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1975 Long Beach Grand Prix
The 1975 Long Beach Grand Prix was the inaugural running of the Grand Prix of Long Beach. The race was held September 28, 1975, on a 2.02 mi temporary street circuit. It was race 7 of the 1975 SCCA/USAC Formula 5000 Championship. An estimated 65,000 spectators saw Englishman Brian Redman win the race from Australian Vern Schuppan, with Canadian driver Eppie Wietzes finishing third.
Background
In 1974 the city of Long Beach began a billion-dollar redevelopment program of the downtown area. Chris Pook, a British travel agent working in Long Beach, proposed holding a street course race in the vein of the Monaco Grand Prix. In order to prepare for a Formula One race the following year, the organizers decided to hold a Formula 5000 race that was held at a track in Riverside with an exhibition in Long Beach.
Qualifying
Qualifying times were set in two sessions on Saturday. Seeded drivers had one 45-minute session and one 1 hour, 15 minute session, while non-seeded drivers had two 45-minute sessions. Starting positions were set by two heat races, with the finishers from Heat 1 starting in odd positions and Heat 2 in even positions.
| Pos | Driver | Team | Car | Time | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | 32 | 33 | 34 | 35 | 36 | 37 | 38 | 39 | 40 | 41 | 42 | 43 | 44 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| USA Mario Andretti | Vel's Parnelli Jones Racing | Lola T332-Chevrolet | 1:21.297 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| USA Al Unser | Vel's Parnelli Jones Racing | Lola T332-Chevrolet | 1:21.948 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| GBR Tony Brise | Theodore Racing | Lola T332-Chevrolet | 1:22.036 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| GBR Jackie Oliver | Phoenix Racing | Shadow DN6-Dodge | 1:22.799 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| GBR Tom Pryce | Phoenix Racing | Shadow DN6-Dodge | 1:23.346 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| GBR Brian Redman | Carl A. Haas Racing | Lola T332-Chevrolet | 1:23.602 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| AUS Vern Schuppan | All American Racers | Eagle 755-Chevrolet | 1:23.674 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| NZL Graham McRae | Eddie Lewis | Lola T332-Chevrolet | 1:24.039 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| USA Elliott Forbes-Robinson | Francisco Mir Racing | Lola T332-Chevrolet | 1:24.091 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| RSA Jody Scheckter | Hogan Racing | Lola T332-Chevrolet | 1:24.168 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| USA John Gunn | Racing Consultants | Lola T332-Chevrolet | 1:24.204 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| CAN Eppie Wietzes | Formula Racing | Lola T400-Chevrolet | 1:24.223 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| USA Gordon Johncock | Patrick Racing | Lola T332-Chevrolet | 1:24.264 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| GBR David Hobbs | Hogan Racing | Lola T330-Chevrolet | 1:24.491 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| USA Jon Woodner | Interscope Racing | Talon MR-1A-Chevrolet | 1:24.817 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| CAN John Cannon | Anglo American Racing | March 73A-Chevrolet | 1:24.909 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| USA John Morton | Krinitt Racing | Lola T332-Chevrolet | 1:25.347 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| USA Brett Lunger | Chris Oates, Ltd. | Lola T332-Chevrolet | 1:25.529 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| AUS Warwick Brown | McCormack/Burke Racing | Talon MR-1A-Chevrolet | 1:25.734 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| USA Danny Ongais | Interscope Racing | Lola T332-Chevrolet | 1:26.090 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| USA Bob Earl | T. P. Racing | Lola T330-Chevrolet | 1:26.183 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| USA Evan Noyes | Evan Noyes | Lola T332-Chevrolet | 1:26.357 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| USA John Korn | Jomar Racing | Lola T330-Chevrolet | 1:26.846 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| USA George Follmer | Lance Smith Racing | Lance LSR1-Chevrolet | 1:26.947 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| USA Randy Lewis | Wrangler Wracing Team | Lola T332-Chevrolet | 1:26.966 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| NZL Chris