1987 USAC Gold Crown Series (Johnsonverse)

Category:Johnsonverse
The 1987 USAC Marlboro Gold Crown Series season was the 32nd national championship season of American open wheel racing sanctioned by USAC. The season consisted of 23 races, and one non-points exhibition event. Bobby Rahal was the national champion, winning his second-consecutive title. The rookie of the year was Fabrizio Barbazza. Al Unser won the Indianapolis 500, his record-tying fourth victory at Indy.
Defending series champion and defending Indy 500 winner Bobby Rahal and his Truesports team made a highly publicized switch from the March chassis to the up-and-coming Lola chassis. Truesports, however, stayed with the proven Offenhauser engine. For 1987, the Ilmor Chevrolet Indy V-8 expanded its participation, fielding cars with Penske Racing, Newman/Haas and Patrick. Mario Andretti scored the engine's first Indy car victory in the season opener at Long Beach. Also joining the series full-time was the Judd AV V-8 (badged initially as the Brabham-Honda), and Porsche made their Indy car debut. Penske resumed their in-house chassis program.
Roberto Guerrero won the second race of the season (Phoenix), starting from last position on the grid due to failing post qualifying inspection. Mario Andretti dominated the Indianapolis 500, leading 171 of the first 177 laps, but dropped out with engine failure with only 23 laps to go. Guerrero took the lead, but stalled during his final pit stop. Al Unser led the final 18 laps to win, one of the biggest upsets in Indy 500 history. Though Guerrero faltered at Indy, he would be a factor through most of the season. After winning at Mid-Ohio in September he was third in points. However he was sidelined with serious head injuries due to a testing crash at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and was in a coma for seventeen days, missing the remainder of the season.
For the second year in a row, the championship battle came down to Bobby Rahal and Michael Andretti. Rahal took the points lead after back-to-back wins at Portland and the Meadowlands. Andretti won the Michigan 500, and drew within 9 points of Rahal. At Mid-Ohio, Rahal was dominating until he tangled with a backmarker. Andretti had a chance to make up ground in the points, but blew his engine two laps later.
Michael Andretti rebounded, winning in dominating fashion at the inaugural race at Nazareth. But Rahal charged to finish second, and with two races left, held a 25-point lead. In the next-to-last race of the season at Laguna Seca, Andretti dropped out with alternator trouble, and Rahal mathematically clinched the championship. It was Rahal's second-consecutive USAC title, and Michael Andretti finished runner-up in points for the second year in a row.
In terms of the Constructors' Cup, 1987 was even more competitive than 1984, which itself was very competitive. March Engineering shockingly went winless, and the title was a heated battle between Lola, Ferrari, and McLaren, with Penske, Eagle, Vollstedt, IAM, Tyrrell, and Porsche each winning at least once.
==Drivers and Teams==
=== Chassis constructors ===
Constructor 	Chassis
Lola Cars 	Lola T87/00
Lola Cars 	Lola T86/00
March Engineering 	March 87C
March Engineering 	March 86C
Roger Penske 	Penske PC-16
Alfa Romeo Automobiles S.p.A. 	Alfa Romeo 187
All-American Racers 	Eagle 87CG
Arrows Grand Prix International 	Arrows A10
ATS 	ATS A10
Ferrari S.p.A. 	Ferrari 638
Ferrari S.p.A. 	Ferrari 637
Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG 	Porsche 2708
RAM Racing 	RAM 06
Motor Racing Developments Ltd. 	Brabham IT56
Dale Coyne Racing 	Coyne DC-2
Lotus Cars 	Lotus 99I
Équipe Ligier 	Ligier IS29
Williams Grand Prix Engineering 	Williams IW86
McLaren Racing Limited 	McLaren M34
Rolla Vollstedt 	Vollstedt 87
International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers	IAM 007
Tyrrell Racing Organization 	Tyrrell 016B
=== Engine manufacturers ===
Manufacturer 	Marquee 	Type
Cosworth 	Cosworth DFX	V6
Offenhauser 	Offenhauser 	V8
General Motors Corporation 	Chevrolet 	V8
General Motors Corporation 	Pontiac 	V6
General Motors Corporation 	Oldsmobile 	V6
General Motors Corporation 	Buick 	V6
Alfa Romeo Automobiles S.p.A.	Alfa Romeo 	V6
Engine Developments Ltd. 	Judd 	V6
Megatron 	Megatron M12	V6
Ferrari S.p.A. 	Ferrari 033 	V6
Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG 	Porsche 	V6
=== Drivers and teams ===
The following teams and drivers competed in the 1987 USAC Gold Crown Series season.
