# 1958 USAC Championship Car season

The 1958 USAC Championship Car season consisted of 13 races, beginning in Trenton, New Jersey on March 30 and concluding in Phoenix, Arizona on November 11. There were also five non-championship events. The USAC National Champion was Tony Bettenhausen and the Indianapolis 500 winner was Jimmy Bryan. The victory was Bryan's final victory in IndyCar racing. There were three fatalities during the season. Pat O'Connor lost his life in a first lap accident during the Indy 500. Art Bisch died of injuries suffered during the race at Lakewood Speedway. Jimmy Reece was killed in a late-race incident at the second Trenton 100. Bettenhausen became the first USAC champion without a single race win (and at the time the only one) during the season until Tom Sneva did so 20 years later.

## Schedule and results

| Rnd | Date | Race Name | Track | Location | Type | Pole Position | Winning Driver |
| 1 | March 30 | Trenton 100 | Trenton International Speedway | Trenton, New Jersey | Paved | Len Sutton | Len Sutton |
| 2 | May 30 | International 500 Mile Sweepstakes | Indianapolis Motor Speedway | Speedway, Indiana | Paved | Dick Rathmann | Jimmy Bryan |
| 3 | June 8 | Rex Mays Classic | Milwaukee Mile | West Allis, Wisconsin | Paved | Art Bisch | Art Bisch |
| 4 | June 15 | Langhorne 100 | Langhorne Speedway | Langhorne, Pennsylvania | Dirt | Jud Larson | Eddie Sachs |
| NC | June 29 | 500 Miglia di Monza | Autodromo Nazionale di Monza | Monza, Italy | Paved | Heat 1: Luigi Musso | Heat 1: Jim Rathmann |
| Heat 2: Jim Rathmann | June 29 | 500 Miglia di Monza | Autodromo Nazionale di Monza | Monza, Italy | Paved | Heat 2: Jim Rathmann |
| Heat 3: Jim Rathmann | June 29 | 500 Miglia di Monza | Autodromo Nazionale di Monza | Monza, Italy | Paved | Heat 3: Jim Rathmann |
| 5 | July 4 | Atlanta 100 | Lakewood Speedway | Atlanta, Georgia | Dirt | Don Branson | Jud Larson |
| NC | July 4 | Pikes Peak Auto Hill Climb | Pikes Peak Highway | Pikes Peak, Colorado | Hill | Louie Unser | Bobby Unser |
| NC | July 20 | Indianapolis Sweepstakes | Williams Grove Speedway | Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania | Dirt | Johnny Thomson | Jud Larson |
| 6 | August 16 | Springfield 100 | Illinois State Fairgrounds | Springfield, Illinois | Dirt | Jud Larson | Johnny Thomson |
| 7 | August 24 | Milwaukee 200 | Milwaukee Mile | West Allis, Wisconsin | Paved | Jim Rathmann | Rodger Ward |
| 8 | September 1 | Ted Horn Memorial | DuQuoin State Fairgrounds | Du Quoin, Illinois | Dirt | Johnny Thomson | Johnny Thomson |
| 9 | September 6 | Syracuse 100 | New York State Fairgrounds | Syracuse, New York | Dirt | Jud Larson | Johnny Thomson |
| 10 | September 13 | Hoosier Hundred | Indiana State Fairgrounds | Indianapolis, Indiana | Dirt | Jud Larson | Eddie Sachs |
| 11 | September 28 | Trenton 100 | Trenton International Speedway | Trenton, New Jersey | Paved | Jimmy Reece | Rodger Ward |
| 12 | October 26 | Golden State 100 | California State Fairgrounds | Sacramento, California | Dirt | Johnny Thomson | Johnny Thomson |
| 13 | November 11 | Bobby Ball Memorial | Arizona State Fairgrounds | Phoenix, Arizona | Dirt | Rex Easton | Jud Larson |
    ^A Indianapolis 500 was USAC-sanctioned and counted towards the 1958 FIA World Championship of Drivers title.
    ^B 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.

