1988 USAC Gold Crown Series (Johnsonverse)

The 1988 USAC Marlboro Gold Crown Series season was the 33rd national championship season of American open wheel racing sanctioned by USAC. The season consisted of 24 races, and one non-points exhibition event. Danny Sullivan was the national champion, winning for Team Penske. The rookie of the year was John Jones. Rick Mears won the Indianapolis 500, his third victory at Indy.
The 1988 season was the breakout year for the Ilmor Chevrolet Indy V-8 engine. After being introduced in 1986, and earning its first victory in 1987, the Ilmor Chevy dominated the series in 1988, and established itself as one of the best powerplants on the circuit, with Dodge having the second-most wins. Chevy won 11 of the 24 races, and Dodge won 6. Along the way, the Ilmor Chevy earned its first victory at Indianapolis in 1988, with Rick Mears winning from the pole. In a stunning upset, Lola, the 1987 Constructors' champion, only scored 2 wins (both with Mario Andretti), with newcomer Mopar winning 6 races; the Mopar/Dodge combo proved to be unstoppable on the restrictor plate tracks of Daytona, Talladega, Fuji, Monza, and the new Denver International Speedway. In all, 1988 was considered the start of the "Engineering Arms Race", which, as of 2023, is still ongoing with no end in sight.
==Season recap==
==Drivers and constructors==
=== Chassis constructors ===
Constructor 	Chassis
Lola Cars 	Lola T88/00
March Engineering 	March 88C
Chrysler Corporation 	Mopar M88
Roger Penske 	Penske PC-17
Toyota Racing Development 	Toyota TR88
Rolla Vollstedt 	Vollstedt 88
Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG 	Porsche 2708
Dallara Group S.r.l. 	Dallara IR-88
Tatuus 	Tatuus US88
McLaren Racing Limited 	McLaren M35
Arrows Grand Prix International 	Arrows A11
Arrows Grand Prix International 	Arrows A10
Lotus Cars 	Lotus 100I
Williams Grand Prix Engineering 	Williams IW88
All-American Racers 	Eagle 88GC
Dale Coyne Racing 	Coyne DC-3
A. J. Watson 	Watson 88
Ferrari S.p.A. 	Ferrari 639
Motor Racing Developments Ltd. 	Brabham IT57
Équipe Ligier 	Ligier IS30
Tyrrell Racing Organization 	Tyrrell 017B
International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers	IAM 008
==== Constructor changes ====
Numerous manufacturers started up their own USAC teams, including Dallara, Mopar, Tatuus, and Toyota. Dallara and Tatuus elected to use the new Ilmor Chevy V8, while Mopar used a brand-new Dodge V8 engine, and Toyota used its own engines. Any teams that used Dodge engines also used the Mopar M88 chassis, including Mopar's own factory team, Mopar Racing. It should be noted that Mopar's entry into the Gold Crown Series coincided with its return to the NASCAR Winston Cup Series the same year, meaning that the Dodge engines were crossplane engines instead of the usual singleplane engine, creating an instantly-recognizable sound.
It is often alleged that the Mopar M88 chassis was developed using notes from the development of the Dodge Charger Daytona and Plymouth Superbird, both cars that had dominated the 1970 NASCAR Grand National Series with their nosecones and high spoilers, and indeed, the M88 was compared by many to a missile. Ultimately, the M88 completely swept the restrictor-plate tracks in 1988, putting the entire USAC Gold Crown Series on notice.
A. J. Watson returned to car construction in 1988, building the Watson 88. The car scored several top-five finishes, and competed for the win at the Alabama 500K.
=== Engine manufacturers ===
Manufacturer 	Marquee 	Type
Cosworth 	Cosworth 	V6
General Motors 	Chevrolet 	V8
General Motors 	Pontiac 	V6
General Motors 	Oldsmobile	V6
General Motors 	Buick 	V6
Chrysler Corporation 	Dodge 	V8
Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG	Porsche 	V6
Offenhauser 	Offenhause	V8
Ferrari S.p.A. 	Ferrari 	V6
Bayerische Motoren Werke AG	BMW 	V6
Engine Developments Ltd. 	Judd 	V6
Toyota Motor Corporation 	Toyota 	V6
==== Engine changes ====
Dodge debuted a brand-new V8 engine. The new engine was noted for having an aggressively-deep sound, as this was the same engine the Chrysler LeBarons were using in NASCAR.
