1980 USAC Indy Car World Series (Johnsonverse)

The 1980 USAC Marlboro Indy Car World Series season was the 25th national championship season of American open wheel racing sanctioned by USAC. The season consisted of 18 races (17 being run, with one being cancelled due to weather), beginning at Ontario Motor Speedway on April 13 and concluding at Phoenix International Raceway on November 8. The Marlboro Indy Car World Series Drivers' Champion and Indianapolis 500 winner was Johnny Rutherford. Rookie of the Year was Dennis Firestone.
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 USAC Indy Car World Series.
Team/Car Owner 	Chassis 	Engine 	No.	Drivers
Team Penske 	Penske 	Cosworth 	1 	Rick Mears
Team Penske 	Penske 	Cosworth 	11 	Bobby Unser
Team Penske 	Penske 	Cosworth 	12 	Mario Andretti
Team Penske 	Penske 	Cosworth 	61 	Tom Gloy
Leader Card Racing 	Watson
Eagle	Offenhauser	2 	Bill Vukovich II
Leader Card Racing 	Watson
Eagle	Offenhauser	2 	Sheldon Kinser
Leader Card Racing 	Watson 	Offenhauser
Cosworth	24 	Sheldon Kinser
Leader Card Racing 	Watson 	Offenhauser
Cosworth	24 	Bill Vukovich II
AMI Racing 	Lola
Orbiter
McLaren	Cosworth 	7 	Jerry Sneva
AMI Racing 	Orbiter
Lola	Cosworth 	43 	Tom Bigelow
AMI Racing 	Orbiter
Lola	Cosworth 	43 	Howdy Holmes
AMI Racing 	Orbiter
Lola	Cosworth 	43 	Jerry Sneva
AMI Racing 	Orbiter
Lola	Cosworth 	43 	Danny Ongais
AMI Racing 	Orbiter
Lola	Cosworth 	43 	Greg Leffler
AMI Racing 	Lola 	Cosworth 	44 	Greg Leffler
AMI Racing 	Wildcat
Chaparral	DGS
Offenhauser
Cosworth	46 	Gary Bettenhausen
Chaparral Cars 	Chaparral	Cosworth 	4 	Johnny Rutherford
Longhorn Racing 	Longhorn 	Cosworth 	5 	Al Unser
Jerry O'Conell Racing 	McLaren 	Cosworth 	7 	Tom Sneva
Jerry O'Conell Racing 	McLaren
Phoenix	Cosworth 	9 	Tom Sneva
Jerry O'Conell Racing 	McLaren 	Cosworth 	89 	Vern Schuppan
Vollstedt Enterprises 	Vollstedt	Offenhauser	8 	Dick Simon
Vollstedt Enterprises 	Vollstedt	Offenhauser	12 	Dick Simon
Alex Morales Motorsports	Penske
Lightning	Cosworth 	10 	Pancho Carter
Gilmore Racing 	Parnelli 	Cosworth 	14 	A.J. Foyt
Gilmore Racing 	Parnelli 	Cosworth 	16 	George Snider
Tempero Racing 	Eagle 	Chevrolet 	15 	Bill Tempero
Tempero Racing 	Eagle 	Chevrolet 	65 	Bill Tempero
Lindsey Hopkins Racing 	Lightning	Offenhauser
Chevrolet
Cosworth	15 	Johnny Parsons
Lindsey Hopkins Racing 	Lightning	Chevrolet 	51 	Johnny Parsons
Lindsey Hopkins Racing 	Lightning	Cosworth 	55 	Janet Guthrie
Lindsey Hopkins Racing 	Lightning	Chevrolet 	99 	Hurley Haywood
McElreath Racing 	Eagle 	Offenhauser	16 	Jim McElreath
McElreath Racing 	Penske 	Cosworth 	23 	Jim McElreath
Rhoades Competition 	Penske 	Cosworth 	18 	Dennis Firestone
Rhoades Competition 	McLaren 	Offenhauser	19 	Dana Carter
Rhoades Competition 	Eagle 	Ram 	X 	Larry Rice
Patrick Racing 	Wildcat
