# 1978 USAC Mini-Indy Series season

The 1978 USAC Mini Indy Series season was the second season of the USAC sanctioned Formula Super Vee championship.

## Race calendar and results

| Round | Circuit | Location | Date | Pole position | Winner | Headline event |
| 1 | Phoenix International Raceway | Avondale, Arizona | 18 March | Fred Phillips | Tim Richmond | Jimmy Bryan 150 |
| 2 | Trenton International Speedway | Trenton, New Jersey | 12 April | Bill Alsup | John Wood | Gabriel 200 |
| 3 | Mosport International Raceway | Bowmanville, Ontario | 11 June | Bill Alsup | Bill Alsup | Molson Diamond Indy |
| 4 | The Milwaukee Mile | West Allis, Wisconsin | 18 June | William Henderson | William Henderson | Rex Mays 150 |
| 5 | Texas World Speedway | College Station, Texas | 6 August | Harry MacDonald | Harry MacDonald | Texas Grand Prix |
| 6 | The Milwaukee Mile | West Allis, Wisconsin | 20 August | Dennis Firestone | Dennis Firestone | Tony Bettenhausen 200 |
| 7 | Ontario Motor Speedway | Ontario, California | 2 September | Dennis Firestone | Bill Alsup | California 500 |
| 8 | Ontario Motor Speedway | Ontario, California | 2 September | Tommy Thompson | Dennis Firestone | California 500 |
| 9 | Trenton International Speedway | Trenton, New Jersey | 23 September | Dennis Firestone | Geoff Brabham | Machinist Union 150 |
| 10 | Phoenix International Raceway | Avondale, Arizona | 28 October | Kevin Cogan | Kevin Cogan | Miller High Life Bobby Ball 150 |

## Teams and drivers

| No. | Driver | Owner | Car | Engine | Note |
| 2 | Herm Johnson | Austin Johnson | Lola | Volkswagen | |
| 3 | Fred Phillips | Citation Engineering | Zink | Volkswagen | |
| 10 | Dennis Firestone | Crosslé Cars Pacific | March | Volkswagen | |
| 12 | Dick Ferguson | Race Research Inc. | | Volkswagen | |
| 19 | John Kalagian | Beth Ardisana | Lynx | Volkswagen | |
| 29 | Pete Halsmer | Simpson Racers | Lola | Volkswagen | |
| 37 | Nancy James | Citation Engineering | Zink | Volkswagen | |
| 38 | Desiré Wilson | Citation Engineering | Zink | Volkswagen | |
| 39 | Richard Tallon | Richard Tallon | Lola | Volkswagen | |
| 41 | Bill Alsup | William Alsup Jr. | Argo | Volkswagen | |
| 42 | Harry MacDonald | HCM Racing | Ralt | Volkswagen | |
| 43 | John Wood | Bill Scott Racing | | Volkswagen | |
| 45 | William Henderson | Bertil Racing Engines | Lola | Volkswagen | |
| 46 | Stuart Moore | Janet Moore | Lola | Volkswagen | |
| 48 | Dan Park | WREP Industries | | Volkswagen | |
| 50 | Tommy Thompson | Black American Racers | Lola | Volkswagen | Thompson died from injuries sustained in a crash in the ninth round of the championship |
| 55 | Geoff Brabham | David Psachie | Ralt | Volkswagen | |
| 60 | Bob Cicconi | Lou Cicconi | Lola | Volkswagen | |
| 70 | Syd Demovsky | Syd Demovsky | Lola | Volkswagen | |
| 77 | Bryan Johnson | Fitzpatrick Racing Enterprises | | Volkswagen | |
| 82 | Kevin Cogan | Ralt American Ltd. | Ralt | Volkswagen | |
| 94 | John Sisk | Aspen Racing | Wheeler | Volkswagen | |
| 97 | Gary Bettenhausen | American Eagle Racing | Lola | Volkswagen | |
| 98 | Tim Richmond | Sale Chevrolet | Lola | Volkswagen | |
| 99 | Dave Bruns | Linne Enterprises | | Volkswagen | |

## Death of Tommy Thompson

African-American racing driver Tommy Thompson participated in the ninth round of the championship at Trenton International Speedway. On the final lap of the 42-lap race one of the other competitor slowed down. John Barringer had to swerve to avoid contact. However Thompson hit Barringer. Thompson's left front wheel and Barringer's right rear wheel became locked. Both cars hit the wall head-on. Thompsons car was launched over the wall. Both Barringer and Thompson were transported to St. Francis Medical Center. Thompson succumbed to his injuries on 28 September.