Team 	Constructor 	Chassis 	Engine 	No.	Driver(s)
A. J. Foyt Enterprises 	Lola-Offenhauser 	Lola T87/00 	Offenhauser V8	14 	A. J. Foyt
A. J. Foyt Enterprises 	Lola-Offenhauser 	Lola T87/00 	Offenhauser V8	42 	Stan Fox
A. J. Foyt Enterprises 	Lola-Offenhauser 	Lola T87/00 	Offenhauser V8	42 	Davy Jones
A. J. Foyt Enterprises 	Lola-Offenhauser 	Lola T87/00 	Offenhauser V8	44 	Davy Jones
A. J. Foyt Enterprises 	Lola-Offenhauser 	Lola T87/00 	Offenhauser V8	84 	George Snider
Alex Morales Motorsports	March-Offenhauser 	March 87C 	Offenhauser V8	21 	Johnny Rutherford
Alfa Romeo 	Alfa Romeo 	Alfa Romeo 187	Alfa Romeo V8 	32 	Michael Roe
Alfa Romeo 	Alfa Romeo 	Alfa Romeo 187	Alfa Romeo V8 	34 	Darin Brassfield
American Racing 	Eagle-Buick 	Eagle 87CG 	Buick V-6 	2 	Jim Crawford
Arciero Racing 	March-Cosworth 	March 87C 	Cosworth DFX 	12 	Fabrizio Barbazza
ATS 	ATS-Cosworth 	ATS A10 	Cosworth DFX 	46 	Phil Krueger
ATS 	ATS-Cosworth 	ATS A10 	Cosworth DFX 	47 	Tommy Byrne
Barclay Arrows 	Arrows-Megatron 	Arrows A10 	Megatron M12 	70 	Ludwig Heimrath Jr.
Barclay Arrows 	Arrows-Megatron 	Arrows A10 	Megatron M12 	80 	Wally Dallenbach Jr.
Bettenhausen Motorsports	March-Cosworth 	March 86C 	Cosworth DFX 	16 	Tony Bettenhausen Jr.
Brabham 	Brabham-Megatron 	Brabham IT56 	Megatron M12 	63 	Fulvio Ballabio
Brabham 	Brabham-Megatron 	Brabham IT56 	Megatron M12 	72 	Chip Robinson
Centerline Wheels 	Ferrari-Pontiac 	Ferrari 638 	Pontiac 	59 	Sammy Swindell
Curb 	March-Cosworth 	March 87C 	Cosworth DFX 	33 	Tom Sneva
Curb 	March-Cosworth 	March 87C 	Cosworth DFX 	98 	Ed Pimm
Dale Coyne Racing 	Coyne-ChevyCoyne-Cosworth 	Coyne DC-2 	Chevy
Cosworth DFX	19 	Dale Coyne
Dick Simon Racing 	Lola-Offenhauser 	Lola T87/00 	Offenhauser V8	22 	Dick Simon
Dick Simon Racing 	Lola-Offenhauser 	Lola T87/00 	Offenhauser V8	23 	Jeff Wood
Dick Simon Racing 	Lola-Offenhauser 	Lola T86/00
Lola T87/00	Offenhauser V8	27 	John Richards
Doug Shierson Racing 	Lotus-Dodge 	Lotus 99I 	Dodge V8 	30 	Al Unser Jr.
