1989 USAC Gold Crown Series (Johnsonverse)

The 1989 USAC Marlboro Gold Crown Series season was the 34th national championship season of American open wheel racing sanctioned by USAC. The season consisted of 24 races, and one non-points exhibition event. Emerson Fittipaldi was the national champion, and the rookie of the year was Bernard Jourdain. Fittipaldi became the second driver after Mario Andretti to win the Formula One World Championship and the USAC championship.
Emerson Fittipaldi won the Indianapolis 500, and would later become the first driver since Bobby Rahal in 1986 to win Indy and the USAC championship in the same season.
Emerson Fittipaldi won a total of five races, four pole positions, and had a total of eight podium finishes en route to the championship. Rick Mears won three races, and had a total of 14 top ten finishes, more consistent than Fittipaldi. The championship battle came down to those two drivers. In the second-to-last race of the season at Fuji, Fittipaldi and Mears finished 1st-2nd. Fittipaldi effectively clinched the championship by virtue of a now 22-point lead over Mears. If Mears were to win the season finale at Laguna Seca, win the pole, and lead the most laps, he could tie Fittipaldi in points if Fittipaldi finished 13th or worse. However, Fittipaldi held the tiebreaker with 5 wins versus Mears with 3. Mears did all three at Laguna Seca (won the pole, won the race and led the most laps), but the tiebreaker scenario was moot as Fittipaldi managed a 5th place in the race. It was Mears' first road course victory since Riverside in 1982, and the first since he suffered serious leg injuries in 1984. It was also the last road course win of his career.
Cosworth unveiled a new engine, the "short-stroke" DFS to some fanfare, but little success. Bobby Rahal won one race in 1989 with the Cosworth DFS in July at the Meadowlands. It would stand as the only race victory for the DFS powerplant.
The Constructors' Cup was a fierce battle between Ligier and Mopar. Both ultimately ended up with five wins each, with Mopar winning by a scant 2 points over Ligier. Toyota Racing Development also got its first win with the TR89 chassis, and Porsche and Watson also both won a race each.
==Drivers and constructors==
=== Chassis constructors ===
Constructor 	Chassis
Lola Cars 	Lola T89/00
March Engineering 	March 89C
Roger Penske 	Penske PC-18
Dallara S.r.l. 	Dallara IR-89
Tatuus 	Tatuus US89
Équipe Ligier 	Ligier IS31
Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG 	Porsche 2709
A. J. Watson 	Watson 89
Ferrari S.p.A. 	Ferrari I89
Saleen Automotive Inc. 	Saleen S189
Toyota Motor Corporation 	Toyota TR89
Tyrrell Racing Organization 	Tyrrell 018B
Lotus Cars 	Lotus 101I
International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers	IAM 009
McLaren Racing Limited 	McLaren M36
All-American Racers 	Eagle 89GC
Dale Coyne 	Coyne DC-4
Rolla Vollstedt 	Vollstedt 89
Williams Grand Prix Engineering 	Williams IW89
Motor Racing Developments Ltd. 	Brabham IT58
Arrows Grand Prix International 	Arrows A12
=== Engine manufacturers ===
Manufacturer 	Marquee 	Type
Cosworth 	Cosworth DFS	V6
General Motors 	Chevrolet 	V8
General Motors 	Pontiac 	V6
General Motors 	Oldsmobile 	V6
General Motors 	Buick 	V6
Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG	Porsche 	V6
Engine Developments Ltd. 	Judd 	V6
Chrysler Corporation 	Dodge 	V8
Offenhauser 	Offenhauser 	V8
Toyota Motor Corporation 	Toyota 	V6
Ferrari S.p.A. 	Ferrari 	V12
==== Engine changes ====
Coinciding with the FIA banning turbocharged engines in Formula One (a full ten years after USAC did the same), Ferrari debuted its brand-new V12 engine in both F1 and USAC Gold Crown competition. The engine was expected to stomp the competition, and concerns were raised that this would be the new standard going forward, but it was ultimately a dismal failure, failing to finish roughly 75% of races in the 1989 season.
