# 1980 CART PPG Indy Car World Series

The 1980 CART PPG Indy Car World Series season was the second in the CART era of U.S. open-wheel racing. It consisted of twelve races, beginning in Ontario, California on April 13 and concluding in Avondale, Arizona on November 8. The PPG Indy Car World Series Drivers' Champion and Indianapolis 500 winner was Johnny Rutherford. Rookie of the Year was Dennis Firestone. The entire season, including the 64th Indianapolis 500, was to be co-sanctioned by both the USAC and CART under the banner of the Championship Racing League (CRL). However, USAC withdrew from the arrangement after five races.
The season-opening race at Phoenix, set for March 2, was cancelled due to local flooding and washed out roads.
Johnny Rutherford in Jim Hall's Chaparral 2K ground effects chassis dominated the season. Rutherford won five races, including a dominating performance at the 1980 Indianapolis 500. Rutherford finished in the top five in the first ten races, pulling out to a commanding and unmatchable points lead. Rutherford started the season out by finishing 1st or 2nd in the first six races, and ended with a total of eight finished of 1st or 2nd. Rutherford's season was not without incident, however. In the final race of the season at Phoenix, while battling Tom Sneva for the lead, Rutherford tangled with a lapped car, hit the wall, then flipped over. The car landed upside-down hard on its rollbar, but Rutherford was not seriously injured.