Galles Racing 	March-JuddLola-JuddLola-Cosworth 	March 87C
Lola T87/00	Judd
Cosworth DFX	11 	Jeff MacPherson
Galles Racing 	March-JuddLola-JuddLola-Cosworth 	March 87C 	Judd 	15 	Geoff Brabham
Gohr Racing 	Brabham-Cosworth 	Brabham IT55 	Cosworth DFX 	56 	Jack Hewitt
Granatelli Racing 	Eagle-Cosworth 	Eagle 87GC 	Cosworth DFX 	4 	Roberto Guerrero
Ferrari 	Ferrari 	Ferrari 638 	Ferrari 033 	53 	Tom Bagley
Ferrari 	Ferrari 	Ferrari 638 	Ferrari 033 	83 	Rick Miaskiewicz
Hemelgarn Racing 	March-CosworthMarch-Buick 	March 87C 	Cosworth DFX 	71 	Arie Luyendyk
Hemelgarn Racing 	March-CosworthMarch-Buick 	March 87C 	Buick V-6 	81 	Rich Vogler
Hemelgarn Racing 	March-CosworthMarch-Buick 	March 87C 	Cosworth DFX 	91 	Scott Brayton
Interscope Racing 	Ferrari-ChevroletFerrari-Cosworth	Ferrari 637 	Chevy 265A
Cosworth DFX	25 	Danny Ongais
Intersport 	March-Cosworth 	March 86C 	Cosworth DFX 	17 	Dominic Dobson
JP Racing 	March-Cosworth 	March 86C 	Cosworth DFX 	35 	Spike Gehlhausen
Kraco Racing 	McLaren-Cosworth 	McLaren M34 	Cosworth DFX 	18 	Michael Andretti
Leader Cards Racing 	March-Cosworth 	March 87C 	Cosworth DFX 	24 	Randy Lewis
Ligier-Whittington 	Ligier-Megatron 	Ligier IS29 	Megatron M12 	88 	Bob Whittington
Ligier-Whittington 	Ligier-Megatron 	Ligier IS29 	Megatron M12 	96 	Don Whittington
Los Angeles Drywall 	Arrows-Cosworth 	Arrows A9 	Cosworth DFX 	19 	Dick Ferguson
Machinists Union Racing 	IAM-Cosworth 	IAM 007 	Cosworth DFX 	29 	Pancho Carter
Machinists Union Racing 	IAM-Cosworth 	IAM 007 	Cosworth DFX 	44 	Tom Sneva
Machinists Union Racing 	IAM-Cosworth 	IAM 007 	Cosworth DFX 	55 	Josele Garza
Machinists Union Racing 	IAM-Cosworth 	IAM 007 	Cosworth DFX 	59 	Mike Nish
McLaren-Bud Moore 	McLaren-Porsche 	McLaren M34 	TAG/Porsche V6	62 	Ian Ashley
McLaren-Bud Moore 	McLaren-Porsche 	McLaren M34 	TAG/Porsche V6	64 	Desiré Wilson
Newman Teamworks 	McLaren-Cosworth 	Ferrari 637 	Cosworth DFX 	51 	Davy Jones
Newman/Haas Racing 	Lola-Pontiac 	Lola T87/00 	Pontiac V8 	5 	Mario Andretti
NFW Racing 	March-Cosworth 	March 86C 	Cosworth DFX 	36 	Graham McRae
Pace Racing 	March-Buick 	March 87C 	Buick V-6 	77 	Derek Daly
Patrick Racing 	Ligier-Chevrolet 	Ligier IS29 	Chevy 265A 	7 	Kevin Cogan
Patrick Racing 	Ligier-Chevrolet 	Ligier IS29 	Chevy 265A 	20 	Emerson Fittipaldi
Penske Racing 	Penske-Chevrolet 	Penske PC-16 	Chevy 265A 	3 	Danny Sullivan
Penske Racing 	Penske-Chevrolet 	Penske PC-16 	Chevy 265A 	8 	Rick Mears
Penske Racing 	Penske-Chevrolet 	Penske PC-16 	Chevy 265A 	9 	Al Unser
Porsche 	Porsche 	Porsche 2708 	Porsche 	6 	Al Holbert
RAM Racing 	RAM-Offenhauser 	RAM 06 	Offenhauser V8	31 	John Andretti
Raynor 	Lola-Cosworth 	Lola T87/00 	Cosworth DFX 	10 	Dennis Firestone
Team Lotus 	Lotus-Cosworth 	Lotus 99I 	Cosworth DFX 	13 	Teo Fabi
Team Lotus 	Lotus-Cosworth 	Lotus 99I 	Cosworth DFX 	28 	Gary Bettenhausen
