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List of USAC Championship Car seasons
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From 1956 to 1978, the United States Auto Club (USAC) sanctioned Championship Car class featured the top teams and drivers in U.S. open-wheel racing. Until 1971, races included road courses, ovals, dirt courses, and, on occasion, a hill climb. Thereafter, the schedule consisted mainly of paved ovals. In 1979, the majority of car owners left the USAC to race under the auspices of Championship Auto Racing Teams (CART). This led to a decline in the number of events in the schedule, and by the 1984–85 season, the Championship comprised only one race, the Indianapolis 500. The era of USAC Championship Cars concluded with the formation of the Indy Racing League (IRL) in 1995, which was sanctioned by USAC until June 1997 when the IRL assumed officiating duties after the controversial finish of the 81st Indianapolis 500 and a scoring mistake that marred the following event. The most successful driver in USAC Championship Car history was A. J. Foyt with seven National Championships and four Indianapolis 500 victories. Foyt competed in every season from 1957 to 1992–93.
Seasons
USAC Championship Trail
| # | Season | Races | National Champion | Indianapolis 500 | Drivers | Ref | Dirt Oval | Hill Climb | Paved Oval | Road | Total | Ranked | Fatalities | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1956 | 8 (1) | (1) | 4 (1) | - | 12 (3) | United States Jimmy Bryan | United States Pat Flaherty | 36 | - | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1957 | 9 (1) | (1) | 4 (3) | - | 13 (5) | United States Jimmy Bryan | United States Sam Hanks | 41 | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1958 | 8 (1) | (1) | 5 (3) | - | 13 (5) | United States Tony Bettenhausen | United States Jimmy Bryan | 38 | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1959 | 7 (1) | (1) | 6 (1) | - | 13 (3) | United States Rodger Ward | United States Rodger Ward | 50 | 7 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1960 | 7 (1) | (1) | 5 | - | 12 (2) | United States A. J. Foyt | United States Jim Rathmann | 45 | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1961 | 7 | (1) | 5 | - | 12 (1) | United States A. J. Foyt | United States A. J. Foyt | 43 | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1962 | 7 | (1) | 6 | - | 13 (1) | United States Rodger Ward | United States Rodger Ward | 39 | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1963 | 6 | (1) | 6 | - | 12 (1) | United States A. J. Foyt | United States Parnelli Jones | 36 | - | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1964 | 5 | (1) | 8 | - | 13 (1) | United States A. J. Foyt | United States A. J. Foyt | 46 | 4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1965 | 4 | 1 | 12 | 1 | 18 | United States Mario Andretti | United Kingdom Jim Clark | 57 | - | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1966 | 4 | 1 | 10 | 1 (1) | 16 (1) | United States Mario Andretti | United Kingdom Graham Hill | 57 | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1967 | 4 | 1 | 10 | 6 | 21 | United States A. J. Foyt | United States A. J. Foyt | 62 | - | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1968 | 5 | 1 | 13 | 9 | 28 | United States Bobby Unser | United States Bobby Unser | 68 | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1969 | 5 | 1 | 10 | 8 | 24 | United States Mario Andretti | United States Mario Andretti | 72 | - | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1970 | 5 | (1) | 10 | 3 | 18 (1) | United States Al Unser | United States Al Unser | 55 | - | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1971 | - | - | 12 | - | 12 | United States Joe Leonard | United States Al Unser | 44 | - | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1972 | - | - | 10 | - | 10 | United States Joe Leonard | United States Mark Donohue | 42 | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1973 | - | - | 16 | - | 16 | United States Roger McCluskey | United States Gordon Johncock | 36 | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1974 | - | - | 14 | - | 14 | United States Bobby Unser | United States Johnny Rutherford | 37 | - | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1975 | - | - | 13 | - | 13 | United States A. J. Foyt | United States Bobby Unser | 38 | - | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1976 | - | - | 13 | - | 13 | United States Gordon Johncock | United States Johnny Rutherford | 39 | - | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1977 | - | - | 13 | 1 | 14 | United States Tom Sneva | United States A. J. Foyt | 41 | - | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1978 | - | - | 15 | 3 | 18 | United States Tom Sneva | United States Al Unser | 45 | - | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1979 | - | - | 7 | - | 7 | United States A. J. Foyt | United States Rick Mears | 32 | - |
Championship Racing League (CRL)
| # | Season | Races | National Champion | Indianapolis 500 | Drivers | Ref | Paved Oval | Road | Total | Ranked | Fatalities | 25 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 4 | 1 | 5 | United States Johnny Rutherford | United States Johnny Rutherford | 57 | - |
USAC Gold Crown Championship
| # | Season | Races | National Champion | Indianapolis 500 | Drivers | Ref | Dirt Oval | Paved Oval | Total | Ranked | Fatalities | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | 32 | 33 | 34 | 35 | 36 | 37 | 38 | 39 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1981–82 | 3 | 3 | 6 | United States George Snider | United States Bobby Unser* | 51 | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||
| United States Gordon Johncock* | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1982–83 | 3 | 1 | 4 | United States Tom Sneva | 39 | - | |||||||||||||||||||
| 1983–84 | 1 | 1 | 2 | United States Rick Mears | 39 | - | |||||||||||||||||||
| 1984–85 | - | 1 | 1 | United States Danny Sullivan | 32 | - | |||||||||||||||||||
| 1985–86 | - | 1 | 1 | United States Bobby Rahal | 33 | - | |||||||||||||||||||
| 1986–87 | - | 1 | 1 | United States Al Unser | 33 | - | |||||||||||||||||||
| 1987–88 | - | 1 | 1 | United States Rick Mears | 33 | - | |||||||||||||||||||
| 1988–89 | - | 1 | 1 | Brazil Emerson Fittipaldi | 33 | - | |||||||||||||||||||
| 1989–90 | - | 1 | 1 | The Netherlands Arie Luyendyk | 33 | - | |||||||||||||||||||
| 1990–91 | - | 1 | 1 | United States Rick Mears | 33 | - | |||||||||||||||||||
| 1991–92 | - | 1 | 1 | United States Al Unser Jr. | 33 | 1 | |||||||||||||||||||
| 1992–93 | - | 1 | 1 | Brazil Emerson Fittipaldi | 33 | - | |||||||||||||||||||
| 1993–94 | - | 1 | 1 | United States Al Unser Jr. | 33 | - | |||||||||||||||||||
| 1994–95 | - | 1 | 1 | Canada Jacques Villeneuve | 33 | - |
- The 1981–82 season included both the 65th and 66th Indianapolis 500 races.
( ) Figures in parentheses denote the number of non-championship races in that season.
References
References
- (June 17, 1997). "Indy Racing League takes scoring, timing from USAC". [[Las Vegas Sun]].
- Åberg, Andreas. "USAC National Championship 1956". Driver Database.
- "1956 USAC National Championship Trail". ChampCarStats.com.
- Åberg, Andreas. "USAC National Championship 1957". Driver Database.
- "1957 USAC National Championship Trail". ChampCarStats.com.
- Åberg, Andreas. "USAC National Championship 1958". Driver Database.
- "1958 USAC National Championship Trail". ChampCarStats.com.
- Åberg, Andreas. "USAC National Championship 1959". Driver Database.
- "1959 USAC National Championship Trail". ChampCarStats.com.
- Åberg, Andreas. "USAC National Championship 1960". Driver Database.
- "1960 USAC National Championship Trail". ChampCarStats.com.
- Åberg, Andreas. "USAC National Championship 1961". Driver Database.
- "1961 USAC National Championship Trail". ChampCarStats.com.
- Åberg, Andreas. "USAC National Championship 1962". Driver Database.
