# Temporada da CART World Series de 1981

A Temporada de 1981 da CART foi a terceira da história da categoria.
O campeonato consistiu em 11 corridas, começando em Avondale, Arizona, em 22 de março e terminando no mesmo local no dia 31 de outubro. O campeão dos pilotos da World Series foi Rick Mears, apesar de ter perdido a 2ª rodada em Milwaukee devido a contusões sofridas nas 500 Milhas de Indianápolis. O novato (rookie) do ano foi Bob Lazier. Após o desentendimento com a USAC durante a temporada anterior, a 65º 500 Milhas de Indianápolis não fazia parte da Série, no entanto, nenhuma corrida concorrente foi programada e a maioria das equipes e pilotos da CART participaram.
Essa temporada marcou a primeira pole position de um piloto não-americano, façanha essa conquistada pelo australiano Geoff Brabham, filho do tricampeão da Fórmula-1 Jack Babham.

## Pilotos e construtores

The following teams and drivers competed for the 1981 CART World Series.
| Equipes | Chassis | Motores | # | Pilotos | Corridas |
| Chaparral Cars | Chaparral | Cosworth | 1 | Johnny Rutherford | All |
| Jerry O'Connell Racing | Phoenix | Cosworth | 2 | Tom Sneva | 1 |
| Jerry O'Connell Racing | Phoenix | Cosworth | 32 | Kevin Cogan | 2-3, 5-7 |
| Bignotti-Cotter Racing | March (5-11) Phoenix (2) | Cosworth | 2 | Tom Sneva | All except 1 and 3-4 |
| Bignotti-Cotter Racing | Phoenix | Cosworth | 21 | Salt Walther | 5 |
| Team Penske | Penske | Cosworth | 3 | Bobby Unser | All |
| Team Penske | Penske | Cosworth | 6 | Rick Mears | All except 2 |
| Team Penske | Penske | Cosworth | 7 | Bill Alsup | All except 1 and 8-9 |
| Morales Motorsports | Penske (all except 2, 9) Lightning (2, 9) | Cosworth | 5 | Pancho Carter | All |
| Morales Motorsports | Lightning | Cosworth | 75 | Steve Chassey | 4 |
| Longhorn Racing | Longhorn (All except 8) Eagle (8) | Cosworth | 8 | Al Unser | All |
| Rhoades Competition | Wildcat | Cosworth | 12 | Dennis Firestone | 3 |
| Rhoades Competition | Wildcat | Cosworth | 12 | Gary Bettenhausen | 5, 7 |
| Rhoades Competition | Wildcat | Cosworth | 12 | Gordon Smiley | 6, 10-11 |
| Gilmore Racing | Coyote | Cosworth | 14 | A. J. Foyt | 5 |
| Tempero Racing | McLaren | Chevrolet | 15 | Bill Tempero | All except 2 |
| Bettenhausen Racing | McLaren (1-6) Longhorn (7) Phoenix (8-11) | Cosworth | 16 | Tony Bettenhausen, Jr. | All except 1 |
| Leader Card Racing | Watson | Cosworth (All except 7-8) Offenhauser (7-8) | 22 | Dick Simon | All except 3-4. |
| Leader Card Racing | Watson | Cosworth (All except 7-8) Offenhauser (7-8) | 22 | Spike Gehlhausen | 3-4 |
| Patrick Racing | Wildcat | Cosworth | 20 | Gordon Johncock | All |
| Patrick Racing | Wildcat | Cosworth | 40 | Mario Andretti | 1-4, 8-9, 11 |
| Patrick Racing | Wildcat | Cosworth | 40 | Steve Krisiloff | 5, 7 |
| Brayton Racing | Penske | Cosworth | 21 | Mike Mosley | 11 |
| Brayton Racing | Penske | Cosworth | 21 | Chip Ganassi | 12 |
| Brayton Racing | Penske | Cosworth | 37 | Scott Brayton | All |
| McElreath Racing | Eagle | Offenhauser (1, 9-11)Chevrolet (8) | 23 | Jim McElreath | 1, 8-11 |
| Luxury Racers | Kingfish | Chevrolet | 24 | Wally Pankratz | 6 |
| Luxury Racers | Kingfish | Chevrolet | 65 | Wally Pankratz | 11 |
| Buick Racing | Eagle | Chevrolet | 26 | Jim Buick | 1 |
| Buick Racing | Eagle | Chevrolet | 86 | Jim Buick | 2-5 |
