1992 USAC Gold Crown Series (Johnsonverse)

The 1992 USAC Marlboro Gold Crown Series season was the 37th national championship season of American open wheel racing sanctioned by USAC. The season consisted of 30 races, and one non-points exhibition event. Bobby Rahal was the national champion, his third and final career USAC title. Stefan Johansson was named the Rookie of the Year. Al Unser Jr. won the Indianapolis 500 in the closest finish in the history of that event (a finish whose margin of victory was disputed due to the placement of the transponder on the Galmer G92 chassis). The circuit welcomed a new venue in 1992, New Hampshire International Speedway.
Bobby Rahal, who was in his first season as an owner/driver, won four races and three poles en route to the title. Rahal's three oval wins included a dominating wire-to-wire victory at Phoenix, where he led all 200 laps. Rahal fielded the "tried and true" Lola/Ilmor Chevrolet "A" combination. It was the final championship for the Ilmor Chevy A engine. Rahal managed to outperform the newer engines that joined the series in 1992, the Ford/Cosworth XB, as well as the Ilmor Chevy "B" engine, which was used by the Penske team. For the third time, Michael Andretti finished runner-up to Rahal in the points. Andretti promptly left Indy car racing the following year to race in Formula One.
For the second year in a row, the Constructors' Cup was an incredibly-heated contest, this time between Mopar, Lola, and Ferrari. Mopar eked out seven wins (once again dominating the restrictor-plate tracks as they had been since entering USAC in 1988), while Lola and Ferrari were tied for second with six wins each. March Engineering, which was in a "rebuilding" phase following its late 80s collapse, managed to sell the 92C to Walker Racing, who used it to get two wins. Penske took three wins, General Motors' new GM 92C chassis won the Mopar 200 at Ontario (as well as the Marlboro Challenge at Daytona), the new Galmer 92G took two wins (including the Indianapolis 500), Vollstedt took two wins, and Gazoo managed a single win. Thanks to Mopar's dominance, Dodge won the Manufacturers' Championship; 1992 was notable for seeing the debut of Dodge's new engine, the Viper V10.
1992 also saw Stacker & Associates (which previously owned USAC and its parent company Johnson Industries from 1981 to 1991) start a USAC operation, in its first high-profile move since the Johnson family retook the company. Stacker built its own chassis, while Buffalo engines were utilized.
Finally, Lyn St. James made history by becoming the first woman to sit on the pole in an Indycar race, managing to do so at Mallory Park and Denver.
== Drivers and constructors ==
Team 	Chassis 	Engine 	No	Drivers
Newman/Haas Racing 	Lola T92/00 	Pontiac 	1 	Michael Andretti
Newman/Haas Racing 	Lola T92/00 	Pontiac 	2 	Mario Andretti
Chip Ganassi Racing 	Mopar M92 	Dodge 	6 	Arie Luyendyk
Chip Ganassi Racing 	Mopar M92 	Dodge 	9 	Eddie Cheever
Marlboro Team Penske 	Penske PC-21 	Chevrolet B	4 	Rick Mears
Marlboro Team Penske 	Penske PC-21 	Chevrolet B	5 	Emerson Fittipaldi
Marlboro Team Penske 	Penske PC-21 	Chevrolet B	7 	Paul Tracy
Galles-Kraco Racing 	Galmer G92 	Chevrolet 	3 	Al Unser Jr.
Galles-Kraco Racing 	Galmer G92 	Chevrolet 	18	Danny Sullivan
Walker Motorsport 	March 92C 	Ford-Cosworth XB
Chevrolet	15	Scott Goodyear
Walker Motorsport 	March 92C 	Ford-Cosworth XB
Chevrolet	17	Johnny Rutherford
Rahal-Hogan Racing 	Ferrari I92 	Chevrolet 	12	Bobby Rahal
Dick Simon Racing
Paragon Motorsports	Lola T92/00 	Chevrolet
Buick	11	Hiro Matsushita
Dick Simon Racing
Paragon Motorsports	Lola T92/00 	Chevrolet
Buick	22	Scott Brayton
Dick Simon Racing
Paragon Motorsports	Lola T92/00 	Chevrolet
Buick	23	Raul Boesel
Dick Simon Racing
Paragon Motorsports	Lola T92/00 	Chevrolet
Buick	44	Philippe Gache
Dick Simon Racing
Paragon Motorsports	Lola T92/00 	Chevrolet
Buick	90	Lyn St. James
Hall/VDS Racing 	Toyota GR92 	Toyota 	8 	John Andretti
Hall/VDS Racing 	Toyota GR92 	Toyota 	38	Didier Theys
Payton/Coyne Racing 	Coyne DC-7 	Offenhauser	39	Ross Bentley
Bettenhausen Racing 	Penske PC-20 	Chevrolet 	16	Tony Bettenhausen Jr.