## Drivers and constructors

The following teams and drivers competed for the 1980 CART World Series.
| Team/Car Owner | Chassis | Engine | # | Drivers | Rounds |
| Team Penske | Penske | Cosworth | 1 | Rick Mears | All |
| Team Penske | Penske | Cosworth | 11 | Bobby Unser | All |
| Team Penske | Penske | Cosworth | 12 | Mario Andretti | 2, 4, 10, 12 |
| Team Penske | Penske | Cosworth | 61 | Tom Gloy | 5, 9-10 |
| Leader Card Racing | Watson (2-4, 8-10, 12) Eagle (1) | Offenhauser | 2 | Bill Vukovich II | 2-4, 9-10, 12 |
| Leader Card Racing | Watson (2-4, 8-10, 12) Eagle (1) | Offenhauser | 2 | Sheldon Kinser | 8 |
| Leader Card Racing | Watson | Offenhauser (1, 7) Cosworth (All other races) | 24 | Sheldon Kinser | All except 8 |
| Leader Card Racing | Watson | Offenhauser (1, 7) Cosworth (All other races) | 24 | Bill Vukovich II | 8 |
| AMI Racing | Lola (2, 4) Orbiter (3) McLaren (8) | Cosworth | 7 | Jerry Sneva | 2-4, 8 |
| AMI Racing | Orbiter (3-10) Lola (12) | Cosworth | 43 | Tom Bigelow | 4, 8 |
| AMI Racing | Orbiter (3-10) Lola (12) | Cosworth | 43 | Howdy Holmes | 3-7 |
| AMI Racing | Orbiter (3-10) Lola (12) | Cosworth | 43 | Jerry Sneva | 9 |
| AMI Racing | Orbiter (3-10) Lola (12) | Cosworth | 43 | Danny Ongais | 10 |
| AMI Racing | Orbiter (3-10) Lola (12) | Cosworth | 43 | Greg Leffler | 12 |
| AMI Racing | Lola | Cosworth | 44 | Greg Leffler | 2, 4, 9-10 |
| AMI Racing | Wildcat (All except 1, 11-12) Orbiter (12) | DGS (All except 1, 9, and 11-12) Offenhauser (11) Cosworth (12) | 46 | Gary Bettenhausen | All except 1 and 11 |
| Chaparral Cars | Chaparral | Cosworth | 4 | Johnny Rutherford | All |
| Longhorn Racing | Longhorn | Cosworth | 5 | Al Unser | All |
| Jerry O'Connell Racing | McLaren | Cosworth | 7 | Tom Sneva | 1 |
| Jerry O'Connell Racing | McLaren (All except 1, 8, 10, 12) Phoenix (8, 10, 12) | Cosworth | 9 | Tom Sneva | 2-12 |
| Jerry O'Connell Racing | McLaren | Cosworth | 89 | Vern Schuppan | 2 |
| Vollstedt Enterprises | Vollstedt | Offenhauser | 8 | Dick Simon | All except 1, 10, 12 |
| Vollstedt Enterprises | Vollstedt | Offenhauser | 12 | Dick Simon | 12 |
| Alex Morales Motorsports | Penske (All except 4) Lightning (4) | Cosworth | 10 | Pancho Carter | All |
| Gilmore Racing | Parnelli | Cosworth | 14 | A. J. Foyt | 1-2, 4 |
| Gilmore Racing | Parnelli | Cosworth | 16 | George Snider | 2, 4 |
| Tempero Racing | Eagle | Chevrolet | 15 | Bill Tempero | 1 |
| Tempero Racing | Eagle | Chevrolet | 65 | Bill Tempero | All except 1, 4 |
| Lindsey Hopkins Racing | Lightning | Offenhauser (2) Chevrolet (10) Cosworth (9) | 15 | Johnny Parsons | 2, 9-10 |
| Lindsey Hopkins Racing | Lightning | Chevrolet | 51 | Johnny Parsons | 4, 6 |
| Lindsey Hopkins Racing | Lightning | Cosworth | 55 | Janet Guthrie | 2-3 |
| Lindsey Hopkins Racing | Lightning | Chevrolet | 99 | Hurley Haywood | 2 |
| McElreath Racing | Eagle | Offenhauser | 16 | Jim McElreath | 11 |
| McElreath Racing | Penske | Cosworth | 23 | Jim McElreath | 2, 7-8 |