| Menard Racing | Lightning (1-8) Eagle (9-11) | Chevrolet | 28 | Herm Johnson | All except 1-2, 4, and 8 |
| Beaudoin Racing | McLaren | Cosworth | 29 | Billy Engelhart | 2, 5, 7 |
| Machinists Union Racing | Penske | Cosworth | 31 | Larry Dickson | All except 1 |
| Theodore Racing | McLaren (5, 10-11) March (6) | Cosworth | 33 | Vern Schuppan | 5-6, 10-11 |
| Wysard Racing | Eagle | Cosworth | 34 | Hurley Haywood | 6, 9-10 |
| Wysard Racing | Eagle | Cosworth | 34 | Johnny Parsons | 11 |
| Bob Fletcher Racing | Penske (1-6) March (7-11) | Cosworth | 35 | Bob Lazier | All |
| Karl Racing | McLaren (1) Karl (2-7, 9-10) | Chevrolet | 38 | Jerry Karl | All except 8 and 11 |
| Alsup Racing | Penske | Cosworth | 41 | Bill Alsup | 1, 8-9 |
| Alsup Racing | McLaren | Chevrolet | 47 | Phil Caliva | 3-7, 11 |
| Frey Racing | Eagle | Offenhauser | 42 | Bob Frey | 1 |
| Frey Racing | Eagle | Offenhauser | 71 | Bob Frey | 2, 5 |
| Rattlesnake Racing | Watson | Offenhauser | 42 | Billy Vukovich II | 5-6, 8, 10 |
| AMI Racing | Armstrong | Cosworth | 43 | Greg Leffler | 11 |
| AMI Racing | Lola | Cosworth | 45 | Harry MacDonald | 5 |
| Rager Racing | Wildcat | Chevrolet | 44 | Roger Rager | 11 |
| Rager Racing | Wildcat | Chevrolet | 66 | Roger Rager | 5-9 |
| Rager Racing | Wildcat | Chevrolet | 66 | Orio Trice | 10 |
| All American Racers | Eagle | Chevrolet | 48 | Mike Mosley | 2-3, 5, 7-8, 11 |
| All American Racers | Eagle | Chevrolet | 48 | Geoff Brabham | 6, 10 |
| All American Racers | Eagle | Chevrolet | 48 | Rocky Moran | 9 |
| Space Racing | Eagle | Cosworth | 49 | Chip Mead | 5, 11 |
| Garza Racing | Penske | Cosworth | 54 | Geoff Brabham | 1 |
| Garza Racing | Penske | Cosworth | 54 | Josele Garza | 2 |
| Garza Racing | Penske | Cosworth | 55 | Josele Garza | All except 2 |
| Gohr Racing | Penske | Chevrolet | 56 | Tom Bigelow | 3, 5, 7-8, 11 |
| Metro Racing | McLaren | Offenhauser | 57 | Cliff Hucul | 2, 5, 8 |
| Hamilton Racing | Riley | Chevrolet | 63 | Ken Hamilton | 6, 11 |
| Jet Engineering | Eagle | Chevrolet | 64 | Steve Chassey | All except 4 and 10 |
| Mergard Racing | McLaren (2, 9) IAM (10) | Chevrolet (2, 9) Donovan (10) | 67 | Phil Threshie | 2 |
| Mergard Racing | McLaren (2, 9) IAM (10) | Chevrolet (2, 9) Donovan (10) | 67 | Teddy Pilette | 9-10 |
| Hodgdon Racing | Penske | Cosworth | 72 | Michael Chandler | 5 |
| Hodgdon Racing | Penske | Cosworth | 74 | Michael Chandler | 6, 10-11 |
| Davis Racing | Wildcat | Offenhauser (3-4, 7-9, 11) Chevrolet (6) | 77 | Ross Davis | 3-4, 6-9, 11 |
| Joe Hunt Magneto | Eagle | Chevrolet (1, 6, 10) Offenhauser (11) | 89 | Phil Krueger | 1, 6, 10-11 |
| Intercomp | Penske | Offenhauser (2, 6-7) Chevrolet (11) | 92 | John Mahler | 2, 6-7, 11 |
| Grupo-Acypsa | Penske | Offenhauser | 93 | Michel Jourdain | 10 |
| Whittington Bros. Racing | March | Cosworth | 94 | Bill Whittington | 5 |
| Cannon Racing | Wildcat | Offenhauser | 95 | Larry Cannon | 1 |
| Cannon Racing | Wildcat | Offenhauser | 95 | Herm Johnson | 4 |
| Cannon Racing | Wildcat | Offenhauser | 96 | Tom Frantz | 1 |
| Cannon Racing | Wildcat | Offenhauser | 96 | Dick Ferguson | 5 |
| Cannon Racing | Wildcat | Offenhauser | 99 | Larry Cannon | 2-5 |
| Cannon Racing | Wildcat | Offenhauser | 99 | Dick Ferguson | 6-7, 10-11 |
| Vetrock Racing | Eagle | Chevrolet | X | Dean Vetrock | 2 |
| Ohio Racing Associates | Longhorn | Cosworth | X | Steve Krisiloff | 8 |

