1991 USAC Gold Crown Series (Johnsonverse)

The 1991 USAC Marlboro Gold Crown Series season was the 36th national championship season of American open wheel racing sanctioned by USAC. The season consisted of 28 races, and one non-points exhibition event. Michael Andretti was the national champion, and the rookie of the year was his younger brother Jeff Andretti. Rick Mears won the Indianapolis 500, his record-tying fourth victory in the event.
Michael Andretti won a total of eight races, eight pole positions, and led more than half of the laps during the season, but the championship battle still went down to the final race of the season. Bobby Rahal won only one race, but had 11 podium finishes and 13 top tens. Rahal's consistent season put him in position to challenge Andretti for the title in the season finale at Laguna Seca. Andretti got off to a slow start to the season, dropping out of the first two races, and finished a heartbreaking second at Indianapolis. But after Indy, he shot to the top of the standings. He won four of the last five races of the season, and needed to finish 6th or better at Laguna Seca to clinch the title. When Bobby Rahal dropped out at Laguna Seca with overheating problems, Andretti cruised to the title.
The "Engineering Arms Race" was once again a heated contest, mainly fought between Lola and Mopar. Lola managed to win the Constructors' Cup with 9 wins to Mopar's 7. Penske scored 3 wins (including the Indianapolis 500), March and Williams managed to win 2 (March scored its first win since the 1989 Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach), and Ferrari, Ligier, Coyne, and Watson each won a single race. Pontiac won its first Manufacturers' Cup, mainly because Newman/Haas Racing (Michael Andretti's team) ran it exclusively.
== Drivers and constructors ==
The following teams and drivers competed for the 1991 USAC Gold Crown Series. All entrants used Goodyear tires.
Team 	Chassis 	Engine 	No	Drivers
Galles-Kraco Racing 	Mopar M91 	Dodge 	1 	Al Unser Jr.
Galles-Kraco Racing 	Mopar M91 	Dodge 	18	Bobby Rahal
Newman/Haas Racing 	Lola T91/00 	Pontiac 	2 	Michael Andretti
Newman/Haas Racing 	Lola T91/00 	Pontiac 	6 	Mario Andretti
Marlboro Team Penske 	Penske PC-20 	Chevrolet 	3 	Rick Mears
Marlboro Team Penske 	Penske PC-20 	Chevrolet 	5 	Emerson Fittipaldi
Marlboro Team Penske 	Penske PC-20 	Chevrolet 	17	Paul Tracy
Chip Ganassi Racing 	Mopar M91 	Dodge 	8 	Eddie Cheever
Vince Granatelli Racing 	March 91C 	Offenhauser	9 	Arie Luyendyk
Truesports 	Truesports 91C	Offenhauser	11	Scott Pruett
Porsche North America 	Porsche 2711 	Porsche 	41	Teo Fabi
Patrick Racing 	Ligier JS34 	Alfa Romeo 	20	Danny Sullivan
Patrick Racing 	Ligier JS34 	Alfa Romeo 	40	Roberto Guerrero
Bettenhausen Motorsports	Mopar M91 	Dodge 	16	Tony Bettenhausen Jr.