=== Teams and drivers ===
The following teams and drivers competed for the 1989 USAC Gold Crown Series.
Team 	Constructor 	Chassis 	Engine 	Car #	Drivers
Newman/Haas Racing 	Lola-Pontiac 	Lola T89/00 	Pontiac 	5 	Mario Andretti
Newman/Haas Racing 	Lola-Pontiac 	Lola T89/00 	Pontiac 	6 	Michael Andretti
Patrick Racing 	Ligier-Chevrolet 	Ligier IS31 	Chevrolet 	20 	Emerson Fittipaldi
Galles Racing 	March-Chevrolet 	March 89C 	Chevrolet 	2 	Al Unser Jr.
Team Penske 	Penske-Chevrolet 	Penske PC-18 	Chevrolet 	1 	Danny Sullivan
Team Penske 	Penske-Chevrolet 	Penske PC-18 	Chevrolet 	4 	Rick Mears
Team Penske 	Penske-Chevrolet 	Penske PC-18 	Chevrolet 	25 	Al Unser
Porsche North America 	Porsche 	Porsche 2709 	Porsche 	8 	Teo Fabi
Truesports 	Lola-Offenhauser 	Lola T89/00 	Offenhauser	3 	Scott Pruett
Kraco Racing 	McLaren-Cosworth 	McLaren M36 	Cosworth 	18 	Bobby Rahal
Dick Simon Racing 	Lola-Cosworth 	Lola T89/00 	Cosworth 	7 	Arie Luyendyk
Dick Simon Racing 	Lola-Cosworth 	Lola T89/00 	Cosworth 	22 	Scott Brayton
Dick Simon Racing 	Lola-Cosworth 	Lola T89/00 	Cosworth 	28 	Randy Lewis
Dick Simon Racing 	Lola-Cosworth 	Lola T89/00 	Cosworth 	17 	Joe Sposato
Doug Shierson Racing 	Mopar 	Mopar M89 	Dodge 	30 	Raul Boesel
Raynor Racing 	Lola-Judd 	Lola T89/00 	Judd 	10 	Derek Daly
Machinists Union Racing 	IAM-Cosworth 	IAM 009 	Cosworth 	11 	Kevin Cogan
Machinists Union Racing 	IAM-Cosworth 	IAM 009 	Cosworth 	24 	Pancho Carter
Protofab Racing 	Tatuus-Cosworth 	Tatuus US89 	Cosworth 	15 	James Weaver
Protofab Racing 	Tatuus-Cosworth 	Tatuus US89 	Cosworth 	65 	John Jones
A. J. Foyt Enterprises 	Watson-Offenhauser 	Watson 89 	Offenhauser	14 	A. J. Foyt
A. J. Foyt Enterprises 	Watson-Offenhauser 	Watson 89 	Offenhauser	29 	Rich Vogler
Andale Racing 	Lola-Cosworth 	Lola T89/00 	Cosworth 	69 	Bernard Jourdain
Euromotorsport 	Ferrari-Cosworth 	Ferrari I89 	Cosworth 	16 	Jean-Pierre Frey
Euromotorsport 	Ferrari-Cosworth 	Ferrari I89 	Cosworth 	51 	Scott Atchison
Alex Morales Motorsports 	March-Alfa Romeo 	March 89C 	Alfa Romeo 	21 	Roberto Guerrero
Arciero Racing 	Tatuus-Offenhauser 	Tatuus US89 	Offenhauser	12 	Fabrizio Barbazza
Hemelgarn Racing 	Lola-Judd 	Lola T89/00 	Judd 	61 	Ludwig Heimrath Jr.