## Final points standings

| Pos | Driver | TRE1 | INDY | MIL1 | LAN | ATL | SPR | MIL2 | DQSF | SYR | ISF | TRE2 | SAC | PHX | Pts |
| 1 | Tony Bettenhausen | 2 | 4 | 2 | 5 | 18 | 12 | 25 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 3 | 5 | 2 | 1830 |
| 2 | George Amick | 6 | 2 | 6 | 14 | 2 | 18 | 4 | 18 | 2 | Wth | 19 | 4 | 15 | 1640 |
| 3 | Johnny Thomson | 3 | 23 | 4 | 18 | 3 | 1 | 22 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 14 | 1520 |
| 4 | Jud Larson | 5 | 8 | 9 | 3 | 1 | 13 | | 7 | 5 | 17 | 22 | 2 | 1 | 1250 |
| 5 | Rodger Ward | 11 | 20 | 19 | DNQ | 7 | 16 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 16 | 5 | 1160 |
| 6 | Jimmy Bryan | | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | 1000 |
| 7 | Eddie Sachs | DNQ | 22 | 10 | 1 | 6 | DNQ | 3 | 17 | 10 | 1 | 10 | 15 | 3 | 990 |
| 8 | Johnny Boyd | | 3 | 5 | 15 | | | | | | | | | | 800 |
| 9 | Don Branson | | | DNQ | 4 | 5 | 7 | 12 | 3 | 6 | 4 | 6 | 12 | 7 | 790 |
| 10 | A. J. Foyt | | 16 | 21 | 2 | 11 | 11 | 7 | 8 | 14 | 8 | 11 | 3 | 4 | 700 |
| 11 | Len Sutton | 1 | 32 | 11 | 9 | 4 | 9 | 9 | 6 | DNQ | DNQ | 8 | DNQ | 9 | 670 |
| 12 | Jimmy Reece | DNQ | 6 | 3 | | | | 26 | DNQ | | 7 | 7 | | | 660 |
| 13 | Don Freeland | | 7 | DNQ | 6 | | 3 | 21 | 9 | 18 | 16 | 14 | DNQ | | 560 |
| 14 | Jim Rathmann | | 5 | 7 | | | | 23 | | | | | | | 560 |
| 15 | Bob Veith | | 26 | DNQ | | | 6 | 2 | | | | 16 | 6 | 18 | 480 |
| 16 | Johnny Tolan | | 13 | 8 | | | 15 | 6 | 5 | 9 | 11 | 18 | 8 | 10 | 450 |
| 17 | Eddie Johnson | | 9 | 22 | | | | 10 | | | DNQ | 5 | | | 360 |
| 18 | Joe Barzda RY | 9 | | 13 | 16 | | 4 | 11 | | 13 | 15 | 4 | | | 320 |
| 19 | Elmer George | 12 | DNQ | 17 | 13 | 8 | 2 | DNQ | DNS | 16 | 10 | DNQ | 17 | 8 | 300 |
| 20 | Rex Easton | | DNQ | 15 | 17 | 13 | 5 | 17 | 10 | 7 | DNQ | 13 | 13 | 6 | 270 |
| 21 | Jack Turner | | 25 | DNS | 12 | 17 | | 5 | | 11 | DNQ | DNQ | DNQ | | 230 |
| 22 | Bill Cheesbourg | | 10 | 12 | 10 | 10 | DNQ | DNS | | | DNS | | | DNQ | 220 |
| 23 | Art Bisch | | 33 | 1 | DNQ | 16 | | | | | | | | | 200 |
| 24 | Ed Elisian | | 28 | DNQ | DNQ | | 17 | 8 | | | 9 | 9 | | | 180 |
| 25 | Ralph Liguori | 4 | | | 8 | 15 | DNQ | | | | 18 | | DNQ | DNQ | 170 |
| 26 | Buzz Barton | 7 | | DNQ | 11 | 9 | 8 | DNQ | DNQ | | DNQ | | | | 170 |
| 27 | Earl Motter | | DNQ | 16 | DNQ | | 10 | 14 | 16 | DNQ | 6 | | 11 | | 130 |
| 28 | Al Keller | DNQ | 11 | | | | | | | | | | | | 100 |
| 29 | Jim Packard R | | | | | | 14 | DNQ | 12 | DNQ | 12 | DNQ | 7 | DNQ | 80 |
| 30 | Mike Magill | | 17 | | 7 | | | | | | | DNQ | | | 60 |
| 31 | Dempsey Wilson | 10 | 15 | 20 | DNQ | | | 19 | | | DNQ | 12 | 18 | 11 | 60 |
| 32 | Paul Russo | | 18 | | | | | | | 8 | 14 | | | | 50 |
| 33 | Chuck Rodee | 8 | | | | | | | | | | | | | 50 |
| 34 | Johnnie Parsons | | 12 | Wth | | | | | | | | | | | 50 |
| 35 | Wayne Weiler R | | | | | | | | | | | | 9 | 17 | 40 |
| 36 | Bobby Grim R | | | | | | | | | | | | 10 | 12 | 40 |