## Calendário

| # | Data | Grânde Prêmio | Circuito | Local |
| 1 | 22 de Março | Kraco Car Stereo 150 | O Phoenix International Raceway | Avondale, Arizona |
| NC | 24 de Maio | Indianapolis 500 | O Indianapolis Motor Speedway | Indianapolis, Indiana |
| 2 | 8 de Junho | Gould Rex Mays Classic | O Milwaukee Mile | West Allis, Wisconsin |
| 3 | 21 de Junho | Kraco Twin 125 | O Atlanta Motor Speedway | Hampton, Georgia |
| 4 | 21 de Junho | Kraco Twin 125 | O Atlanta Motor Speedway | Hampton, Georgia |
| 5 | 25 de Julho | Norton Michigan 500 | O Michigan International Speedway | Brooklyn, Michigan |
| 6 | 30 de Agosto | Los Angeles Times 500 | R Riverside International Raceway | Riverside, California |
| 7 | 5 de Setembro | Tony Bettenhausen 200 | O Milwaukee Mile | West Allis, Wisconsin |
| 8 | 20 de Setembro | Detroit News Grand Prix | O Michigan International Speedway | Brooklyn, Michigan |
| 9 | 4 de Outubro | Watkins Glen 200 | R Watkins Glen International | Watkins Glen, New York |
| 10 | 18 de Outubro | I Copa México 150 | R Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez | Mexico City, Mexico |
| 11 | 8 de Novembro | Miller High Life 150 | O Phoenix International Raceway | Avondale, Arizona |

### Resultado das corridas

| # | Grande Prêmio | Pole Position | Piloto vencedor | Equipe vencedora | Duração |
| 1 | Kraco Car Stereo 200 | Bobby Unser | Johnny Rutherford | Chaparral | 1:17:08 |
| NC | Indianapolis 500-Mile Race | Bobby Unser | Bobby Unser | Team Penske | 3:35:42 |
| 2 | Gould-Rex Mays 150 | Gordon Johncock | Mike Mosley | All American Racers | 1:19:03 |
| 3 | Kraco Twin 125 | Johnny Rutherford | Rick Mears | Team Penske | 0:51:29 |
| 4 | Kraco Twin 125 | Rick Mears | Rick Mears | Team Penske | 0:45:20 |
| 5 | Norton Michigan 500 | Tom Sneva | Pancho Carter | Alex Foods | 3:45:45 |
| 6 | Los Angeles Times 500 | Geoff Brabham | Rick Mears | Team Penske | 2:43:40 |
| 7 | Tony Bettenhausen 200 | Johnny Rutherford | Tom Sneva | Bignotti-Cotter | 1:41:41 |
| 8 | Detroit News Grand Prix | Rick Mears | Rick Mears | Team Penske | 1:10:30 |
| 9 | Watkins Glen 150 | Mario Andretti | Rick Mears | Team Penske | 1:52:17 |
| 10 | II Copa Mexico 150 | Bobby Unser | Rick Mears | Team Penske | 1:24:48 |
| 11 | Miller High Life 150 | Bobby Unser | Tom Sneva | Bignotti-Cotter | 1:20:10 |

