California 500 (IndyCar) explained

Race Title:California 500
Venue:Ontario Motor Speedway
First Race:1970
Last Race:1980
Distance:500miles
Laps:200
Most Wins Driver:Bobby Unser (4)
Most Wins Team:Eagle (3)
Most Wins Manufacturer:Chassis: All American Racers (3)
Engine: Offenhauser (4)
Cosworth (4)

The California 500 was a USAC, and later CART, race held at Ontario Motor Speedway in Ontario, California. The event represented a continuous lineage of open wheel oval racing in Southern California that dates back to 1970.

History

Open wheel oval racing in southern California dated back to the USAC California 500 at Ontario Motor Speedway in Ontario, California, held from 1970 to 1978. The race was part of IndyCar racing's "triple crown," and at its inception, was held in high prestige. The inaugural running was considered a huge success, with 187,000 in attendance. However, it became a CART event in 1979 and the track fell into financial troubles in 1980, closing at the end of that year. Subsequent runnings were never able to match the success of the 1970 event.[1]

Indy car races were also held at nearby Riverside, but only from 1967–1969 (prior to the opening of Ontario) in 1970 and again from 1981–1983 (after Ontario closed in 1980).[2]

Race results

SeasonDateDriverTeamChassisEngineRace DistanceRace TimeAverage Speed
(mph)
Report
LapsMiles (km)
USAC Championship Car
1970September 6 Jim McElreathA. J. Foyt EnterprisesCoyoteFord200500 (804.672)3:07:22160.106Report
1971September 5 Joe LeonardVel's Parnelli JonesColtFord200500 (804.672)3:16:55152.354Report
1972September 3 Roger McCluskeyLindsay HopkinsMcLarenOffy200500 (804.672)3:17:58151.54Report
1973September 2 Wally Dallenbach Sr.Patrick RacingEagleOffy200500 (804.672)3:10:17157.66Report
1974March 10 Bobby UnserAll American RacersEagleOffy200500 (804.672)3:11:04157.017Report
1975March 9 A. J. FoytA. J. Foyt EnterprisesCoyoteFoyt200500 (804.672)3:14:22154.344Report
1976September 5 Bobby UnserAll American RacersEagleOffy200500 (804.672)3:29:26143.246Report
1977September 4 Al UnserVel's Parnelli JonesParnelliCosworth200500 (804.672)3:17:16154.687Report
1978September 3 Al UnserChaparral RacingChaparralCosworth200500 (804.672)3:26:40145.158Report
CART Championship Car
1979September 2 Bobby UnserPenske RacingPenskeCosworth200500 (804.672)3:24:22146.794Report
1980August 31 Bobby UnserPenske RacingPenskeCosworth200500 (804.672)3:11:51156.372Report

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Circuits of the Past: Ontario Motor Speedway. circuitsofthepast.com. 2014. December 28, 2021.
  2. Web site: Ontario Motor Speedway. motorsportmagazine.com. December 28, 2021. December 28, 2021.