1986 USAC Gold Crown Series (Johnsonverse)

The 1986 USAC Marlboro Gold Crown Series season was the 31st national championship season of American open wheel racing sanctioned by USAC. The season consisted of 24 races, and one non-points exhibition event. Bobby Rahal was the national champion, and the rookie of the year was Chip Robinson. Bobby Rahal won the Indianapolis 500.
The first two races of the season were won by Kevin Cogan (Phoenix) and Michael Andretti (Long Beach), respectively, the first career wins for both drivers on the USAC circuit. Rain delayed the Indianapolis 500, postponing it for six days. Bobby Rahal, driving for Truesports, passed Kevin Cogan with two laps to go, and won for car owner Jim Trueman, who was stricken with cancer. Trueman died less than two weeks later.
The season would shape up as a two-man battle between Rahal and Michael Andretti. Andretti won at Milwaukee, which put him in the points lead for the first time. On Father's Day, Andretti was leading on the final lap at Portland. His car ran out of fuel on the final turn of the final lap, and his father Mario beat him to the finish line by 0.07 seconds. It would go down in lore as one of the most shocking finishes in Indy car history, as well as the closest finish in Indy car history on a road course (until 1997).
Rahal was back in victory lane in July, winning the inaugural Molson Indy Toronto, but Michael Andretti still held the points lead. Rahal won four out of five races during a stretch in August and September, and emerged with a 9-point lead in the standings with two races left. Michael Andretti won a key victory at the second-to-last race of the season at Phoenix, while Rahal finished 3rd.
Going into the season finale at Tamiami Park, Rahal held a scant 3-point lead over Andretti. Neither driver was a factor at Miami, and just past the halfway point, Andretti dropped out with a broken halfshaft. Rahal effectively clinched the championship when Andretti dropped out. Roberto Guerrero won the pole and dominated the race, leading the first 111 laps. But on the final lap, his car sputtered and he ran out of fuel. Al Unser Jr. slipped by to steal the victory, his lone win of 1986. Unser Jr. won from 19th starting position, the furthest back any driver had won a USAC road/street course race at the time.
1986 marked the first time Offenhauser won the Manufacturers' Cup since 1976.
== Drivers and Teams ==
=== Chassis constructors ===
Constructor 	Chassis 	First year
March Engineering 	March 86C 	1986
March Engineering 	March 85C 	1985
All-American Racers 	Eagle 86CG 	1986
Lola Cars 	Lola T86/00 	1986
Ferrari S.p.A. 	Ferrari 637 	1986
McLaren Racing Limited 	McLaren M33 	1986
Tyrrell Racing Organization 	Tyrrell 015B 	1986
Roger Penske 	Penske PC-15 	1986
Équipe Ligier 	Ligier IS27 	1986
International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers	IAM 006 	1986
RAM Racing 	RAM 04 	1986
Williams Grand Prix Engineering 	Williams IW86 	1986
Dale Coyne Racing 	Coyne DC-1 	1986
Rolla Vollstedt 	Vollstedt 86 	1986
Lotus Cars 	Lotus 98I 	1986
ATS 	ATS I9 	1986
Motor Racing Developments Ltd. 	Brabham IT55 	1986
Alfa Romeo Automobiles S.p.A. 	Alfa Romeo 186I	1986
Arrows Grand Prix International 	Arrows I9 	1986
=== Engine manufacturers ===
Manufacturer 	Marquee 	Type
Cosworth 	Cosworth DFX	V6
Offenhauser 	Offenhauser 	V8
General Motors Corporation 	Chevrolet 	V8
General Motors Corporation 	Buick 	V6
General Motors Corporation 	Oldsmobile 	V6
General Motors Corporation 	Pontiac 	V6
Engine Developments Ltd. 	Judd 	V8
Chrysler Corporation 	Dodge 	V8
Ferrari S.p.A. 	Ferrari 032 	V6
Bayerische Motoren Werke AG 	BMW M12 	V6
Groupe Renault 	Renault 	V6
Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG 	TAG/Porsche 	V6
Alfa Romeo Automobiles S.p.A.	Alfa Romeo 	V6
=== Drivers and teams ===
The following teams and drivers competed in the 1986 USAC Gold Crown Series season.