| Rhoades Competition | Penske | Cosworth | 18 | Dennis Firestone | 2, 4, 6, 9-12 |
| Rhoades Competition | McLaren | Offenhauser | 19 | Dana Carter | 2 |
| Rhoades Competition | Eagle | Ram | X | Larry Rice | 12 |
| Patrick Racing | Wildcat (1-2, 6) Phoenix (All except 1-2, 6) | Cosworth | 20 | Gordon Johncock | All |
| Patrick Racing | Penske (1) Wildcat (2, 4, 6, 9-10) Phoenix (3, 5, 7-8, 11-12) | Cosworth | 40 | Tom Bagley | All |
| Patrick Racing | Penske | Cosworth | 60 | Gordon Smiley | 1 |
| Patrick Racing | Phoenix | Cosworth | 70 | Gordon Smiley | 2 |
| Mach I Racing | Penske (2-6, 8) Eagle (9) | Cosworth (2-6, 8) Chevrolet (9) | 21 | Tim Richmond | 2-6 |
| Mach I Racing | Penske (2-6, 8) Eagle (9) | Cosworth (2-6, 8) Chevrolet (9) | 21 | Mike Mosley | 8-9 |
| Davis Racing | Wildcat | Offenhauser | 22 | Ross Davis | 1 |
| Sanett Racing | Penske | Cosworth | 23 | Dick Ferguson | 1 |
| Sanett Racing | Penske | Cosworth | 26 | Dick Ferguson | 2 |
| Interscope Racing | Parnelli | Cosworth | 25 | Danny Ongais | All except 1, 8, 10, and 12 |
| Menard Racing | Lightning | Offenhauser | 28 | Herm Johnson | All except 5-7 |
| Beaudoin Racing | McLaren | Cosworth | 29 | Billy Engelhart | 2-4, 8-9, 12 |
| Machinists Union Racing | IAM | Donovan (2-4, 6) DGS (8) Chevrolet (9, 12) | 30 | Phil Threshie | 2-4, 6, 8 |
| Machinists Union Racing | IAM | Donovan (2-4, 6) DGS (8) Chevrolet (9, 12) | 30 | Larry Dickson | 9, 12 |
| Medlin Racing | Eagle | Offenhauser | 32 | Tony Bettenhausen Jr. | 2-4 |
| Wysard Racing | Wildcat (1-2, 4-5, 7) McLaren (9, 12) | Offenhauser (1) DGS (2, 4-5, 7) Cosworth (9, 12) | 34 | Pete Halsmer | 1-2, 12 |
| Wysard Racing | Wildcat (1-2, 4-5, 7) McLaren (9, 12) | Offenhauser (1) DGS (2, 4-5, 7) Cosworth (9, 12) | 34 | Vern Schuppan | 4-5, 7, 9 |
| Bob Fletcher Racing | Penske | Cosworth | 35 | Spike Gehlhausen | 2, 4, 6, 8-9 |
| Bob Fletcher Racing | Penske | Cosworth | 35 | Gordon Smiley | 10-11 |
| Bob Fletcher Racing | Penske | Cosworth | 55 | Spike Gehlhausen | 1 |
| J J Enterprises | Wildcat | DGS | 36 | John Martin | 5 |
| J J Enterprises | Wildcat | DGS (2, 6, 8-9) Cosworth (4) | 37 | John Martin | 2, 4, 6, 8-9 |
| Pacific Coast Racing | Penske | Cosworth | 38 | Rick Muther | 1 |
| Pacific Coast Racing | Penske | Cosworth | 82 | Rick Muther | 2-3, 5-7, 9 |
| Pacific Coast Racing | Lightning | Offenhauser | 86 | Al Loquasto | 2, 4 |
| Pacific Coast Racing | Lightning | Offenhauser | 86 | Jeff Heywood | 9 |
| Karl Racing | McLaren (2, 4-6) Gerhardt (3) Karl (7-9, 11-12) | Chevrolet | 38 | Jerry Karl | All except 1, 10 |
| Alsup Racing | Penske | Cosworth | 41 | Bill Alsup | All |
| Alsup Racing | McLaren | Offenhauser | 47 | Phil Caliva | 1-2, 4-5, 9, 11 |
| Mergard Racing | Eagle | Offenhauser | 42 | John Wood | 1-2, 4-5, 8 |
| All American Racers | Eagle | Cosworth (1) Chevrolet (2, 4) | 48 | Mike Mosley | 1-2, 4 |
| BFM Enterprises | Antares | Offenhauser | 50 | Jan Sneva | 1 |
| BFM Enterprises | Manta | Offenhauser | 50 | Rich Vogler | 2 |
