle (12) OffenhauserUS Mike Mosley All Epperly (1), Coyote (4), Watson (8-9, 12, 16, 18), Dunlop (10, 13-15, 17) Offenhauser (1, 8-10, 12-17), Ford ( 4, 18)US George Snider 1, 4, 8-10, 12-18 United States A.J. Foyt EnterprisesGerhardt (1, 3, 5), Coyote (4, 12), McElreath (10, 13-15, 17), Eagle (18)Ford (4, 12, 18), Chevrolet (10, 13-15, 17), Offenhauser(1, 3, 5)US Jim McElreath All Coyote (1-5, 7-9, 11-12, 18), Meskowski (10, 13-15) FordUS A.J. Foyt 1-5, 7-15, 18 Eagle FordUS Donnie Allison 4 Coyote FordUS George Snider 4 United States Andy GranatelliGerhardt (1, 3, 5), Coyote (4, 12), McElreath (10, 13-15, 17), Eagle (18)Ford (4, 12, 18), Chevrolet (10, 13-15, 17), Offenhauser (1, 3, 5)US Mario Andretti All Kuzma OffenhauserUS Larry Dickson 10, 13-15, 17 Hawk FordUS George Folmer 4, 12 Kuzma OffenhauserUS Bill Vukovich II 17 Hawk FordUS Steve Krisiloff 16 United States Agajanian-Faas RacersBrabhamOffenhauserUS Bill Vukovich II 2 United States Hayhoe Racing EnterprisesScorpion (1, 3-6, 7-9, 11-12, 16, 18), Meskowski (15, 17)Ford (1, 3-6, 7-9, 11-12, 16, 18),, Offenhauser (15, 17)US Roger McCluskey 1, 3-6, 7-9, 11-12, 15-18Gerhardt (1), King (3-5), Vollstedt (7), Morris (8, 11, 16, 18), Scorpion (12)"Offenhauser (1, 3-5), Ford (7-8, 11-12, 16, 18)US Art Pollard 1, 3-5, 7-8, 11-12, 16, 18 United States Johncock Racing TeamGerhardt (1, 3-5), McLaren (6, 8, 12, 16), Eagle (2, 7, 9)Offenhauser (1, 3-6, 8, 12, 16), Ford (2, 7, 9)US Gordon Johncock 1-9, 12, 16 United States Jerry O-Connell RacingBrabhamOffenhauserUS Bill Vukovich II 4, 18 United Kingdom BrabhamBrabhamOffenhauserAustralia Jack Brabham 4, 12 United States Dayton-WaltherMorrisOffenhauserUS Bill Vukovich II 5, 6 United States Racing InternationalVolstedt (1-6, 8-9, 12, 16, 18), Morris (7), Moore (17)Ford (1, 4-5, 7-9, 12, 16), Chevrolet (2-3), Offenhauser (6, 17)US Dick Simon 1-9, 12, 16-18 United States All American RacersEagleFord (2, 4), Offenhauser (12)US Dan Gurney 2, 4, 12EagleFordUS Swede Savage 7, 9, 12, 18 United States PenskeLolaChevrolet (2, 12), Ford (4, 9)US Mark Donohue 2, 4, 9, 12 United States McLarenMclaren (4), Meskowski (10, 13-15, 17), Gerhardt (12)OffenhauserUS Carl Williams 4, 10, 12-15, 17 United States Patrick RacingEagle (2-6, 7-9, 11-12, 16, 18), Lesovksy (10, 13-15, 17)Offenhauser (3-4, 8, 10-17), Ford (2, 5-6, 9, 18)US Johnny Rutherford 2-6, 8-18 United States Lindsey Hopkins RacingEagle (4-5, 11), Kuzma (8-18)Ford (4-5, 11, 18), Offenhauser (8)US Mel Kenyon 4-5, 8, 11, 16Eagle (1, 3-6, 8-9, 18), Kuzma (14, 16)Offenhauser (1, 3-6, 8-9, 14, 16), Ford (18)US Wally Dallenbach 1, 3-6, 8-9, 14, 16, 18 United States Gene White RacingFinley (1, 3-6, 11, 16, 18), Vollstedt (10, 13-15, 17)Offenhauser US Lloyd Ruby 1, 3-5, 7, 11-12, 16, 18 United States Vatis EnterprisesLaycockOffenhauser (1, 3-5, 7), Ford (11-12, 16, 18)US Bentley Warren 1, 3-6, 10-11, 13-17) United States Don GerhardtGerhardt (1-6, 8-9, 11-12, 16, 18), Ward (10, 13-15), Edmunds (17)Offy (1, 3-6, 8-9, 11-18), Ford (10), Chevy (2)US Gary Bettenhausen 1-6, 8-18GerhardtOffenhauser US Larry Dickson 4 United States Volstedt RacingVolstedtFordUS Larry Dickson 18 Schedule and results