1981–82 USAC Championship Car season

Sports season

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1981–82 USAC Championship Car season
USAC Gold Crown Championship
Season
Races	6
Start date	May 24, 1981
End date	May 30, 1982
Awards
National champion	George Snider
Indianapolis 500 winner	Bobby Unser (1981) Gordon Johncock (1982)
← 1980 1982–83 →

The 1981–82 USAC Championship Car season consisted of six races, beginning in Speedway, Indiana, on May 24, 1981, and concluding at the same location on May 30, 1982. The USAC National Champion was George Snider. The season included two Indianapolis 500 races. The 1981 winner was Bobby Unser, while the 1982 winner was Gordon Johncock. The schedule included dirt courses for the first time since 1970.

By this time, the preeminent national championship season was instead sanctioned by CART.

Schedule and results

The United States Auto Club formed the Gold Crown Series in 1981 which was a combination of the Indianapolis 500 and other races including races on dirt tracks. It was set up so that season would extend over the course of two years with the final race of the season being the Indianapolis 500, with all races running on Oval/Speedway courses.

Rnd	Date	Race Name	Length	Track	Location	Type	Pole Position	Winning Driver
1	May 24	Indianapolis 500-Mile Race	500 mi (800 km)	Indianapolis Motor Speedway	Speedway, Indiana	Paved	Bobby Unser	Bobby Unser
2	June 21	Van Scoy Diamond Mines 500	305 mi (491 km)	Pocono International Raceway	Long Pond, Pennsylvania	Paved	A. J. Foyt	A. J. Foyt
3	August 15	Tony Bettenhausen 100	100 mi (160 km)	Illinois State Fairgrounds	Springfield, Illinois	Dirt	Tom Bigelow	George Snider
4	August 30	DuQuoin 100	100 mi (160 km)	DuQuoin State Fairgrounds	Du Quoin, Illinois	Dirt	Bill Engelhart	Rich Vogler
5	September 12	Hoosier Hundred	100 mi (160 km)	Indiana State Fairgrounds	Indianapolis, Indiana	Dirt	Larry Rice	Larry Rice
6	May 30	Indianapolis 500-Mile Race	500 mi (800 km)	Indianapolis Motor Speedway	Speedway, Indiana	Paved	Rick Mears	Gordon Johncock

^A Scheduled for 500 miles, stopped early due to rain.

The season opened with the 1981 Indianapolis 500 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and Bobby Unser would win. Wally Dallenbach Sr. qualified the #40 car for Mario Andretti. However, after the race USAC officials penalized Unser 1 position and the win went to Andretti. Even if Andretti failed to win he would still go into the Van Scoy Diamond Mines 500 at Pocono International Raceway as the points leader as he was in possession of a USAC Class 1 License. The Van Scoy Diamond Mines 500 was won by A. J. Foyt getting Foyt his 67th and final USAC Gold Crown win. The race was cut from 500 miles down to 305 miles due to rain. At the Tony Bettenhausen 100 at the Illinois State Fairgrounds was won by George Snider for his first and only win in USAC Gold Crown competition. At the DuQuoin State Fairgrounds Rich Vogler would win his first and only race in USAC Gold Crown competition. At the Hoosier Hundred at the Indiana State Fairgrounds Larry Rice would win his only USAC Gold Crown race. The 1981 Indianapolis 500 results were changed to Bobby Unser winning the race over Mario Andretti, costing Andretti 200 points. The season ending 1982 Indianapolis 500 at the Indianapolis 500 was marred by the death of Gordon Smiley during qualifying (he was 36 years old), and at the start 2nd place starter Kevin Cogan would spin into A. J. Foyt's car and Mario Andretti's car, while further back in the field Roger Mears, Dale Whittington, and Bobby Rahal would collide. However, Foyt and Rahal were able to continue. Gordon Johncock would beat Rick Mears to the line to win his second Indianapolis 500. George Snider would win the championship with Geoff Brabham 2nd, Tom Bigelow 3rd, A. J. Foyt 4th, and Gordon Johncock 5th.

Final points standings

Further information: List of American Championship car racing point scoring systems

