1970 USAC Championship Car seasonRaces 18 Start date March 28 End date November 21 National champion Al Unser Indianapolis 500 winner Al Unser 1971 (ChampCar)
1971 (SprintCar) →
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
A
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.
Further information: List of American Championship car racing point scoring systems
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
DNP
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
DNP
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
DNP
19
17
DNP
11
2
6
24
1110
9
A. J. Foyt
4
Wth
6
10
24
3
8
12
15
7
15
10
3
DNQ
Wth
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
DNP
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
DNP
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
DNP
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
DNP
13
570
20
Greg Weld
18
32
DNQ
DNP
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
DNP
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
DNP
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
DNP
DNQ
3
10
200
33
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
DNQ
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
DNP
8
7
110
38
DNQ
8
DNQ
100
39
R
9
11
DNS
18
22
23
DNS
DNQ
DNQ
DNQ
14
15
100
40
Bud Tingelstad
DNQ
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
DNQ
DNQ
11
DNQ
DNP
12
25
DNQ
65
44
Ludwig Heimrath Sr.
23
14
23
DNQ
12
10
60
45
Ronnie Bucknum
16
15
DNQ
DNP
20
DNP
11
60
46
R
19
8
50
47
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
20
12
10
-
Mark Donohue
25
2
2
30
0
-
John Cannon
11
DNQ
DNP
4
DNQ
0
-
Donnie Allison R
4
0
-
Peter Revson
22
5
0
-
LeeRoy Yarbrough
19
8
0
-
10
DNQ
0
-
R
11
0
-
Kevin Bartlett
12
DNQ
16
26
0
-
14
17
13
DNQ
0
-
Larry Cannon R
DNQ
DNQ
18
13
DNQ
DNQ
16
DNP
DNQ
0
-
Jack Brabham
13
DNQ
0
-
R
15
23
14
DNQ
23
23
DNQ
DNQ
0
-
Al Loquasto
24
DNQ
DNQ
14
DNP
23
0
-
John Martin R
15
DNQ
0
-
Al Miller
15
0
-
Bill Puterbaugh
DNQ
DNS
DNQ
DNQ
16
17
DNP
0
-
Sonny Ates
DNQ
16
DNP
0
-
Salt Walther R
DNS
18
0
-
R
DNQ
18
DNQ
0
-
R
19
20
DNQ
0
-
R
19
0
-
George Follmer
31
21
20
0
-
21
DNQ
0
-
Nick Dioguardi R
21
0
-
22
26
0
-
R
DNP
DNQ
DNQ
22
DNQ
DNQ
0
-
R
24
DNQ
0
-
Jim Hurtubise
DNQ
32
0
-
DSQ
DNQ
DNQ
DNS
0
-
Ed Marshall
DNQ
DNS
0
-
DNQ
DNQ
DNQ
DNQ
0
-
Jigger Sirois
DNQ
DNP
DNQ
0
-
DNQ
DNP
DNQ
0
-
Lee Kunzman
DNQ
DNQ
0
-
Denny Zimmerman
DNQ
DNQ
0
-
Rollie Beale
DNQ
DNQ
0
-
DNQ
DNQ
0
-
DNP
DNQ
0
-
Tony Adamowicz
DNQ
0
-
Chris Amon
DNQ
0
-
Charlie Glotzbach
DNQ
0
-
Denny Hulme
DNQ
0
-
Bruce McLaren
DNQ
0
-
DNQ
0
-
Carlos Pairetti
DNQ
0
-
Sam Posey
DNQ
0
-
Bob Veith
DNQ
0
-
Les Scott
DNQ
0
-
DNQ
0
-
DNQ
0
-
Tom Sneva
DNQ
0
-
Dave Strickland
DNQ
0
-
Carl Adams
DNP
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)
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 [ ]
See also [ ]
American Championship car racing (Indy car) seasons
AAA USAC CART CCWS IRL INDYCAR
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
2016
2017
2018
2019
2020
2021
2022
Years marked in italics are not official championship years or upcoming seasons.
Seasons Indianapolis 500s National Champions
Mario Andretti (three times)
Tony Bettenhausen
Jimmy Bryan (twice)
A. J. Foyt (five times)
Al Unser
Bobby Unser
Rodger Ward (twice)
Tracks