| BFM Enterprises | Manta | Offenhauser | 50 | Dick Ferguson | 3 |
| BFM Enterprises | Manta | Offenhauser | 50 | Milt Harper | 4 |
| Garza Racing | Penske | Cosworth | 55 | Josele Garza | 12 |
| Hurtubise Racing | Mallard | Offenhauser | 56 | Jim Hurtubise | 2 |
| Frantz Racing | McLaren | Cosworth | 57 | Tom Frantz | 2 |
| Hoffman Racing | Lightning | Offenhauser | 59 | Lee Kunzman | 2 |
| Hoffman Racing | Lightning | Offenhauser | 59 | Joe Saldana | 4-6, 8, 10 |
| Hoffman Racing | Penske | Cosworth | 69 | Joe Saldana | 1-2 |
| Hoffman Racing | Eagle | Offenhauser | 69 | Bob Frey | 10 |
| Hoffman Racing | Spyder | Offenhauser | 79 | Bob Frey | 4 |
| Rager Racing | Wildcat | Chevrolet | 66 | Roger Rager | All except 1, 3, 7, and 10 |
| Rasmussen Racing | Rascar | Foyt | 67 | Bob Harkey | 2 |
| Rasmussen Racing | Rascar | Foyt | 67 | Buddie Boys | 4 |
| Rasmussen Racing | McLaren | Offenhauser | 68 | Frank Weiss | 2 |
| Vetrock Racing | Eagle | Offenhauser | 71 | Dean Vetrock | 8 |
| Hodgdon Racing | McLaren | Cosworth | 72 | Roger Mears | 1 |
| Hodgdon Racing | McLaren | Cosworth | 72 | Mike Chandler | 9 |
| Stanton Racing | Penske | Cosworth | 75 | Ron Shuman | 1-2 |
| O'Hanlon Racing | March | Chevrolet | 75 | Bruce Hill | 3 |
| O'Hanlon Racing | McLaren | Cosworth | 75 | Lee Kunzman | 5 |
| O'Hanlon Racing | McLaren | Cosworth | 81 | Cliff Hucul | 3 |
| O'Hanlon Racing | McLaren | Cosworth | 81 | Lee Kunzman | 4 |
| O'Hanlon Racing | McLaren | Cosworth | 81 | Jerry Sneva | 10, 12 |
| O'Hanlon Racing | McLaren | Cosworth | 81 | Spike Gehlhausen | 11 |
| Walmotor | Penske | Cosworth | 81 | Salt Walther | 2 |
| Walmotor | Penske | Cosworth | 77 | Salt Walther | 6 |
| RP Racing | X | X | 80 | Larry Dickson | 2 |
| Woodward Racing | McLaren | Cosworth (9) Chevrolet (6) | 81 | Dick Ferguson | 6, 9 |
| Shade Tree Racing | Eagle | Offenhauser | 85 | Michel Jourdain Sr. | 11-12 |
| Pronosticos Deportivos | Penske | Cosworth | 88 | Daniel Muñiz | 11 |
| Intercomp | Finley (2) Eagle (9) | Offenhauser | 91 | John Mahler | 2 |
| Intercomp | Finley (2) Eagle (9) | Offenhauser | 91 | Chip Mead | 9 |
| Intercomp | Eagle (3) Penske (5, 7-9, 11) | Offenhauser | 92 | John Mahler | 3, 5, 7-9, 11 |
| Ovaciones | Penske | Cosworth | 91 | Juan Carlos Bolaños | 11 |
| Whittington Bros. Racing | Parnelli | Cosworth | 94 | Bill Whittington | 2 |
| Whittington Bros. Racing | Penske | Cosworth | 96 | Don Whittington | 2, 4 |
| Cannon Racing | Wildcat | DGS (1-2, 6-7, 9-12) Offenhauser (3-5, 8) | 95 | Larry Cannon | All except 1 and 11. |
| Grant King Racing | King | Chevrolet | 86 | Roger Mears | 5 |
| Grant King Racing | King | Chevrolet | 97 | Roger Mears | 2, 7-8 |
| Grant King Racing | King | Chevrolet | 97 | Billie Harvey | 3 |
| Grant King Racing | King | Chevrolet | 97 | Jim McElreath | 4 |
| Grant King Racing | King | Chevrolet | 97 | Jerry Miller | 12 |
| Grant King Racing | King | Chevrolet | 98 | Bob Harkey | 4 |
| Grant King Racing | King | Chevrolet | 98 | Tony Bettenhausen Jr. | 5, 7 |