Pos	Driver	INDY	POC	SPR	DQSF	ISF	INDY	Pts
1	George Snider	DNQ	4	1	3	8	21	1395
2	Geoff Brabham	5	2				28	1310
3	Tom Bigelow	20	3	12*	2	5	18	1280
4	A. J. Foyt	13	1				19	1045
5	Gordon Johncock	9					1	1000
6	Mario Andretti	2					31	805
7	Rick Mears	30					2*	800
8	Rich Vogler	DNQ		11	1*	2	DNQ	760
9	Larry Rice	DNQ	21	2	13	1*	DNQ	730
10	Vern Schuppan	3	17				DNQ	720
11	Tom Sneva	25	16*				4	635
12	Jim McElreath	DNQ	7	3	17	24	DNQ	594
13	Bill Vukovich II	DNQ	6	17		6	DNQ	568
14	Sheldon Kinser	6		22	15	7	DNQ	536
15	Harry MacDonald	DNQ	5					500
16	Jack Hewitt		12	4	4	13		490
17	Don Whittington	31					6	405
18	Gary Bettenhausen	26	27	20	18	3	12	366
19	Joe Saldana			5	6	22		366
20	Roger Rager	DNQ	8	8		DNQ	DNQ	350
21	Tony Bettenhausen Jr.	7					26	310
22	Jim Hickman						7	300
23	Herm Johnson	DNQ					9	200
24	Dennis Firestone	10					27	160
25	Johnny Parsons	DNQ	23	24	8	16	20	151
26	Bill Henderson		10					150
27	Greg Leffler	DNQ		9	DNS	11	DNQ	100
28	Bobby Rahal						11	70
29	Mike Chandler	12					17	40
30	Bill Whittington	21					16	40
31	Larry Dickson	18		21		23		32
32	Héctor Rebaque						13	25
33	Steve Ball	DNQ	14					25
34	Tim Richmond	14					DNP	25
35	Danny Sullivan						14	25
36	Jerry Karl	15					DNQ	25
37	Chip Ganassi						15	25
38	Jerry Sneva	DNQ	25				23	25
39	Richard Hubbard		18					20
40	Dick Simon	DNQ	20				DNQ	20
41	Josele Garza	23					29	20
42	Steve Chassey	DNQ		26		14	DNQ	14
43	Danny Ongais	27					22	10
44	Salt Walther		26				DNQ	10
45	Kevin Cogan	4					30	5
46	Tom Klausler	29						5
47	Jan Sneva		29				DNQ	5
48	Roger Mears	DNQ					32	5
49	Mike Mosley	33					DNQ	5
50	Dale Whittington	DNQ					33	5
-	Bobby Unser	1*					DNQ	0
-	Pancho Carter	28					3	0
-	Mark Alderson		11	19	19	4		0
-	Bill Tyler		15	DNQ	5	DNQ		0
-	Al Unser	17					5	0
-	Chuck Amati			6		12		0
-	Jerry Nemire				7	9		0
-	Johnny Coogan			7		DNP		0
-	Johnny Rutherford	32					8	0
-	Steve Krisiloff	8					DNQ	0
-	Jerry Miller	DNQ	DNP		9	19		0
-	Chip Mead		9				DNQ	0
-	Paul Pitzer		24	DNP	10	17		0
-	Larry Martin			23		10		0
-	Art Bisch Jr.			10		DNP		0
-	Howdy Holmes						10	0
-	Ken Schrader			16	11			0
-	Bill Alsup	11					DNQ	0
-	Jerry Weeks				12			0
-	Smokey Snellbaker		13	DNQ		15		0
-	Gary Gray			13		DNP		0
-	Jeff Bloom		19		14	18		0
-	Tracy Potter			14	23	DNP		0
-	Ron Shuman			15		DNQ		0
-	Scott Brayton	16					DNQ	0
-	Sleepy Tripp				16	DNQ		0
-	Bobby Olivero			18	21	20	DNP	0
-	Bob Lazier	19					DNQ	0
-	Bill Engelhart	DNQ		DNQ	20	26	DNQ	0
-	Chuck Gurney					21		0
-	Gordon Smiley	22					DNQ	0
-	Dean Vetrock		22				DNQ	0
-	Gary Hieber			DNQ	22			0
-	Pete Halsmer	24					25	0
-	Arnie Knepper			DNQ	24			0
-	Chet Fillip						24	0
-	Steve Cannon			DNQ		25		0
-	Manny Rockhold			25		DNP		0
-	Duke Cook		28	DNQ	DNQ	DNQ		0
-	Steve Kinser	DNQ		DNS		DNP		0
-	Bill Puterbaugh				DNS	DNQ		0
-	Wally Dallenbach Sr.	DNS						0
-	Bobby Adkins					DNS		0
-	Gary Patterson			DNQ	DNQ	DNQ		0
-	Eddie Leavitt			DNQ	DNQ	DNP		0
-	Al Unser Jr.				DNQ	DNQ		0
-	Patrick Bedard	DNQ					DNQ	0
-	Phil Caliva	DNQ					DNQ	0
-	Bob Frey	DNQ					DNQ	0
-	Spike Gehlhausen	DNQ					DNQ	0
-	Ken Hamilton	DNQ					DNQ	0
-	Bob Harkey	DNQ					DNQ	0
-	Phil Krueger	DNQ					DNQ	0
-	John Mahler	DNQ					DNQ	0
-	John Martin	DNQ					DNQ	0
-	Lennie Waldo		DNP	DNQ				0
-	Richard Powell			DNQ	DNP			0
-	Mack McClellan			DNQ		DNP		0
-	Jack Ziegler			DNQ		DNP		0
-	Rick Hood			DNP		DNQ		0
-	Tom Bagley	DNQ						0
-	Jim Buick	DNQ						0
-	Larry Cannon	DNQ						0
-	Dick Ferguson	DNQ						0
-	Jim Hurtubise	DNQ						0
-	Bubby Jones	DNQ						0
-	Bill Tempero	DNQ						0
-	Phil Threshie	DNQ						0
-	Frank Weiss	DNQ						0
-	Billy Earl					DNQ		0
-	Tom Frantz						DNQ	0
-	Tom Gloy						DNQ	0
-	Tom Grunnah						DNQ	0
-	Hurley Haywood						DNQ	0
-	Gary Irvin						DNQ	0
-	Lee Kunzman						DNQ	0
-	Ray Lipper						DNQ	0
-	Al Loquasto						DNQ	0
-	Teddy Pilette						DNQ	0
-	Rusty Schmidt						DNQ	0
-	Billy Scott						DNQ	0
-	Sammy Swindell						DNQ	0
-	Leroy van Conett						DNQ	0
-	Desiré Wilson						DNQ	0
-	Karl Busson			DNP		DNP		0
-	Lonnie Caruthers			DNP		DNP		0
-	Ron Fieller			DNP		DNP		0
-	Mike Gregg			DNP		DNP		0
-	Bobby Marshall			DNP		DNP		0
-	Bud Wilmot			DNP			DNP	0
-	Buddie Boys	DNP						0
-	Earle Canavan	DNP						0
-	Bobby Fisher	DNP						0
-	Bill Compton			DNP				0
-	Jerry Potter			DNP				0
-	Dean Shirley			DNP				0
-	Jerry Stone			DNP				0
-	Mel Kenyon					DNP		0
-	Robert Tapply					DNP		0
-	Neil Bonnett						DNP	0
Pos	Driver	INDY	POC	SPR	DQSF	ISF	INDY	Pts