Phoenix	Cosworth 	20 	Gordon Johncock
Patrick Racing 	Penske
Wildcat
Phoenix	Cosworth 	40 	Tom Bagley
Patrick Racing 	Penske 	Cosworth 	60 	Gordon Smiley
Patrick Racing 	Phoenix 	Cosworth 	70 	Gordon Smiley
Mach I Racing 	Penske
Eagle	Cosworth
Chevrolet	21 	Tim Richmond
Mach I Racing 	Penske
Eagle	Cosworth
Chevrolet	21 	Mike Mosley
Davis Racing 	Wildcat 	Offenhauser	22 	Ross Davis
Sanett Racing 	Penske 	Cosworth 	23 	Dick Ferguson
Sanett Racing 	Penske 	Cosworth 	26 	Dick Ferguson
Interscope Racing 	Parnelli 	Cosworth 	25 	Danny Ongais
Menard Racing 	Lightning	Offenhauser	28 	Herm Johnson
Beaudoin Racing 	McLaren 	Cosworth 	29 	Billy Engelhart
Machinists Union Racing 	IAM 	Donovan
DGS
Chevrolet	30 	Phil Threshie
Machinists Union Racing 	IAM 	Donovan
DGS
Chevrolet	30 	Larry Dickson
Medlin Racing 	Eagle 	Offenhauser	32 	Tony Bettenhausen Jr.
Wysard Racing 	Wildcat
McLaren	Offenhauser
DGS
Cosworth	34 	Pete Halsmer
Wysard Racing 	Wildcat
McLaren	Offenhauser
DGS
Cosworth	34 	Vern Schuppan
Bob Fletcher Racing 	Penske 	Cosworth 	35 	Spike Gelhausen
Bob Fletcher Racing 	Penske 	Cosworth 	35 	Gordon Smiley
Bob Fletcher Racing 	Penske 	Cosworth 	55 	Spike Gelhausen
JJ Enterprises 	Wildcat 	DGS 	36 	John Martin
JJ Enterprises 	Wildcat 	DGS
Cosworth	37 	John Martin
Pacific Coast Racing 	Penske 	Cosworth 	38 	Rick Muther
Pacific Coast Racing 	Penske 	Cosworth 	82 	Rick Muther
Pacific Coast Racing 	Lightning	Offenhauser	86 	Al Loquasto
Pacific Coast Racing 	Lightning	Offenhauser	86 	Jeff Heywood
Karl Racing 	McLaren
Gerhardt
Karl	Chevrolet 	38 	Jerry Karl
Alsup Racing 	Penske 	Cosworth 	41 	Bill Alsup
Alsup Racing 	McLaren 	Offenhauser	47 	Phil Caliva
Mergard Racing 	Eagle 	Offenhauser	42 	Jon Wood
All-American Racers 	Eagle 	Cosworth
Offenhauser	48 	Mike Mosley
BFM Racing 	Antares 	Offenhauser	50 	Jan Sneva
BFM Racing 	Manta 	Offenhauser	50 	Rich Vogler
BFM Racing 	Manta 	Offenhauser	50 	Dick Ferguson
BFM Racing 	Manta 	Offenhauser	50 	Milt Harper
Garza Racing 	Penske 	Cosworth 	55 	Josele Garza
Hurtubise Racing 	Mallard 	Offenhauser	56 	Jim Hurbutise
Frantz Racing 	McLaren 	Cosworth 	57 	Tom Frantz
Hoffman Racing 	Lightning	Offenhauser	59 	Lee Kunzman
Hoffman Racing 	Lightning	Offenhauser	59 	Joe Saldana
Hoffman Racing 	Penske 	Cosworth 	69 	Joe Saldana
Hoffman Racing 	Eagle 	Offenhauser	69 	Bob Frey
Hoffman Racing 	Spyder 	Offenhauser	79 	Bob Frey
Rager Racing 	Wildcat 	Chevrolet 	66 	Roger Rager
Rasmussen Racing 	Rascar 	Foyt 	67 	Bob Harkey
Rasmussen Racing 	Rascar 	Foyt 	67 	Buddie Boys
Rasmussen Racing 	McLaren 	Offenhauser	68 	Frank Weiss
Vetrock Racing 	Eagle 	Offenhauser	71 	Dean Vetrock
Hodgson Racing 	McLaren 	Cosworth 	72 	Roger Mears
Hodgson Racing 	McLaren 	Cosworth 	72 	Mike Chandler
Stanton Racing 	Penske 	Cosworth 	75 	Ron Shuman