### Notable team and driver changes

* After racing only at Indy in 1979, Leader Card Racing moved from USAC to CART, with Sheldon Kinser as lead driver and Bill Vukovich II running a limited schedule.
* AMI Racing also moved from USAC to CART, with Gary Bettenhausen as the driver.
* Team McLaren shut down their IndyCar operations so they could concentrate on their Formula One program. Driver Johnny Rutherford moved to Chaparral Cars, replacing Al Unser.
* With Al Unser out at Chaparral, he moved to Longhorn Racing, replacing Tom Bagley.
* Vollstedt Enterprises, which only ran Indy the previous year, moved to a full schedule, driven by Dick Simon.
* Rookie driver Bill Tempero debuted with owner-driver team Tempero Racing.
* Wally Dallenbach Sr. retired from CART at the end of the 1979 season, becoming its competition director. His ride at Patrick Racing was filled by Tom Bagley.
* John Menard Jr. formed the new Team Menard organization, with Herm Johnson as the driver.
* Jerry Karl moved from USAC to CART, with his owner-driver team Karl Racing.
* Alsup Racing expanded to a two-car team, with Bill Alsup joined in most races by Phil Caliva.
* After running a full season in 1979, All American Racers and driver Mike Mosley only ran three races in 1980.
* Hoffman Racing once again fielded a variety of drivers, with Lee Kunzman, Joe Saldana, and Bob Frey splitting the year.
* Roger Rager moved his owner-driver team Rager Racing from USAC to CART.
* After competing in most of the 1979 races, Salt Walther and team Walmotor only raced in two races.
* Larry Cannon and his Cannon Racing team moved to a full-time schedule after running part-time in 1979.
* Gehlhausen Racing, which fielded a full-time team in 1979, closed, with driver Spike Gehlhausen moving to Bob Fletcher Racing.

### Notable equipment changes

* Longhorn Racing switched from a Penske chassis to its own Longhorn.
* Morales Motorsports switched from a Lightning chassis to a used Penske.
* Patrick Racing switched from a Penske to Phoenix chassis.
* Bob Fletcher Racing switched from a Lightning to Penske chassis.
* Alsup Racing switched from a McLaren to Penske chassis and from an Offenhauser to Cosworth engine.

