The Molson Diamond Indy was an annual USAC Championship Car race. It was held in Bowmanville, Ontario, Canada. It was held from 1967 to 1968 and again from 1977 to 1978.
In 1967, the first ever Indy race held in Canada was the Telegram Trophy 200, held at Mosport Park in Bowmanville, Ontario as part of the USAC Championship Car season. The race was won by Bobby Unser for his first career Indy victory. Following Dan Gurney’s victory in 1968, a group led by John Bassett and Imperial Tobacco made the first proposal to run both the 1969 Telegram Trophy Indy race and the Formula One Canadian Grand Prix at a new street circuit along Lake Shore Boulevard and through Exhibition Place with the start/finish line and pits to be located inside Exhibition Stadium. Bassett dropped the idea just as the bill was going through third reading before Toronto city council.
After a nine-year absence, Indy cars returned to the Toronto area for the Molson Diamond Indy at Mosport Park won by A. J. Foyt in 1977 and Danny Ongais in 1978.
Past winners SeasonDateDriverTeamChassisEngineRace distanceRace timeAverage speed(mph)Report Laps Miles (km) USAC National Championship Trail 1967 July 1 Bobby Unser Leader Cards Racing Eagle Ford4098.36 (158.295)0:59:14102.770 Report614.754 (23.744) 1968 June 15 Dan Gurney Oscar Olson Eagle Weslake-Ford4098.36 (158.295)0:56:45105.727 Report4098.36 (158.295) 0:55:16108.564 1969–1976 Not held 1977 July 3 A. J. Foyt A. J. Foyt Enterprises Coyote Foyt75184.425 (296.803 km)2:03:3590.733 Report 1978 June 11 Danny Ongais Interscope Racing Parnelli Cosworth76186.884 (300.761 km)2:08:3887.164 Report 1979 Not held 1980 Sept 14 Race cancelled following unification of USAC and CART schedules. 1967: Run in two heats of 98 miles (158 kilometers/40 laps) each. Second race stopped after 6 laps due to rain. 1968: Run in two heats of 98 miles (158 kilometers/40 laps) each.
References