## Classificação

| # | Piloto | PHX1 | MIL1 | ATL1 | ATL2 | MIC1 | RIR | MIL2 | MIC2 | WTG | MXC | PHX2 | Pts |
| 1 | Rick Mears | 4 | | 1 | 1* | 3 | 1* | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 8 | 304 |
| 2 | Bill Alsup | 5 | | 8 | 8 | 4 | 3 | 11 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 17 | 175 |
| 3 | Pancho Carter | 7 | 20 | 5 | 5 | 1* | 10 | 10 | 18 | 15 | 6 | 5 | 166 |
| 4 | Gordon Johncock | 6 | 16 | 4 | 4 | 36 | 2 | 6 | 5 | 10 | 3 | 3 | 142 |
| 5 | Johnny Rutherford | 1* | 6 | 2* | 3 | 22 | 21 | 4 | 20 | 2 | 26 | 21 | 120 |
| 6 | Tony Bettenhausen Jr. | | 12 | 7 | 11 | 2 | DNS | 14 | 10 | 8 | 11 | 19 | 107 |
| 7 | Bobby Unser | 2 | 21 | 13 | 6 | 16 | 9 | 3 | 7 | 17 | 15* | 2 | 99 |
| 8 | Tom Sneva | 3 | 4 | | | 23 | 24 | 1* | 19 | 21 | 20 | 1* | 96 |
| 9 | Bob Lazier RY | 12 | 13 | 17 | 9 | 10 | 5 | 16 | 13 | 4 | 4 | 13 | 92 |
| 10 | Al Unser | 17 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 11 | 14 | 5 | 3 | 14 | 2 | 2 | 90 |
| 11 | Mario Andretti | 11 | 3 | 3 | 2 | | | | 2* | 16* | | 4 | 81 |
| 12 | Tom Bigelow | | 9 | | | 5 | | 24 | 9 | | | 11 | 60 |
| 13 | Scott Brayton R | 15 | 11 | 9 | 10 | 7 | 8 | 21 | 24 | 20 | 23 | DNQ | 57 |
| 14 | Larry Dickson | | 10 | 10 | 12 | 9 | 16 | 12 | 8 | 7 | 22 | DNQ | 49 |
| 15 | Gary Bettenhausen | | | | | 6 | | 19 | | | | | 42 |
| 16 | Dick Simon | 10 | 7 | | | 31 | 6 | 22 | 25 | 11 | 25 | 20 | 38 |
| 17 | Herm Johnson | | 22 | 22 | 17 | 33 | 7 | 13 | | 9 | 8 | 9 | 38 |
| 18 | Mike Chandler | | | | | 27 | 4 | | | | 16 | DNQ | 37 |
| 19 | Mike Mosley | | 1* | DNS | | 18 | | DNS | 26 | | 7 | 24 | 32 |
| 20 | Steve Chassey | DNQ | 24 | 23 | 22 | 20 | 15 | 15 | 12 | 5 | | DNQ | 31 |
| 21 | Josele Garza | 21 | 14 | 12 | 18 | 19 | 12 | 8 | 23 | 24 | 18 | 6 | 30 |
| 22 | Phil Caliva | | | 19 | 15 | 8 | DNS | DNS | | | | DNQ | 27 |
| 23 | Kevin Cogan | | 2 | 16 | | 28 | 11 | 23 | | | | | 23 |
| 24 | Dick Ferguson | | | | | 30 | 18 | | 6 | | 10 | 7 | 20 |
| 25 | Steve Krisiloff | | | | | 17 | | 7 | 17 | | | | 18 |
| 26 | Rocky Moran R | | | | | | | | | 6 | | | 16 |
| 27 | Geoff Brabham R | 9 | | | | | 19 | | | | 9 | | 14 |
| 28 | Jerry Karl | 8 | 23 | 21 | 21 | 14 | 22 | 25 | | 19 | 19 | | 13 |
| 29 | Billy Engelhart | | 8 | | | 35 | | 9 | | | | | 11 |