## Season Summary
### Schedule

| Rd | Date | Name | Circuit | Location |
| - | March 2 | Arizona Republic/Jimmy Bryan 150 | O Phoenix International Raceway | Avondale, Arizona |
| 1 | April 13 | Datsun Twin 200 | O Ontario Motor Speedway | Ontario, California |
| 2 | May 25 | Indianapolis 500 | O Indianapolis Motor Speedway | Indianapolis, Indiana |
| 3 | June 8 | Gould Rex Mays Classic | O Milwaukee Mile | West Allis, Wisconsin |
| 4 | June 22 | True Value 500 | O Pocono Raceway | Long Pond, Pennsylvania |
| 5 | July 13 | Red Roof Inns 250 | R Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course | Lexington, Ohio |
| 6 | July 20 | Norton Twin 200 | O Michigan International Speedway | Brooklyn, Michigan |
| 7 | August 3 | Kent Oil 150 | R Watkins Glen International | Watkins Glen, New York |
| 8 | August 10 | Tony Bettenhausen Classic | O Milwaukee Mile | West Allis, Wisconsin |
| 9 | August 31 | California 500 | O Ontario Motor Speedway | Ontario, California |
| 10 | September 20 | Gould Grand Prix | O Michigan International Speedway | Brooklyn, Michigan |
| 11 | October 26 | I Copa México 150 | R Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez | Mexico City, Mexico |
| 12 | November 8 | Miller High Life 150 In Memory of Bobby Ball | O Phoenix International Raceway | Avondale, Arizona |
- The Phoenix race was scheduled for March 2, but cancelled due to flooding.  O Oval/Speedway R Dedicated road course

