# 1987 American Racing Series season

The 1987 American Racing Series Championship consisted of 10 races. Didier Theys won three races on his way to the championship.

## Calendar

| Race No | Track | State | Date | Laps | Distance | Time | Speed | Winner | Pole Position | Most Leading Laps | Fastest Race Lap |
| 1 | Phoenix | Arizona | April 12, 1987 | 75 | 1.6093=120.6975 km | 0'41:38.23 | 173.928 km/h | Jeff Andretti | Didier Theys | Jeff Andretti | ? |
| 2 | Milwaukee | Wisconsin | May 31, 1987 | 75 | 1.6607976=124.55982 km | 0'37:43.192 | 198.134 km/h | Didier Theys | Didier Theys | Didier Theys | ? |
| 3 | Meadowlands | New Jersey | June 28, 1987 | 41 | 2.7229356=111.6403596 km | 0'46:37.80 | 143.650 km/h | Didier Theys | Didier Theys | Didier Theys | ? |
| 4 | Cleveland | Ohio | July 5, 1987 | 30 | 3.991064=119.73192 km | 0'36:57.06 | 194.417 km/h | Didier Theys | Didier Theys | Didier Theys | ? |
| 5 | Toronto | Canada | July 19, 1987 | 41 | 2.8709912=117.7106392 km | 0'45:38.760 | 154.726 km/h | Tommy Byrne | Tommy Byrne | Tommy Byrne | ? |
| 6 | Pocono | Pennsylvania | August 16, 1987 | 40 | 4.02325=160.93 km | 0'35:33.960 | 271.490 km/h | Tommy Byrne | Tommy Byrne | Tommy Byrne | ? |
| 7 | Lexington | Ohio | September 6, 1987 | 21 | 3.86232=81.10872 km | 0'30:57.910 | 157.161 km/h | Juan Manuel Fangio II | Tommy Byrne | Juan Manuel Fangio II | ? |
| 8 | Nazareth | Pennsylvania | September 20, 1987 | 75 | 1.5223978=114.179835 km | 0'39:31.310 | 173.342 km/h | Mike Groff | Didier Theys | Mike Groff | ? |
| 9 | Monterey | California | October 11, 1987 | 40 | 3.05767=120.3068 km | 0'40:23.057 | 181.714 km/h | Dave Simpson | Dave Simpson | Dave Simpson | ? |
| 10 | Miami | Florida | November 1, 1987 | 22 | 2.8709912=63.1618064 km | 0'45:59.77 | 82.392 km/h | Jeff Andretti | Dave Simpson | Jeff Andretti | ? |

## Race summaries
### Phoenix race

Held April 12 at Phoenix International Raceway. Didier Theys won the pole.
Top Five Results
* 1- Jeff Andretti
* 5- Didier Theys
* 2- Juan Manuel Fangio II
* 20- Mike Groff
* 4- George Metsos

### Milwaukee race

Held May 31 at The Milwaukee Mile. Didier Theys won the pole.
Top Five Results
* 5- Didier Theys
* 7- Dave Simpson
* 20- Mike Groff
* 50- Tommy Byrne
* 4- George Metsos

### Meadowlands race

Held June 28 at the Meadowlands Sports Complex. Didier Theys won the pole.
Top Five Results
* 5- Didier Theys
* 1- Jeff Andretti
* 11- Rich Rutherford
* 7- Dave Simpson
* 81- Lee Perkinson Jr.

### Cleveland race

Held July 5 at Burke Lakefront Airport. Didier Theys won the pole.
Top Five Results
* 5- Didier Theys
* 50- Tommy Byrne
* 71- Steve Millen
* 1- Jeff Andretti
* 11- Rich Rutherford

### Toronto race

Held July 19 at Exhibition Place. Tommy Byrne won the pole.
Top Five Results
* 50- Tommy Byrne
* 20- Mike Groff
* 71- Steve Millen
* 23- Albert Naon Jr.
* 81- Lee Perkinson Jr.

### Pocono race

Held August 16 at Pocono Raceway. Tommy Byrne won the pole.
Top Five Results
* 50- Tommy Byrne
* 1- Jeff Andretti
* 8- Mike Hooper
* 71- Steve Millen
* 5- Didier Theys

### Mid-Ohio race

Held September 6 at The Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course. Tommy Byrne won the pole.
Top Five Results
* 2- Juan Manuel Fangio II
* 71- Steve Millen
* 20- Mike Groff
* 50- Tommy Byrne
* 1- Jeff Andretti

### Nazareth race

Held September 20 at Nazareth Speedway. Didier Theys won the pole.
Top Five Results
* 20- Mike Groff
* 5- Didier Theys
* 1- Jeff Andretti
* 23- Albert Naon Jr.
* 11- Rich Rutherford

