The 1980 CART PPG Indy Car World Series season was the second in the CART era of U.S. open-wheel racing. It consisted of twelve races, beginning in Ontario, California on April 13 and concluding in Avondale, Arizona on November 8. The PPG Indy Car World Series Drivers' Champion and Indianapolis 500 winner was Johnny Rutherford. Rookie of the Year was Dennis Firestone.
One year after the first open wheel "Split", USAC and CART came together under the banner of the Championship Racing League (CRL). The entire season was supposed to be co-sanctioned by CART and USAC. However, USAC pulled out the CRL arrangement in July after only five races. USAC declared their 1980 season over, while CART finished out the remainder of the 1980 season on their own.
The season-opening race at Phoenix, set for March 2, was cancelled due to local flooding and washed out roads.
Johnny Rutherford in Jim Hall's Chaparral 2K ground effects chassis dominated the season. Rutherford won five races, including a dominating performance at the 1980 Indianapolis 500. Rutherford finished in the top five in the first ten races, pulling out to a commanding and unmatchable points lead. Rutherford started the season out by finishing 1st or 2nd in the first six races, and ended with a total of eight finished of 1st or 2nd. Rutherford's season was not without incident, however. In the final race of the season at Phoenix, while battling Tom Sneva for the lead, Rutherford tangled with a lapped car, hit the wall, then flipped over. The car landed upside-down hard on its rollbar, but Rutherford was not seriously injured. Rutherford happened to score the most points under both USAC's five-race points distribution and CART's 12-race points championship, securing what could be considered "undisputed" or "unanimous" top driver honors for the calendar year of 1980.
Drivers and constructors The following teams and drivers competed for the 1980 CART World Series. Team/Car OwnerChassisEngine#DriversRounds Team Penske Penske Cosworth 1 Rick MearsAll 11 Bobby UnserAll 12 Mario Andretti 2, 4, 10, 12 61 Tom Gloy 5, 9–10 Leader Card Racing Watson (2–4, 8–10, 12) Eagle (1) Offenhauser 2 Bill Vukovich II 2–4, 9–10, 12 Sheldon Kinser8WatsonOffenhauser (1, 7) Cosworth (All other races) 24 Sheldon Kinser All except 8 Bill Vukovich II8 AMI RacingLola (2, 4) Orbiter (3)
McLaren (8)Cosworth 7 Jerry Sneva 2–4, 8 Orbiter (3–10) Lola (12)Cosworth 43 Tom Bigelow 4, 8 Howdy Holmes3-7 Jerry Sneva9 Danny Ongais10 Greg Leffler12LolaCosworth 44 Greg Leffler 2, 4, 9–10Wildcat (All except 1, 11–12) Orbiter (12)DGS (All except 1, 9, and 11–12) Offenhauser (11)