### Race summaries

Race 1: Datsun Twin 200
For the opening race of the year, Johnny Rutherford qualified on the pole, with Bobby Unser, Al Unser, Rick Mears, and Tom Sneva making up the rest of the top five starters.
Johnny Rutherford led the first eight laps, before Bobby Unser caught and passed in lap traffic. However, while leading on lap 14, he suffered a cracked radiator and dropped out. This moved Rutherford back in front, and he was mostly uncontested for the remainder of the race as most challengers had problems. Rick Mears dropped out due to electrical issues while running second. Pancho Carter moved up to second, but he dropped out with fuel pump problems, followed by Al Unser dropping out on lap 45 with a broken transmission. With most of his competition out, Rutherford cruised to an easy victory over Tom Sneva. Gordon Johncock finished third, Spike Gehlhausen fourth, and Tom Bagley fifth.
Race 2: Indianapolis 500
Race 3: Rex Mays Classic
Gordon Johncock qualified on the pole, with Johnny Rutherford starting second, Al Unser starting third, Rick Mears starting fourth, and Bobby Unser rounding out the top five starters.
In the race Rutherford jumped out to the lead on lap 7, and controlled most of the next 50 laps before Gordon Johncock took the lead on lap 55. 60 laps later, under the fourth caution of the day, Al Unser, who was running in second had an engine failure and dropped out. This moved his brother Bobby Unser into second, and on the restart he managed to catch and pass Johncock for the lead, holding on to win. Johnny Rutherford rose to second, Gordon Johncock ended up third, Pancho Carter finished fourth, and Rick Mears fifth.
With his second place, Rutherford now had a 400 point lead over second place Tom Sneva, with Gordon Johncock 550 points back in third, Gary Bettenhausen 925 points back in fourth, and Rick Mears 984 points behind in fifth.
Race 4: True Value 500
Bobby Unser won the pole, with A.J. Foyt starting second, Mario Andretti starting third, Mike Mosley starting in fourth, and Johnny Rutherford starting fifth.
In the race, A.J. Foyt took the lead on the first lap, and led most of the first half of the race, giving up the lead only for pit shuffling. The first caution came on lap 11, when Al Loquasto lost a wheel and Dennis Firestone wrecked in the same part of the track. The second caution came on lap 26, after Howdy Holmes lost control, Jim McElreath slowed and Roger Rager hit the rear of his car.
While leading on lap 82, Foyt encountered a bad valve, and dropped out. This gave the lead to Bobby Unser, who led most of the rest of the race. Johnny Rutherford led 1 lap due to pit stop shuffling, followed by 5 laps under caution after Pancho Carter spun, but when the green flag flew after a caution on lap 165, Unser pulled away. Rutherford's hopes of winning ended with 20 laps to go when his engine stalled in the pits, allowing Unser to win the race by a wide margin over Rutherford. Tom Sneva finished third, Bill Alsup fourth, and Vern Schuppan fifth. Most other stars were taken out due to attrition. Al Unser was never a factor and dropped out with handling problems on lap 35. Mike Mosley broke a piston while running in third on lap 46, Danny Ongais dropped out with clutch problems on lap 100, Mario Andretti was sidelined with a broken transmission on lap 105, and Rick Mears blew his engine on lap 163.
Johnny Rutherford extended his lead to 500 points over Tom Sneva, with Bobby Unser rising to third, 1114 points behind, Gordon Johncock, who didn't enter, falling to fourth, 1350 points back, and Pancho Carter rising to fifth, 1452 points behind.
Race 5: Red Roof Inns 250
Al Unser qualified on the pole, followed by brother Bobby Unser in second, Rick Mears in third, Johnny Rutherford in fourth, and Danny Ongais rounding out the top five starters.
The start of the race was problematic. Starter Duane Sweeney didn't give the green flag when the pace car pulled off as the back rows were strung out, but the field got going anyway, with Al Unser spinning off track in the first turn. Two laps later they got back in two-by-two order for the official start. Danny Ongais and Sheldon Kinser didn't make it to the green flag, with Ongais having ignition problems and Kinser a blown engine. On the first lap, Tim Richmond spun off course and was hit by John Wood.
Bobby Unser jumped out to the lead after his brother spun, and led the first 12 laps, But he encountered a valve problem while leading and dropped out. Rick Mears then took the lead, and throughout the next 20 laps dueled with Johnny Rutherford. After a poor pit stop by Rutherford, Mears had a 20 second lead, but due to heat exhaustion lost concentration and spun out while leading on lap 47. This gave the lead to Rutherford, with Mears's day ending on lap 54 after Rick Muther spun out and Mears hit him. This brought out the caution, allowing second place Gordon Johncock to close. But when the green flew, Rutherford pulled away and won, a rare road course win. Bill Alsup finished third, Roger Mears fourth, and Vern Schuppan fifth. Polesitter Al Unser lost a lap due to an unscheduled pit stop, and dropped out with suspension problems while running fifth.
Rutherford now had a 770 point lead over Tom Sneva, who had crashed out. Bobby Unser was third, 1406 points back, Gordon Johncock fourth, 1410 points back, and Pancho Carter fifth, 1662 points back.

### Race Results

| Rd | Race | Pole Position | Winning driver | Winning team | Race time | Report |
| 1 | Datsun Twin 200 | Johnny Rutherford | Johnny Rutherford | Chaparral Cars | 1:14:03 | Report |
| 2 | Indianapolis 500 | Johnny Rutherford | Johnny Rutherford | Chaparral Cars | 3:29:59 | Report |
| 3 | Gould Rex Mays Classic | Gordon Johncock | Bobby Unser | Team Penske | 1:19:48 | Report |
| 4 | True Value 500 | Bobby Unser | Bobby Unser | Team Penske | 3:18:04 | Report |
| 5 | Red Roof Inns 150 | Al Unser | Johnny Rutherford | Chaparral Cars | 1:48:04 | Report |
| 6 | Norton 200 | Bobby Unser | Johnny Rutherford | Chaparral Cars | 1:20:48 | Report |
| 7 | Kent Oil 150 | Al Unser | Bobby Unser | Team Penske | 1:30:51 | Report |
| 8 | Tony Bettenhausen 200 | Johnny Rutherford | Johnny Rutherford | Chaparral Cars | 1:54:13 | Report |
| 9 | California 500 | Bobby Unser | Bobby Unser | Team Penske | 3:11:51 | Report |
| 10 | Gould Grand Prix | Mario Andretti | Mario Andretti | Team Penske | 0:53:44 | Report |
| 11 | I Copa México 150 | Bobby Unser | Rick Mears | Team Penske | 1:16:43 | Report |
| 12 | Miller High Life 150 | Mario Andretti | Tom Sneva | Jerry O'Connell Racing | 1:30:04 | Report |
* CART and USAC united in 1980 under the banner of the Championship Racing League (CRL).The first five races of the season were run under CRL banner sanction by USAC. The union dissolved after the Mid-Ohio race. CART sanctioned the seven remaining races on the schedule and combined the results of those along with the CRL events for their championship.