Hemelgarn Racing 	Lola-Judd 	Lola T89/00 	Judd 	71 	Didier Theys
Hemelgarn Racing 	Lola-Judd 	Lola T89/00 	Judd 	91 	Robby Unser
Hemelgarn Racing 	Lola-Judd 	Lola T89/00 	Judd 	81 	Bill Vukovich III
Vince Granatelli Racing 	Eagle-Buick 	Eagle 89CG 	Buick 	9 	Didier Theys
Vince Granatelli Racing 	Eagle-Buick 	Eagle 89CG 	Buick 	76 	John Andretti
Vince Granatelli Racing 	Eagle-Buick 	Eagle 89CG 	Buick 	13 	Tom Sneva
Bayside Motorsports 	Lola-Cosworth 	Lola T88/00 	Cosworth 	86 	Dominic Dobson
Dale Coyne Racing 	Coyne-Cosworth 	Coyne DC-4 	Cosworth 	19 	Dale Coyne
ATEC Environmental 	Ferrari 	Ferrari I89 	Ferrari 	98 	Guido Daccò
Bernstein Racing 	Dallara-Buick 	Dallara IR-89	Buick 	15 	Jim Crawford
Saleen 	Saleen-Cosworth 	Saleen S189 	Cosworth 	58 	Steve Saleen
Gohr Racing 	Toyota 	Toyota TR89 	Toyota 	56 	Jeff Wood
Bettenhausen Motorsports 	Mopar 	Mopar M89 	Dodge 	16 	Jon Beekhuis
Bettenhausen Motorsports 	Mopar 	Mopar M89 	Dodge 	15 	John Paul Jr.
Bettenhausen Motorsports 	Mopar 	Mopar M89 	Dodge 	27 	Tony Bettenhausen Jr.
Mann Motorsports 	Lola-Buick 	Lola T89/00 	Buick 	99 	Gary Bettenhausen
Mann Motorsports 	Lola-Buick 	Lola T89/00 	Buick 	97 	Ken Johnson
Stoops Freightliner 	Mopar 	Mopar M89 	Dodge 	17 	Johnny Rutherford
U.S. Engineering 	Mopar 	Mopar M89 	Dodge 	44 	Scott Harrington
Team Lazier 	March-Cosworth 	March 89C 	Cosworth 	35 	Buddy Lazier
Curb Racing 	Dallara-Offenhauser 	Dallara IR-89	Offenhauser	33 	Rocky Moran
Vollstedt Racing 	Vollstedt-Oldsmobile	Vollstedt 89 	Oldsmobile 	52 	Keith Kauffman
Scuderia Ferrari 	Ferrari 	Ferrari I89 	Ferrari 	53 	Tom Bagley
Scuderia Ferrari 	Ferrari 	Ferrari I89 	Ferrari 	83 	Rick Miaskiewicz
Williams Indy 	Williams-Cosworth 	Williams IW89	Cosworth 	49 	Drake Olson
Williams Indy 	Williams-Cosworth 	Williams IW89	Cosworth 	51 	Kenny Acheson
McLaren-Moore 	McLaren-Porsche 	McLaren M36 	Porsche 	62 	Phil Krueger
McLaren-Moore 	McLaren-Porsche 	McLaren M36 	Porsche 	64 	Ian Ashley
Team Lotus 	Lotus-Cosworth 	Lotus 101I 	Cosworth 	26 	Dennis Vitolo
Team Lotus 	Lotus-Cosworth 	Lotus 101I 	Cosworth 	31 	Tero Palmroth
Équipe Ligier 	Ligier-Judd 	Ligier IS31 	Judd 	89 	Mark Dismore
Équipe Ligier 	Ligier-Judd 	Ligier IS31 	Judd 	96 	Michael Greenfield
Brabham 	Brabham-Judd 	Brabham IT58 	Judd 	63 	Fulvio Ballabio
Brabham 	Brabham-Judd 	Brabham IT58 	Judd 	72 	Chip Robinson
Barclay Arrows 	Arrows-Cosworth 	Arrows I12 	Cosworth 	70 	Ed Pimm
Barclay Arrows 	Arrows-Cosworth 	Arrows I12 	Cosworth 	80 	Steve Chassey
Team Tyrrell 	Tyrrell-Cosworth 	Tyrrell 018B 	Cosworth 	40 	Gordon Johncock
Team Tyrrell 	Tyrrell-Cosworth 	Tyrrell 018B 	Cosworth 	41 	Scott Goodyear
Scuderia Dallara 	Dallara-Chevrolet 	Dallara IR-89	Chevrolet 	78 	Geoff Brabham