Amon | McCormack/Burke Racing | Talon MR-1A-Chevrolet | 1:27.167 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| USA Tuck Thomas | Lancer Stores | Lola T332-Chevrolet | 1:27.574 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| USA Benny Scott | Black American Racers | Lola T332-Chevrolet | 1:27.645 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| USA Bob Nagel | Nagel Racing | Lola T332-Chevrolet | 1:28.562 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| USA Roger Bighouse | Roger Bighouse | Chevron B24-Chevrolet | 1:28.570 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| USA John David Briggs | Briggs & Fodge Racing | Lola T332-Chevrolet | 1:28.650 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| USA John Benton | Formula Magazine | Lola T332-Chevrolet | 1:29.252 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Bob Allen | Manteca Motors | Eagle 74A-Chevrolet | 1:29.743 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| USA Arlon Koops | Solazure IV, Ltd. | Lola T330-Chevrolet | 1:29.801 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| USA Michael Brockman | J. Levitt | Talon MR-1A-Chevrolet | 1:30.086 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| USA Bill Baker | Barbara Baker | Lola T332-Chevrolet | 1:31.310 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| USA Bill Simpson | E. J. Simpson | Berta Argentina BA-3-Chevrolet | 1:31.894 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| USA Skeeter McKitterick | AME Racing | Chevron B24-Chevrolet | 1:31.952 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Gary Wilson | Sting Racing | Lola T332-Chevrolet | 1:33.219 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| USA Ron Dykes | J. B. Quality Products | Lola T192-Chevrolet | 1:33.496 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| USA Jim Gustafson | Jim Gustafson Racing | March 73A-Chevrolet | 1:36.831 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| USA Michael Brayton | Ill-Eagle | Eagle Mk.5-Chevrolet | 1:37.730 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| CAN Garth Pollard | G. W. Pollard | Lola T330-Chevrolet | 1:38.810 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Steve Durst | J. Levitt | Talon MR-1A-Chevrolet | 2:05.826 |
Heat races
| Pos | No | Driver | Team | Car | Laps | Time/Retired | Grid | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | DNS | DNS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 64 | GBR Tony Brise | Theodore Racing | Lola T332-Chevrolet | 12 | 16:32.444 | 2 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 5 | USA Mario Andretti | Vel's Parnelli Jones Racing | Lola T332-Chevrolet | 12 | Finished | 1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 00 | GBR Tom Pryce | Phoenix Racing | Shadow DN6-Dodge | 12 | Finished | 3 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 48 | AUS Vern Schuppan | All American Racers | Eagle 755-Chevrolet | 12 | Finished | 4 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 33 | USA Elliott Forbes-Robinson | Francisco Mir Racing | Lola T332-Chevrolet | 12 | Finished | 5 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 4 | AUS Warwick Brown | McCormack/Burke Racing | Talon MR-1A-Chevrolet | 12 | Finished | 10 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 91 | USA Jon Woodner | Interscope Racing | Talon MR-1A-Chevrolet | 12 | Finished | 8 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 28 | USA Randy Lewis | Wrangler Wracing Team | Lola T332-Chevrolet | 12 | Finished | 13 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 19 | USA Bob Earl | T. P. Racing | Lola T330-Chevrolet | 12 | Finished | 11 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 20 | USA Gordon Johncock | Patrick Racing | Lola T332-Chevrolet | 12 | Finished | 7 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 50 | USA John Korn | Jomar Racing | Lola T330-Chevrolet | 12 | Finished | 12 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 75 | USA Bob Nagel | Nagel Racing | Lola T332-Chevrolet | 12 | Finished | 15 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 71 | USA John David Briggs | Briggs & Fodge Racing | Lola T332-Chevrolet | 12 | Finished | 16 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 69 | USA Michael Brockman | J. Levitt | Talon MR-1A-Chevrolet | 12 | Finished | 18 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 97 | Bob Allen | Manteca Motors | Eagle 74A-Chevrolet | 11 | + 1 lap | 17 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 46 | USA John