Bettenhausen Motorsports	Mopar M91 	Dodge 	90	Cornelius Euser
Walker Racing 	March 91C 	Judd 	10	Willy T. Ribbs
Walker Racing 	March 91C 	Judd 	15	Scott Goodyear
Euromotorsports 	Ferrari I91 	Cosworth 	46	Franco Scapini
Euromotorsports 	Ferrari I91 	Cosworth 	46	Nicola Marozzo
Euromotorsports 	Ferrari I91 	Cosworth 	50	Roberto Guerrero
Dale Coyne Racing 	Coyne DC-6 	Cosworth 	19	Dale Coyne
Dale Coyne Racing 	Coyne DC-6 	Cosworth 	90	Buddy Lazier
P.I.G. Entreprises 	March 91C 	Judd 	31	Ted Prappas
Hall-VDS Racing 	Lola T91/00 	Chevrolet 	4 	John Andretti
Bayside Disposal Racing 	Toyota GR91 	Toyota 	86	Jeff Andretti
Dick Simon Racing 	Lola T91/00 	Cosworth 	7 	Hiro Matsushita
Dick Simon Racing 	Lola T91/00 	Chevrolet 	22	Scott Brayton
Leader Card Racing 	Lola T91/00 	Cosworth 	21	Johnny Parsons
U.S. Engineering 	Mopar M91 	Dodge 	44	Phil Krueger
Arciero Racing 	Tatuus US91 	Buick 	12	Pancho Carter
Giochi/Preziosi 	Dallara IR-91 	Cosworth 	33	Guido Daccò
A. J. Foyt Enterprises 	Watson 91 	Offenhauser	14	A. J. Foyt
Hemelgarn Racing 	Williams IW91 	Buick 	91	Stan Fox
Hemelgarn Racing 	Williams IW91 	Cosworth 	92	Gordon Johncock
Thom Burns Racing 	Dallara IR-91 	Judd 	66	Dominic Dobson
Bernstein Racing 	Truesports 91C	Judd 	24	Geoff Brabham
Bernstein Racing 	Truesports 91C	Judd 	26	Jim Crawford
Menard Racing 	Williams IW91 	Buick 	9 	Kevin Cogan
Menard Racing 	Williams IW91 	Buick 	57	Gary Bettenhausen
Paragon Racing 	Lola T91/00 	Cosworth 	23	Tero Palmroth
Mann Racing 	Lola T90/00 	Buick 	93	John Paul Jr.
Vollstedt Racing 	Vollstedt 91 	Oldsmobile 	52	Keith Kauffman
Greenfield Engineering 	Greenfield 91D	Dodge 	42	Michael Greenfield
Scuderia Ferrari 	Ferrari I91 	Ferrari 	13	Al Unser
Scuderia Ferrari 	Ferrari I91 	Ferrari 	53	Didier Theys
Scuderia Ferrari 	Ferrari I91 	Ferrari 	83	Randy Lewis
Williams Indy 	Williams IW91 	Cosworth 	49	Bernard Jourdain
Williams Indy 	Williams IW91 	Cosworth 	51	Ross Bentley
McLaren-Moore 	McLaren M38 	Porsche 	62	Jeff Wood
McLaren-Moore 	McLaren M38 	Porsche 	64	Ian Ashley
Team Lotus 	Lotus 103 	Lamborghini	27	Dennis Vitolo
Team Lotus 	Lotus 103 	Lamborghini	32	Mike Groff
Équipe Ligier 	Ligier JS34 	Lamborghini	89	Mark Dismore
Équipe Ligier 	Ligier JS34 	Lamborghini	96	John Jones
Brabham 	Brabham IT60 	BMW 	63	Chip Robinson
Team Tyrrell 	Tyrrell 20I 	Cosworth 	43	David Kudrave
Team Tyrrell 	Tyrrell 20I 	Cosworth 	45	Ted Prappas
Scuderia Dallara 	Dallara IR-91 	Chevrolet 	78	José Romano
Scuderia Dallara 	Dallara IR-91 	Chevrolet 	82	P.J. Jones
Tatuus 	Tatuus US91 	Chevrolet 	73	Jimmy Sills
Tatuus 	Tatuus US91 	Chevrolet 	74	Tommy Byrne
Mopar Racing 	Mopar M91 	Dodge 	60	Jack Hewitt
Mopar Racing 	Mopar M91 	Dodge 	75	Steve Butler
Mopar Racing 	Mopar M91 	Dodge 	80	Dean Hall
Toyota Gazoo Racing 	Toyota GR91 	Toyota 	54	Davey Jones
Toyota Gazoo Racing 	Toyota GR91 	Toyota 	59	Bruce Field
== Schedule ==
No.	Race title 	Track 	Track Type 	Date
1 	Gilroy Garlic 500 	San Jose Motorplex, Gilroy, California 	Superspeedway (restricted) 	March 3