### Final driver standings

| Pos | Driver | ONT | INDY | MIL | POC | MDO | MIC | WGL | MIL | ONT | MIC | MXS | PHX | Pts |
| 1 | Johnny Rutherford | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 10 | 13 | 4,723 |
| 2 | Bobby Unser | 23 | 19 | 1 | 1 | 15 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 2 | DNS | 3,714 |
| 3 | Tom Sneva | 2 | 2 | 6 | 3 | 11 | 6 | 4 | 16 | 26 | 6 | 4 | 1 | 2,930 |
| 4 | Rick Mears | 21 | 5 | 5 | 12 | 9 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 7 | 2,866 |
| 5 | Pancho Carter | 18 | 6 | 4 | 6 | 7 | 3 | 7 | 22 | 7 | 7 | 22 | 19 | 1,855 |
| 6 | Gordon Johncock | 3 | 4 | 3 | DNS | 2 | 5 | 21 | 23 | 23 | 24 | 19 | 24 | 1,572 |
| 7 | Bill Alsup | 7 | DNQ | 9 | 4 | 3 | 10 | 8 | 21 | 16 | 10 | 16 | 21 | 1,214 |
| 8 | Al Unser | 16 | 27 | 20 | 24 | 13 | 7 | 19 | 13 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 15 | 1,153 |
| 9 | Gary Bettenhausen | | 3 | 12 | 33 | 20 | 9 | 11 | Wth | 31 | 19 | | 3 | 1,057 |
| 10 | Vern Schuppan | | DNQ | | 5 | 5 | | 18 | | 10 | | | | 806 |
| 11 | Tom Bagley | 5 | 28 | 23 | 29 | DNS | 8 | 6 | 4 | 15 | 8 | 18 | 16 | 794 |
| 12 | Dennis Firestone RY | | 16 | | 30 | | 14 | | | 6 | DNS | 5 | 5 | 743 |
| 13 | Sheldon Kinser | 13 | DNQ | 11 | 7 | 24 | 16 | 20 | 17 | 12 | 14 | 7 | 4 | 697 |
| 14 | Tom Gloy | | | | | 6 | | | | 5 | 9 | | | 680 |
| 15 | Danny Ongais | | 7 | 24 | 18 | 23 | 21 | 3 | | 19 | 11 | 24 | | 601 |
| 16 | Mario Andretti | | 20 | | 17 | | | | | | 1 | | 2 | 580 |
| 17 | Spike Gehlhausen | 4 | 29 | | DNQ | | 12 | | 5 | 33 | | 25 | | 473 |
| 18 | Roger Rager | | 23 | | 26 | 8 | 24 | | 8 | 11 | | 11 | 10 | 381 |
| 19 | Rick Muther | 24 | DNQ | 18 | | 10 | 25 | 10 | | 8 | | | | 356 |
| 20 | Bill Tempero R | 17 | DNQ | 16 | | 17 | 17 | 15 | 6 | 18 | 16 | 8 | 11 | 331 |
| 21 | Dick Ferguson | 8 | 31 | DNQ | | | 13 | | | 9 | | | | 315 |
| 22 | Howdy Holmes | | DNQ | 15 | 8 | 14 | 11 | 13 | | | | | | 314 |
| 23 | Larry Cannon | | 33 | DNQ | 9 | DNQ | 20 | | DNQ | 24 | 22 | 9 | 18 | 299 |
| 24 | Herm Johnson | 14 | DNQ | 17 | 11 | | | | 11 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 8 | 272 |
| 24 | Roger Mears | 9 | DNQ | | | 4 | | 16 | 26 | | | | | 272 |
| 26 | Tom Bigelow | | 8 | | | | | | 14 | | | | | 260 |
| 27 | Billy Engelhart | | 11 | 10 | 13 | | | | 10 | 28 | | | 17 | 246 |
| 28 | Jim McElreath | | 24 | | 27 | | | 12 | 9 | | | 6 | | 240 |
| 29 | Jerry Karl | | 21 | 14 | 15 | 18 | 15 | 9 | 24 | 27 | | 12 | 9 | 215 |
| 30 | Tim Richmond | | 9 | DNQ | DNQ | 21 | 26 | | | | | | | 209 |
| 31 | Dick Simon | | 22 | 13 | 21 | DNS | 18 | 17 | 7 | 37 | | 23 | 25 | 185 |
| 32 | Greg Leffler R | | 10 | | DNQ | | | | | 20 | 15 | | 20 | 184 |
| 33 | Gordon Smiley R | 6 | 25 | | | | | | | | 20 | DNQ | | 176 |
| 34 | Lee Kunzman | | DNQ | | 10 | DNQ | | | | | | | | 150 |
| 35 | Jerry Sneva | | 17 | 8 | 14 | | | | 25 | 36 | 12 | | 23 | 149 |
| 36 | Pete Halsmer R | 20 | DNQ | | | | | | | | | | 6 | 128 |
| 37 | Bill Vukovich II | | 12 | 21 | 28 | | | | 19 | 34 | 25 | | 12 | 96 |
| 38 | Cliff Hucul | | | 7 | | | | | | | | | | 90 |
| 39 | Phil Caliva | 15 | DNQ | | 16 | 12 | | | | 21 | | 21 | | 70 |
| 40 | Jan Sneva | 10 | DNQ | | | | | | | | | | | 60 |
| 41 | John Martin | | DNQ | | 20 | 16 | 19 | | 15 | 25 | | | | 56 |
| 41 | Mike Mosley | 19 | 32 | | 23 | | | | 20 | 17 | | | | 56 |
| 43 | Joe Saldana | 25 | DNQ | | 22 | DNQ | 23 | | 12 | | 21 | | | 50 |
| 44 | A. J. Foyt | DNS | 14 | | 19 | | | | | | | | | 45 |
| 45 | Ron Shuman | 11 | DNQ | | | | | | | | | | | 40 |
| 46 | Johnny Parsons | | 26 | | DNQ | | 22 | | | 22 | 23 | | | 36 |
| 47 | John Mahler | | DNQ | DNQ | | 19 | | 14 | 18 | 30 | | 13 | | 35 |
| 48 | Don Whittington | | 13 | | DNQ | | | | | | | | | 25 |
| 48 | John Wood R | 12 | DNQ | | DNQ | 22 | | | DNQ | | | | | 25 |
| 48 | Mike Chandler R | | | | | | | | | 14 | | | | 25 |
| 48 | George Snider | | 15 | | DNQ | | | | | | | | | 25 |
| 52 | Hurley Haywood | | 18 | | | | | | | | | | | 20 |
| 53 | Phil Threshie | | DNQ | 22 | 25 | | DNQ | | DNQ | | | | | 15 |
| 54 | Larry Dickson | | DNQ | | | | | | | 35 | | | 22 | 10 |
| 55 | Daniel Muñiz R | | | | | | | | | | | 15 | | 8 |
| 55 | Jerry Miller | | | | | | | | | | | | 14 | 8 |
| 57 | Billie Harvey | | | 19 | | | | | | | | | | 6 |
| 57 | Bob Frey R | | DNQ | DNQ | DNQ | | | | | | 17 | | | 6 |
| 57 | Juan Carlos Bolaños R | | | | | | | | | | | 17 | | 6 |
| 57 | Michel Jourdain Sr. | | | | | | | | | | | 18 | DNQ | 6 |
| 57 | Ross Davis | 22 | DNQ | | | | | | | | | | | 6 |
| 57 | Salt Walther | | DNQ | | | | | | | | 18 | | | 6 |
| 63 | Al Loquasto | | DNQ | | 31 | | | | | | | | | 5 |
| 63 | Bill Whittington | | 30 | | | | | | | | | | | 5 |
| 63 | Chip Mead R | | | | | | | | | 29 | | | | 5 |
| 63 | Tony Bettenhausen Jr. | | DNQ | DNQ | 32 | DNQ | | DNS | | | | | | 5 |
| 63 | Jeff Heywood R | | | | | | | | | 32 | | | | 5 |
| Pos | Driver | ONT | INDY | MIL | POC | MDO | MIC | WGL | MIL | ONT | MIC | MXS | 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 |
| 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 |