O'Hanlon Racing 	March 	Chevrolet 	75 	Bruce Hill
O'Hanlon Racing 	McLaren 	Cosworth 	75 	Lee Kunzman
O'Hanlon Racing 	McLaren 	Cosworth 	81 	Cliff Hucul
O'Hanlon Racing 	McLaren 	Cosworth 	81 	Lee Kunzman
O'Hanlon Racing 	McLaren 	Cosworth 	81 	Jerry Sneva
O'Hanlon Racing 	McLaren 	Cosworth 	81 	Spike Gelhausen
Walmotor 	Penske 	Cosworth 	81 	Salt Walther
Walmotor 	Penske 	Cosworth 	77 	Salt Walther
RP Racing 	X 	X 	80 	Larry Dickson
Woodward Racing 	McLaren 	Cosworth
Chevrolet	81 	Dick Ferguson
Shade Tree Racing 	Eagle 	Offenhauser	85 	Michel Jourdain Sr.
Pronosticos Deportivos 	Penske 	Cosworth 	88 	Daniel Muñiz
Johnson Autosport 	Ferrari 	Buffalo 	88 	Darrell Waltrip
Intercomp 	Finley
Eagle	Offenhauser	91 	John Mahler
Intercomp 	Eagle
Penske	Offenhauser	91 	Chip Mead
Intercomp 	Eagle
Penske	Offenhauser	92 	John Mahler
Ovaciones 	Penske 	Cosworth 	91 	Juan Carlos Bolaños
Whittington Bro. Racing 	Parnelli 	Cosworth 	94 	Bill Whittington
Whittington Bro. Racing 	Penske 	Cosworth 	96 	Don Whittington
Cannon Racing 	Wildcat 	DGS
Offenhauser	95 	Larry Cannon
Grant King Racing 	King 	Chevrolet 	86 	Roger Mears
Grant King Racing 	King 	Chevrolet 	97 	Roger Mears
Grant King Racing 	King 	Chevrolet 	97 	Billie Harvey
Grant King Racing 	King 	Chevrolet 	97 	Jim McElreath
Grant King Racing 	King 	Chevrolet 	97 	Jerry Miller
Grant King Racing 	King 	Chevrolet 	98 	Bob Harkey
Grant King Racing 	King 	Chevrolet 	98 	Tony Bettenhausen Jr.
=== Notable team and driver changes ===
* Team McLaren shut down their IndyCar operations, but would return in 1984. 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 USAC 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.
* 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.
* After competing in most of the 1979 races, Salt Walther and team Walmotor only ran in 2 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.
* Johnson Industries itself formed a team called Johnson Autosport. The team ran a single race at Talladega, using a Ferrari 312T4B purchased from the Ferrari Formula 1 team (reports stated that Jody Scheckter had won several races of the 1979 Formula One World Championship using this specific car), and their own Buffalo V8 engine in place of the car's original flat-12 Ferrari engine. The car was driven by NASCAR driver Darrell Waltrip. This team ended up being a one-off entry, as the car won the race, and Johnson, concerned of a conflict of interest, folded the team, though it did prove that F1 chassis could be easily adapted for oval racing, opening the floodgate for smaller F1 teams to start defecting to USAC by the mid-1980s (some say this was part of a power-grab by Johnson as retaliation for their failed bid to purchase the FIA in 1974).
=== 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.