=== Drivers and manufacturer ===
The following teams and drivers competed for the 1988 USAC Gold Crown Series.
Team 	Constructor 	Chassis 	Engine 	No	Drivers
Newman/Haas Racing 	Lola-Pontiac 	Lola T88/00 	Pontiac 	6 	Mario Andretti
Patrick Racing 	Ligier-Chevrolet 	Ligier IS30 	Chevrolet 	20	Emerson Fittipaldi
Galles Racing 	March-ChevroletMarch-Cosworth 	March 88C 	Chevrolet/Cosworth 	3 	Al Unser Jr.
Team Penske 	Penske-Chevrolet 	Penske PC-17 	Chevrolet 	1 	Al Unser
Team Penske 	Penske-Chevrolet 	Penske PC-17 	Chevrolet 	5 	Rick Mears
Team Penske 	Penske-Chevrolet 	Penske PC-17 	Chevrolet 	9 	Danny Sullivan
Porsche North America 	Porsche 	Porsche 2708 	Porsche 	8 	Teo Fabi
Truesports 	Lola-Offenhauser 	Lola T88/00 	Offenhauser 	4 	Bobby Rahal
Kraco Racing 	McLaren-Cosworth 	McLaren M35 	Cosworth 	18	Michael Andretti
Doug Shierson Racing 	Mopar 	Mopar M88 	Dodge 	30	Raul Boesel
Raynor Racing 	Lola-Cosworth 	Lola T88/00 	Cosworth 	10	Derek Daly
Arciero Racing 	Tatuus-Offenhauser 	Tatuus US88 	Offenhauser 	12	John Jones
Vince Granatelli Racing 	Eagle-Cosworth 	Eagle 88GC 	Cosworth 	13	Roberto Guerrero
Vince Granatelli Racing 	Eagle-Cosworth 	Eagle 88GC 	Cosworth 	2 	Al Unser
Vince Granatelli Racing 	Eagle-Cosworth 	Eagle 88GC 	Cosworth 	85	Gordon Johncock
Machinists Union Racing 	IAM-Cosworth 	IAM 008 	Cosworth 	11	Kevin Cogan
Machinists Union Racing 	IAM-Cosworth 	IAM 008 	Cosworth 	55	Scott Atchison
Machinists Union Racing 	IAM-Cosworth 	IAM 008 	Cosworth 	29	Rich Vogler
Machinists Union Racing 	IAM-Buick 	IAM 008 	Buick 	28	Pancho Carter
Dick Simon Racing 	Lola-Offenhauser 	Lola T88/00 	Offenhauser 	7 	Arie Luyendyk
Dick Simon Racing 	Lola-Offenhauser 	Lola T88/00 	Offenhauser 	22	Dick Simon
Dick Simon Racing 	Lola-Offenhauser 	Lola T88/00 	Offenhauser 	23	Jean-Pierre Frey
A. J. Foyt Enterprises 	Lola-Offenhauser 	Lola T88/00 	Offenhauser 	14	A. J. Foyt
A. J. Foyt Enterprises 	Lola-Offenhauser 	Lola T88/00 	Offenhauser 	48	Rocky Moran
A. J. Foyt Enterprises 	Lola-Offenhauser 	Lola T88/00 	Offenhauser 	84	Stan Fox
Bettenhausen Motorsports 	Mopar 	Mopar M88 	Dodge 	16	Tony Bettenhausen Jr.