Scuderia Dallara 	Dallara-Chevrolet 	Dallara IR-89	Chevrolet 	82 	José Romano
Tatuus 	Tatuus-Chevrolet 	Tatuus US89 	Chevrolet 	73 	Scott Pruett
Tatuus 	Tatuus-Chevrolet 	Tatuus US89 	Chevrolet 	74 	Tommy Byrne
Mopar Racing 	Mopar 	Mopar M89 	Dodge 	60 	Jack Hewitt
Mopar Racing 	Mopar 	Mopar M89 	Dodge 	75 	Steve Butler
Toyota Racing Development	Toyota 	Toyota GR89 	Toyota 	54 	Davey Jones
Toyota Racing Development	Toyota 	Toyota GR89 	Toyota 	59 	Bruce Field
==Schedule==
No.	Race title 	Track 	Track Type 	Date
1 	Checker 200 Presented by Phoenix International Raceway and the Fiesta Bowl	Phoenix International Raceway, Avondale, Arizona 	Mile-long track 	April 9
2 	Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach 	Long Beach Street Circuit, Long Beach, Californa 	Street circuit 	April 16
3 	Mopar 200 	Ontario Motor Speedway, Ontario, California 	Superspeedway (unrestricted)	April 30
4 	Indianapolis 500 	Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Speedway, Indiana 	Superspeedway (unrestricted)	May 28
5 	Miller High Life 200 	Milwaukee Mile, West Allis, Wisconsin 	Mile-long oval 	June 4
6 	Dallara 200 	Monza Circuit, Monza, Lombardy, Italy 	Superspeedway (restricted) 	June 11
7 	Valvoline Detroit Grand Prix 	Streets of Detroit, Michigan 	Street circuit 	June 18
8 	Budweiser/G.I. Joe's 200 	Portland International Raceway, Portland, Oregon 	Road course 	June 25
9 	Budweiser Cleveland Grand Prix 	Burke Lakefront Airport, Cleveland, Ohio 	Road course 	July 2
10 	March Engineering 200 	Suzuka International Raceway, Suzuka, Kansai 	Road course 	July 9
11 	Howard Johnson 200 	Pikes Peak International Raceway, Fountain, Colorado 	Intermediate oval 	July 16
12 	Molson Indy Toronto 	Exhibition Place, Toronto, Ontario, Canada 	Street course 	July 23
13 	Texas Grand Prix 	Texas World Speedway, College Station, Texas 	Superspeedway (unrestricted)	July 30
14 	Marlboro 500 	Michigan International Speedway, Brooklyn, Michigan 	Superspeedway (unrestricted)	August 6
15 	California 500 	Ontario Motor Speedway, Ontario, California 	Superspeedway (unrestricted)	August 13
16 	Quaker State 500 	Pocono International Raceway, Long Pond, Pennsylvania 	Superspeedway (unrestricted)	August 20
17 	Coca-Cola 200 	Denver International Speedway, Denver, Colorado 	Superspeedway (restricted) 	August 27
18 	Red Roofs Inn 200 	Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, Lexington, Ohio 	Road course 	September 3
19 	Texaco/Havoline 200 	Road America, Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin 	Road course 	September 10
20 	Lola Cars 200 	Mallory Park, Leicestershire, United Kingdom 	One-mile oval 	September 17
21 	Bosch Spark Plug Challenge 	Pennsylvania International Raceway, Nazareth, Pennsylvania	One-mile oval 	September 24