Rnd Date Race name Length Track Location Type Pole position Winning driver 1 March 28 USA Phoenix 150 150 mi km on Phoenix International Raceway Avondale, Arizona Paved USA Mario Andretti USA Al Unser 2 April 4 USA Golden Gate 150 151.38 mi km on Sears Point Raceway Sonoma, California Road USA Mark Donohue USA Dan Gurney 3 April 26 USA Trenton 200 201 mi km on Trenton International Speedway Trenton, New Jersey Paved USA Al Unser USA Lloyd Ruby 4 May 30 USA International 500 Mile Sweepstakes 500 mi km on Indianapolis Motor Speedway Speedway, Indiana Paved USA Al Unser USA Al Unser 5 June 7 USA Rex Mays Classic 150 mi km on Wisconsin State Fair Park Speedway West Allis, Wisconsin Paved USA Mario Andretti USA Joe Leonard 6 June 14 USA Langhorne 150 150 mi km on Langhorne Speedway Langhorne, Pennsylvania Paved USA Bobby Unser USA Bobby Unser 7 June 28 USA Rocky Mountain 150 151.62 mi km on Continental Divide Raceways Mead, Colorado Road USA Al Unser USA Mario Andretti 8 July 4 USA Michigan Twin 200s 200 mi km on Michigan International Speedway Brooklyn, Michigan Paved USA Gary Bettenhausen USA Gary BettenhausenNC July 4 USA Pikes Peak Auto Hill Climb 12.42 mi km on Pikes Peak Highway Pikes Peak, Colorado Hill USA Orville NanceA A USA Ted Foltz 9 July 26 USA Indy 150 150 mi km on Indianapolis Raceway Park Clermont, Indiana Road USA Mario Andretti USA Al Unser 10 August 22 USA Tony Bettenhausen 100 100 mi km on Illinois State Fairgrounds Springfield, Illinois Dirt USA Larry Dickson USA Al Unser 11 August 23 USA Tony Bettenhausen 200 200 mi km on Wisconsin State Fair Park Speedway West Allis, Wisconsin Paved USA Al Unser USA Al Unser 12 September 6 USA California 500 500 mi km on Ontario Motor Speedway Ontario, California Paved USA Lloyd Ruby USA Jim McElreath 13 September 7 USA Ted Horn Memorial 100 100 mi km on DuQuoin State Fairgrounds Du Quoin, Illinois Dirt USA Al Unser USA Al Unser 14 September 12 USA Hoosier Hundred 100 mi km on Indiana State Fairgrounds Indianapolis, Indiana Dirt USA Johnny Parsons USA Al Unser 15 September 19 USA Sedalia 100 100 mi km on State Fair Raceway Sedalia, Missouri Dirt USA Al Unser USA Al Unser 16 October 3 USA Trenton 300 264 mi km onB B Trenton International Speedway Trenton, New Jersey Paved USA Al Unser USA Al Unser 17 October 4 USA Golden State 100 100 mi km on California State Fairgrounds Sacramento, California Dirt USA Mario Andretti USA Al Unser 18 November 21 USA Bobby Ball 150 150 mi km on Phoenix International Raceway Avondale, Arizona Paved USA Al Unser USA Swede Savage #FFFFFF Paved/Dirt Oval solid 1px #AAAAAA #D0E7FF Road Course/Hill Climb solid 1px #AAAAAA #FB9902 Non-championship race solid 1px #AAAAAA A A No pole is awarded for the Pikes Peak Hill Climb, in this schedule on the pole is the driver who started first. No lap led was awarded for the Pikes Peak Hill Climb, however, a lap was awarded to the drivers that completed the climb. B B Scheduled for 300 miles, stopped early due to rain. Final points standings Note: Mark Donohue, Kevin Bartlett, Peter Revson, LeeRoy Yarbrough, John Cannon, Donnie Allison, Ron Grable, Jack Eiteljorg and Jack Brabham are not eligible