1970 USAC Championship Car season

1970 USAC Championship Car season
1970 USAC Championship Car season
USAC National Championship Trail
Season
Races	18
Start date	March 28
End date	November 21
Awards
National champion	Al Unser
Indianapolis 500 winner	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.

Schedule and results

Rnd	Date	Race Name	Length	Track	Location	Type	Pole Position	Winning Driver
1	March 28	Phoenix 150	150 mi (240 km)	Phoenix International Raceway	Avondale, Arizona	Paved	Mario Andretti	Al Unser
2	April 4	Golden Gate 150	151.38 mi (243.62 km)	Sears Point Raceway	Sonoma, California	Road	Mark Donohue	Dan Gurney
3	April 26	Trenton 200	201 mi (323 km)	Trenton International Speedway	Trenton, New Jersey	Paved	Al Unser	Lloyd Ruby
4	May 30	International 500 Mile Sweepstakes	500 mi (800 km)	Indianapolis Motor Speedway	Speedway, Indiana	Paved	Al Unser	Al Unser
5	June 7	Rex Mays Classic	150 mi (240 km)	Wisconsin State Fair Park Speedway	West Allis, Wisconsin	Paved	Mario Andretti	Joe Leonard
6	June 14	Langhorne 150	150 mi (240 km)	Langhorne Speedway	Langhorne, Pennsylvania	Paved	Bobby Unser	Bobby Unser
7	June 28	Rocky Mountain 150	151.62 mi (244.01 km)	Continental Divide Raceways	Mead, Colorado	Road	Al Unser	Mario Andretti
8	July 4	Michigan Twin 200s	200 mi (320 km)	Michigan International Speedway	Brooklyn, Michigan	Paved	Gary Bettenhausen	Gary Bettenhausen
NC	July 4	Pikes Peak Auto Hill Climb	12.42 mi (19.99 km)	Pikes Peak Highway	Pikes Peak, Colorado	Hill	Orville Nance^A	Ted Foltz
9	July 26	Indy 150	150 mi (240 km)	Indianapolis Raceway Park	Clermont, Indiana	Road	Mario Andretti	Al Unser
10	August 22	Tony Bettenhausen 100	100 mi (160 km)	Illinois State Fairgrounds	Springfield, Illinois	Dirt	Larry Dickson	Al Unser
11	August 23	Tony Bettenhausen 200	200 mi (320 km)	Wisconsin State Fair Park Speedway	West Allis, Wisconsin	Paved	Al Unser	Al Unser
12	September 6	California 500	500 mi (800 km)	Ontario Motor Speedway	Ontario, California	Paved	Lloyd Ruby	Jim McElreath
13	September 7	Ted Horn Memorial 100	100 mi (160 km)	DuQuoin State Fairgrounds	Du Quoin, Illinois	Dirt	Al Unser	Al Unser
14	September 12	Hoosier Hundred	100 mi (160 km)	Indiana State Fairgrounds	Indianapolis, Indiana	Dirt	Johnny Parsons	Al Unser
15	September 19	Sedalia 100	100 mi (160 km)	State Fair Raceway	Sedalia, Missouri	Dirt	Al Unser	Al Unser
16	October 3	Trenton 300	264 mi (425 km)^B	Trenton International Speedway	Trenton, New Jersey	Paved	Al Unser	Al Unser
17	October 4	Golden State 100	100 mi (160 km)	California State Fairgrounds	Sacramento, California	Dirt	Mario Andretti	Al Unser
18	November 21	Bobby Ball 150	150 mi (240 km)	Phoenix International Raceway	Avondale, Arizona	Paved	Al Unser	Swede Savage

Paved/Dirt Oval

Road Course/Hill Climb

Non-championship race

^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 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.