Team 	Constructor 	Chassis 	Engine 	No*	Drivers
Bignotti-Cotter Racing 	March-Offenhauser 	March 86C 	Offenhauser V8 	2 	Roberto Guerrero
Curb-All American Racers 	March-CosworthEagle-Cosworth 	March 86C 	Cosworth DFX 	33 	Tom Sneva
Curb-All American Racers 	March-CosworthEagle-Cosworth 	March 86C 	Cosworth DFX 	66 	Ed Pimm
Curb-All American Racers 	March-CosworthEagle-Cosworth 	Eagle 86GC 	Cosworth DFX 	98 	Jan Lammers
Dick Simon Racing 	Ferrari-Offenhauser 	Ferrari 637 	Offenhauser V8 	22 	Raul Boesel
Dick Simon Racing 	Ferrari-Offenhauser 	Ferrari 637 	Offenhauser V8 	23 	Dick Simon
Galles Racing 	Lola-CosworthLola-Honda 	Lola T86/00 	Cosworth DFX
Honda/Judd	8 	Geoff Brabham
Galles Racing 	Lola-CosworthLola-Honda 	Lola T86/00 	Cosworth DFX 	9 	Roberto Moreno
Galles Racing 	Lola-CosworthLola-Honda 	Lola T86/00 	Cosworth DFX 	9 	Pancho Carter
Galles Racing 	Lola-CosworthLola-Honda 	Lola T86/00 	Cosworth DFX 	9 	Pancho Carter
Galles Racing 	Lola-CosworthLola-Honda 	Lola T86/00 	Cosworth DFX 	15 	Pancho Carter
Hemelgarn Racing 	Lotus-CosworthLotus-Buick 	Lotus 98I 	Cosworth DFX
Buick V-6	71 	Scott Brayton
Hemelgarn Racing 	Lotus-CosworthLotus-Buick 	Lotus 98I 	Cosworth DFX 	71 	Jacques Villeneuve Sr.
Hemelgarn Racing 	Lotus-CosworthLotus-Buick 	Lotus 98I 	Cosworth DFX 	81 	Jacques Villeneuve Sr.
Kraco Racing 	March-Cosworth 	March 86C 	Cosworth DFX 	18 	Michael Andretti
Leader Card Racing 	McLaren-Offenhauser 	McLaren M33 	Offenhauser V8 	24 	Gary Bettenhausen
Leader Card Racing 	McLaren-Offenhauser 	McLaren M33 	Offenhauser V8 	42 	Phil Krueger
Machinists Union Racing 	IAM-Cosworth 	IAM 006 	Cosworth DFX 	55 	Josele Garza
Machinists Union Racing 	IAM-Cosworth 	IAM 006 	Cosworth DFX 	59 	Chip Ganassi
Machinists Union Racing 	IAM-Cosworth 	IAM 006 	Cosworth DFX 	59 	Johnny Parsons
Machinists Union Racing 	IAM-Cosworth 	IAM 006 	Cosworth DFX 	95 	Johnny Parsons
Alex Morales Motorsports 	March-Offenhauser 	March 86C 	Offenhauser V8 	6 	Rich Vogler
Alex Morales Motorsports 	March-Offenhauser 	March 86C 	Offenhauser V8 	21 	Johnny Rutherford
Newman/Haas Racing 	Lola-Pontiac 	Lola T86/00 	Pontiac V6 	5 	Mario Andretti
Patrick Racing 	March-Cosworth 	March 86C 	Cosworth DFX 	7 	Kevin Cogan
Patrick Racing 	March-Cosworth 	March 86C 	Cosworth DFX 	20 	Emerson Fittipaldi
Penske Racing 	Penske-CosworthPenske-Chevrolet	Penske PC-15 	Cosworth DFX
Chevy 265A	1 	Rick Mears
Penske Racing 	Penske-CosworthPenske-Chevrolet	Penske PC-15 	Cosworth DFX
Chevy 265A	4 	Danny Sullivan
Penske Racing 	Penske-CosworthPenske-Chevrolet	Penske PC-15 	Chevy 265A 	11 	Al Unser
Doug Shierson Racing 	Lola-Dodge 	Lola T86/00 	Dodge V8 	30 	Al Unser Jr.