### Laguna Seca race

Held October 11 at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca. Dave Simpson won the pole.
Top Five Results
* 7- Dave Simpson
* 5- Didier Theys
* 50- Tommy Byrne
* 71- Steve Millen
* 20- Mike Groff

### Miami race

Held November 1 at Tamiami Park. Dave Simpson won the pole.
Top Five Results
* 1- Jeff Andretti
* 7- Dave Simpson
* 2- Juan Manuel Fangio II
* 23- Albert Naon Jr.
* 16- George Metsos

## Final points standings
### Driver

For every race the points were awarded: 20 points to the winner, 16 for runner-up, 14 for third place, 12 for fourth place, 10 for fifth place, 8 for sixth place, 6 seventh place, winding down to 1 points for 12th place. Additional points were awarded to the pole winner (1 point) and to the driver leading the most laps (1 point).
| Place | Name | Country | Team | Total Points | | | | | | | | | | |
| 1 | Didier Theys | Belgium | Truesports | 137 | 17 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 3 | 10 | 8 | 17 | 16 | - |
| 2 | Jeff Andretti | United States | Arciero Racing | 123 | 21 | 2 | 16 | 12 | 5 | 16 | 10 | 14 | 6 | 21 |
| 3 | Tommy Byrne | Ireland | Opar Racing | 120 | 3 | 12 | 6 | 16 | 22 | 22 | 13 | 6 | 14 | 6 |
| 4 | Dave Simpson | United States | Bill Simpson Racing | 101 | 5 | 16 | 12 | 5 | 8 | 8 | 4 | 4 | 22 | 17 |
| 5 | Mike Groff | United States | Opar Racing | 96 | 12 | 14 | 3 | 1 | 16 | 3 | 14 | 21 | 10 | 2 |
| 6 | Steve Millen | New Zealand | Hemelgarn Racing | 88 | 8 | - | 5 | 14 | 14 | 12 | 16 | 3 | 12 | 4 |
| 7 | Juan Manuel Fangio II | Argentina | TEAMKAR International | 57 | 14 | 6 | 2 | - | - | - | 21 | - | - | 14 |
| 8 | Albert Naon Jr. | United States | Coors Racing | 48 | - | - | - | 6 | 12 | 4 | - | 12 | 2 | 12 |
| 9 | Rich Rutherford | United States | Monarch Motorsports | 41 | - | 3 | 14 | 10 | | | | | | |
| 9 | Rich Rutherford | United States | Agapiou Racing | 41 | | | | | 4 | - | - | | | |
| 9 | Rich Rutherford | United States | Bill Simpson Racing | 41 | | | | | | | | 10 | - | - |
| 10 | Lee Perkinson Jr. | United States | Hemelgarn Racing | 35 | - | - | 10 | 3 | 10 | 2 | 5 | 5 | - | - |
| 11 | George Metsos | Greece | Agapiou Racing | 35 | 10 | 10 | - | - | - | - | - | - | 5 | 10 |
| 12 | Brad Murphey | United States | TEAMKAR International | 22 | - | 5 | 4 | 2 | 6 | - | - | - | 4 | 1 |
| 13 | Nikolas Konstant | Greece | Agapiou Racing | 17 | 6 | 8 | - | - | - | - | - | - | 3 | - |
| 14 | Mike Hooper | United States | Opar Racing | 14 | - | - | - | - | - | 14 | - | - | - | - |
| 15 | Steve Petty | United States | Petty Racing | 12 | - | - | 8 | - | - | - | - | - | 1 | 3 |
| 16 | Matt McBride | United States | Don McBride Co. | 11 | - | - | - | - | - | 5 | 6 | - | - | - |
| 17 | Paul Radisich | New Zealand | Agapiou Racing | 8 | - | - | - | 8 | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| | Wally Dallenbach Jr. | United States | TEAMKAR International | 8 | - | 4 | - | 4 | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| | Bob Tullius | United States | TEAMKAR International | 8 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 8 | - | - |
| | Pat Phinny | United States | ? | 8 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 8 | - |
| | Guido Daccò | Italy | Agapiou Racing | 8 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 8 |
| 22 | Dean Hall | United States | TEAMKAR International | 6 | - | - | - | - | - | 6 | - | - | - | - |
| 23 | Bobby Fix | United States | ? | 5 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 5 |
| 24 | Billy Boat | United States | Machinist Union Racing | 4 | 4 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 25 | Paul Dallenbach | United States | TEAMKAR International | 1 | - | 1 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| | Ron Giery | United States | ? | 1 | - | - | - | - | - | 1 | - | - | - | - |
Note:
Race 1, 3, 5, 7 and 8 not all points were awarded (not enough competitors).