22 	Talladega 500K 	Talladega Superspeedway, Lincoln, Alabama 	Superspeedway (restricted) 	October 1
23 	Molson 200 	Fuji Speedway, Fuji, Kanto 	Superspeedway (restricted) 	October 8
NC 	Marlboro Challenge 	Daytona International Speedway, Daytona Beach, Florida 	Superspeedway (restricted) 	November 14
24 	Florida Citrus Growers 500 	Daytona International Speedway, Daytona Beach, Florida 	Superspeedway (restricted) 	November 15
==Results==
No.	Race title 	Pole position 	Winner 	Team 	Chassis/Engine
1 	Checker 200 Presented by Phoenix International Raceway and the Fiesta Bowl	Rick Mears 	Rick Mears 	Team Penske 	Penske/Chevrolet
2 	Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach 	Al Unser Jr. 	Al Unser Jr. 	Galles Racing 	March/Chevrolet
3 	Mopar 200 	Scott Pruett 	Keith Kauffman 	Vollstedt Racing 	Vollstedt/Oldsmobile
4 	Indianapolis 500 	Rick Mears 	Emerson Fittipaldi	Patrick Racing 	Ligier/Chevrolet
5 	Miller High Life 200 	Rick Mears 	Rick Mears 	Team Penske 	Penske/Chevrolet
6 	Dallara 200 	Steve Saleen 	Jack Hewitt 	Mopar Racing 	Mopar/Dodge
7 	Valvoline Detroit Grand Prix 	Michael Andretti 	Emerson Fittipaldi	Patrick Racing 	Ligier/Chevrolet
8 	Budweiser/G.I. Joe's 200 	Teo Fabi 	Emerson Fittipaldi	Patrick Racing 	Ligier/Chevrolet
9 	Budweiser Cleveland Grand Prix 	Michael Andretti 	Emerson Fittipaldi	Patrick Racing 	Ligier/Chevrolet
10 	March Engineering 200 	A. J. Foyt 	A. J. Foyt 	A. J. Foyt Enterprises 	Watson/Offenhauser
11 	Howard Johnson 200 	Emerson Fittipaldi	Bobby Rahal 	Kraco Racing 	McLaren/Cosworth
12 	Molson Indy Toronto 	Emerson Fittipaldi	Michael Andretti 	Newman/Haas Racing 	Lola/Pontiac
13 	Texas Grand Prix 	Scott Goodyear 	Davy Jones 	Toyota Racing Development	Gazoo/Toyota
14 	Marlboro 500 	Emerson Fittipaldi	Michael Andretti 	Newman/Haas Racing 	Lola/Pontiac
15 	California 500 	Scott Brayton 	Pancho Carter 	Machinists Union Racing 	IAM/Cosworth
16 	Quaker State 500 	Emerson Fittipaldi	Michael Andretti 	Newman/Haas Racing 	Lola/Pontiac
17 	Coca-Cola 200 	Rick Mears 	Scott Harrington 	U.S. Engineering 	Mopar/Dodge
18 	Red Roofs Inn 200 	Teo Fabi 	Teo Fabi 	Porsche North America 	Porsche/Porsche
19 	Texaco/Havoline 200 	Danny Sullivan 	Danny Sullivan 	Team Penske 	Penske/Chevrolet
20 	Lola Cars 200 	Mark Dismore 	Scott Goodyear 	Team Tyrrell 	Tyrrell/Cosworth
21 	Bosch Spark Plug Challenge 	Rick Mears 	Emerson Fittipaldi	Patrick Racing 	Ligier/Chevrolet
22 	Talladega 500K 	Mark Dismore 	Jack Hewitt 	Mopar Racing 	Mopar/Dodge
23 	Molson 200 	A. J. Foyt 	Jack Hewitt 	Mopar Racing 	Mopar/Dodge
NC 	Marlboro Challenge 	Scott Goodyear 	Scott Harrington 	U.S. Engineering 	Mopar/Dodge
24 	Florida Citrus Growers 500 	Teo Fabi 	Johnny Rutherford 	Stoops Freightliner 	Mopar/Dodge
Category:Johnsonverse