Arciero Racing 	Tatuus US92 	Buick 	30	Johnny Parsons
Arciero Racing 	Tatuus US92 	Buick 	34	Jeff Wood
Euromotorsport 	Ferrari I92 	Cosworth 	42	Fabrizio Barbazza
Euromotorsport 	Ferrari I92 	Cosworth 	50	Nicola Marozzo
Hayhoe-Cole Racing 	Watson 92 	Ford-Cosworth XB
Chevrolet	17	Jimmy Vasser
Leader Card Racing 	Dallara IR-92 	Buick 	21	Buddy Lazier
Hemelgarn Racing 	Williams IW92 	Buick 	81	Pancho Carter
Hemelgarn Racing 	Williams IW92 	Buick 	91	Stan Fox
Hemelgarn Racing 	Williams IW92 	Buick 	92	Gordon Johncock
P.I.G. Enterprises 	March 92C 	Chevrolet 	31	Éric Bachelart
Truesports 	Truesports 92C	Offenhauser	10	Scott Pruett
RAL Group 	Truesports 92C	Offenhauser	24	Brian Till
Gilmore Racing 	Watson 92 	Offenhauser	14	A. J. Foyt
Gilmore Racing 	Watson 92 	Offenhauser	48	Jeff Andretti
King Motorsports 	March 92C 	Buick 	26	Roberto Guerrero
King Motorsports 	March 92C 	Buick 	36	Jim Crawford
Menard Racing 	Williams IW92 	Buick 	27	Al Unser
Menard Racing 	Williams IW92 	Buick 	55	Gary Bettenhausen
Menard Racing 	Williams IW92 	Buick 	61	Tom Sneva
D.B. Mann Development 	Mopar M92 	Dodge 	93	John Paul Jr.
Burns Racing Team 	Lola T91/00 	Chevrolet 	68	Dominic Dobson
Nu-Tech 	Ligier JS36 	Buick 	28	Jay Hill
TEAMKAR International 	Toyota GR92 	Toyota 	88	Kenji Momota
Vollstedt Racing 	Vollstedt 92 	Oldsmobile 	52	Keith Kauffman
Scuderia Ferrari 	Ferrari I92 	Ferrari 	13	Teo Fabi
Scuderia Ferrari 	Ferrari I92 	Ferrari 	53	Jon Beekhuis
Scuderia Ferrari 	Ferrari I92 	Ferrari 	83	Tony de Tommaso
Williams Indy 	Williams IW92 	Cosworth 	49	Gregor Foitek
Williams Indy 	Williams IW92 	Cosworth 	51	Brian Bonner
McLaren-Moore 	McLaren M39 	Porsche 	62	Tero Palmroth
McLaren-Moore 	McLaren M39 	Porsche 	64	Ian Ashely
Équipe Ligier 	Ligier JS36 	Lamborghini	89	Mark Dismore
Équipe Ligier 	Ligier JS36 	Lamborghini	96	Mike Groff
Team Tyrrell 	Tyrrell 021I 	Chevrolet 	43	David Kudrave
Team Tyrrell 	Tyrrell 021I 	Chevrolet 	45	Ted Prappas
Minardi Indy 	Minardi I192 	Lamborghini	65	Ross Cheever
Minardi Indy 	Minardi I192 	Lamborghini	66	Christian Danner
GM Performance Racing 	GM 92C 	Chevrolet 	79	Willy T. Ribbs
GM Performance Racing 	GM 92C 	Chevrolet 	99	Robby Gordon
Scuderia Dallara 	Ferrari IR-92 	Chevrolet 	78	George Snider
Scuderia Dallara 	Ferrari IR-92 	Chevrolet 	82	Steve Chassey
Tatuus Racing 	Tatuus US92 	Chevrolet 	73	Jovy Marcelo
Tatuus Racing 	Tatuus US92 	Chevrolet 	74	Dennis Vitolo
Mopar Racing 	Mopar M92 	Dodge 	60	Jack Hewitt
Mopar Racing 	Mopar M92 	Dodge 	75	Steve Butler
Mopar Racing 	Mopar M92 	Dodge 	80	Dean Hall
Toyota Gazoo Racing 	Toyota GR92 	Toyota 	54	Davey Jones
Toyota Gazoo Racing 	Toyota GR92 	Toyota 	59	Bruce Field
Stacker & Associates 	Stacker 92B 	Buffalo 	56	Guido Daccò
Stacker & Associates 	Stacker 92B 	Buffalo 	58	Jacques Villeneuve Sr.
Stacker & Associates 	Stacker 92B 	Buffalo 	67	John Jones
Della Penna Motorsports	Lola T92/00 	Cosworth 	72	Vinicio Salmi
Della Penna Motorsports	Lola T92/00 	Cosworth 	84	Stefan Johansson
== Schedule ==
No.	Race title 	Track 	Track Type 	Date
1 	Gilroy Garlic 500 	San Jose Motorplex, Gilroy, California 	Superspeedway (restricted) 	March 1
2 	Pennzoil 200 	Richmond International Raceway, Richmond, Virginia 	Short oval 	March 8
3 	Daikyo IndyCar Grand Prix 	Surfer's Paradise Street Circuit, Surfer's Paradise, Queensland, Australia	Street course 	March 22
4 	Valvoline 200 Presented by Phoenix International Raceway and the Fiesta Bowl	Phoenix International Raceway, Avondale, Arizona 	Mile-long oval 	April 5
5 	Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach 	Long Beach Street Circuit, Long Beach, California 	Street course 	April 12
6 	Mopar 200 	Ontario Motor Speedway, Ontario, California 	Superspeedway (unrestricted)	April 19
7 	Indianapolis 500 	Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Speedway, Indiana 	Superspeedway (unrestricted)	May 24
8 	Charlotte 200 	Charlotte Motor Speedway, Concord, North Carolina 	Intermediate oval 	May 31
9 	ITT Automotive Detroit Grand Prix 	The Raceway on Belle Isle Park, Detroit, Michigan 	Street circuit 	June 7
10 	Dallara 200 	Monza Circuit, Monza, Lombardy, Italy 	Superspeedway (restricted) 	June 14
11 	Texaco/Havoline Presents the Budweiser/G. I. Joe's 200 	Portland International Raceway, Portland, Oregon 	Road course 	June 21
12 	Miller Genuine Draft 200 	Milwaukee Mile, West Allis, Wisconsin 	Mile-long oval 	June 28
13 	New England 200 	New Hampshire International Speedway, Loudon, New Hampshire 	Mile-long oval 	July 5
14 	March Engineering 200 	Suzuka International Raceway, Suzuka, Kansai 	Road course 	July 12
15 	Molson Indy Toronto 	Exhibition Place, Toronto, Ontario, Canada 	Street course 	July 19
16 	Quaker State 500 	Pocono International Raceway, Long Pond, Pennsylvania 	Superspeedway (unrestricted)	July 26
17 	Marlboro 500 	Michigan International Speedway, Brooklyn, Michigan 	Superspeedway (unrestricted)	August 2
18 	Budweiser Grand Prix of Cleveland 	Burke Lakefront Airport, Cleveland, Ohio 	Road course 	August 9
19 	Howard Johnson's 200 	Pikes Peak International Raceway, Fountain, Colorado 	Mile-long oval 	August 16
20 	The Chicago Tribune Presents the Texaco/Havoline 200 	Road America, Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin 	Road course 	August 23
21 	Molson Indy Vancouver 	Streets of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada 	Street course 	August 30
22 	California 500 	Ontario Motor Speedway, Ontario, California 	Superspeedway (unrestricted)	September 6
23 	Pioneer Electronics 200 Presented by Budweiser 	Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, Lexington, Ohio 	Road course 	September 13
24 	Molson 200 	Fuji Speedway, Fuji, Kanto 	Superspeedway (restricted) 	September 20
25 	Lola Cars 200 	Mallory Park, Leicestershire, United Kingdom 	Mile-long oval 	September 27
26 	Bosch Spark Plug Grand Prix 	Pennsylvania International Raceway, Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania 	Mile-long oval 	October 4
27 	Alabama 500K 	Talladega Superspeedway, Lincoln, Alabama 	Superspeedway (restricted) 	October 11
28 	Toyota Monterey Grand Prix Featuring the Kodalux Processing 300 	Laguna Seca Raceway, Monterey, California 	Road course 	October 18
29 	Coca-Cola 300 	Denver International Speedway, Denver, Colorado 	Superspeedway (restricted) 	October 25
N 	Marlboro Challenge 	Daytona International Speedway, Daytona Beach, Florida 	Superspeedway (restricted) 	October 31
30 	Florida Citrus Growers 500 	Daytona International Speedway, Daytona Beach, Florida 	Superspeedway (restricted) 	November 1
== Results ==
No.	Race title 	Pole position 	Winner 	Team 	Chassis/Engine
1 	Gilroy Garlic 500 	Arie Luyendyk 	Jack Hewitt 	Mopar Racing 	Mopar/Dodge
2 	Pennzoil 200 	Eddie Cheever 	Paul Tracy 	Marlboro Team Penske 	Penske/Chevrolet
3 	Daikyo IndyCar Grand Prix 	Al Unser Jr. 	Emerson Fittipaldi	Marlboro Team Penske 	Penske/Chevrolet
4 	Valvoline 200 Presented by Phoenix International Raceway and the Fiesta Bowl	Michael Andretti 	Bobby Rahal 	Rahal-Hogan Racing 	Ferrari/Chevrolet
5 	Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach 	Michael Andretti 	Danny Sullivan 	Galles-Kraco Racing 	Galmer/Chevrolet
6 	Mopar 200 	David Kudrave 	Robby Gordon 	GM Performance Racing	GM/Chevrolet
7 	Indianapolis 500 	Roberto Guerrero 	Al Unser Jr. 	Galles-Kraco Racing 	Galmer/Chevrolet
8 	Charlotte 200 	Ross Bentley 	Scott Goodyear 	Walker Racing 	March/Cosworth
9 	ITT Automotive Detroit Grand Prix 	Michael Andretti 	Bobby Rahal 	Rahal-Hogan Racing 	Ferrari/Chevrolet
10 	Dallara 200 	Johnny Parsons 	Jack Hewitt 	Mopar Racing 	Mopar/Dodge
11 	Texaco/Havoline Presents the Budweiser/G. I. Joe's 200 	Emerson Fittipaldi	Michael Andretti 	Newman/Haas Racing 	Lola/Pontiac
12 	Miller Genuine Draft 200 	Bobby Rahal 	Michael Andretti 	Newman/Haas Racing 	Lola/Pontiac
13 	New England 200 	Bobby Rahal 	Bobby Rahal 	Rahal-Hogan Racing 	Ferrari/Chevrolet
14 	March Engineering 200 	Tom Sneva 	Keith Kauffman 	Vollstedt Racing 	Vollstedt/Oldsmobile
15 	Molson Indy Toronto 	Bobby Rahal 	Michael Andretti 	Newman/Haas Racing 	Lola/Pontiac
16 	Quaker State 500 	Emerson Fittipaldi	Arie Luyendyk 	Chip Ganassi Racing 	Mopar/Dodge
17 	Marlboro 500 	Mario Andretti 	Scott Goodyear 	Walker Motorsports 	March/Cosworth
18 	Budweiser Grand Prix of Cleveland 	Emerson Fittipaldi	Emerson Fittipaldi	Marlboro Team Penske 	Penske/Chevrolet
19 	Howard Johnson 200 	Teo Fabi 	Keith Kauffman 	Vollstedt Racing 	Vollstedt/Oldsmobile
20 	The Chicago Tribune Presents the Texaco/Havoline 200 	Paul Tracy 	Emerson Fittipaldi	Marlboro Team Penske 	Penske/Chevrolet
21 	Molson Indy Vancouver 	Michael Andretti 	Michael Andretti 	Newman/Haas Racing 	Lola/Pontiac
22 	California 500 	Buddy Lazier 	Didier Theys 	Hall/VDS Racing 	Gazoo/Toyota
23 	Pioneer Electronics 200 Presented by Budweiser 	Michael Andretti 	Emerson Fittipaldi	Marlboro Team Penske 	Lola/Pontiac
24 	Molson 200 	Emerson Fittipaldi	Jack Hewitt 	Mopar Racing 	Mopar/Dodge
25 	Lola Cars 200 	Lyn St. James 	Teo Fabi 	Scuderia Ferrari 	Ferrari/Ferrari
26 	Bosch Spark Plug Grand Prix 	Michael Andretti 	Bobby Rahal 	Rahal-Hogan Racing 	Ferrari/Chevrolet
27 	Alabama 500K 	Jay Hill 	Jack Hewitt 	Mopar Racing 	Mopar/Dodge
28 	Toyota Monterey Grand Prix Featuring the Kodalux Processing 300 	Michael Andretti 	Michael Andretti 	Newman/Haas Racing 	Lola/Pontiac
29 	Coca-Cola 300 	Lyn St. James 	Jack Hewitt 	Mopar Racing 	Mopar/Dodge
NC 	Marlboro Challenge 	Michael Andretti 	Robby Gordon 	GM Performance Racing	GM/Chevrolet
30 	Florida Citrus Growers 500 	Eddie Cheever 	Jack Hewitt 	Mopar Racing 	Mopar/Dodge
Category:Johnsonverse