Truesports 	March-Offenhauser 	March 86C 	Offenhauser V8 	3 	Bobby Rahal
A. J. Foyt Enterprises 	Ligier-Offenhauser 	Ligier IS27 	Offenhauser V8 	14 	A. J. Foyt
A. J. Foyt Enterprises 	Ligier-Offenhauser 	Ligier IS27 	Offenhauser V8 	44 	Mike Nish
A. J. Foyt Enterprises 	Ligier-Offenhauser 	Ligier IS27 	Offenhauser V8 	84 	George Snider
Arciero Racing 	McLaren-Cosworth 	McLaren M33 	Cosworth DFX 	12 	Eddie Cheever
Bettenhausen Motorsports 	March-CosworthLola-Cosworth 	March 86C 	Cosworth DFX 	16 	Tony Bettenhausen Jr.
Bettenhausen Motorsports 	March-CosworthLola-Cosworth 	Lola T86/00
March 86C	Cosworth DFX 	61 	Arie Luyendyk
Dale Coyne Racing 	Coyne-Chevrolet 	Coyne DC-1 	Chevy 	19 	Dale Coyne
Gohr Racing 	March-BuickMarch-Cosworth 	March 86C 	Buick V-6 (Until Mid-Ohio)
Cosworth DFX	56 	John Morton
Gohr Racing 	March-BuickMarch-Cosworth 	March 85C 	Buick V-6 	65 	Rupert Keegan
J.P. Racing 	Lola-Cosworth 	Lola T900 	Cosworth DFX 	10 	Spike Gehlhausen
March Engineering 	March-Buick 	March 86C 	Buick V-6 	25 	Danny Ongais
March Engineering 	March-Buick 	March 86C 	Buick V-6 	31 	Jim Crawford
Mosquito Autosport 	RAM-Offenhauser 	RAM 04 	Offenhauser V8 	16 	Rick Miaskiewicz
Pace Racing 	Lola-Cosworth 	Lola T86/00 	Cosworth DFX 	36 	Randy Lewis
Team Menard 	Ferrari-Dodge 	Ferrari 637 	Dodge V8 	28 	Herm Johnson
Vollstedt Racing 	Vollstedt-Oldsmobile 	Vollstedt 86 	Oldsmobile V6 	52 	Keith Kauffman
Scuderia Ferrari SpA SEFAC	Ferrari 	Ferrari 637 	Ferrari 032 V6 	53 	Tom Bagley
Scuderia Ferrari SpA SEFAC	Ferrari 	Ferrari 637 	Ferrari 032 V6 	83 	Dennis Firestone
Williams Indy 	Williams-Cosworth 	Williams IW86 	Cosworth DFX 	48 	Drake Olson
Williams Indy 	Williams-Cosworth 	Williams IW86 	Cosworth DFX 	49 	Kenny Acheson
McLaren-Bud Moore 	McLaren-Porsche 	McLaren M33 	TAG/Porsche V6 	62 	Ian Ashley
McLaren-Bud Moore 	McLaren-Porsche 	McLaren M33 	TAG/Porsche V6 	64 	Desiré Wilson
Team Lotus 	Lotus-Renault 	Lotus 98I 	Renault V6 	13 	Teo Fabi
Team Lotus 	Lotus-Renault 	Lotus 98I 	Renault V6 	17 	Dominic Dobson
Brabham 	Brabham-BMW 	Brabham IT55 	BMW M12 	63 	Corrado Fabi
Brabham 	Brabham-BMW 	Brabham IT55 	BMW M12 	72 	Peter Kuhn
ATS 	ATS-BMW 	ATS I9 	BMW M12 	46 	Graham McRae
ATS 	ATS-BMW 	ATS I9 	BMW M12 	47 	Derek Daly
Équipe Ligier 	Ligier-Renault 	Ligier IS27 	Renault V6 	88 	Chip Robinson
Équipe Ligier 	Ligier-Renault 	Ligier IS27 	Renault V6 	96 	Don Whittington
RAM Racing 	RAM-Offenhauser 	RAM 04 	Offenhauser V8 	82 	Rocky Moran
RAM Racing 	RAM-Offenhauser 	RAM 04 	Offenhauser V8 	94 	Enrique Mansilla
Alfa Romeo 	Alfa Romeo 	Alfa Romeo 186I	Alfa Romeo V8 	29 	Michael Roe
Alfa Romeo 	Alfa Romeo 	Alfa Romeo 186I	Alfa Romeo V8 	32 	Darin Brassfield
Barclay Arrows 	Arrows-BMW 	Arrows I9 	BMW M12 	5 	Steve Chassey
Barclay Arrows 	Arrows-BMW 	Arrows I9 	BMW M12 	34 	Randy Lanier