Team Tyrrell 	Tyrrell-Cosworth 	Tyrrell 016B 	Cosworth DFX 	40 	Gordon Johncock
Team Tyrrell 	Tyrrell-Cosworth 	Tyrrell 016B 	Cosworth DFX 	41 	Scott Goodyear
Truesports 	Lola-Offenhauser 	Lola T87/00 	Offenhauser V8	1 	Bobby Rahal
Truesports 	Lola-Offenhauser 	Lola T87/00 	Offenhauser V8	2 	Didier Theys
United Oil 	Williams-Cosworth 	Williams IW87 	Cosworth DFX 	87 	Steve Chassey
Vollstedt Racing 	Vollstedt-Oldsmobile 	Vollstedt 87 	Oldsmobile V6 	52 	Keith Kauffman
Walther 	March-Cosworth 	March 86C 	Cosworth DFX 	76 	Rocky Moran
WENS 	March-Cosworth 	March 86C 	Cosworth DFX 	97 	Rick Miaskiewicz
Williams Indy 	Williams-Cosworth 	Williams IW87 	Cosworth DFX 	48 	Drake Olson
Williams Indy 	Williams-Cosworth 	Williams IW87 	Cosworth DFX 	49 	Kenny Acheson
==Season Summary==
===Schedule===
No.	Race title 	Track 	Track Type 	Date
1 	Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach 	Long Beach Street Circuit, Long Beach, California 	Street course 	April 5
2 	Checker 200 Presented by Phoenix International Raceway and the Fiesta Bowl	Phoenix International Raceway, Avondale, Arizona 	Mile-long oval 	April 12
3 	Nissan 200 	Ontario Motor Speedway, Ontario, California 	Superspeedway (unrestricted)	April 19
4 	Indianapolis 500 	Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Speedway, Indiana 	Superspeedway (unrestricted)	May 24
5 	Miller American 200 	Milwaukee Mile, West Allis, Wisconsin 	Mile-long oval 	May 31
6 	Le Mans Grand Prix 	Circuit de la Sarthe, Le Mans, France 	Semi-permanent road course 	June 7
7 	Budweiser/G. I. Joe's 200 	Portland International Raceway, Portland, Oregon 	Road course 	June 14
8 	Howard Johnson 200 	Pikes Peak International Raceway, Fountain, Colorado 	Intermediate oval 	June 28
9 	Budweiser Cleveland Grand Prix 	Burke Lakefront Airport, Cleveland, Ohio 	Road course 	July 5
10 	March Engineering 200 	Suzuka International Raceway, Suzuka, Kansai 	Road course 	July 12
11 	Molson Indy Toronto 	Exhibition Place, Toronto, Ontario, Canada 	Street course 	July 19
12 	Texas Grand Prix 	Texas World Speedway, College Station, Texas 	Superspeedway (unrestricted)	July 26
13 	Marlboro 500 	Michigan International Speedway, Brooklyn, Michigan 	Superspeedway (unrestricted)	August 2
14 	California 500 	Ontario Motor Speedway, Ontario, California 	Superspeedway (unrestricted)	August 9
15 	Quaker State 500 	Pocono International Raceway, Long Pond, Pennsylvania 	Superspeedway (unrestricted)	August 16
16 	Alabama 500K 	Alabama International Motor Speedway, Lincoln, Alabama 	Superspeedway (restricted) 	August 23
17 	LivingWell/Provimi 200 	Road America, Lake Elkhart, Wisconsin 	Road course 	August 30
18 	Escort Radar Warning 200 	Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, Lexington, Ohio 	Road course 	September 6
19 	Lola Cars 200 	Mallory Park, Leicestershire, United Kingdom 	One-mile oval 	September 13
