# 1975 Long Beach Grand Prix

The 1975 Long Beach Grand Prix was the inaugural running of the Grand Prix of Long Beach. The race was held September 28, 1975, on a 2.02-mile (3.25 km) temporary street circuit. It was race 7 of the 1975 SCCA/USAC Formula 5000 Championship. An estimated 65,000 spectators saw Englishman Brian Redman win the race from Australian Vern Schuppan, with Canadian driver Eppie Wietzes finishing third.

## Background

In 1974 the city of Long Beach began a billion-dollar redevelopment program of the downtown area. Chris Pook, a British travel agent working in Long Beach, proposed holding a street course race in the vein of the Monaco Grand Prix. In order to prepare for a Formula One race the following year, the organizers decided to hold a Formula 5000 race that was held at a track in Riverside with an exhibition in Long Beach.

## Qualifying

Qualifying times were set in two sessions on Saturday. Seeded drivers had one 45-minute session and one 1 hour, 15 minute session, while non-seeded drivers had two 45-minute sessions. Starting positions were set by two heat races, with the finishers from Heat 1 starting in odd positions and Heat 2 in even positions.
| Pos | Driver | Team | Car | Time |
| 1 | Mario Andretti | Vel's Parnelli Jones Racing | Lola T332-Chevrolet | 1:21.297 |
| 2 | Al Unser | Vel's Parnelli Jones Racing | Lola T332-Chevrolet | 1:21.948 |
| 3 | Tony Brise | Theodore Racing | Lola T332-Chevrolet | 1:22.036 |
| 4 | Jackie Oliver | Phoenix Racing | Shadow DN6-Dodge | 1:22.799 |
| 5 | Tom Pryce | Phoenix Racing | Shadow DN6-Dodge | 1:23.346 |
| 6 | Brian Redman | Carl A. Haas Racing | Lola T332-Chevrolet | 1:23.602 |
| 7 | Vern Schuppan | All American Racers | Eagle 755-Chevrolet | 1:23.674 |
| 8 | Graham McRae | Eddie Lewis | Lola T332-Chevrolet | 1:24.039 |
| 9 | Elliott Forbes-Robinson | Francisco Mir Racing | Lola T332-Chevrolet | 1:24.091 |
| 10 | Jody Scheckter | Hogan Racing | Lola T332-Chevrolet | 1:24.168 |
| 11 | John Gunn | Racing Consultants | Lola T332-Chevrolet | 1:24.204 |
| 12 | Eppie Wietzes | Formula Racing | Lola T400-Chevrolet | 1:24.223 |
| 13 | Gordon Johncock | Patrick Racing | Lola T332-Chevrolet | 1:24.264 |
| 14 | David Hobbs | Hogan Racing | Lola T330-Chevrolet | 1:24.491 |
| 15 | Jon Woodner | Interscope Racing | Talon MR-1A-Chevrolet | 1:24.817 |
| 16 | John Cannon | Anglo American Racing | March 73A-Chevrolet | 1:24.909 |
| 17 | John Morton | Krinitt Racing | Lola T332-Chevrolet | 1:25.347 |
| 18 | Brett Lunger | Chris Oates, Ltd. | Lola T332-Chevrolet | 1:25.529 |
| 19 | Warwick Brown | McCormack/Burke Racing | Talon MR-1A-Chevrolet | 1:25.734 |
| 20 | Danny Ongais | Interscope Racing | Lola T332-Chevrolet | 1:26.090 |
| 21 | Bob Earl | T. P. Racing | Lola T330-Chevrolet | 1:26.183 |
| 22 | Evan Noyes | Evan Noyes | Lola T332-Chevrolet | 1:26.357 |
| 23 | John Korn | Jomar Racing | Lola T330-Chevrolet | 1:26.846 |
| 24 | George Follmer | Lance Smith Racing | Lance LSR1-Chevrolet | 1:26.947 |
| 25 | Randy Lewis | Wrangler Wracing Team | Lola T332-Chevrolet | 1:26.966 |
| 26 | Chris Amon | McCormack/Burke Racing | Talon MR-1A-Chevrolet | 1:27.167 |
| 27 | Tuck Thomas | Lancer Stores | Lola T332-Chevrolet | 1:27.574 |
| 28 | Benny Scott | Black American Racers | Lola T332-Chevrolet | 1:27.645 |
| 29 | Bob Nagel | Nagel Racing | Lola T332-Chevrolet | 1:28.562 |
| 30 | Roger Bighouse | Roger Bighouse | Chevron B24-Chevrolet | 1:28.570 |
| 31 | John David Briggs | Briggs & Fodge Racing | Lola T332-Chevrolet | 1:28.650 |
| 32 | John Benton | Formula Magazine | Lola T332-Chevrolet | 1:29.252 |
| 33 | Bob Allen | Manteca Motors | Eagle 74A-Chevrolet | 1:29.743 |
| 34 | Arlon Koops | Solazure IV, Ltd. | Lola T330-Chevrolet | 1:29.801 |
| 35 | Michael Brockman | J. Levitt | Talon MR-1A-Chevrolet | 1:30.086 |
| 36 | Bill Baker | Barbara Baker | Lola T332-Chevrolet | 1:31.310 |
| 37 | Bill Simpson | E. J. Simpson | Berta Argentina BA-3-Chevrolet | 1:31.894 |
| 38 | Skeeter McKitterick | AME Racing | Chevron B24-Chevrolet | 1:31.952 |
| 39 | Gary Wilson | Sting Racing | Lola T332-Chevrolet | 1:33.219 |
| 40 | Ron Dykes | J. B. Quality Products | Lola T192-Chevrolet | 1:33.496 |
| 41 | Jim Gustafson | Jim Gustafson Racing | March 73A-Chevrolet | 1:36.831 |
| 42 | Michael Brayton | Ill-Eagle | Eagle Mk.5-Chevrolet | 1:37.730 |
| 43 | Garth Pollard | G. W. Pollard | Lola T330-Chevrolet | 1:38.810 |
| 44 | Steve Durst | J. Levitt | Talon MR-1A-Chevrolet | 2:05.826 |

