1978 Pocono 500

August 2023 USA Pocono 500 Pocono Raceway.svg June 25 1978 USAC Championship Car 1978 Schaefer 500 8th Long Pond, Pennsylvania Permanent racing facility 2.5 4.023 200 500 804.672 Temperatures up to 80 F C; wind speeds up to 12 mph km/h1978 Pocono 500 weather information https://www.wunderground.com/history/daily/us/pa/avoca/KAVP/date/1978-6-25 Wunderground April 25, 2023 Danny Ongais Ted Field USA Al Unser Chaparral Cars USA Johnny Rutherford McLaren USA Tom Sneva Team Penske USA The 1978 Pocono 500, the 8th running of the event, was held at the Pocono Raceway in Long Pond, Pennsylvania, on Sunday, June 25, 1978. Branded as the 1978 Schaefer 500 for sponsorship reasons, the race was won by Al Unser who one month earlier had won the Indianapolis 500. Two months later, Unser won the California 500 to become the only driver to win all three of IndyCar's Triple Crown of 500 mile races in the same year.https://www.newspapers.com/article/detroit-free-press-detroit-caesars-win/33022018/ Detroit Free Press Michigan Associated Press Al Unser Wins at Ontario September 4, 1978 27 Practice A major bump in turn two, "The Tunnel Turn," formed where a new asphalt patch met the old asphalt. On Tuesday night, former Indianapolis track superintendent, Clarence Cagle, oversaw a cement dust veneer meant to smooth the transition. An early morning rain caused the cement to be very slick in Wednesday's practice, which forced practice to be stopped for the cement to be scraped off. The bump was blamed for a suspension failure on Gordon Johncock's car which caused a minor crash.https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=kvchAAAAIBAJ&sjid=SqEFAAAAIBAJ&pg=2511%2C1382371 Reading Eagle Pennsylvania Associated Press Pocono Bump Still Problem June 22, 1978 48 Criticism from drivers abounded that the repairs did nothing and the bumps were worse than they ever were. Referring to Pocono's past history as a spinach farm, Pancho Carter caused controversy when he said "this country lost a lot when they took the spinach out of here. That second turn is so bad, they're probably growing spinach in there. It's like going down an expressway and you hit a two-inch overlay. The car just goes up in the air."https://www.newspapers.com/clip/35922476/1978-pocono-500/ Philadelphia Inquirer Pennsylvania Associated Press Criticism Grows in Spinach Land June 22, 1978 35 This angered Clarence Cagle, who oversaw repaving of the turn six weeks before the race. "I'm insulted and I guarantee in the next 24 hours I'll have a talk with him... If I thought the track was that dangerous, I'd close this place down in a minute."https://www.newspapers.com/clip/35922476/1978-pocono-500/ Philadelphia Inquirer Pennsylvania Associated Press Criticism Grows in Spinach Land June 22, 1978 35 On Wednesday night after practice, Cagle and the track crew went to work to further smooth the bump.https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=kvchAAAAIBAJ&sjid=SqEFAAAAIBAJ&pg=2511%2C1382371 Reading Eagle Pennsylvania Associated Press Pocono Bump Still Problem June 22, 1978 48 Time Trials Day one of qualifying was held on Thursday. Danny Ongais posted a two lap average of 190.315 mph to win the pole. He was joined on the front row by Tom Sneva and Johnny Rutherford. Formula One points leader Mario Andretti posted the sixth fastest time.https://www.newspapers.com/clip/35922576/1978-pocono-500/ Philadelphia Inquirer Pennsylvania Associated Press Ongais Nears Record to Gain Schaefer Pole June 23, 1978 17 Sheldon Kinser hit the wall and suffered damage to the right front. His car was repaired to qualify on day two. Larry Rice crashed and withdrew from the race when his car could not be repaired.https://www.newspapers.com/clip/35922618/1978-pocono-500/ Philadelphia Inquirer Pennsylvania Associated Press Ongais Earns Schaefer 500 Pole June 23, 1978 20 26 cars qualified for the race on day one. On day two, only four cars completed qualifying runs. Officials faced the possibility of having the first 500-mile race since 1928 with less than a full field of 33 cars. Qualifying was extended an extra 30 minutes past the 6:00 p.m. deadline to give an opportunity for small