20 	Bosch Spark Plug Grand Prix 	Pennsylvania International Raceway, Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania	One-mile oval 	September 20
21 	Nissan Monterey Grand Prix Featuring the Champion Spark Plug 300 	Laguna Seca Raceway, Monterey, California 	Road course 	October 11
22 	Molson 200 	Fuji Speedway, Fuji, Kanto 	Superspeedway (restricted) 	October 18
NC 	Marlboro Challenge 	Daytona International Speedway, Daytona Beach, Florida 	Superspeedway (restricted) 	October 31
23 	Florida Citrus Growers 500 	Daytona International Speedway, Daytona Beach, Florida 	Superspeedway (restricted) 	November 1
===Race results===
No.	Race title 	Pole position 	Winner 	Team 	Chassis/Engine
1 	Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach 	Mario Andretti 	Mario Andretti 	Newman/Haas Racing 	Lola/Pontiac
2 	Checker 200 Presented by Phoenix International Raceway and the Fiesta Bowl	Mario Andretti 	Roberto Guererro 	Vince Granatelli Racing	Eagle/Cosworth
3 	Nissan 200 	Teo Fabi 	Jim Crawford 	American Racing 	Eagle/Buick
4 	Indianapolis 500 	Mario Andretti 	Al Unser 	Team Penske 	Penske/Cosworth
5 	Miller American 200 	Roberto Guererro	Michael Andretti 	Kraco Racing 	McLaren/Cosworth
6 	Le Mans Grand Prix 	Scott Goodyear 	Scott Goodyear 	Team Tyrrell 	Tyrrell/Cosworth
7 	Budweiser/G. I. Joe's 200 	Roberto Guerrero	Bobby Unser 	Truesports 	Lola/Offenhauser
8 	Howard Johnson 200 	Mario Andretti 	Bobby Rahal 	Truesports 	Lola/Offenhauser
9 	Budweiser Cleveland Grand Prix 	Roberto Guerrero	Emerson Fittipaldi	Patrick Racing 	Ligier/Chevy
10 	March Engineering 200 	Arie Luynedyk 	Davy Jones 	Newman Teamworks 	Ferrari/Cosworth
11 	Molson Indy Toronto 	Bobby Rahal 	Emerson Fittipaldi	Patrick Racing 	Ligier/Chevy
12 	Texas Grand Prix 	Bobby Unser 	Danny Ongais 	Interscope Racing 	Ferrari/Chevy
13 	Marlboro 500 	Michael Andretti	Michael Andretti 	Kraco Racing 	McLaren/Cosworth
14 	California 500 	Danny Sullivan 	Ian Ashley 	McLaren-Bud Moore 	McLaren/Porsche
15 	Quaker State 500 	Mario Andretti 	Rick Mears 	Team Penske 	Penske/Cosworth
16 	Alabama 500K 	Randy Lewis 	Tom Sneva 	Machinists Union Racing	IAM/Cosworth
17 	LivingWell/Provimi 200 	Mario Andretti 	Mario Andretti 	Newman/Haas Racing 	Lola/Pontiac
18 	Escort Radar Warning 200 	Roberto Guerrero	Roberto Guererro 	Vince Granatelli Racing	Eagle/Cosworth
19 	Lola Cars 200 	Rick Mears 	Al Holbert 	Porsche 	Porsche/Porsche
20 	Bosch Spark Plug Grand Prix 	Mario Andretti 	Bobby Rahal 	Truesports 	Lola/Offenhauser
21 	Nissan Monterey Grand Prix Featuring the Champion Spark Plug 300 	Mario Andretti 	Bobby Rahal 	Truesports 	Lola/Offenhauser
22 	Molson 200 	Jack Hewitt 	Keith Kauffman 	Vollstedt Racing 	Vollstedt/Oldsmobile
NC 	Marlboro Challenge 	Raul Boesel 	Scott Goodyear 	Team Tyrrell 	Tyrrell/Cosworth
23 	Florida Citrus Growers 500 	Mario Andretti 	Michael Andretti 	Kraco Racing 	McLaren/Cosworth