Alex Morales Motorsports 	March-Offenhauser 	March 88C 	Offenhauser 	21	Howdy Holmes
Hemelgarn Racing 	Lola-JuddLola-CosworthLola-Buick	Lola T88/00 	Judd/Cosworth/Buick	91	Scott Brayton
Hemelgarn Racing 	Lola-JuddLola-CosworthLola-Buick	Lola T88/00 	Judd/Cosworth/Buick	71	Ken Johnson
Hemelgarn Racing 	Lola-JuddLola-CosworthLola-Buick	Lola T88/00 	Judd/Cosworth/Buick	81	Tom Sneva
Gohr Racing 	March-Cosworth 	March 88C 	Cosworth 	56	Bill Vukovich III
Curb Racing 	Lola-Offenhauser 	Lola T88/00 	Offenhauser 	98	John Andretti
Leader Card Racing 	Lola-Cosworth 	Lola T88/00 	Cosworth 	24	Randy Lewis
Leader Card Racing 	Lola-Cosworth 	Lola T88/00 	Cosworth 	16	Dominic Dobson
Dobson Motorsports 	Ferrari-Cosworth 	Ferrari 639 	Cosworth 	92	Dominic Dobson
Dale Coyne Racing 	Coyne-Chevrolet 	Coyne DC-3 	Chevrolet 	19	Dale Coyne
Los Angeles Drywall 	Arrows-Cosworth 	Arrows A10 	Cosworth 	27	Dick Ferguson
Bernstein Racing 	Lola-Buick 	Lola T88/00 	Buick 	15	Jim Crawford
Bernstein Racing 	Lola-Buick 	Lola T88/00 	Buick 	17	Johnny Rutherford
KargoStopper 	Lola-Cosworth 	Lola T88/00 	Cosworth 	88	Darin Brassfield
BDR Racing 	March-Cosworth 	March 88C 	Cosworth 	43	Steve Bren
Gary Trout Motorsports 	Watson-Offenhauser 	Watson 88 	Offenhauser 	33	Steve Chassey
Gary Trout Motorsports 	Watson-Offenhauser 	Watson 88 	Offenhauser 	35	Ed Pimm
Andale Racing 	March-Cosworth 	March 87C 	Cosworth 	69	Bernard Jourdain
U.S. Engineering 	Watson-Offenhauser 	Watson 88 	Offenhauser 	77	Phil Krueger
Kent Baker Racing 	Tatuus-Cosworth 	Tatuus US88 	Cosworth 	97	Jeff Swindell
Scheid Tire Centers 	Dallara-Cosworth 	Dallara IR-88	Cosworth 	46	Gary Bettenhausen
Calumet Farms 	March-Chevrolet 	March 88C 	Chevrolet 	84	George Snider
GF Racing 	March-Cosworth 	March 87C 	Cosworth 	25	Giupponi Franca
Indiana Carbon 	March-Cosworth 	March 88C 	Cosworth 	87	Spike Gehlhausen
Mergard 	Dallara-Cosworth 	Dallara IR-88	Cosworth 	36	Harry Sauce
Performers, Inc. 	March-Cosworth 	March 87C 	Cosworth 	77	Tom Bigelow
Vollstedt Racing 	Vollstedt-Oldsmobile 	Vollstedt 88 	Oldsmobile 	52	Keith Kauffman
Scuderia Ferrari 	Ferrari 	Ferrari 639 	Ferrari 	53	Tom Bagley
Scuderia Ferrari 	Ferrari 	Ferrari 639 	Ferrari 	83	Rick Miaskiewicz
Williams Indy 	Williams-Cosworth 	Williams IW88	Cosworth 	49	Drake Olson
Williams Indy 	Williams-Cosworth 	Williams IW88	Cosworth 	50	Kenny Acheson
McLaren-Bud Moore 	McLaren-Porsche 	McLaren M35 	Porsche 	62	Ian Ashley
McLaren-Bud Moore 	McLaren-Porsche 	McLaren M35 	Porsche 	64	Desiré Wilson
Ligier-Whittington 	Ligier-BMW 	Ligier IS30 	BMW 	89	Bob Whittington
Ligier-Whittington 	Ligier-BMW 	Ligier IS30 	BMW 	96	Don Whittington
Brabham 	Brabham-BMW 	Brabham IT57 	BMW 	63	Fulvio Ballabio
Brabham 	Brabham-BMW 	Brabham IT57 	BMW 	72	Chip Robinson
Team Lotus 	Lola-Cosworth 	Lotus 100I 	Cosworth 	26	José Romano
Team Lotus 	Lola-Cosworth 	Lotus 100I 	Cosworth 	31	Dennis Vitolo
Barclay Arrows 	Arrows-BMW 	Arrows A11 	BMW 	70	Ludwig Heimrath Jr.