Morton | Krinitt Racing | Lola T332-Chevrolet | 11 | + 1 lap | 9 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 8 | Gary Wilson | Sting Racing | Lola T332-Chevrolet | 9 | Retired | 20 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 26 | USA Michael Brayton | Ill-Eagle | Eagle Mk.5-Chevrolet | 7 | Retired | 21 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 39 | USA John Gunn | Racing Consultants | Lola T332-Chevrolet | Retired | 6 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 96 | Steve Durst | J. Levitt | Talon MR-1A-Chevrolet | Retired | 22 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 88 | USA Tuck Thomas | Lancer Stores | Lola T332-Chevrolet | Did not start | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 65 | USA Bill Simpson | E. J. Simpson | Berta BA-3-Chevrolet | Did not start |
|
Heat 2
| Pos | No | Driver | Team | Car | Laps | Time/Retired | Grid | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | DNS | DNS | DNS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 51 | USA Al Unser | Vel's Parnelli Jones Racing | Lola T332-Chevrolet | 12 | 16:30.391 | 1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1 | GBR Brian Redman | Carl A. Haas Racing | Lola T332-Chevrolet | 12 | Finished | 3 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 3 | RSA Jody Scheckter | Hogan Racing | Lola T332-Chevrolet | 12 | Finished | 5 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 10 | GBR David Hobbs | Hogan Racing | Lola T330-Chevrolet | 12 | Finished | 7 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 94 | CAN Eppie Wietzes | Formula Racing | Lola T400-Chevrolet | 12 | Finished | 6 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2 | NZL Chris Amon | McCormack/Burke Racing | Talon MR-1A-Chevrolet | 12 | Finished | 13 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 9 | CAN John Cannon | Anglo American Racing | March 73A-Chevrolet | 12 | Finished | 8 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 13 | USA Ron Dykes | J. B. Quality Products | Lola T192-Chevrolet | 11 | + 1 lap | 20 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 45 | USA George Follmer | Lance Smith Racing | Lance LSR1-Chevrolet | 11 | + 1 lap | 12 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 30 | USA Skeeter McKitterick | AME Racing | Chevron B24-Chevrolet | 11 | + 1 lap | 19 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 12 | USA Benny Scott | Black American Racers | Lola T332-Chevrolet | 11 | + 1 lap | 14 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 55 | USA Bill Baker | Barbara Baker | Lola T332-Chevrolet | 11 | + 1 lap | 18 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 22 | USA John Benton | Formula Magazine | Lola T332-Chevrolet | 11 | + 1 lap | 16 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 6 | NZL Graham McRae | Eddie Lewis | Lola T332-Chevrolet | Retired | 4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 0 | GBR Jackie Oliver | Phoenix Racing | Shadow DN6-Dodge | 8 | Accident | 2 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 63 | USA Danny Ongais | Interscope Racing | Lola T332-Chevrolet | Retired | 10 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 73 | CAN Garth Pollard | G. W. Pollard | Lola T330-Chevrolet | Retired | 22 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 82 | USA Jim Gustafson | Jim Gustafson Racing | March 73A-Chevrolet | Retired | 21 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 85 | USA Arlon Koops | Solazure IV, Ltd. | Lola T330-Chevrolet | 2 | Accident | 17 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 24 | USA Evan Noyes | Evan Noyes | Lola T332-Chevrolet | Did not start | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 25 | USA Brett Lunger | Chris Oates, Ltd. | Lola T332-Chevrolet | Did not start | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 18 | USA Roger Bighouse | Roger Bighouse | Chevron B24-Chevrolet | Did not start |
|}
Race
At the start, Al Unser led from 2nd on the grid. On lap 3, polesitter Tony Brise had taken the lead and Mario Andretti took over second place. Brise led until lap 15, when both Andretti and Unser got by. Brise re-passed Unser on the next lap, and battled with Andretti until he re-took the lead on lap 29. On lap 33, Andretti retired with transmission problems, and one lap later Brise retired with a broken driveshaft. Brian Redman took the lead and pulled away to a nearly 30-second victory over Vern Schuppan and Eppie Wietzes. Redman also clinched the season points championship.