- "1962 USAC National Championship Trail". ChampCarStats.com.
- Åberg, Andreas. "USAC National Championship 1963". Driver Database.
- "1963 USAC National Championship Trail". ChampCarStats.com.
- Åberg, Andreas. "USAC National Championship 1964". Driver Database.
- "1964 USAC National Championship Trail". ChampCarStats.com.
- Åberg, Andreas. "USAC National Championship 1965". Driver Database.
- "1965 USAC National Championship Trail". ChampCarStats.com.
- Åberg, Andreas. "USAC National Championship 1966". Driver Database.
- "1966 USAC National Championship Trail". ChampCarStats.com.
- Åberg, Andreas. "USAC National Championship 1967". Driver Database.
- "1967 USAC National Championship Trail". ChampCarStats.com.
- Åberg, Andreas. "USAC National Championship 1968". Driver Database.
- "1968 USAC National Championship Trail". ChampCarStats.com.
- Åberg, Andreas. "USAC National Championship 1969". Driver Database.
- "1969 USAC National Championship Trail". ChampCarStats.com.
- Åberg, Andreas. "USAC National Championship 1970". Driver Database.
- "1970 USAC National Championship Trail". ChampCarStats.com.
- Åberg, Andreas. "USAC National Championship 1971". Driver Database.
- "1971 USAC Marlboro Championship Trail". ChampCarStats.com.
- Åberg, Andreas. "USAC National Championship 1972". Driver Database.
- "1972 USAC National Championship Trail". ChampCarStats.com.
- Åberg, Andreas. "USAC National Championship 1973". Driver Database.
- "1973 USAC National Championship Trail". ChampCarStats.com.
- Åberg, Andreas. "USAC National Championship 1974". Driver Database.
- "1974 USAC National Championship Trail". ChampCarStats.com.
- Åberg, Andreas. "USAC National Championship 1975". Driver Database.
- "1975 USAC National Championship Trail". ChampCarStats.com.
- Åberg, Andreas. "USAC National Championship 1976". Driver Database.
- "1976 USAC National Championship Trail". ChampCarStats.com.
- Åberg, Andreas. "USAC National Championship 1977". Driver Database.
- "1977 USAC National Championship Trail". ChampCarStats.com.
- Åberg, Andreas. "USAC National Championship 1978". Driver Database.
- "1978 USAC National Championship Citicorp Cup". ChampCarStats.com.
- Åberg, Andreas. "USAC National Championship 1979". Driver Database.
- "1979 USAC National Championship Trail". ChampCarStats.com.
- Åberg, Andreas. "USAC National Championship 1980". Driver Database.
- "1980 Championship Racing League". ChampCarStats.com.
- Åberg, Andreas. "USAC National Championship 1982". Driver Database.
- "1981–82 Gold Crown Championship". ChampCarStats.com.
- Åberg, Andreas. "USAC National Championship 1983". Driver Database.
- "1982–83 Gold Crown Championship". ChampCarStats.com.
- Åberg, Andreas. "USAC National Championship 1984". Driver Database.
- "1983–84 Gold Crown Championship". ChampCarStats.com.
- "1984–85 Gold Crown Championship". ChampCarStats.com.
- "1985–86 Gold Crown Championship". ChampCarStats.com.
- "1986–87 Gold Crown Championship". ChampCarStats.com.
- "1987–88 Gold Crown Championship". ChampCarStats.com.
- "1988–89 Gold Crown Championship". ChampCarStats.com.
- "1989–90 Gold Crown Championship". ChampCarStats.com.
- "1990–91 Gold Crown Championship". ChampCarStats.com.
- "1991–92 Gold Crown Championship". ChampCarStats.com.
- "1992–93 Gold Crown Championship". ChampCarStats.com.
- "1993–94 Gold Crown Championship". ChampCarStats.com.
- "1994–95 Gold Crown Championship". ChampCarStats.com.
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