# 1959 USAC Championship Car season

The 1959 USAC Championship Car season (officially the 1959 USAC National Championship Trail) consisted of 13 races, beginning in Daytona Beach, Florida on April 4 and concluding in Sacramento, California on October 25. There were also three non-championship events. The USAC National Champion and Indianapolis 500 winner was Rodger Ward. In this tragic season 7 fatal accidents occurred. During the pre-season, Marshall Teague was fatally injured in a crash at Daytona. He was 37 years old. In the first race of the season at Daytona, 34-year-old George Amick was killed in an accident on the last lap. In the second race of the season at Trenton, Dick Linder was killed; he was 36 years old. The third race of the season, the Indy 500, had two fatalities. On May 2, Jerry Unser (26 years old) was killed in a practice accident, and on May 19 death Bob Cortner (32 years old) was also killed in a practice accident. On July 19 at Mechanicsburg in the Indianapolis Sweepstakes non-championship race Van Johnson was killed in an accident; he was 32 years old. On August 30, 32-year-old Ed Elisian was killed at the Milwaukee Mile. The 1959 season could be considered one of the most tragic seasons in American open-wheel car history.

## Schedule and results

| Rnd | Date | Race Name | Track | Location | Type | Pole Position | Winning Driver |
| 1 | April 4 | Daytona 100 | Daytona International Speedway | Daytona Beach, Florida | Paved | Dick Rathmann | Jim Rathmann |
| NC | April 4 | USAC/FIA Formula Libre Race | Daytona International Speedway | Daytona Beach, Florida | Paved | Dick Rathmann | Jim Rathmann |
| 2 | April 19 | Race of Champions | Trenton International Speedway | Trenton, New Jersey | Paved | Don Branson | Tony Bettenhausen |
| 3 | May 30 | International 500 Mile Sweepstakes | Indianapolis Motor Speedway | Speedway, Indiana | Paved | Johnny Thomson | Rodger Ward |
| 4 | June 7 | Rex Mays Classic | Milwaukee Mile | West Allis, Wisconsin | Paved | Johnny Thomson | Johnny Thomson |
| 5 | June 14 | Langhorne 100 | Langhorne Speedway | Langhorne, Pennsylvania | Dirt | Jud Larson | Van Johnson |
| NC | July 4 | Pikes Peak Auto Hill Climb | Pikes Peak Highway | Pikes Peak, Colorado | Hill | Slim Roberts | Bobby Unser |
| C | July 4 | Daytona | Daytona International Speedway | Daytona Beach, Florida | Paved | Cancelled | Cancelled |
| NC | July 19 | Indianapolis Sweepstakes | Williams Grove Speedway | Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania | Dirt | Rodger Ward | Rodger Ward |
| 6 | August 22 | Springfield 100 | Illinois State Fairgrounds | Springfield, Illinois | Dirt | Don Branson | Len Sutton |
| 7 | August 30 | Milwaukee 200 | Milwaukee Mile | West Allis, Wisconsin | Paved | Shorty Templeman | Rodger Ward |
| 8 | September 7 | Ted Horn Memorial | DuQuoin State Fairgrounds | Du Quoin, Illinois | Dirt | Don Branson | Rodger Ward |
| 9 | September 12 | Syracuse 100 | New York State Fairgrounds | Syracuse, New York | Dirt | Johnny Thomson | Eddie Sachs |
| 10 | September 19 | Hoosier Hundred | Indiana State Fairgrounds | Indianapolis, Indiana | Dirt | Rodger Ward | Rodger Ward |
| 11 | September 27 | Trenton 100 | Trenton International Speedway | Trenton, New Jersey | Paved | Eddie Sachs | Eddie Sachs |
| 12 | October 18 | Bobby Ball Memorial | Arizona State Fairgrounds | Phoenix, Arizona | Dirt | Lloyd Ruby | Tony Bettenhausen |
| 13 | October 25 | Golden State 100 | California State Fairgrounds | Sacramento, California | Dirt | Wayne Weiler | Jim Hurtubise |
    ^A Indianapolis 500 was USAC-sanctioned and counted towards the 1959 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

Note: At the Milwaukee 200 started with the car #16 Jim Rathmann, after 29 lap the relieved driver A. J. Foyt led the car the remaining 171 lap and finished 4, so the car completed the 200 lap. The points for this place was 240 points, Jim Rathmann received 34.8 points and A. J. Foyt received 205.2 points; because the method: (the points for the finish place) / (number the lap when completed the car) * (number the lap when completed the driver).