## Final standings

| Color | Result |
| Gold | Winner |
| Silver | 2nd place |
| Bronze | 3rd place |
| Green | 4th & 5th place |
| Light Blue | 6th–10th place |
| Dark Blue | 11th place or lower |
| 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 | Driver replacement (Rpl) |
| Blank | Injured (Inj) |
| Blank | No race held (NH) |
| Pos. | Driver | PIR1 | TRE1 | MOS | MIL1 | TEX | MIL2 | ONT1 | ONT2 | TRE2 | PIR2 | Points |
| 1 | Bill Alsup | 21 | 2 | 1 | 23 | 2 | 10 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 12 | 1046 |
| 2 | Dennis Firestone | 5 | 24 | 3 | 22 | 6 | 1 | 24 | 1 | 16 | 2 | 894 |
| 3 | Harry MacDonald | DNS | 20 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 26 | 2 | 3 | 23 | 7 | 831 |
| 4 | Herm Johnson | 16 | 5 | 14 | 2 | 7 | 5 | 5 | 22 | 3 | 5 | 773 |
| 5 | John Wood | | 1 | 15 | 24 | 3 | 9 | 3 | 5 | 26 | 9 | 674 |
| 6 | Bob Cicconi | 25 | 21 | 10 | 5 | 27 | 6 | 14 | 19 | 2 | 4 | 506 |
| 7 | David Bruns | | | | | | 2 | 6 | 4 | 18 | 3 | 504 |
| 8 | Gary Bettenhausen | | 3 | 17 | 4 | 22 | | 7 | 9 | 28 | 6 | 453 |
| 9 | Tim Richmond | 1 | 22 | 16 | 7 | 9 | 4 | | | | | 428 |
| 10 | Ken Nichols | | | | | 4 | 7 | 4 | 18 | 5 | | 404 |
| 11 | Kevin Cogan | | | | | | 3 | | | | 1 | 340 |
| 12 | Pete Halsmer | 4 | 9 | 6 | 21 | 24 | 15 | 10 | 10 | 19 | 23 | 318 |
| 13 | Geoff Brabham | | | 12 | 6 | | | | | 1 | | 290 |
| 13 | Fred Phillips | 2 | 4 | | | 13 | | | | 22 | 25 | 290 |
| 15 | Tommy Thompson | 8 | | 7 | 9 | | | 9 | 8 | 14 | | 245 |
| 16 | William Henderson | 11 | 18 | 1 | | | | | | | | 224 |
| 17 | Syd Demovsky | | 8 | 5 | | 19 | 18 | | | 8 | | 208 |
| 18 | Stuart Moore | | | 2 | | | | 21 | | | | 163 |
| 19 | Tom Bagley | 3 | | | | | | | | | | 140 |
| 20 | Dan Park | | | | | | 13 | | | 6 | 8 | 135 |
| 21 | George Dyer | | | | | 5 | 11 | 16 | | 21 | | 128 |
| 22 | Jim Giffin | | | | 12 | 10 | | 28 | 6 | | 13 | 127 |
| 23 | Michael Yoder | | 7 | | | | 7 | | | 15 | | 115 |
| 24 | John Kalagian | | 27 | | 10 | 20 | | | | 7 | 21 | 99 |
| 25 | Joe Gimpel Jr. | | 15 | 11 | | 11 | 14 | | | 9 | | 90 |
| 26 | Ted Field | 13 | 16 | | 19 | 8 | 25 | 23 | | 11 | | 89 |
| 27 | Bill Cruse | | 6 | | | | | | | | | 80 |
| 27 | Eddie Miller | 6 | | | | | | | | | | 80 |
| 29 | Bryan Johnson | | 26 | | | | 24 | 25 | 7 | 20 | 16 | 76 |
| 30 | John Sisk | | 12 | 8 | | 18 | 23 | | | 17 | 18 | 75 |
| 31 | Richard Tallon | 12 | 11 | 9 | 28 | | | | | | | 72 |