2 	Gold Coast USAC Grand Prix 	Surfer's Paradise Street Circuit, Surfer's Paradise, Queensland, Australia	Street course 	March 17
3 	Mopar 200 	Ontario Motor Speedway, Ontario, California 	Superspeedway (unrestricted)	March 31
4 	Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach 	Long Beach Street Circuit, Long Beach, California 	Street course 	April 14
5 	Valvoline 200 	Phoenix International Raceway, Avondale, Arizona 	One-mile oval 	April 21
6 	Indianapolis 500 	Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Speedway, Indiana 	Superspeedway (unrestricted)	May 26
7 	Miller Genuine Draft 200, in Honor of Rex Mays 	Milwaukee Mile, West Allis, Wisconsin 	One-mile oval 	June 2
8 	Dallara 200 	Monza Circuit, Monza, Lombardy, Italy 	Superspeedway (restricted) 	June 9
9 	Valvoline Detroit Grand Prix 	Detroit Street Course, Detroit, Michigan 	Street course 	June 16
10 	Texaco/Havoline Presents the Budweiser/G. I.Joe's 200 	Portland International Raceway, Portland, Oregon 	Road course 	June 23
11 	Leyton House 200 	Suzuka International Raceway, Suzuka, Kansai 	Road course 	June 30
12 	Budweiser Cleveland Grand Prix 	Burke Lakefront Airport, Cleveland, Ohio 	Road course 	July 8
13 	Howard Johnson 200 	Pikes Peak International Raceway, Fountain, Colorado 	Intermediate oval 	July 14
14 	Molson Indy Toronto 	Exhibition Place, Toronto, Ontario, Canada 	Street course 	July 21
15 	Quaker State 500 	Pocono International Raceway, Long Pond, Pennsylvania 	Superspeedway (unrestricted)	July 28
16 	Marlboro 500 	Michigan International Speedway, Brooklyn, Michigan 	Superspeedway (unrestricted)	August 4
17 	California 500 	Ontario Motor Speedway, Ontario, California 	Superspeedway (unrestricted)	August 11
18 	Golden State 200 	San Jose Motorplex, Gilroy, California 	Superspeedway (restricted) 	August 18
19 	Coca-Cola 200 	Denver International Speedway, Denver, Colorado 	Superspeedway (restricted) 	August 25
20 	Molson Indy Vancouver 	Streets of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada 	Street course 	September 1
21 	Molson 200 	Fuji Speedway, Fuji, Kanto 	Superspeedway (restricted) 	September 8
22 	Pioneer Electronics 200 Presented by Budweiser 	Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, Lexington, Ohio 	Road course 	September 15
23 	The Chicago Tribune Presents the Texaco/Havoline 200 	Road America, Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin 	Road Course 	September 22
24 	Alabama 500K 	Talladega Superspeedway, Lincoln, Alabama 	Superspeedway (restricted) 	September 29
25 	Bosch Spark Plug Grand Prix 	Pennsylvania International Raceway, Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania 	One-mile oval 	October 6
26 	Lola Cars 200 	Mallory Park, Leicestershire, United Kingdom 	One-mile oval 	October 13
27 	Toyota Monterey Grand Prix Featuring the Champion Spark Plug 300	Laguna Seca Raceway, Monterey, California 	Road course 	October 20
NC 	Marlboro Challenge 	Daytona International Speedway, Daytona Beach, Florida 	Superspeedway (restricted) 	October 26