Pos	Driver	PHX1	SON	TRE1	INDY	MIL1	LAN	CDR	MIC	IRP	SPR	MIL2	ONT	DQSF	ISF	SED	TRE2	SAC	PHX2	Pts
1	Al Unser	1	3	3	1	3	2	5	18	1	1	1	9	1	1	1	1	1	2	5130
2	Bobby Unser	2	18	4	11	6	1	4	2	24	9	19	22	2	DNQ	DNQ	2	6	17	2260
3	Jim McElreath	6		7	5	DNS					3		1	Wth	10	13		16	5	2060
4	Mike Mosley	5	7	5	21	7	3	15	4	14	10	5	14	18	5	4	3	8	20	1900
5	Mario Andretti	13	2	2	6	5	8	1	21	18	24	24	10	17	11	2	21	14	8	1890
6	Roger McCluskey	DNQ		DNQ	25	2	Wth		7	9		2	25			10	5	5	3	1380
7	Gordon Johncock	18	4	15	28	12	10	7	12	3			4				DNQ			1160
8	Art Pollard	11		21	30	18		19	17			11	2				6		24	1110
9	A. J. Foyt	4	Wth	6	10	24		3	8	12	15	7	15	10	3	DNQ			23	1105
10	Dick Simon R	24	6	9	14	11	9	11	19	13			3				DNQ	DNQ	9	1080
11	Dan Gurney		1		3								18							1000
12	Johnny Rutherford		5	20	18	14	DNQ		3	17	11	21	31	11	DNQ	12	4	13	6	960
13	Mel Kenyon				16	DNQ			10			3	6				9			860
14	Lloyd Ruby	3		1	27	4		17				20	23				22		16	790
15	Bentley Warren R	DNQ		8	DNQ	10	6				5	4		DNQ	8	5	20	11		775
16	Gary Bettenhausen	17	21	12	26	9	5		1	22	20	17	19	9	DNQ	16	DNQ	9	19	710
17	Wally Dallenbach Sr.	10		17	17	8	7		16	5		9	28		DNS		15		4	620
18	Swede Savage							2		8			27						1	615
19	Jim Malloy				33	19	4		5	16	22	DNQ	11	DNQ	12	7	13		13	570
20	Greg Weld			18	32	DNQ					27		7	15	7	8	DNQ	4		530
21	George Snider	7			20				23	23	14		DNQ	4	14	15	18	2	7	460
22	Carl Williams				9						2		12	DNQ	15	DNQ		10		440
23	Jerry Grant		22		7	17		6					21				DNQ		14	420
24	Rick Muther				8	DNQ	14		DNQ				33				8		22	400
25	Sam Sessions				12	DNQ	21		6		17		DNQ		4	11			12	365
26	Steve Krisiloff	8	15	10	DNQ	22	13	18	DNQ				29				7		DNS	315
27	Larry Dickson				DNQ						25		DNQ	3	DNQ	3		DNS	11	310
28	John Mahler R		13	16		DNQ	15	8	9	6		14					12		DNQ	305
29	Joe Leonard				24	1							13							300
30	Bill Simpson	22	10	19	DNQ	20	19	14		7		6	DNQ				19		21	295
31	Ralph Liguori						DNQ				13			5	2	DNQ		15		260
32	Bill Vukovich II	DNS	20	DNP	23	13	12						DNQ					3	10	200
33	Max Dudley		8	22				9		DNQ		10							DNQ	195
34	Bruce Jacobi	19	9		DNQ		20		20		4	15		DNQ		DNQ	DNQ	DNQ	DNQ	180
35	Tom Bigelow				Wth	DNQ	17			DNQ	7	13		7	DNQ	6	17	17	DNQ	180
36	Bob Harkey										12	16	17	6	13	9		DNQ	DNQ	130
37	Merle Bettenhausen R										8							7		110
38	Dee Jones					DNQ						8							DNQ	100
39	Karl Busson R	9		11		DNS	18		22		23	DNS		DNQ	DNQ	DNQ	14		15	100
40	Bud Tingelstad				Wth							25	24	16		DNQ	10		18	90
41	Bruce Walkup	16			29	21	16	DNS	13		26	23	16	14	6	14	DNQ	DNQ	DNQ	80
42	Jimmy Caruthers R										6							DNP		80
43	Jerry Karl	12	24	13	Wth	DNQ	11			DNQ		12					25		DNQ	65
44	Ludwig Heimrath Sr.	23	14	23		DNQ		12		10										60
45	Ronnie Bucknum		16		15	DNQ	DNP			20							11			60
46	Dick Tobias R										19			8						50
47	Will Cagle R										21			DNQ	9	DNQ		DNQ		40
48	Arnie Knepper				DNQ	15			11		18	22		DNQ	DNQ	DNQ				40
49	Johnny Parsons					DNQ					16			12	17	18		DNQ	DNQ	10
50	Johnny Anderson	20																12		10
-	Mark Donohue		25		2					2			30							0
-	John Cannon		11		DNQ					4			DNQ							0
-	Donnie Allison R				4															0
-	Peter Revson				22								5							0
-	LeeRoy Yarbrough				19								8							0
-	Jack Eiteljorg							10		DNQ										0
-	Ron Grable R									11										0
-	Kevin Bartlett		12		DNQ			16					26							0
-	Ned Spath	14	17					13											DNQ	0
-	Larry Cannon R	DNQ		DNQ	Wth							18		13	DNQ	DNQ	16		DNQ	0
-	Jack Brabham				13								DNQ							0
-	Darrell Dockery R	15	23	14	DNQ	23	23			DNQ									DNQ	0
-	Al Loquasto			24	DNQ		DNQ		14								23			0
-	John Martin R									15									DNQ	0
-	Al Miller				Wth				15											0
-	Bill Puterbaugh				DNQ						DNS		DNQ	DNQ	16	17				0
-	Sonny Ates				Wth	16														0
-	Salt Walther R					DNS												18		0
-	Jerry Poland R													DNQ	18	DNQ				0
-	Crockey Peterson R		19					20		DNQ										0
-	Scooter Patrick R									19										0
-	George Follmer				31					21			20							0
-	Bud Morley				Wth			21											DNQ	0
-	Nick Dioguardi R	21																		0
-	Gig Stephens						22										26			0
-	Bob DeJong R		DNQ			DNQ		22					DNQ						DNQ	0
-	Don Brown R																24		DNQ	0
-	Jim Hurtubise				DNQ								32							0
-	Ron Burke													DNQ	DNQ	DNQ		DNS		0
-	Ed Marshall	DNQ	DNS																	0
-	Leigh Earnshaw													DNQ	DNQ	DNQ		DNQ		0
-	Jigger Sirois				DNQ								DNQ							0
-	Keith Rachwitz							DNQ											DNQ	0
-	Lee Kunzman				Wth	DNQ														0
-	Denny Zimmerman				DNQ								DNQ							0
-	Rollie Beale														DNQ	DNQ				0
-	Jim Reynard			DNQ													DNQ			0
-	Bob Gregg																		DNQ	0
-	Tony Adamowicz				DNQ															0
-	Sam Posey				DNQ															0
-	Charlie Glotzbach				Wth															0
-	Chris Amon				Wth															0
-	Denny Hulme				Wth															0
-	Carlos Pairetti				Wth															0
-	Bob Veith				Wth															0
-	Les Scott												DNQ							0
-	Gary Ponzini																	DNQ		0
-	Bob Allen																		DNQ	0
-	Tom Sneva																		DNQ	0
-	Dave Strickland																		DNQ	0
Pos	Driver	PHX1	SON	TRE1	INDY	MIL1	LAN	CDR	MIC	IRP	SPR	MIL2	ONT	DQSF	ISF	SED	TRE2	SAC	PHX2	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 not participate (DNP)
Blank	Not competing