| 32 | Dick Simon | | | | 14 | 12 | | 8 | 20 | | | 69 |
| 33 | Bill Follmer | 7 | | | | | | | | | | 60 |
| 34 | Heinz Snizek | | | 8 | | | | | | | | 50 |
| 35 | G. Scott Ovel | 9 | 14 | | | | | | | | | 45 |
| 36 | Butch Meyer | 18 | 28 | 16 | | 17 | 17 | 12 | 12 | | 27 | 41 |
| 37 | Dick Ferguson | 24 | | 13 | 25 | | | | | | 10 | 40 |
| 37 | Larry Skipsey | | | | | | | 11 | 11 | | | 40 |
| 39 | Rich Vogler | | | | | | | 22 | | 10 | | 33 |
| 39 | Benny Scott | | | | | | 16 | 20 | 17 | | 11 | 33 |
| 41 | Bill Simpson | 10 | | | | | | | | | | 30 |
| 41 | Domenick Billera | | 10 | | | | | | | | | 30 |
| 43 | Gary Passon | | 13 | DNS | | 15 | 12 | | | | 20 | 28 |
| 44 | Doug Clark | | | | | 14 | 27 | 13 | t 15 | 24 | 15 | 25 |
| 45 | Mike Frangkiser | | | | 11 | | 19 | | | | | 24 |
| 46 | Roy Kischell | | | | 17 | 28 | 28 | 17 | 16 | | | 17 |
| 47 | Phil Caliva | 15 | | | | | | 21 | 13 | | | 13 |
| 47 | Bobby Unser Jr. | 22 | 19 | | 20 | 26 | | | | | | 13 |
| 49 | Nancy James | | | | | 25 | | | | 12 | | 12 |
| 49 | Bob Larson | | | | | | | 19 | 14 | | 24 | 12 |
| 51 | Roger Mears | | | | 26 | | 22 | 15 | | | | 10 |
| 52 | Dennis Blackwell | | | | | | | 18 | 23 | | 28 | 9 |
| 52 | Ron Banks | | | | | | | 29 | 21 | | 19 | 9 |
| 54 | Bert Busby | 23 | | | 15 | | | | | | | 8 |
| 55 | Bubby Jones | DNS | 17 | | | | | | | | | 6 |
| 55 | Tom D'Eath | 23 | | | | | | | | | 22 | 6 |
| 57 | John Barringer | | | | | | | | | 13 | | 5 |
| 57 | Bill Thelander | | | | 13 | | | | | | | 5 |
| 57 | Gene Romero | | | | | | | | | | 14 | 5 |
| 57 | Don Schoeny | 14 | | | | | | | | | | 5 |
| 57 | Greg Atwell | | | | | 16 | | | | | | 5 |
| 57 | Bill Noble | | | | | | | 27 | 24 | | | 5 |
| 63 | Rich Amick | 17 | | | | | | | | | | 4 |
| 63 | Jan Slesinski | | | | | | | | | | 17 | 4 |
| 63 | Hank Chapman | | | | 18 | | | | | | | 4 |
| 63 | Roger Bighouse | | | | | | 20 | | | | | 4 |
| 67 | Tom Hessert | | | | | 21 | | | | | | 3 |
| 67 | Bobby Hillin Jr. | | | | | 23 | | | | | | 3 |
| 69 | Lou Gigliotti | | | | | | | | | 25 | | 2 |
| 69 | Bobby Olivero | 25 | | | | | | | | | | 2 |
| 69 | Elliott Forbes-Robinson | 26 | | | | | | | | | | 2 |
| 69 | Allan Turner | | | | | | | 26 | | | | 2 |
| 69 | Desiré Wilson | | | | | | | | | | 26 | 2 |
| 69 | Howdy Holmes | | | | 27 | | | | | | | 2 |
| 69 | Denny Moothart | | | | | | | | | 27 | | 2 |
| | Mike Randol | | | | | | | | | | | |