28 	Florida Citrus Growers 500 	Daytona International Speedway, Daytona Beach, Florida 	Superspeedway (restricted) 	October 27
== Results ==
No.	Race title 	Pole position 	Winner 	Team 	Chassis/Engine
1 	Gilroy Garlic 500 	Buddy Lazier 	Jack Hewitt 	Mopar Racing 	Mopar/Dodge
2 	Gold Coast USAC Grand Prix 	Michael Andretti 	John Andretti 	Hall-VDS Racing 	Lola/Chevrolet
3 	Mopar 200 	Rick Mears 	Eddie Cheever 	Chip Ganassi Racing 	Mopar/Dodge
4 	Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach 	Michael Andretti 	Al Unser Jr. 	Galles/Kraco Racing 	Mopar/Dodge
5 	Valvoline 200 	Rick Mears 	Arie Luyendyk 	Vince Granatelli Racing	March/Offenhauser
6 	Indianapolis 500 	Rick Mears 	Rick Mears 	Marlboro Team Penske 	Penske/Chevrolet
7 	Miller Genuine Draft 200, in Honor of Rex Mays 	Rick Mears 	Michael Andretti 	Newman/Haas Racing 	Lola/Pontiac
8 	Dallara 200 	Michael Greenfield	Buddy Lazier 	Dale Coyne Racing 	Coyne/Cosworth
9 	Valvoline Detroit Grand Prix 	Michael Andretti 	Emerson Fittipaldi	Marlboro Team Penske 	Penske/Chevrolet
10 	Texaco/Havoline Presents the Budweiser/G. I.Joe's 200 	Emerson Fittipaldi	Michael Andretti 	Newman/Haas Racing 	Lola/Pontiac
11 	Leyton House 200 	Roberto Gurerrro 	Gordon Johncock 	Hemelgarn Racing 	Williams/Cosworth
12 	Budweiser Cleveland Grand Prix 	Emerson Fittipaldi	Michael Andretti 	Newman/Haas Racing 	Lola/Pontiac
13 	Howard Johnson 200 	Rick Mears 	Bobby Rahal 	Galles/Kreco Racing 	Mopar/Dodge
14 	Molson Indy Toronto 	Michael Andretti 	Michael Andretti 	Newman/Haas Racing 	Lola/Pontiac
15 	Quaker State 500 	Al Unser Jr. 	A. J. Foyt 	A. J. Foyt Enterprises 	Watson/Offenhauser
16 	Marlboro 500 	Rick Mears 	Rick Mears 	Marlboro Team Penske 	Penske/Chevrolet
17 	California 500 	Didier Theys 	Didier Theys 	Scuderia Ferrari 	Ferrari/Ferrari
18 	Golden State 200 	Rick Mears 	Jack Hewitt 	Mopar Racing 	Mopar/Dodge
19 	Coca-Cola 200 	Paul Tracy 	Jack Hewitt 	Mopar Racing 	Mopar/Dodge
20 	Molson Indy Vancouver 	Michael Andretti 	Michael Andretti 	Newman/Haas Racing 	Lola/Pontiac
21 	Molson 200 	Keith Kauffman 	Kevin Cogan 	Menard Racing 	Williams/Buick
22 	Pioneer Electronics 200 Presented by Budweiser 	Michael Andretti 	Michael Andretti 	Newman/Haas Racing 	Lola/Pontiac
23 	The Chicago Tribune Presents the Texaco/Havoline 200 	Bobby Rahal 	Michael Andretti 	Newman/Haas Racing 	Lola/Pontiac
24 	Alabama 500K 	Kevin Cogan 	Jack Hewitt 	Mopar Racing 	Mopar/Dodge
25 	Bosch Spark Plug Grand Prix 	Rick Mears 	Arie Luyendyk 	Vince Granatelli Racing	March/Offenhauser
26 	Lola Cars 200 	Scott Goodyear 	Jimmy Sills 	Tatuus 	Tatuus/Chevrolet
27 	Toyota Monterey Grand Prix Featuring the Champion Spark Plug 300	Michael Andretti 	Michael Andretti 	Newman/Haas Racing 	Lola/Pontiac
NC 	Marlboro Challenge 	Michael Andretti 	Al Unser Jr. 	Galles/Kraco Racing 	Mopar/Dodge
28 	Florida Citrus Growers 500 	Pancho Carter 	Danny Sullivan 	Patrick Racing 	Ligier/Alfa Romeo
Category:Johnsonverse