Result
| Pos | No | Driver | Team | Car | Laps | Time/Retired | Grid | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | GBR Brian Redman | Carl A. Haas Racing | Lola T332-Chevrolet | 50 | 1:10:12.042 | 4 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 48 | AUS Vern Schuppan | All American Racers | Eagle 755-Chevrolet | 50 | +29.938 | 7 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 94 | CAN Eppie Wietzes | Formula Racing | Lola T400-Chevrolet | 50 | Running | 10 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2 | NZL Chris Amon | McCormack/Burke Racing | Talon MR-1A-Chevrolet | 49 | + 1 lap | 12 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 10 | GBR David Hobbs | Hogan Racing | Lola T330-Chevrolet | 49 | + 1 lap | 8 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 4 | AUS Warwick Brown | McCormack/Burke Racing | Talon MR-1A-Chevrolet | 49 | + 1 lap | 11 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 24 | USA Evan Noyes | Evan Noyes | Lola T332-Chevrolet | 48 | + 2 laps | 27 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 19 | USA Bob Earl | T. P. Racing | Lola T330-Chevrolet | 48 | + 2 laps | 17 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 46 | USA John Morton | Krinitt Racing | Lola T332-Chevrolet | 48 | + 2 laps | 28 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 30 | USA Skeeter McKitterick | AME Racing | Chevron B24-Chevrolet | 46 | + 4 laps | 20 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 12 | USA Benny Scott | Black American Racers | Lola T332-Chevrolet | 40 | + 10 laps | 22 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 64 | GBR Tony Brise | Theodore Racing | Lola T332-Chevrolet | 34 | Driveshaft | 1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 5 | USA Mario Andretti | Vel's Parnelli Jones Racing | Lola T332-Chevrolet | 33 | Transmission | 3 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 50 | USA John Korn | Jomar Racing | Lola T330-Chevrolet | 33 | Battery | 21 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 3 | RSA Jody Scheckter | Hogan Racing | Lola T332-Chevrolet | 29 | Halfshaft | 6 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 91 | USA Jon Woodner | Interscope Racing | Talon MR-1A-Chevrolet | 27 | Accident | 13 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 33 | USA Elliott Forbes-Robinson | Francisco Mir Racing | Lola T332-Chevrolet | 27 | Camshaft | 9 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 13 | USA Ron Dykes | J. B. Quality Products | Lola T192-Chevrolet | 27 | Suspension | 16 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 28 | USA Randy Lewis | Wrangler Wracing Team | Lola T332-Chevrolet | 20 | Rod | 15 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 51 | USA Al Unser | Vel's Parnelli Jones Racing | Lola T332-Chevrolet | 17 | Suspension | 2 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 00 | GBR Tom Pryce | Phoenix Racing | Shadow DN6-Dodge | 14 | Gearbox | 5 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 75 | USA Bob Nagel | Nagel Racing | Lola T332-Chevrolet | 14 | Mechanical | 23 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 55 | USA Bill Baker | Barbara Baker | Lola T332-Chevrolet | 14 | Black flagged | 24 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 20 | USA Gordon Johncock | Patrick Racing | Lola T332-Chevrolet | 11 | Rod | 19 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 39 | USA John Gunn | Racing Consultants | Lola T332-Chevrolet | 9 | Overheating | 25 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 9 | CAN John Cannon | Anglo American Racing | March 73A-Chevrolet | 6 | Halfshaft | 14 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 6 | NZL Graham McRae | Eddie Lewis | Lola T332-Chevrolet | 1 | Accident | 26 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 45 | USA George Follmer | Lance Smith Racing | Lance LSR1-Chevrolet | 0 | Wheel | 18 |
References
References
- "1975 Long Beach Grand Prix weather information". The Old Farmers' Almanac.
- (29 September 1975). "Brian Redman Formula Winner". [[The Spokesman-Review]].
- "Circuits: Long Beach". Inside F1, Inc..
- Richardson, Darcy Leigh. (13 April 2010). "Jim Michaelian: The Man Behind The Grand Prix". Gazettes.com.
- Huffman, John Pearley. (August 2008). "Walking With Giants – Long Beach Grand Prix". Modified.
- "Schedule of Events". Long Beach Grand Prix Association.
- Klopfer, Wolfgang. "Long Beach Grand Prix". Old Racing Cars.
- "Untitled". [[Independent Press-Telegram]].
- "Long Beach F5000 Grid".
- "SCCA Race Results". California Sports Car Club Region.
- (29 September 1975). "Redman Formula Victor". [[The Leader-Post]].
- "Long Beach Grand Prix". Ultimate Racing History.
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