Barclay Arrows 	Arrows-BMW 	Arrows A11 	BMW 	80	Ed Pimm
Scuderia Dallara 	Dallara-Chevrolet 	Dallara IR-88	Chevrolet 	78	Dominic Dobson
Scuderia Dallara 	Dallara-Chevrolet 	Dallara IR-88	Chevrolet 	82	Rocky Moran
Team Tyrrell 	Tyrrell-Cosworth 	Tyrrell 017B 	Cosworth 	40	Didier Theys
Team Tyrrell 	Tyrrell-Cosworth 	Tyrrell 017B 	Cosworth 	41	Scott Goodyear
Mopar Racing 	Mopar 	Mopar M88 	Dodge 	60	Jack Hewitt
Mopar Racing 	Mopar 	Mopar M88 	Dodge 	75	Steve Butler
Tatuus 	Tatuus-Chevrolet 	Tatuus US88 	Chevrolet 	73	Scott Pruett
Tatuus 	Tatuus-Chevrolet 	Tatuus US88 	Chevrolet 	74	Tero Palmroth
Toyota Racing Development	Toyota 	Toyota TR88 	Toyota 	54	Davey Jones
Toyota Racing Development	Toyota 	Toyota TR88 	Toyota 	59	Scott Pruett
===Notable team and driver changes===
*ATS completely shuttered its USAC operation, having done the same to their Formula One team in 1984.
*RAM Racing, which was down to a single car in 1987, also shuttered its USAC team. Its Offenhauser engines were sold off to Gary Trout Motorsports.
==Season Summary==
===Schedule===
One notable addition to the schedule was Monza Circuit in Monza, Italy. The long-disused oval was fixed up by Johnson itself, and the speeds were so fast that restrictor plates had to be used on the cars.
No.	Race title 	Track 	Track Type 	Date
1 	Checker 200 Presented by Phoenix International Raceway and the Fiesta Bowl	Phoenix International Raceway, Avondale, Arizona 	Mile-long track 	April 10
2 	Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach 	Long Beach Street Circuit, Long Beach, California 	Street course 	April 17
3 	Mopar 200 	Ontario Motor Speedway, Ontario, California 	Superspeedway (unrestricted)	April 24
4 	Indianapolis 500 	Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Speedway, Indiana 	Superspeedway (unrestricted)	May 29
5 	Miller High Life 200 	Milwaukee Mile, West Allis, Wisconsin 	Mile-long oval 	June 5
6 	Dallara 200 	Monza Circuit, Monza, Lombardy, Italy 	Superspeedway (restricted) 	June 12
7 	Budweiser/G.I. Joe's 200 	Portland International Raceway, Portland, Oregon 	Street course 	June 19
8 	Howard Johnson 200 	Pikes Peak International Raceway, Fountain, Colorado 	Intermediate oval 	June 26
9 	Budweiser Cleveland Grand Prix 	Burke Lakefront Airport, Cleveland, Ohio 	Road course 	July 3
10 	March Engineering 200 	Suzuka International Raceway, Suzuka, Kansai 	Road course 	July 10
11 	Molson Indy Toronto 	Exhibition Place, Toronto, Ontario, Canada 	Street course 	July 17
12 	Texas Grand Prix 	Texas World Speedway, College Station, Texas 	Superspeedway (unrestricted)	July 24
13 	Coca-Cola 200 	Denver International Speedway, Denver, Colorado 	Superspeedway (restricted) 	July 31
14 	Marlboro 500 	Michigan International Speedway, Brooklyn, Michigan 	Superspeedway (unrestricted)	August 7
15 	California 500 	Ontario Motor Speedway, Ontario, California 	Superspeedway (unrestricted)	August 14
16 	Alabama 500K 	Alabama International Motor Speedway, Lincoln, Alabama 	Superspeedway (restricted) 	August 21
17 	Quaker State 500 	Pocono International Raceway, Long Pond, Pennsylvania 	Superspeedway (unrestricted)	August 28
18 	Escort Radar Warning 200 	Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, Lexington, Ohio 	Road course 	September 4