Team Tyrrell 	Tyrrell-Renault 	Tyrrell 015B 	Renault EF4B V6	40 	Jeff MacPherson
Team Tyrrell 	Tyrrell-Renault 	Tyrrell 015B 	Renault EF4B V6	41 	Sammy Swindell
===Notable team and driver changes===
*Coinciding with the closure of their Formula One team, Renault shut down its USAC operation due to the company going through financial difficulties. Its place as an F1 team running in USAC Gold Crown competition was taken by Tyrrell.
*After using modified versions of their Formula One chassis for the past few seasons, Ferrari developed a dedicated chassis for USAC competition, the Ferrari 637. Dick Simon Racing and Menard Racing purchased the chassis, in addition to Scuderia Ferrari using it.
==Season Summary==
===Schedule===
No.	Race title 	Track 	Track Type 	Date
1 	Dana 200 for Special Olympics 	Phoenix International Raceway, Avondale, Arizona 	Mile-long oval 	April 6
2 	Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach 	Streets of Long Beach, Long Beach, California 	Street course 	April 13
3 	Nissan 200 	Ontario Motor Speedway, Ontario, California 	Superspeedway (unrestricted)	April 20
4 	Indianapolis 500 	Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Speedway, Indiana 	Superspeedway (unrestricted)	May 31
5 	Miller American 200 in Honor of Rex Mays 	Milwaukee Mile, West Allis, Wisconsin 	Mile-long oval 	June 8
6 	Budweiser/G. I. Joe's 200 	Portland International Raceway, Portland, Oregon 	Road course 	June 15
7 	Howard Johnson 200 	Pikes Peak International Raceway, Fountain, Colorado 	Intermediate oval 	June 29
8 	Budweiser Cleveland Grand Prix 	Burke Lakefront Airport, Cleveland, Ohio 	Road course 	July 6
9 	March Engineering 200 	Suzuka International Raceway, Suzuka, Kansai 	Road course 	July 13
10 	Molson Indy Toronto 	Streets of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada 	Street course 	July 20
11 	Texas Grand Prix 	Texas World Speedway, College Station, Texas 	Superspeedway (unrestricted)	July 27
12 	Michigan 500 	Michigan International Speedway, Brooklyn, Michigan 	Superspeedway (unrestricted)	August 2
13 	California 500 	Ontario Motor Speedway, Ontario, California 	Superspeedway (unrestricted)	August 10
14 	Domino's Pizza 500 	Pocono International Raceway, Long Pond, Pennsylvania 	Superspeedway (unrestricted)	August 17
15 	Alabama 500K 	Alabama International Motor Speedway, Lincoln, Alabama	Superspeedway (restricted) 	August 24
16 	Escort Warning Radar 200 	Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, Lexington, Ohio 	Road course 	August 31
17 	Molson Indy Montreal 	Sanair Super Speedway, Saint-Pie, Quebec, Canada 	Short oval 	September 7
18 	Lola Cars 200 	Mallory Park, Leicestershire, United Kingdom 	One-mile oval 	September 14
19 	Canon Film 200 	Atlanta International Raceway, Hampton, Georgia 	One-mile oval 	September 21