== Schedule ==
No.	Date 	Race title 	Track
- 	March 2 	Arizona Republic/Jimmy Bryan 150 	Phoenix International Raceway, Avondale, Arizona
1 	April 13 	Datsun Twin 200 	Ontario Motor Speedway, Ontario, California
2 	April 26 	Texas Grand Prix 	Texas World Speedway, College Station, Texas
3 	May 25 	Indianapolis 500 	Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Speedway, Indiana
4 	June 8 	Gould Rex Mays Classic 	Milwaukee Mile, West Allis, Wisconsin
5 	June 22 	True Value 500 	Pocono International Raceway, Long Pond, Pennsylvania
6 	July 13 	Red Roof Inns 250 	Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, Lexington, Ohio
7 	July 20 	Norton 200 	Michigan International Speedway, Brooklyn, Michigan
8 	July 27 	Howard Johnson's 250 	Road Atlanta, Braselton, Georgia
9 	August 3 	Kent Oils 150 	Watkins Glen International, Watkins Glen, New York
10 	August 10 	Tony Bettenhausen Classic 	Milwaukee Mile, West Allis, Wisconsin
11 	August 24 	Alabama 500K 	Alabama International Motor Speedway, Lincoln, Alabama
12 	August 31 	California 500 	Ontario Motor Speedway, Ontario, California
13 	September 14	Molson Diamond Indy 	Mosport International Raceway, Brownsville, Ontario, Canada
14 	September 20	Goulds Grand Prix 	Michigan International Speedway, Brooklyn, Michigan
15 	September 28	Charlotte 500K 	Charlotte Motor Speedway, Concord, Carolina
16 	October 26 	I Copa México 150 	Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez, Mexico City, Mexico
17 	November 8 	Miller High Life 150 In Memory of Bobby Ball	Phoenix International Raceway, Avondale, Arizona
- The Phoenix race was scheduled for March 2, but cancelled due to flooding.
== Results ==
No.	Race title 	Pole Position 	Winner 	Team 	Chassis/Engine
1 	Datsun Twin 200 	Johnny Rutherford	Johnny Rutherford	Chaparral Cars 	Chaparral/Cosworth
2 	Texas Grand Prix 	Al Unser 	Danny Ongais 	Interscope Racing 	Parnelli/Cosworth
3 	Indianapolis 500 	Johnny Rutherford	Johnny Rutherford	Chaparral Cars 	Chaparral/Cosworth
4 	Gould Rex Mays Classic 	Gordon Johncock 	Bobby Unser 	Team Penske 	Penske/Cosworth
5 	True Value 500 	Bobby Unser 	A.J. Foyt 	Gilmore Racing 	Parnelli/Cosworth
6 	Red Roof Inns 250 	Al Unser 	Johnny Rutherford	Chaparral Cars 	Chaparral/Cosworth
7 	Norton 200 	Bobby Unser 	Bill Alsup 	Alsup Racing 	Penske/Cosworth
8 	Howard Johnson's 250 	Danny Ongais 	Gordon Johncock 	Patrick Racing 	Wildcat/Cosworth
9 	Kent Oils 150 	Al Unser 	Bill Alsup 	Alsup Racing 	Penske/Cosworth
10 	Tony Bettenhausen Classic 	Johnny Rutherford	Johnny Rutherford	Chaparral Cars 	Chaparral/Cosworth
11 	Alabama 500K 	A.J. Foyt 	Darrell Waltrip 	Johnson Autosport 	Ferrari/Buffalo
12 	California 500 	Bobby Unser 	Bobby Unser 	Team Penske 	Penske/Cosworth
13 	Molson Diamond Indy 	Bill Alsup 	Jerry Karl 	Karl Racing 	Karl/Chevrolet
14 	Goulds Grand Prix 	Mario Andretti 	Mario Andretti 	Team Penske 	Penske/Cosworth
15 	Charlotte 500K 	Rick Mears 	Sheldon Kinser 	Leader Card Racing 	Watson/Offenhauser
16 	I Copa México 150 	Bobby Unser 	Rick Mears 	Team Penske 	Penske/Cosworth
17 	Miller High Life 150 In Memory of Bobby Ball	Mario Andretti 	Tom Sneva 	Jerry O'Connell Racing	McLaren/Cosworth
Category:Johnsonverse