In-line notation
Bold	Pole position
Italics	Ran fastest race lap
*	Led most race laps
RY Rookie of the Year
R Rookie

References

Åberg, Andreas. "USAC National Championship 1970". Driver Database. Archived from the original on March 25, 2008. Retrieved May 12, 2009.
"1970 USAC National Championship Trail". ChampCarStats.com. Archived from the original on November 22, 2008. Retrieved May 12, 2009.
Harms, Phil. "1970 Championship Driver Summary" (PDF). Motorsport.com. Archived from the original (PDF) on August 10, 2012. Retrieved May 3, 2011.
http://media.indycar.com/pdf/2011/IICS_2011_Historical_Record_Book_INT6.pdf Archived 2016-03-04 at the Wayback Machine (p. 232-237)

v t e American Championship car racing (Indy car) seasons
AAA	1905 1906–1908 1909 1910 1911 1912 1913 1914 1915 1916 1917 1918 1919 1920 1921 1922 1923 1924 1925 1926 1927 1928 1929 1930 1931 1932 1933 1934 1935 1936 1937 1938 1939 1940 1941 1942–1945 1946 1947 1948 1949 1950 1951 1952 1953 1954 1955
USAC	1956 1957 1958 1959 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981–82 1982–83 1983–84 1984–85 1985–86 1986–87 1987–88 1988–89 1989–90 1990–91 1991–92 1992–93 1993–94 1994–95
CART	1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003
CCWS	2004 2005 2006 2007 ~~2008~~
IRL	1996 1996–97 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002
IndyCar	2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025
Years marked in italics are not official championship years or upcoming seasons.

v t e USAC Championship Cars (1956-1970)
Seasons	1956 1957 1958 1959 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970
Indianapolis 500s	1956 1957 1958 1959 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970
National Champions	Mario Andretti (three times) Tony Bettenhausen Jimmy Bryan (twice) A. J. Foyt (five times) Al Unser Bobby Unser Rodger Ward (twice)
Tracks	Arizona State Fair Atlanta Brainerd California State Fair Continental Divide Darlington Daytona Dover DuQuoin State Fair Hanford Illinois State Fair Indianapolis Indianapolis Raceway Park Indiana State Fair Lakewood Langhorne Michigan Michigan State Fair Milwaukee Missouri State Fair Mont-Tremblant Mosport Nazareth New York State Fair Ontario Phoenix Pikes Peak Riverside Stardust Sears Point Seattle Trenton

Schedule and results

Final points standings

References

See also