| 30 | Larry Cannon | 20 | 15 | 11 | 20 | 12 | | | | | | | 10 |
| 30 | Roger Rager | | | | | 13 | 13 | 18 | 21 | DNQ | | DNQ | 10 |
| 32 | Bill Tempero | 18 | | 15 | 14 | 34 | 28 | 17 | 15 | 23 | 12 | DNQ | 7 |
| 33 | Phil Krueger R | 14 | | | | | 20 | | | | 14 | 16 | 6 |
| 33 | Bill Vukovich II | | | | | 15 | DNQ | | 14 | | 27 | | 6 |
| 35 | Gordon Smiley | | | | | | 25 | | | 18 | | 10 | 5 |
| 36 | Jim McElreath | 19 | | | | | | | 11 | DNQ | 13 | DNQ | 4 |
| 36 | Ross Davis | | | DNQ | 19 | | DNQ | DNS | 16 | 13 | | DNQ | 4 |
| 36 | Vern Schuppan | | | | | 24 | 17 | | | | 21 | 15 | 4 |
| 36 | Jim Buick R | 16 | 19 | 20 | 16 | DNS | | | | | | | 4 |
| 40 | Hurley Haywood | | | | | | 26 | | | 12 | 17 | | 3 |
| 41 | Spike Gehlhausen | | | 14 | 13 | | | | | | | | 2 |
| 41 | Bob Frey | 13 | 17 | | | DNQ | | | | | | | 2 |
| 41 | John Mahler | | 25 | | | | 27 | 20 | | | | DNQ | 2 |
| 44 | Jerry Sneva | | | | | DNS | | | | | | 12 | 1 |
| 44 | Chip Mead | | | | | 29 | | | | | | 14 | 1 |
| 44 | Phil Threshie | | 18 | | | | | | | | | | 1 |
| 44 | Dennis Firestone | | | 18 | | | | | | | | | 1 |
| 44 | Johnny Parsons | | | | | | | | | | | 18 | 1 |
| | Harry MacDonald | | | | | 21 | | | | | | | 0 |
| | Cliff Hucul | | 26 | | | 25 | | | 22 | | | | 0 |
| | Tom Frantz | 22 | | | | | | | | | | | 0 |
| | Teddy Pilette | | | | | | | | | 22 | | | 0 |
| | Ken Hamilton | | | | | | 23 | | | | | | 0 |
| | Greg Leffler | | | | | | | | | | | 23 | 0 |
| | Michel Jourdain | | | | | | | | | | 24 | | 0 |
| | A. J. Foyt | | | | | 26 | | | | | | | 0 |
| | Salt Walther | | | | | 32 | | | | | | | 0 |
| | Bill Whittington | | | | | 37 | | | | | | | 0 |
| Pos | Driver | PHX1 | MIL1 | ATL1 | ATL2 | MIC1 | RIR | MIL2 | MIC2 | WTG | MXC | PHX2 | Pts |
| Cor | Significado |
| Ouro | Vencedor |
| Prata | 2° Lugar |
| Bronze | 3° Lugar |
| Verde | 4° e 5° Lugar |
| Azul Claro | 6° ao 10° Luigar |
| Roxo | Terminou (Fora do Top 10) |
| Púrpura | Retirou-se (Ret) |
| Rosa | Não Qualificado (DNQ) |
| Marrom | Retirado (Wth) |
| Preto | Disqualificado (DSQ) |
| Branco | Não Largou (DNS) |
| Sem Cor | Não Participou (DNP) |
| Sem Cor | Não Competiu |
Notas :
| Bold | Pole Position |
| Italics | Volta Mais Rápida |
| * | Mais Voltas Na Liderança |
| RY | Rookie do Ano |
| R | Rookie |