20 	Pepsi Cola 250 	Michigan International Raceway, Brooklyn, Michigan 	Superspeedway (unrestricted)	September 28
21 	Race for Life 200 	Road America, Lake Elkhart, Wisconsin 	Road course 	October 4
22 	Nissan Monterey Grand Prix Featuring the Champion Spark Plug 300	Laguna Seca Raceway, Monterey, California 	Road course 	October 12
23 	Circle K/Fiesta Bowl 200 	Phoenix International Raceway, Avondale, Arizona 	Mile-long oval 	October 19
24 	Florida Citrus Growers 500 	Daytona International Speedway, Daytona Beach, Florida	Superspeedway (restricted) 	November 9
===Results===
No.	Race title 	Pole position 	Winner 	Team 	Chassis/Engine
1 	Dana 200 for Special Olympics 	Mario Andretti 	Kevin Cogan 	Patrick Racing 	March/Cosworth
2 	Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach 	Danny Sullivan 	Michael Andretti 	Kraco Sports 	March/Cosworth
3 	Nissan 200 	Bobby Rahal 	Enrique Mansilla 	RAM Racing 	RAM/Offenhauser
4 	Indianapolis 500 	Rick Mears 	Bobby Rahal 	Truesports 	March/Offenhauser
5 	Miller American 200 in Honor of Rex Mays 	Michael Andretti 	Michael Andretti 	Kraco Sports 	March/Cosworth
6 	Budweiser/G. I. Joe's 200 	Emerson Fittipaldi	Mario Andretti 	Newman/Haas Racing 	Lola/Pontiac
7 	Howard Johnson 200 	Mario Andretti 	Emerson Fittipaldi	Patrick Racing 	March/Cosworth
8 	Budweiser Cleveland Grand Prix 	Danny Sullivan 	Danny Sullivan 	Team Penske 	Penske/Cosworth
9 	March Engineering 200 	Danny Ongais 	Dennis Firestone 	Scuderia Ferrari 	Ferrari/Ferrari
10 	Molson Indy Toronto 	Emerson Fittipaldi	Bobby Rahal 	Truesports 	March/Offenhauser
11 	Texas Grand Prix 	Al Unser Jr. 	A. J. Foyt 	A. J. Foyt Enterprises 	Ligier/Offenhauser
12 	Michigan 500 	Rick Mears 	Johnny Rutherford 	Alex Morales Motorsports	March/Offenhauser
13 	California 500 	Al Unser Sr. 	Johnny Parsons 	Machinists Union Racing 	IAM/Cosworth
14 	Domino's Pizza 500 	Michael Andretti 	Mario Andretti 	Newman/Haas Racing 	Lola/Pontiac
15 	Alabama 500K 	Mike Nish 	Enrique Mansilla 	RAM Racing 	RAM/Offenhauser
16 	Escort Warning Radar 200 	Mario Andretti 	Bobby Rahal 	Truesports 	March/Offenhauser
17 	Molson Indy Montreal 	Rick Mears 	Bobby Rahal 	Truesports 	March/Offenhauser
18 	Lola Cars 200 	Arie Luyendyk 	Keith Kauffman 	Vollstedt Racing 	Vollstedt/Oldsmobile
19 	Canon Film 200 	Bobby Rahal 	Keith Kauffman 	Vollstedt Racing 	Vollstedt/Oldsmobile
20 	Pepsi Cola 250 	Rick Mears 	Bobby Rahal 	Truesports 	March/Offenhauser
21 	Race for Life 200 	Bobby Rahal 	Emerson Fittipaldi	Patrick Racing 	March/Cosworth
22 	Nissan Monterey Grand Prix Featuring the Champion Spark Plug 300	Mario Andretti 	Bobby Rahal 	Truesports 	March/Offenhauser
23 	Circle K/Fiesta Bowl 200 	Bobby Rahal 	Michael Andretti 	Kraco Sports 	March/Cosworth
24 	Florida Citrus Growers 500 	Al Unser 	Teo Fabi 	Team Lotus 	Lotus/Renault
Category:Johnsonverse