### Heat races

| Heat 1 PosNoDriverTeamCarLapsTime/RetiredGrid 1 64 Tony Brise Theodore Racing Lola T332-Chevrolet 12 16:32.444 2 2 5 Mario Andretti Vel's Parnelli Jones Racing Lola T332-Chevrolet 12 Finished 1 3 00 Tom Pryce Phoenix Racing Shadow DN6-Dodge 12 Finished 3 4 48 Vern Schuppan All American Racers Eagle 755-Chevrolet 12 Finished 4 5 33 Elliott Forbes-Robinson Francisco Mir Racing Lola T332-Chevrolet 12 Finished 5 6 4 Warwick Brown McCormack/Burke Racing Talon MR-1A-Chevrolet 12 Finished 10 7 91 Jon Woodner Interscope Racing Talon MR-1A-Chevrolet 12 Finished 8 8 28 Randy Lewis Wrangler Wracing Team Lola T332-Chevrolet 12 Finished 13 9 19 Bob Earl T. P. Racing Lola T330-Chevrolet 12 Finished 11 10 20 Gordon Johncock Patrick Racing Lola T332-Chevrolet 12 Finished 7 11 50 John Korn Jomar Racing Lola T330-Chevrolet 12 Finished 12 12 75 Bob Nagel Nagel Racing Lola T332-Chevrolet 12 Finished 15 13 71 John David Briggs Briggs & Fodge Racing Lola T332-Chevrolet 12 Finished 16 14 69 Michael Brockman J. Levitt Talon MR-1A-Chevrolet 12 Finished 18 15 97 Bob Allen Manteca Motors Eagle 74A-Chevrolet 11 + 1 lap 17 16 46 John Morton Krinitt Racing Lola T332-Chevrolet 11 + 1 lap 9 17 8 Gary Wilson Sting Racing Lola T332-Chevrolet 9 Retired 20 18 26 Michael Brayton Ill-Eagle Eagle Mk.5-Chevrolet 7 Retired 21 19 39 John Gunn Racing Consultants Lola T332-Chevrolet Retired 6 20 96 Steve Durst J. Levitt Talon MR-1A-Chevrolet Retired 22 DNS 88 Tuck Thomas Lancer Stores Lola T332-Chevrolet Did not start DNS 65 Bill Simpson E. J. Simpson Berta BA-3-Chevrolet Did not start | Heat 2 PosNoDriverTeamCarLapsTime/RetiredGrid 1 51 Al Unser Vel's Parnelli Jones Racing Lola T332-Chevrolet 12 16:30.391 1 2 1 Brian Redman Carl A. Haas Racing Lola T332-Chevrolet 12 Finished 3 3 3 Jody Scheckter Hogan Racing Lola T332-Chevrolet 12 Finished 5 4 10 David Hobbs Hogan Racing Lola T330-Chevrolet 12 Finished 7 5 94 Eppie Wietzes Formula Racing Lola T400-Chevrolet 12 Finished 6 6 2 Chris Amon McCormack/Burke Racing Talon MR-1A-Chevrolet 12 Finished 13 7 9 John Cannon Anglo American Racing March 73A-Chevrolet 12 Finished 8 8 13 Ron Dykes J. B. Quality Products Lola T192-Chevrolet 11 + 1 lap 20 9 45 George Follmer Lance Smith Racing Lance LSR1-Chevrolet 11 + 1 lap 12 10 30 Skeeter McKitterick AME Racing Chevron B24-Chevrolet 11 + 1 lap 19 11 12 Benny Scott Black American Racers Lola T332-Chevrolet 11 + 1 lap 14 12 55 Bill Baker Barbara Baker Lola T332-Chevrolet 11 + 1 lap 18 13 22 John Benton Formula Magazine Lola T332-Chevrolet 11 + 1 lap 16 14 6 Graham McRae Eddie Lewis Lola T332-Chevrolet Retired 4 15 0 Jackie Oliver Phoenix Racing Shadow DN6-Dodge 8 Accident 2 16 63 Danny Ongais Interscope Racing Lola T332-Chevrolet Retired 10 17 73 Garth Pollard G. W. Pollard Lola T330-Chevrolet Retired 22 18 82 Jim Gustafson Jim Gustafson Racing March 73A-Chevrolet Retired 21 19 85 Arlon Koops Solazure IV, Ltd. Lola T330-Chevrolet 2 Accident 17 DNS 24 Evan Noyes Evan Noyes Lola T332-Chevrolet Did not start DNS 25 Brett Lunger Chris Oates, Ltd. Lola T332-Chevrolet Did not start DNS 18 Roger Bighouse Roger Bighouse Chevron B24-Chevrolet Did not start |