teams with mechanical problems to prepare their cars for an attempt. None of the cars were able to make an attempt. Of the four cars still at the track, but unable to make a run, a random draw was held to see which three would be invited to start the race. Bill Vukovich II, Phil Threshie, and Lee Kunzman won the draw to start the race. Bob Harkey was the lone car to miss the field. Kunzman's car was described as having "such bad problems in the front, it won't even go down the track straight at 165 mph."https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=k_chAAAAIBAJ&sjid=SqEFAAAAIBAJ&pg=3451%2C2057175 Reading Eagle Pennsylvania Associated Press 3 Cars Draw for Pocono Spots June 22, 1978 48 In Sunday's race, Kunzman completed one lap before parking the car.https://www.champcarstats.com/races/197808.htm 1978 Schaefer 500 Results Prior to the race, USAC President, Dick King, said that Pocono Raceway would have to repair the track surface in turn two before Indy cars would return. Winter freezing above the tunnels caused major bumps that worsened each year. The track's construction of dirt piled over the steel infield tunnels caused the track surface to settle and some believed the construction instead should be done with concrete.https://www.newspapers.com/clip/35922689/1978-pocono-500/ Philadelphia Inquirer Pennsylvania Associated Press Schaefer 500 May Not Be Held in '79 June 25, 1978 92 Race Polesitter, Danny Ongais drove away from the field at the start and led the first 15 laps.https://www.newspapers.com/clip/35922746/1978-pocono-500/ Philadelphia Inquirer Pennsylvania Associated Press Al Unser Has Easy Time at Pocono For Triple June 26, 1978 17 On lap 7, Bill Vukovich II spun and hit the wall in turn two when his wing broke. He was able to continue after repairs were made. On lap 13, Steve Krisiloff and George Snider spun in turn three and hit the wall. Krisiloff was done for the day. Ongais pitted under caution, which gave the lead to A.J. Foyt for two laps, and then to Tom Sneva. Ongais retook the lead on lap 26, and led until making a pitstop on lap 39, under caution when Gary Bettenhausen stalled on track.https://www.racing-reference.info/race-results/1978_Schaefer_500/UO/ 1978 Schaefer 500 Results - Racing-Reference On lap 54, Mario Andretti passed Foyt to lead one lap, extending his streak of leading at least one lap in every Pocono 500 since 1972. Andretti fell out of the race on lap 73 with a broken gearbox. The most serious accident occurred on lap 59. Tom Bagley spun in turn one. Blinded by smoke, Jim McElreath hit Bagley in the left-front. Neither driver was injured. Debris from the crash damaged the nose of Tom Sneva's car.https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=n4MsAAAAIBAJ&sjid=tM0EAAAAIBAJ&pg=2826%2C5689767 Herald Journal South Carolina Associated Press Unser Lola Coasts to Pocono Victory June 26, 1978 B2 Running a close second behind Gordon Johncock on lap 74, Mario Andretti fell out of the race with a broken gearbox. On lap 75, Al Unser passed Johncock to take the lead for the first time. 49 of the first 113 laps were run under caution. The final 87 laps were run without caution.https://www.newspapers.com/clip/35922815/1978-pocono-500/ Philadelphia Inquirer Pennsylvania Associated Press Record 110,000 See Unser Win at Pocono June 26, 1978 17 Ongais led for a total of 59 laps, and was leading on lap 130 when a broken gearbox knocked him out of the race.https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=lfchAAAAIBAJ&sjid=SqEFAAAAIBAJ&pg=3820%2C4098380 Reading Eagle Pennsylvania Associated Press Al Unser Too Fast for Pocono Foes June 26, 1978 20 Rutherford pitted from the lead on lap 161. He returned to the pits three laps later thinking he had a tire going flat. Rutherford cycled back to the lead when Unser made his final pit stop on lap 179. Unser regained the lead with 10 laps remaining when Rutherford made his final pit stop. On lap 198, Rutherford moved inside of the lapped car of Wally Dallenbach in turn three and the two cars touched wheels. Rutherford then passed defending Pocono 500 winner, Tom Sneva, in turn one to take second place. Sneva's car then began to sputter