| Pos | Driver | DAY | TRE1 | INDY | MIL1 | LAN | SPR | MIL2 | DQSF | SYR | ISF | TRE2 | PHX | SAC | Pts |
| 1 | Rodger Ward | 2 | 2 | 1 | 13 | | 18 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 18 | 3 | 17 | 2400 |
| 2 | Tony Bettenhausen | 18 | 1 | 4 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 16 | 3 | 6 | 15 | 2 | 1 | 8 | 1430 |
| 3 | Johnny Thomson | 7 | 20 | 3 | 1 | DNQ | 4 | 2 | 16 | 16 | Wth | | | | 1400 |
| 4 | Jim Rathmann | 1 | 4 | 2 | DNQ | | | 4 | | | | | | | 1154.8 |
| 5 | A. J. Foyt | 8 | DNQ | 10 | 3 | 13 | 15 | 25 | DNQ | 9 | 3 | 19 | 2 | DNS | 910.2 |
| 6 | Eddie Sachs | 19 | 19 | 17 | 7 | 18 | 7 | 10 | 18 | 1 | 2 | 1 | DNQ | 10 | 797 |
| 7 | Don Branson | 11 | 13 | 24 | 9 | 9 | 2 | | 2 | 2 | 17 | 5 | 5 | 15 | 780 |
| 8 | Johnny Boyd | | | 6 | 2 | | | 5 | | | DNQ | | | | 760 |
| 9 | Len Sutton | 20 | 16 | 32 | 10 | 14 | 1 | 19 | 4 | 8 | 5 | 22 | 16 | 11 | 520 |
| 10 | Paul Goldsmith | | | 5 | 22 | DNQ | | | | | | | | | 500 |
| 11 | Don Freeland | | | 22 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 3 | 15 | 17 | 7 | | | | 480 |
| 12 | Bobby Grim | | 7 | 26 | 11 | 16 | 16 | 26 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 9 | 6 | DNQ | 480 |
| 13 | Gene Force | | 12 | DNQ | 20 | | | 14 | DNQ | 7 | 14 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 450 |
| 14 | Jim McWithey | | | 16 | DNQ | DNQ | 14 | DNQ | 9 | 4 | 4 | 8 | 17 | 4 | 450 |
| 15 | Eddie Johnson | | | 8 | | | | 23 | | | | 3 | | | 390 |
| 16 | Dick Rathmann | 5 | DNP | 20 | DNQ | 7 | 6 | 7 | 12 | DNP | DNQ | | | | 370 |
| 17 | Bob Veith | DNQ | DNP | 12 | 6 | 10 | 8 | 9 | 8 | | | | | 18 | 340 |
| 18 | Duane Carter | | | 7 | DNQ | DNP | 12 | | | | | | | | 310 |
| 19 | Al Keller | 13 | DNP | 18 | 5 | | 3 | DNQ | 7 | | | | | | 300 |
| 20 | Jud Larson | 16 | | 29 | 4 | 2 | DNS | | | | | DNP | | | 280 |
| 21 | Jim Hurtubise RY | | | | | | | | | | 16 | 7 | DNQ | 1 | 260 |
| 22 | Shorty Templeman | | | DNQ | DNQ | | | 11 | 17 | 13 | 12 | 6 | 9 | 6 | 250 |
| 23 | Jack Turner | | | 27 | 12 | | | 6 | 6 | DNQ | DNQ | | | DNQ | 250 |
| 24 | Ed Elisian | | | | 15 | 3 | 5 | 22 | | | | | | | 240 |
| 25 | Elmer George | 6 | 6 | DNQ | DNQ | 5 | | | | | | | | | 233 |
| 26 | Van Johnson | | 10 | DNQ | | 1 | | | | | | | | | 230 |
| 27 | Paul Russo | DNQ | | 9 | DNQ | | | DNQ | | | | | | | 200 |
| 28 | Wayne Weiler | | | DNQ | DNQ | | 10 | 12 | 14 | | DNQ | 11 | 7 | 7 | 190 |
| 29 | Chuck Weyant | | | 28 | DNQ | 12 | 11 | 8 | 11 | 11 | DNQ | | | | 170 |
| 30 | Bill Homeier | | | DNQ | | DNQ | DNQ | DNP | DNQ | 10 | 9 | | 11 | 5 | 165 |
| 31 | Al Farmer R | | | | | | | DNQ | DNQ | DNQ | DNQ | 20 | DNQ | 2 | 160 |
| 32 | Jimmy Davies | 15 | 3 | DNQ | | DNQ | DNQ | | | DNQ | | 15 | | | 140 |
| 33 | Bob Christie | 3 | 15 | 25 | DNQ | | | | | | | | | | 140 |
| 34 | Ralph Liguori | | | DNQ | | 6 | DNQ | DNQ | | DNQ | 8 | 17 | | | 130 |
| 35 | Rex Easton | | | DNQ | | 4 | | | | | | | | | 120 |
| 36 | George Amick | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | | 120 |
| 37 | Jim Packard | 10 | 11 | DNQ | 14 | 11 | 13 | 20 | DNQ | 15 | 18 | 21 | 8 | DNQ | 120 |