for points. List of American Championship car racing point scoring systems Pos Driver PHX1USA SONUSA TRE1USA INDYUSA MIL1USA LHSUSA CDRUSA MISUSA IRPUSA SPRUSA MIL2USA ONTUSA DQSFUSA ISFUSA SEDUSA TRE2USA CSFUSA PHX2USA Pts 1USA Al Unser 1 3 3 1 3 2 5 18 1 1 1 9 1 1 1 1 1 2 5130 2USA Bobby Unser 2 18 4 11 6 1 4 2 24 9 19 22 2 DNQ DNQ 2 6 17 2260 3USA Jim McElreath 6 7 5 DNS 3 1 Wth 10 13 16 5 2060 4USA Mike Mosley 5 7 5 21 7 3 15 4 14 10 5 14 18 5 4 3 8 20 1900 5USA Mario Andretti 13 2 2 6 5 8 1 21 18 24 24 10 17 11 2 21 14 8 1890 6USA Roger McCluskey DNQ DNQ 25 2 Wth 7 9 2 25 10 5 5 3 1380 7USA Gordon Johncock 18 4 15 28 12 10 7 12 3 4 DNQ 1160 8USA Art Pollard 11 21 30 18 19 17 11 2 6 24 1110 9USA A. J. Foyt 4 Wth 6 10 24 3 8 12 15 7 15 10 3 DNQ 23 1105 10USA Dick Simon orange R silver 24 6 9 14 11 9 11 19 13 3 DNQ DNQ 9 1080 11USA Dan Gurney 1 3 18 1000 12USA Johnny Rutherford 5 20 18 14 DNQ 3 17 11 21 31 11 DNQ 12 4 13 6 960 13USA Mel Kenyon 16 DNQ 10 3 6 9 860 14USA Lloyd Ruby 3 1 27 4 17 20 23 22 16 790 15USA Bentley Warren orange R silver DNQ 8 DNQ 10 6 5 4 DNQ 8 5 20 11 DNQ 775 16USA Gary Bettenhausen 17 21 12 26 9 5 1 22 20 17 19 9 DNQ 16 DNQ 9 19 710 17USA Wally Dallenbach Sr. 10 17 17 8 7 16 5 9 28 DNS 15 4 620 18USA Swede Savage 2 8 27 1 615 19USA Jim Malloy 33 19 4 5 16 22 DNQ 11 DNQ 12 7 13 13 570 20USA Greg Weld 18 32 DNQ 27 7 15 7 8 DNQ 4 530 21USA George Snider 7 20 23 23 14 DNQ 4 14 15 18 2 7 460 22USA Carl Williams 9 2 12 DNQ 15 DNQ 10 440 23USA Jerry Grant 22 7 17 6 21 DNQ 14 420 24USA Rick Muther 8 DNQ 14 DNQ 33 8 22 400 25USA Sam Sessions 12 DNQ 21 6 17 DNQ 4 11 12 365 26USA Steve Krisiloff 8 15 10 DNQ 22 13 18 DNQ 29 7 DNS 315 27USA Larry Dickson DNQ 25 DNQ 3 DNQ 3 DNS 11 310 28USA John Mahler orange R silver 13 16 DNQ 15 8 9 6 14 12 DNQ 305 29USA Joe Leonard 24 1 13 300 30USA Bill Simpson 22 10 19 DNQ 20 19 14 7 6 DNQ 19 21 295 31USA Ralph Liguori DNQ 13 5 2 DNQ 15 260 32USA Bill Vukovich II DNS 20 DNP 23 13 12 DNQ 3 10 200 33USA Max Dudley 8 22 9 DNQ 10 DNQ 195 34USA Bruce Jacobi 19 9 DNQ 20 20 4 15 DNQ DNQ DNQ DNQ DNQ 180 35USA Tom Bigelow Wth DNQ 17 DNQ 7 13 7 DNQ 6 17 17 DNQ 180 36USA Bob Harkey 12 16 17 6 13 9 DNQ DNQ 130 37USA Merle Bettenhausen orange R silver 8 7 110 38USA Dee Jones DNQ 8 DNQ 100 39USA Karl Busson orange R silver 9 11 DNS 18 22 23 DNS DNQ DNQ DNQ 14 15 100 40USA Bud Tingelstad Wth 25 24 16 DNQ 10 18 90 41USA Bruce Walkup 16 29 21 16 DNS 13 26 23 16 14 6 14 DNQ DNQ DNQ 80 42USA Jimmy Caruthers orange R silver 6 DNP 80 43USA Jerry Karl 12 24 13 Wth DNQ 11 DNQ 12 25 DNQ 65 44CAN Ludwig Heimrath Sr. 23 14 23 DNQ 12 10 60 45USA Ronnie Bucknum 16 15 DNQ DNP 20 11 60 46USA Dick Tobias orange R silver 19 8 50 47USA Will Cagle orange R silver 21 DNQ 9 DNQ DNQ 40 48USA Arnie Knepper DNQ 15 11 18 22 DNQ DNQ DNQ 40 49USA Johnny Parsons DNQ 16 12 17 18 DNQ DNQ 10 50USA Johnny Anderson 20 12 10 -USA Mark Donohue 25 2 2 30 0 -CAN John Cannon 11 DNQ 4 DNQ 0 -USA Donnie Allison orange R silver 4 0 -USA Peter Revson 22 5 0 -USA LeeRoy Yarbrough 19 8 0 -USA Jack Eiteljorg 10 DNQ 0 -USA Ron Grable orange R silver 11 0 -AUS Kevin Bartlett 12 DNQ 16 26 0 -USA Ned Spath 14 17 13 DNQ 0 -USA