out of fuel and he coasted to the finish in third.https://www.newspapers.com/clip/35922836/1978-pocono-500/ Philadelphia Inquirer Pennsylvania Associated Press Unscheduled Trip to Pit Shattered Rutherford's Hopes June 26, 1978 22 Unser's margin of victory was 24.5 seconds and he was able to go all 500 miles without changing tires.https://www.newspapers.com/clip/35922815/1978-pocono-500/ Philadelphia Inquirer Pennsylvania Associated Press Record 110,000 See Unser Win at Pocono June 26, 1978 17 He earned $89,046 in prize money.https://www.racing-reference.info/race-results/1978_Schaefer_500/UO/ 1978 Schaefer 500 Results - Racing-Reference It was Unser's third consecutive 500 mile race win; he had previously won the 1977 California 500 and the 1978 Indianapolis 500.https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=n4MsAAAAIBAJ&sjid=tM0EAAAAIBAJ&pg=2526%2C5682770 Herald Journal South Carolina Associated Press Unser Lola Coasts to Pocono Victory June 26, 1978 B1 Unser went on to win the 1978 California 500 in September to become the only man to ever win all three of IndyCar's Triple Crown races in one year.https://www.newspapers.com/article/detroit-free-press-detroit-caesars-win/33022018/ Detroit Free Press Michigan Associated Press Al Unser Wins at Ontario September 4, 1978 27 Box score FinishGridNo Car numberNameEntrantChassisEngineLapsTime/StatusLed Laps ledPoints 1 10 2 USA Al Unser Chaparral Racing Lola T500 Cosworth DFX 200 3:30:52.780 65 1000 2 3 4 USA Johnny Rutherford Team McLaren McLaren M24B Cosworth DFX 200 +24.5 20 800 3 2 1 USA Tom Sneva Penske Racing Penske PC-6 Cosworth DFX 200 Running 10 700 4 12 6 USA Wally Dallenbach Jerry O'Connell Racing McLaren M24 Cosworth DFX 198 Flagged 0 600 5 14 80 USA Larry Dickson RP Racing Penske PC-5 Cosworth DFX 196 Cylinder head 10 500 6 16 84 USA George Snider A. J. Foyt Enterprises Coyote Foyt 196 Flagged 0 400 7 22 78 USA Mike Mosley Alex Morales Motorsports Lightning Offenhauser 193 Flagged 0 300 8 4 14 USA A. J. Foyt A. J. Foyt Enterprises Coyote Foyt 190 Engine 20 250 9 29 92 USA Al Loquasto Vatis Enterprises Eagle Offenhauser 189 Flagged 0 200 10 9 8 USA Pancho Carter Fletcher Racing Team Lightning Cosworth DFX 188 Gearbox 0 150 11 23 85 USA Larry Cannon Fiore Racing Wildcat Mk1 Offenhauser 188 Engine 0 100 12 27 24 USA Sheldon Kinser Leader Card Racers Watson Offenhauser 185 Flagged 0 50 13 8 77 USA Salt Walther Dayton-Walther McLaren M24 Cosworth DFX 175 Transmission 0 25 14 5 20 USA Gordon Johncock Patrick Racing Wildcat Mk2 DGS 165 Piston 15 25 15 18 43 USA Tom Bigelow Armstrong Mould Racing Team Wildcat DGS 161 Flagged 0 25 16 24 30 USA Jerry Sneva Thunder Racing McLaren M16B Offenhauser 159 Turbocharger 0 25 17 19 29 CAN Cliff Hucul Longhorn Racing McLaren M16D Offenhauser 158 Fuel pump 0 20 18 28 38 USA Jerry Karl Bentzel Construction McLaren M16B Offenhauser 149 Engine 0 20 19 1 25 USA Danny Ongais Interscope Racing Parnelli VPJ6B Cosworth DFX 130 Transmission 59 20 20 7 48 USA Bobby Unser All American Racers Eagle Cosworth DFX 116 Suspension 0 20 21 17 69 USA Joe Saldana Hoffman Racing Eagle 73 Offenhauser 112 Valve 0 15 22 11 16 USA Johnny Parsons Lindsey Hopkins Racing Lightning Offenhauser 83 Overheating 0 15 23 6 7 USA Mario Andretti Penske Racing Penske PC-6 Cosworth DFX 73 Gearbox 1 15 24 32 87 USA Phil Threshie Fiore Racing Lightning Offenhauser 63 Engine 0 15 25 25 26 USA Jim McElreath McElreath Racing Eagle 74 Offenhauser 58 Crash 0 10 26 15 22 USA Tom Bagley Leader Card Racers Watson Offenhauser 55 Crash 0 10 27 26 18 USA Bubby Jones Longhorn Racing Wildcat Mk2 DGS 52 Turbocharger 0 10 28 31 81 USA Bill Vukovich II Wayne Woodward Eagle Offenhauser 52 Piston 0 10 29 30 98 USA Gary Bettenhausen J. C. Agajanian King Offenhauser 46 Stalled 0 5 30 21 17 USA Dick Simon Vollstedt Enterprises Vollstedt Offenhauser 36 Piston 0 5 31 20 19 USA Spike Gehlhausen Carl Gehlhausen Eagle 74 Offenhauser 34 Valve 0 5 32 13 40 USA Steve Krisiloff Patrick Racing Wildcat Mk2 DGS 13 Crash 0 5 33 33 90 USA Lee Kunzman Art Sugai Sugai Fox Offenhauser 1 Oil pressure 0 5 Source:1978 Schaefer 5001978 Pocono 500 - Round 8 References 2 Category:Pocono 500 Pocono 500 Pocono 500