| 38 | Chuck Arnold R | DNQ | 5 | 15 | DNQ | DNQ | | 18 | | DNQ | DNQ | 13 | | | 100 |
| 39 | Gene Hartley | | | 11 | DNQ | | | 24 | | | | | | | 100 |
| 40 | Bill Cheesbourg | 12 | DNQ | 21 | 21 | DNQ | DNQ | 21 | 10 | 12 | DNQ | 10 | DNQ | DNQ | 80 |
| 41 | Jerry Unser | DNQ | 8 | DNQ | | | | | | | | | | | 50 |
| 42 | Joe Barzda | | 9 | | 16 | DNQ | | | | | | | | | 40 |
| 43 | Pat Flaherty | 9 | 17 | 19 | 19 | | | | | | | | | | 40 |
| 44 | Bill Hyde R | | | | | | | | | | | | DNQ | 9 | 40 |
| 45 | Buddy Cagle | | | | 18 | DNP | | | | | 10 | DNQ | | | 30 |
| 46 | Jack Rounds R | | | | | | | | | | | | 10 | DNQ | 30 |
| 47 | Lee Drollinger R | | | | | | DNQ | | DNQ | | 11 | DNQ | 13 | DNQ | 20 |
| 48 | Dempsey Wilson | 17 | | | DNQ | 15 | DNQ | 13 | | | DNQ | | 12 | 16 | 10 |
| 49 | Johnny Tolan | | | DNQ | DNQ | | | | | | | | DNQ | 12 | 10 |
| 50 | Len Duncan | | | | | | | | | | | 12 | | | 10 |
| - | Lloyd Ruby | | | | | | DNQ | DNQ | 13 | 14 | 13 | | 18 | DNQ | 0 |
| - | Chuck Hulse | | | | | | | | | | | | DNQ | 13 | 0 |
| - | Al Herman | | | 13 | | | | | | | | | | | 0 |
| - | Bob Cleberg R | | | | | | | | | | | | 14 | 14 | 0 |
| - | Bob McLean R | | | | | | | 17 | | | | 14 | | | 0 |
| - | Jimmy Daywalt | | | 14 | DNQ | | | | | | | | | | 0 |
| - | Bill Randall | 14 | | | | | | | | | | | | | 0 |
| - | Dick Linder | | 14 | | | | | | | | | | | | 0 |
| - | Russ Congdon R | | | DNQ | | | | 15 | DNQ | | DNQ | | | | 0 |
| - | Gig Stephens R | | | | | | | | | | | 15 | | | 0 |
| - | Tony Bonadies | | 21 | | | | | | | | | 16 | | | 0 |
| - | Bob Schroeder | | 18 | DNQ | | | | | | | | | | | 0 |
| - | Johnny Kay | | | | | | | | | 18 | | | | | 0 |
| - | Ray Crawford | | | 23 | | | | | | | | | | | 0 |
| - | Mike Magill | DNQ | | 30 | | | | | | | | | | | 0 |
| - | Red Amick R | | | 31 | DNQ | | | DNQ | | | | | | | 0 |
| - | Jimmy Bryan | | | 33 | | | | | | | | | | | 0 |
| - | Johnny Moorhouse | | | DNQ | | | | | | | | | DNQ | DNS | 0 |
| - | Bob Wente | | | | | | DNQ | DNS | | | | | | | 0 |
| - | Bob Said | DNS | | | | | | | | | | | | | 0 |
| - | Leon Clum | | | | | | | | DNQ | DNQ | DNQ | DNQ | | | 0 |
| - | Herb Hill | | | | | | DNQ | DNQ | | | DNQ | | | DNQ | 0 |
| - | Chuck Rodee | | | DNQ | | | DNQ | DNQ | | | | | | | 0 |
| - | Earl Motter | | | DNQ | | | | | | | | | DNQ | DNQ | 0 |
| - | Don Davis | | | | | | | | | | | | DNQ | DNQ | 0 |
| - | Norm Hall | | | | | | | | | | | | DNQ | DNQ | 0 |
| - | Bob Cortner | | | DNQ | | | | | | | | | | | 0 |
| - | Chuck Daigh | | | DNQ | | | | | | | | | | | 0 |
| - | Don Edmunds | | | DNQ | | | | | | | | | | | 0 |
| - | Jack Ensley | | | DNQ | | | | | | | | | | | 0 |
| - | Andy Furci | | | DNQ | | | | | | | | | | | 0 |
| - | Eddie Russo | | | DNQ | | | | | | | | | | | 0 |
| - | George Morris | | | | | | | | | | | DNQ | | | 0 |
| - | Johnny Wood | | | | | | | | | | | | DNQ | | 0 |
| - | Ernie Koch | | | | | | | | | | | | | DNQ | 0 |
| - | Johnnie Parsons | | | DNP | | | | | | | | | | | 0 |
| Pos | Driver | DAY | TRE1 | INDY | MIL1 | LAN | 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 ||