Color	Result
Gold	Winner
Silver	2nd place
Bronze	3rd place
Green	4th & 5th place
Light Blue	6th-10th place
Dark Blue	Finished (Outside Top 10)
Purple	Did not finish (Ret)
Red	Did not qualify (DNQ)
Brown	Withdrawn (Wth)
Black	Disqualified (DSQ)
White	Did not start (DNS)
Blank	Did not participate (DNP)
Blank	Not competing

In-line notation
Bold	Pole position
Italics	Ran fastest race lap
*	Led most race laps
Rookie of the Year
Rookie

References

Åberg, Andreas. "USAC National Championship 1982". Driver Database. Archived from the original on March 25, 2008. Retrieved May 11, 2009.
"1981-82 USAC Gold Crown Championship". ChampCarStats.com. Archived from the original on November 22, 2008. Retrieved May 11, 2009.
"IZOD INDYCAR SERIES 2011 HISTORICAL RECORD BOOK" (PDF). Media.indycar.com. pp. 200–203. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 4, 2016. Retrieved January 7, 2014.

v t e American Championship car racing (Indy car) seasons
AAA	1905 1906–1908 1909 1910 1911 1912 1913 1914 1915 1916 1917 1918 1919 1920 1921 1922 1923 1924 1925 1926 1927 1928 1929 1930 1931 1932 1933 1934 1935 1936 1937 1938 1939 1940 1941 1942–1945 1946 1947 1948 1949 1950 1951 1952 1953 1954 1955
USAC	1956 1957 1958 1959 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981–82 1982–83 1983–84 1984–85 1985–86 1986–87 1987–88 1988–89 1989–90 1990–91 1991–92 1992–93 1993–94 1994–95
CART	1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003
CCWS	2004 2005 2006 2007 ~~2008~~
IRL	1996 1996–97 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002
IndyCar	2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025
Years marked in italics are not official championship years or upcoming seasons.

v t e USAC Championship Cars (1971–1995)
Seasons	1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981–82 1982–83 1983–84 1984–85 1985–86 1986–87 1987–88 1988–89 1989–90 1990–91 1991–92 1992–93 1993–94 1994–95
Indianapolis 500s	1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995
National Champions	Emerson Fittipaldi (twice) A. J. Foyt (twice) Gordon Johncock Joe Leonard (twice) Arie Luyendyk Roger McCluskey Rick Mears (three times) Bobby Rahal Johnny Rutherford Tom Sneva (three times) George Snider Danny Sullivan Al Unser Al Unser Jr. (twice) Bobby Unser Jacques Villeneuve
Tracks	Atlanta Brands Hatch DuQuoin State Fair Illinois State Fair Indianapolis Indiana State Fair Michigan Mid-Ohio Milwaukee Mosport Nazareth Ontario Phoenix Pocono Rafaela Silverstone Texas World Trenton

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