| 37 | Shorty Templeman | | 19 | | | | | 13 | 11 | 12 | DNQ | 20 | DNQ | DNQ | 30 |
| 38 | Roy Graham | | | | | 12 | DNQ | | | | | DNQ | | | 10 |
| - | Bob Schroeder R | | | | | DNQ | DNQ | DNQ | 13 | 15 | DNQ | 15 | DNQ | DNQ | 0 |
| - | Gene Hartley | | DNQ | | | | | 18 | | | 13 | | | | 0 |
| - | Pat O’Connor | 13 | 29 | | | | | | | | | | | | 0 |
| - | Lloyd Ruby R | | | | | | | | | | | | | 13 | 0 |
| - | Dick Linder R | | | | | | | | 14 | 17 | DNQ | 17 | | | 0 |
| - | Dick Rathmann | | 27 | 14 | | | | 24 | | | | | | | 0 |
| - | Troy Ruttman | | DNQ | | | | | | | | | | 14 | DNP | 0 |
| - | Bob Christie | | 14 | | | | | | | | | | | | 0 |
| - | Jiggs Peters | | | | | 14 | | | | | | | | | 0 |
| - | Jimmy Davies | | | | | | | 20 | 15 | | DNQ | DNP | | | 0 |
| - | Gene Force | | | | | | | 15 | | | DNQ | | | | 0 |
| - | Bill Homeier | | DNQ | | | | | | | | | | DNQ | 16 | 0 |
| - | Pat Flaherty | | DNQ | | | | | 16 | | | | | | | 0 |
| - | Billy Garrett | | 21 | 18 | | | | | | | | | | | 0 |
| - | Tony Bonadies | | DNQ | DNQ | | | | | | | | 21 | | | 0 |
| - | Chuck Weyant | | 24 | DNQ | | | DNQ | DNS | DNQ | | | | | | 0 |
| - | Paul Goldsmith R | | 30 | | | | | | | | | | | | 0 |
| - | Jerry Unser | | 31 | | | | DNQ | DNQ | DNQ | | DNQ | | | | 0 |
| - | Red Amick | DNS | | | | | | | | | | | | | 0 |
| - | Jim McWithey | | DNQ | | | | | | | DNQ | DNQ | DNQ | | | 0 |
| - | Van Johnson | | DNQ | | | | DNQ | | | | | | | | 0 |
| - | Allen Crowe | | | | | DNQ | DNQ | | | | | | | | 0 |
| - | Jimmy Daywalt | | DNQ | | | | | | | | DNQ | | | | 0 |
| - | Don Edmunds | | DNQ | | | | | | | | | DNQ | | | 0 |
| - | Bill Hyde | | | | | | | | | | | | DNQ | DNQ | 0 |
| - | Ernie Koch | | | | | | | | | | | | DNQ | DNQ | 0 |
| - | Tom Pistone | | DNP | DNQ | | | | | | | | | | | 0 |
| - | Peter Collins | DNQ | | | | | | | | | | | | | 0 |
| - | Fred Agabashian | | DNQ | | | | | | | | | | | | 0 |
| - | Bud Clemons | | DNQ | | | | | | | | | | | | 0 |
| - | Bob Cortner | | DNQ | | | | | | | | | | | | 0 |
| - | Ray Crawford | | DNQ | | | | | | | | | | | | 0 |
| - | Jack Ensley | | DNQ | | | | | | | | | | | | 0 |
| - | Juan Manuel Fangio | | DNQ | | | | | | | | | | | | 0 |
| - | Joe Giba | | DNQ | | | | | | | | | | | | 0 |
| - | Al Herman | | DNQ | | | | | | | | | | | | 0 |
| - | Eddie Russo | | DNQ | | | | | | | | | | | | 0 |
| - | Carroll Shelby | | DNQ | | | | | | | | | | | | 0 |
| - | Marshall Teague | | DNQ | | | | | | | | | | | | 0 |
| - | Leroy Warriner | | DNQ | | | | | | | | | | | | 0 |
| - | Norm Hall | | | | DNQ | | | | | | | | | | 0 |
| - | Bill Chennault | | | | | | | | DNQ | | | | | | 0 |
| - | Chuck Hulse | | | | | | | | | | | | DNQ | | 0 |
| - | Buddy Cagle | | | | | | | | | | | | | DNQ | 0 |
| - | Don Whittington | | | | | | | | | | | | | DNQ | 0 |
| - | Dutch Schaefer | | DNP | | | | | | | | | | | | 0 |
| Pos | Driver | TRE1 | INDY | MIL1 | LAN | ATL | SPR | MIL2 | DQSF | SYR | ISF | TRE2 | SAC | PHX | 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 ||