## Complete Overview

| first column of every race | 10 | = grid position |
| second column of every race | 10 | = race result |
R10=retired, but classified NS=did not start
| Place | Name | Country | Team | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 1 | Didier Theys | Belgium | Truesports | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | R10 | 2 | 5 | 2 | R6 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | - | - |
| 2 | Jeff Andretti | United States | Arciero Racing | 2 | 1 | 2 | R11 | 5 | 2 | 8 | 4 | 4 | 8 | 5 | 2 | 5 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 9 | 7 | 4 | 1 |
| 3 | Tommy Byrne | Ireland | Opar Racing | 5 | R10 | 4 | 4 | 2 | R7 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 7 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 7 |
| 4 | Dave Simpson | United States | Bill Simpson Racing | 4 | R8 | 9 | 2 | 7 | 4 | 5 | 8 | 8 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 9 | R9 | 6 | R9 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| 5 | Mike Groff | United States | Opar Racing | 8 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 10 | 6 | R12 | 3 | 2 | 8 | 10 | 6 | 3 | 5 | 1 | 7 | 5 | 5 | R11 |
| 6 | Steve Millen | New Zealand | Hemelgarn Racing | 7 | 6 | 3 | R14 | 6 | 8 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 4 | R10 | 3 | 4 | 3 | R9 |
| 7 | Juan Manuel Fangio II | Argentina | TEAMKAR International | 3 | 3 | 8 | 7 | 3 | 11 | - | - | - | - | - | - | 3 | 1 | - | - | - | - | 15 | 3 |
| 8 | Albert Naon Jr. | United States | Coors Racing | - | - | - | - | - | - | 4 | 7 | 7 | 4 | 7 | 9 | - | - | 9 | 4 | 5 | R11 | 6 | 4 |
| 9 | Rich Rutherford | United States | Monarch Motorsports | - | - | 12 | 10 | 8 | 3 | 9 | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 9 | Rich Rutherford | United States | Agapiou Racing | | | | | | | | | 10 | 9 | | | | | | | | | | |
| 9 | Rich Rutherford | United States | Opar Racing | | | | | | | | | | | 11 | 13 | - | - | | | | | | |
| 9 | Rich Rutherford | United States | Bill Simpson Racing | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 7 | R5 | - | - | - | - |
| 10 | Lee Perkinson Jr. | United States | Hemelgarn Racing | - | - | - | - | 9 | 5 | 11 | 10 | 5 | 5 | 13 | 11 | 7 | R8 | 8 | R8 | 8 | R13 | 11 | R14 |
| 11 | George Metsos | Greece | Agapiou Racing | 10 | 5 | 14 | 5 | ? | NS | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 11 | 8 | 12 | 5 |
| 12 | Brad Murphey | United States | TEAMKAR International | - | - | 7 | 8 | 10 | 9 | 12 | 11 | 9 | 7 | - | - | - | - | - | - | 13 | 9 | 14 | R12 |
| 13 | Nikolas Konstant | Greece | Agapiou Racing | 11 | 7 | 13 | 6 | ? | NS | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 12 | 10 | - | - |
| 14 | Mike Hooper | United States | Opar Racing | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 4 | 3 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 15 | Steve Petty | United States | Petty Racing | - | - | - | - | 11 | 6 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 10 | R12 | 13 | 10 |
| 16 | Matt McBride | United States | Don McBride Co. | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 12 | 8 | 8 | R7 | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 17 | Paul Radisich | New Zealand | Agapiou Racing | - | - | - | - | - | - | 7 | 6 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| | Wally Dallenbach Jr. | United States | TEAMKAR International | - | - | 10 | 9 | - | - | 10 | 9 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| | Bob Tullius | United States | TEAMKAR International | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 10 | 6 | - | - | - | - |
| | Pat Phinny | United States | ? | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 6 | 6 | - | - |
| | Guido Daccò | Italy | Agapiou Racing | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 10 | 6 |
| 22 | Dean Hall | United States | TEAMKAR International | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 10 | 7 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 23 | Bobby Fix | United States | ? | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 8 | 8 |
| 24 | Billy Boat | United States | Machinist Union Racing | 6 | R9 | 6 | R13 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 25 | Paul Dallenbach | United States | TEAMKAR International | - | - | 11 | R12 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| | Ron Giery | United States | ? | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 9 | 12 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| - | Fábio Greco | Brazil | TEAMKAR International | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 7 | R13 |
| - | Stan Fox | United States | Petty Racing | - | - | 15 | R15 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| - | Giovanni Fontanesi | Venezuela | Agapiou Racing | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 9 | R15 |
| - | Gordon Johncock | United States | TEAMKAR International | 9 | (R8) | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |