1979 USAC Championship Car Season (Johnsonverse)

The 1979 USAC Championship Car season was the 24th national championship season of American open wheel racing sanctioned by USAC. The season consisted of 23 races, beginning at Phoenix International Raceway on March 11 and concluding at Texas World Speedway on November 11. The USAC National Champion and the Indianapolis 500 winner was Rick Mears.
The 1979 season was the first run following USAC's acquisition by Johnson Industries. Immediate changes included an expanded schedule, new rule changes, and all races being televised live flag-to-flag on WBC. The resulting rule changes went on to create one of the most competitive and memorable USAC seasons, with the virtual monopoly on race wins held by Penske Racing irrevokably broken, and smaller teams running on more equal footing with the "superteams".
== Confirmed entries ==
=== Chassis constructors ===
Constructor 	Chassis 	First year
Grant King 	Kingfish 73 	1973
Roman Slobodynsky 	Lightning Mk1/77	1977
Dan Gurney 	Eagle 68 	1968
Dan Gurney 	Eagle 72 	1972
Dan Gurney 	Eagle 74 	1974
Dan Gurney 	Eagle 78 MkII 	1977
Dan Gurney 	Spyder Eagle 	????
Bob Riley 	Wildcat Mk. II 	1976
Bob Riley 	Coyote IV 	1973
George Bignotti 	Wildcat Mk. I 	1975
George Bignotti 	Wildcat Mk. III 	1977
Chaparral Cars 	Chaparral 2K 	1979
March Engineering 	March 73 	1973
Lola Cars 	Lola 500T 	1978
Don Gates 	Antares 72 	1972
John Barnard 	Parnelli VPJ6B 	1976
John Barnard 	Parnelli VPJ6CT 	1977
McLaren 	McLaren M16C/D 	1973
McLaren 	McLaren M16E 	1975
McLaren 	McLaren M24 	1977
McLaren 	McLaren M24B 	1978
American Motor Corporation	Spirit 78 	1978
Walter Medlin 	Cicada Mk. IV 	1973
Rolla Vollstedt 	Vollstedt 73 	1973
Rolla Vollstedt 	Vollstedt 77 	1977
Roger Penske 	Penske PC-5/77 	1977
Roger Penske 	Penske PC-6/78 	1978
Roger Penske 	Penske PC-8/79 	1979
=== Engine manufacturers ===
Manufacturer 	Marquee 	Type
General Motors 	Chevrolet 	V8
American Motor Company	AMC 	V8
Cosworth 	Cosworth 	V6
Offenhauser 	Offenhauser	I4
Drake-Goossen-Sparks 	DGS 	V6
A. J. Foyt 	Foyt 	V8
Team 	Chassis 	Engine 	No.	Drivers
Agajanian-King Racers 	Kingfish 73 	Chevrolet 	97 	Phil Threshie
Agajanian-King Racers 	Kingfish 73 	Chevrolet 	98 	Gary Bettenhausen
Alex Morales Co. 	Lightning Mk1/77	Offenhauser	10 	Pancho Carter
Alex Morales Co. 	Lightning Mk1/77	Offenhauser	15 	Bob Harkey
All-American Racers 	Eagle 78 MkII 	Cosworth 	36 	Mike Mosley
AMI Racing 	Lola T500B 	Cosworth 	44 	Tom Bigelow
AMI Racing 	Lola T500B 	Cosworth 	45 	Janet Guthrie
AMI Racing 	Wildcat Mk. II 	DGS 	46 	Howdy Holmes
B/M Enterprises 	Antares 72 	Offenhauser	50 	Frank Weiss
B/M Enterprises 	Antares 72 	Offenhauser	50 	Eldon Rasmussen
Beaudoin Racing 	Wildcat Mk. II 	DGS 	83 	Billy Engelhart
Beith Racing 	Eagle 72 	Offenhauser	28 	Billy Scott
Bruce Crower 	Eagle 74 	Chevrolet 	57 	Jerry Sneva
Cannon Racing Team 	Wildcat Mk. I 	DGS 	95 	Larry Cannon
Chaparral Racing 	Chaparral 2K
Lola T500	Cosworth 	2 	Al Unser
Conqueste Racing 	Parnelli VPJ6CT 	Cosworth 	21 	Lee Kunzman
Fletcher Racing 	Lightning Mk1/77	Cosworth 	7 	Steve Krisiloff
Fletcher Racing 	Lightning Mk1/77	Cosworth 	55 	Spike Gehlhausen
Fiore Racing 	McLaren M16C/D 	Offenhauser	88 	Ken Nichols
Frantz Auto Body 	Wildcat Mk. I 	DGS 	18 	Tom Frantz
Frantz Auto Body 	Wildcat Mk. I 	DGS 	18 	Bill Henderson
Gehlhausen-Reath Racing 	Eagle 74
Wildcat Mk. I	Offenhauser
Cosworth	19 	Spike Gehlhausen
Gehlhausen-Reath Racing 	Eagle 74
Wildcat Mk. I	Offenhauser
Cosworth	19 	Bob Harkey
Gehlhausen-Reath Racing 	Eagle 74
Wildcat Mk. I	Offenhauser
Cosworth	19 	Bill Alsup
Gehlhausen-Reath Racing 	Eagle 74
Wildcat Mk. I	Offenhauser
Cosworth	19 	Phil Caliva
Gehlhausen-Reath Racing 	Eagle 74
Wildcat Mk. I	Offenhauser
Cosworth	39 	Al Loquasto
Gibson Racing 	Eagle 74 	DGS 	75 	Todd Gibson
Gilmore Racing 	Parnelli VPJ6CT
Coyote IV	Cosworth
Foyt	15 	A.J. Foyt
Hodgson Racing 	McLaren M24 	Cosworth 	72 	Roger McCluskey
Hodgson Racing 	Spirit 78 	AMC 	73 	Neil Bonnett
Hodgson Racing 	Spirit 78 	AMC 	73 	Jerry Sneva
Hoffman Auto Racing 	Lightning Mk1/77	Offenhauser	59 	George Snider
Hoffman Auto Racing 	Lightning Mk1/77	Offenhauser	59 	Joe Saldana
Hoffman Auto Racing 	Eagle
Lightning Mk1/77	Offenhauser	69 	Joe Saldana
Hoffman Auto Racing 	Eagle
Lightning Mk1/77	Offenhauser	69 	Tim Richmond
Hoffman Auto Racing 	Eagle
Lightning Mk1/77	Offenhauser	69 	Al Loquasto
Hoffman Auto Racing 	Spyder Eagle 	Offenhauser	79 	Dick Ferguson
Hoffman Auto Racing 	Spyder Eagle 	Offenhauser	79 	Cliff Hucul
Hoffman Auto Racing 	Spyder Eagle 	Offenhauser	79 	Joe Saldana
Intercomp Racing 	Eagle 72 	Offenhauser	92 	John Mahler
Interscope Racing 	Parnelli VPJ6CT
Parnelli VPJ6B	Cosworth 	25 	Danny Ongais
Jerry O'Connell Racing 	McLaren M24 	Cosworth 	1 	Tom Sneva
Jerry O'Connell Racing 	McLaren M24B 	Cosworth 	32 	Johnny Parsons
Jim Hurtubise 	Mallard 71 	Offenhauser	56 	Jim Hurtubise
Joe Hunt 	Eagle 73 	Offenhauser	99 	Bob Harkey
Longhorn Racing 	Penske PC-6/78 	Cosworth 	11 	Tom Bagley
Longhorn Racing 	Penske PC-6/78 	Cosworth 	71 	Steve Krisiloff
Loquasto Racing 	McLaren M16C/D 	Offenhauser	86 	Al Loquasto
Medlin Racing 	Cicada Mk.IV 	Offenhauser	35 	Bill Puterbaugh
Mergard Racing 	Eagle 72 	Offenhauser	42 	Herm Johnson
Patrick Racing 	Penske PC-6/78
Wildcat Mk. V	Cosworth 	20 	Gordon Johncock
Patrick Racing 	Penske PC-6/78
Wildcat Mk. V	Cosworth 	40 	Wally Dallenbach
Patrick Racing 	Penske PC-6/78
Wildcat Mk. V	Cosworth 	60 	Roger Mears
Patrick Racing 	Penske PC-6/78
Wildcat Mk. V	Cosworth 	60 	Steve Krisiloff
Penske Racing 	Penske PC-7/79
Penske PC-6/78	Cosworth 	9 	Rick Mears
Penske Racing 	Penske PC-7/79
Penske PC-6/78	Cosworth 	12 	Bobby Unser
Penske Racing 	Penske PC-7/79
Penske PC-6/78	Cosworth 	68 	Bill Alsup
Penske Racing 	Penske PC-7/79
Penske PC-6/78	Cosworth 	99 	Mario Andretti
Polak Racing 	Penske PC-5/77 	Cosworth 	80 	Larry Dickson
Rager Racing 	Eagle 68 	Chevrolet 	66 	Roger Rager
Rasmussen Racing 	Rascar 72 	Foyt
Chevrolet	58 	Eldon Rasmussen
Raymond Reimer 	March 73A 	Chevrolet 	93 	Larry McCoy
Raymond Reimer 	March 73A 	Chevrolet 	93 	Dana Carter
Raymond Reimer 	March 73A 	Chevrolet 	93 	Jan Sneva
Rhoades Corporation 	McLaren M16E 	Offenhauser	3 	John Martin
Robert LaWarre 	Eagle 68 	Chevrolet 	60 	Tony Bettenhausen Jr.
Robert LaWarre 	McLaren M16C/D 	Offenhauser	86 	Tony Bettenhausen Jr.
Sanett Racing 	Penske PC-6/78 	Cosworth 	23 	Dick Ferguson
Sanett Racing 	Lola T500 	Cosworth 	68 	Dennis Firestone
S&M Electric 	Lightning Mk1/77	Cosworth 	31 	Larry Rice
S&M Electric 	Lightning Mk1/77	Cosworth 	31 	Tim Richmond
Team McLaren 	McLaren M24B
McLaren M24	Cosworth 	4 	Johnny Rutherford
Thunder Racing 	McLaren M16C/D 	Offenhauser	30 	Larry Dickson
Thunder Racing 	McLaren M16C/D 	Offenhauser	30 	Dana Carter
Vollstedt Racing 	Vollstedt 77 	Offenhauser	17 	Dick Simon
Vollstedt Racing 	Vollstedt 73 	Offenhauser	27 	John Martin
Vollstedt Racing 	Vollstedt 73 	AMC 	27 	George Snider
Vollstedt Racing 	Vollstedt 73 	AMC 	27 	Bob Harkey
Walmotor 	Penske PC-6/78
McLaren M24	Cosworth 	77 	Salt Walther
WASP Racing 	McLaren M16C/D 	Offenhauser	41 	Bill Alsup
Wayne Woodward 	Eagle 72 	Offenhauser	42 	Dick Ferguson
Wayne Woodward 	Eagle 74 	Offenhauser	81 	Dana Carter
Wayne Woodward 	Eagle 74 	Offenhauser	81 	Dick Ferguson
Wayne Woodward 	Eagle 74 	Offenhauser	81 	Jerry Sneva
William R. Compton 	McLaren M16C/D 	Offenhauser	38 	Jerry Karl
Whittington Bros. Racing	McLaren M24 	Offenhauser	94 	Don Whittington
Whittington Bros. Racing	Parnelli VPJ6CT 	Cosworth 	98 	Bill Whittington
Wysard Motor Co. 	Wildcat Mk. II 	DGS 	34 	Vern Schuppen
== Rule changes ==
The first season of competition under Johnson saw numerous rule changes. The biggest change was a ban on turbochargers, as Johnson considered them "steroids for internal combustion engines". The goal of this rule was to both equalize the competition, and reduce costs for teams. To make up the horsepower deficit, engine size was raised to 358 cubic inches, the same amount as NASCAR.
== Schedule ==
No.	Race Title 	Track 	Date
1 	Arizona Republic/Jimmy Brian 150	Phoenix International Raceway, Avondale, Arizona 	March 11
2 	Datsun Twin 200 	Ontario Motor Speedway, Ontario, California 	March 25
3 	Coors 200 	Texas World Speedway, College Station, Texas 	April 8
4 	Gould Twin Dixies 125 	Atlanta International Raceway, Hampton, Georgia 	April 22
5 	Gould Twin Dixies 125 	Atlanta International Raceway, Hampton, Georgia 	April 22
6 	Indianapolis 500 	Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Speedway, Indiana 	May 27
7 	Trenton Twin Indy 	Trenton Speedway, Trenton, New Jersey 	June 10
8 	Trenton Twin Indy 	Trenton Speedway, Trenton, New Jersey 	June 10
9 	Music 500 at Pocono 	Pocono International Raceway, Long Pond, Pennsylvania 	June 24
10 	Norton Twin 125s 	Michigan International Speedway, Brooklyn, Michigan 	July 15
11 	Norton Twin 125s 	Michigan International Speedway, Brooklyn, Michigan 	July 15
12 	Molson Diamond Indy 	Mosport International Raceway, Bowmanville, Ontario, Canada	July 29
13 	Kent Oil 150 	Watkins Glen International, Watkins Glen, New York 	August 5
14 	Tony Bettenhausen 200 	Wisconsin State Fair Park Speedway, West Allis, Wisconsin 	August 12
15 	Ditzler 150 	Trenton Speedway, Trenton, New Jersey 	August 19
16 	North Carolina 200 	North Carolina Motor Speedway, Rockingham, North Carolina 	August 26
17 	California 500 	Ontario Motor Speedway, Ontario, California 	September 2
18 	Goulds Grand Prix 	Michigan International Speedway, Brooklyn, Michigan 	September 15
19 	Rich's Atlanta Classic 	Atlanta International Raceway, Hampton, Georgia 	September 30
20 	Miller High Life 150 	Phoenix International Raceway, Avondale, Arizona 	October 7
21 	Molson Indy Grand Prix 	Riverside International Raceway, Riverside, California 	October 14
22 	Buffalo 150 	Marchbanks Speedway, Hanford, California 	October 21
23 	Texas Grand Prix 	Texas World Speedway, College Park, Texas 	November 11
== Results ==
No.	Race title 	Pole position 	Winner 	Team 	Chassis/Engine
1 	Arizona Republic/Jimmy Brian 150	Bobby Unser 	Gordon Johncock 	Patrick Racing 	Penske/Cosworth
2 	Datsun Twin 200 	A.J. Foyt 	Tom Sneva 	Jerry O'Connell Racing	McLaren/Cosworth
3 	Coors 200 	Rick Mears 	A.J. Foyt 	Gilmore Racing 	Coyote/Foyt
4 	Gould Twin Dixies 125 	Johnny Rutherford 	Johnny Rutherford	Team McLaren 	McLaren/Cosworth
5 	Gould Twin Dixies 125 	Set by field finish in race 1	Danny Ongais 	Interscope Racing 	Parnelli/Cosworth
6 	Indianapolis 500 	Rick Mears 	Rick Mears 	Penske Racing 	Penske/Cosworth
7 	Trenton Twin Indy 	Gordon Johncock 	Bobby Unser 	Penske Racing 	Penske/Cosworth
8 	Trenton Twin Indy 	Set by field finish in race 1	Danny Ongais 	Interscop Racing 	Parnelli/Cosworth
9 	Music 500 at Pocono 	Danny Ongais 	Jerry Karl 	William R. Compton 	McLaren/Offenhauser
10 	Norton Twin 125s 	Bobby Unser 	Gordon Johncock 	Patrick Racing 	Penske/Cosworth
11 	Norton Twin 125s 	Set by field finish in race 1	Al Unser 	Chaparral Racing 	Chaparral/Cosworth
12 	Molson Indy Diamond 	Pancho Carter 	Pancho Carter 	Alex Morales Co. 	Lightning/Offenhauser
13 	Kent Oil 150 	Al Unser 	Bobby Unser 	Penske Racing 	Penske/Cosworth
14 	Tony Bettenhausen 200 	Tom Bigelow 	Roger McCluskey 	Hodgson Racing 	McLaren/Cosworth
15 	Ditzler 150 	A.J. Foyt 	Rick Mears 	Penske Racing 	Penske/Cosworth
16 	North Carolina 200 	Pancho Carter 	Bob Harkey 	Vollstedt Racing 	Vollstedt/AMC
17 	California 500 	Rick Mears 	Bobby Unser 	Penske Racing 	Penske/Cosworth
18 	Goulds Grand Prix 	A.J. Foyt 	Tom Sneva 	Jerry O'Connell Racing	McLaren/Cosworth
19 	Rich's Atlanta Classic 	Danny Ongais 	Rick Mears 	Penske Racing 	Penske/Cosworth
20 	Miller High Life 150 	Bobby Unser 	Al Unser 	Chaparral Racing 	Chaparral/Cosworth
21 	Molson Indy Grand Prix 	Salt Walther 	Tim Richmond 	S&M Electric 	Lightning/Offenhauser
22 	Buffalo 150 	A.J. Foyt 	Mike Mosley 	All-American Racers 	Eagle/Cosworth
23 	Texas Grand Prix 	Danny Ongais 	Sheldon Kinser 	Leader Card 	Watson/Offenhauser
Category:Johnsonverse