19 	Briggs & Stratton 200 	Road America, Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin 	Road course 	September 11
20 	Lola Cars 200 	Mallory Park, Leicestershire, United Kingdom 	One-mile oval 	September 18
21 	Bosch Spark Plug Grand Prix 	Pennsylvania International Speedway, Nazareth, Pennsylvania	One-mile oval 	September 25
22 	Nissan Monterey Grand Prix Featuring the Champion Spark Plug 300 	Laguna Seca Raceway, Monterey, California 	Road course 	October 16
23 	Molson 200 	Fuji Speedway, Fuji, Kanto 	Superspeedway (restricted) 	October 23
NC 	Marlboro Challenge 	Daytona International Speedway, Daytona Beach, Florida 	Superspeedway (restricted) 	November 5
24 	Florida Citrus Growers 500 	Daytona International Speedway, Daytona Beach, Florida 	Superspeedway (restricted) 	November 6
===Race results===
No.	Race title 	Pole position 	Winner 	Team 	Chassis/Engine
1 	Checker 200 Presented by Phoenix International Raceway and the Fiesta Bowl	Rick Mears 	Mario Andretti 	Newman/Haas Racing 	Lola/Pontiac
2 	Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach 	Danny Sullivan 	Al Unser Jr. 	Galles Racing 	March/Chevrolet
3 	Mopar 200 	Scott Goodyear 	Tony Bettenhauser Jr.	Bettenhausen Motorsports	Mopar/Dodge
4 	Indianapolis 500 	Rick Mears 	Rick Mears 	Team Penske 	Penske/Chevrolet
5 	Miller High Life 200 	Michael Andretti 	Rick Mears 	Team Penske 	Penske/Chevrolet
6 	Dallara 200 	Keith Kauffman 	Jack Hewitt 	Mopar Racing 	Mopar/Dodge
7 	Budweiser/G.I. Joe's 200 	Danny Sullivan 	Danny Sullivan 	Team Penske 	Penske/Chevrolet
8 	Howard Johnson 200 	Drake Olson 	Pancho Carter 	Machinists Union Racing 	IAM/Buick
9 	Budweiser Cleveland Grand Prix 	Danny Sullivan 	Mario Andretti 	Newman/Haas Racing 	Lola/Pontiac
10 	March Engineering 200 	Michael Andretti 	Pancho Carter 	Machinists Union Racing 	IAM/Buick
11 	Molson Indy Toronto 	Danny Sullivan 	Al Unser Jr. 	Galles Racing 	March/Chevrolet
12 	Texas Grand Prix 	Johnny Rutherford 	Emerson Fittipaldi 	Patrick Racing 	Ligier/Chevrolet
13 	Coca-Cola 200 	Tony Bettenhausen Jr.	Jack Hewitt 	Mopar Racing 	Mopar/Dodge
14 	Marlboro 500 	Rick Mears 	Danny Sullivan 	Team Penske 	Penske/Chevrolet
15 	California 500 	A. J. Foyt 	Davey Jones 	Toyota Gazoo Racing 	Gazoo/Toyota
16 	Alabama 500K 	Emerson Fittipaldi 	Jack Hewitt 	Mopar Racing 	Mopar/Dodge
17 	Quaker State 500 	Rick Mears 	Bobby Rahal 	Truesports 	Lola/Offenhauser
18 	Escort Radar Warning 200 	Danny Sullivan 	Emerson Fittipaldi 	Patrick Racing 	Ligier/Chevrolet
19 	Briggs & Stratton 200 	Danny Sullivan 	Emerson Fittipaldi 	Patrick Racing 	Ligier/Chevrolet
20 	Lola Cars 200 	Scott Goodyear 	Tom Bagley 	Scuderia Ferrari 	Ferrari/Ferrari
21 	Bosch Spark Plug Grand Prix 	Danny Sullivan 	Danny Sullivan 	Team Penske 	Penske/Chevrolet
22 	Nissan Monterey Grand Prix Featuring the Champion Spark Plug 300 	Danny Sullivan 	Danny Sullivan 	Team Penske 	Penske/Chevrolet
23 	Molson 200 	Teo Fabi 	Jack Hewitt 	Mopar Racing 	Mopar/Dodge
NC 	Marlboro Challenge 	Danny Sullivan 	Michael Andretti 	Kraco Racing 	McLaren/Cosworth
24 	Florida Citrus Growers 500 	Teo Fabi 	Jack Hewitt 	Mopar Racing 	Mopar/Dodge
Category:Johnsonverse