## Race

At the start, Al Unser led from 2nd on the grid. On lap 3, polesitter Tony Brise had taken the lead and Mario Andretti took over second place. Brise led until lap 15, when both Andretti and Unser got by. Brise re-passed Unser on the next lap, and battled with Andretti until he re-took the lead on lap 29. On lap 33, Andretti retired with transmission problems, and one lap later Brise retired with a broken driveshaft. Brian Redman took the lead and pulled away to a nearly 30-second victory over Vern Schuppan and Eppie Wietzes. Redman also clinched the season points championship.

### Result

| Pos | No | Driver | Team | Car | Laps | Time/Retired | Grid |
| 1 | 1 | Brian Redman | Carl A. Haas Racing | Lola T332-Chevrolet | 50 | 1:10:12.042 | 4 |
| 2 | 48 | Vern Schuppan | All American Racers | Eagle 755-Chevrolet | 50 | +29.938 | 7 |
| 3 | 94 | Eppie Wietzes | Formula Racing | Lola T400-Chevrolet | 50 | Running | 10 |
| 4 | 2 | Chris Amon | McCormack/Burke Racing | Talon MR-1A-Chevrolet | 49 | + 1 lap | 12 |
| 5 | 10 | David Hobbs | Hogan Racing | Lola T330-Chevrolet | 49 | + 1 lap | 8 |
| 6 | 4 | Warwick Brown | McCormack/Burke Racing | Talon MR-1A-Chevrolet | 49 | + 1 lap | 11 |
| 7 | 24 | Evan Noyes | Evan Noyes | Lola T332-Chevrolet | 48 | + 2 laps | 27 |
| 8 | 19 | Bob Earl | T. P. Racing | Lola T330-Chevrolet | 48 | + 2 laps | 17 |
| 9 | 46 | John Morton | Krinitt Racing | Lola T332-Chevrolet | 48 | + 2 laps | 28 |
| 10 | 30 | Skeeter McKitterick | AME Racing | Chevron B24-Chevrolet | 46 | + 4 laps | 20 |
| 11 | 12 | Benny Scott | Black American Racers | Lola T332-Chevrolet | 40 | + 10 laps | 22 |
| 12 | 64 | Tony Brise | Theodore Racing | Lola T332-Chevrolet | 34 | Driveshaft | 1 |
| 13 | 5 | Mario Andretti | Vel's Parnelli Jones Racing | Lola T332-Chevrolet | 33 | Transmission | 3 |
| 14 | 50 | John Korn | Jomar Racing | Lola T330-Chevrolet | 33 | Battery | 21 |
| 15 | 3 | Jody Scheckter | Hogan Racing | Lola T332-Chevrolet | 29 | Halfshaft | 6 |
| 16 | 91 | Jon Woodner | Interscope Racing | Talon MR-1A-Chevrolet | 27 | Accident | 13 |
| 17 | 33 | Elliott Forbes-Robinson | Francisco Mir Racing | Lola T332-Chevrolet | 27 | Camshaft | 9 |
| 18 | 13 | Ron Dykes | J. B. Quality Products | Lola T192-Chevrolet | 27 | Suspension | 16 |
| 19 | 28 | Randy Lewis | Wrangler Wracing Team | Lola T332-Chevrolet | 20 | Rod | 15 |
| 20 | 51 | Al Unser | Vel's Parnelli Jones Racing | Lola T332-Chevrolet | 17 | Suspension | 2 |
| 21 | 00 | Tom Pryce | Phoenix Racing | Shadow DN6-Dodge | 14 | Gearbox | 5 |
| 22 | 75 | Bob Nagel | Nagel Racing | Lola T332-Chevrolet | 14 | Mechanical | 23 |
| 23 | 55 | Bill Baker | Barbara Baker | Lola T332-Chevrolet | 14 | Black flagged | 24 |
| 24 | 20 | Gordon Johncock | Patrick Racing | Lola T332-Chevrolet | 11 | Rod | 19 |
| 25 | 39 | John Gunn | Racing Consultants | Lola T332-Chevrolet | 9 | Overheating | 25 |
| 26 | 9 | John Cannon | Anglo American Racing | March 73A-Chevrolet | 6 | Halfshaft | 14 |
| 27 | 6 | Graham McRae | Eddie Lewis | Lola T332-Chevrolet | 1 | Accident | 26 |
| 28 | 45 | George Follmer | Lance Smith Racing | Lance LSR1-Chevrolet | 0 | Wheel | 18 |