Larry Cannon orange R silver DNQ DNQ Wth 18 13 DNQ DNQ 16 DNQ 0 -AUS Jack Brabham 13 DNQ 0 -USA Darrell Dockery orange R silver 15 23 14 DNQ 23 23 DNQ DNQ 0 -USA Al Loquasto 24 DNQ DNQ 14 23 0 -USA John Martin orange R silver 15 DNQ 0 -USA Al Miller Wth 15 0 -USA Bill Puterbaugh DNQ DNS DNQ DNQ 16 17 0 -USA Sonny Ates Wth 16 0 -USA Salt Walther orange R silver DNS 18 0 -USA Jerry Poland orange R silver DNQ 18 DNQ 0 -USA Crockey Peterson orange R silver 19 20 DNQ 0 -USA Scooter Patrick orange R silver 19 0 -USA George Follmer 31 21 20 0 -USA Bud Morley Wth 21 DNQ 0 -ITA Nick Dioguardi orange R silver 21 0 -USA Gig Stephens 22 26 0 -USA Bob DeJong orange R silver DNQ DNQ 22 DNQ DNQ 0 -USA Don Brown orange R silver 24 DNQ 0 -USA Jim Hurtubise DNQ 32 0 -USA Ron Burke DNQ DNQ DNQ DNS 0 -USA Ed Marshall DNQ DNS 0 -USA Leigh Earnshaw DNQ DNQ DNQ DNQ 0 -USA Jigger Sirois DNQ DNQ 0 -USA Keith Rachwitz DNQ DNQ 0 -USA Lee Kunzman Wth DNQ 0 -USA Denny Zimmerman DNQ DNQ 0 -USA Rollie Beale DNQ DNQ 0 -USA Jim Reynard DNQ DNQ 0 -USA Bob Gregg DNQ 0 -USA Tony Adamowicz DNQ 0 -USA Sam Posey DNQ 0 -USA Charlie Glotzbach Wth 0 -NZL Chris Amon Wth 0 -NZL Denny Hulme Wth 0 -ARG Carlos Pairetti Wth 0 -USA Bob Veith Wth 0 -USA Les Scott DNQ 0 -USA Gary Ponzini DNQ 0 -USA Bob Allen DNQ 0 -USA Tom Sneva DNQ 0 -USA Dave Strickland DNQ 0 Pos Driver PHX1USA SONUSA TRE1USA INDYUSA MIL1USA LHSUSA CDRUSA MISUSA IRPUSA SPRUSA MIL2USA ONTUSA DQSFUSA ISFUSA SEDUSA TRE2USA CSFUSA PHX2USA 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 notparticipate(DNP) Not competing In-line notationBoldPole positionItalicsRan fastest race lap*Led most race lapsgold RY silver Rookie of the Yearorange R silver Rookie References http://www.driverdb.com/standings/980-1970/ USAC National Championship 1970 Åberg, Andreas Driver Database 2009-05-12 https://web.archive.org/web/20080325034353/http://www.driverdb.com/standings/980-1970/ 2008-03-25 live http://www.champcarstats.com/year/1970.htm 1970 USAC National Championship Trail ChampCarStats.com 2009-05-12 https://web.archive.org/web/20081122115545/http://www.champcarstats.com/year/1970.htm 2008-11-22 live http://old.motorsport.com/stats/champ/data/1970sum.pdf 1970 Championship Driver Summary Harms Phil Motorsport.com 2011-05-03 https://web.archive.org/web/20120810003609/http://www.motorsport.com/stats/champ/data/1970sum.pdf 2012-08-10 dead http://media.indycar.com/pdf/2011/IICS_2011_Historical_Record_Book_INT6.pdf https://web.archive.org/web/20160304053905/http://media.indycar.com/pdf/2011/IICS_2011_Historical_Record_Book_INT6.pdf 2016-03-04 (p. 232-237) https://www.oldracingcars.com/indy/results/1970/indianapolis500/ Retrieved July 30, 2025 https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/database/championships/1970-usac-national-championship/ Retrieved July 30, 2025 https://www.oldracingcars.com/indy/results/1970/indianapolis500/ Retrieved July 30, 2025 http://www.ultimateracinghistory.com/racelist.php?year=1970 Retrieved July 30, 2025 See also 1970 Indianapolis 500 Category:1970 USAC Championship Car season USAC Championship Car season Category:USAC Championship Car Category:1970 in American motorsport