Cosworth (12) 46 Gary Bettenhausen All except 1 and 11 Chaparral CarsChaparralCosworth 4 Johnny RutherfordAll Longhorn Racing Longhorn Cosworth 5 Al UnserAll Jerry O'Connell RacingMcLarenCosworth 7 Tom Sneva 1McLaren (All except 1, 8, 10, 12) Phoenix (8, 10, 12) 9 Tom Sneva 2–12 McLaren 89 Vern Schuppan 2 Vollstedt Enterprises VollstedtOffenhauser 8 Dick Simon All except 1, 10, 12 12 Dick Simon 12 Alex Morales MotorsportsPenske (All except 4) Lightning (4)Cosworth 10 Pancho Carter All Gilmore RacingParnelliCosworth 14 A. J. Foyt 1–2, 4 16 George Snider 2, 4 Tempero RacingEagleChevrolet 15 Bill Tempero 1 65 Bill Tempero All except 1, 4 Lindsey Hopkins Racing Lightning Offenhauser (2) Chevrolet (10)
Cosworth (9) 15 Johnny Parsons 2, 9–10 Chevrolet 51 Johnny Parsons 4, 6Cosworth 55 Janet Guthrie 2–3Chevrolet 99 Hurley Haywood 2 McElreath RacingEagleOffenhauser 16 Jim McElreath 11PenskeCosworth 23 Jim McElreath 2, 7–8 Rhoades Competition Penske Cosworth 18 Dennis Firestone 2, 4, 6, 9–12McLarenOffenhauser 19 Dana Carter 2EagleRam X Larry Rice 12 Patrick RacingWildcat (1–2, 6) Phoenix (All except 1–2, 6) Cosworth 20 Gordon Johncock All Penske (1) Wildcat (2, 4, 6, 9–10)
Phoenix (3, 5, 7–8, 11–12) 40 Tom Bagley AllPenske 60 Gordon Smiley 1Phoenix 70 Gordon Smiley 2 Mach I Racing Penske (2–6, 8) Eagle (9) Cosworth (2–6, 8) Chevrolet (9) 21 Tim Richmond 2–6 Mike Mosley8-9 Davis Racing Wildcat Offenhauser 22 Ross Davis 1 Sanett RacingPenskeCosworth 23 Dick Ferguson 1 26 Dick Ferguson 2 Interscope RacingParnelli Cosworth 25 Danny Ongais All except 1, 8, 10, and 12 Menard Racing Lightning Offenhauser 28 Herm Johnson All except 5–7 Beaudoin RacingMcLarenCosworth 29 Billy Engelhart 2–4, 8–9, 12 Machinists Union Racing IAM Donovan (2–4, 6) DGS (8)
Chevrolet (9, 12) 30 Phil Threshie 2–4, 6, 8 Larry Dickson9, 12 Medlin Racing Eagle Offenhauser 32 Tony Bettenhausen Jr. 2–4 Wysard RacingWildcat (1–2, 4–5, 7) McLaren (9, 12)Offenhauser (1) DGS (2, 4–5, 7)
Cosworth (9, 12) 34 Pete Halsmer 1–2, 12 Vern Schuppan4-5, 7, 9 Bob Fletcher RacingPenskeCosworth 35 Spike Gehlhausen 2, 4, 6, 8–9 Gordon Smiley10-11 55 Spike Gehlhausen 1 J J EnterprisesWildcatDGS 36 John Martin 5DGS (2, 6, 8–9) Cosworth (4) 37 John Martin 2, 4, 6, 8–9 Pacific Coast Racing Penske Cosworth 38 Rick Muther 1 82 Rick Muther 2–3, 5–7, 9LightningOffenhauser 86 Al Loquasto 2, 4 Jeff Heywood9 Karl Racing McLaren (2, 4–6)Gerhardt (3)Karl (7–9, 11–12) Chevrolet 38 Jerry Karl All except 1, 10 Alsup Racing Penske Cosworth 41 Bill Alsup AllMcLarenOffenhauser 47 Phil Caliva 1–2, 4–5, 9, 11 Mergard RacingEagle Offenhauser 42 John Wood 1–2, 4–5, 8 All American Racers Eagle Cosworth (1) Chevrolet (2, 4) 48 Mike Mosley 1–2, 4 BFM EnterprisesAntaresOffenhauser 50 Jan Sneva 1 Manta Rich Vogler2 Dick Ferguson3 Milt Harper4 Garza RacingPenskeCosworth 55 Josele Garza 12 Hurtubise Racing Mallard Offenhauser 56 Jim Hurtubise 2 Frantz Racing McLaren Cosworth 57 Tom Frantz 2 Hoffman Racing LightningOffenhauser 59 Lee Kunzman 2 Joe Saldana4-6, 8, 10PenskeCosworth 69 Joe Saldana 1–2EagleOffenhauser Bob Frey10SpyderOffenhauser 79 Bob Frey 4 Rager RacingWildcatChevrolet 66 Roger Rager All except 1, 3, 7, and 10 Rasmussen RacingRascarFoyt 67 Bob Harkey 2 Buddie Boys4McLarenOffenhauser 68 Frank Weiss 2 Vetrock Racing Eagle Offenhauser 71 Dean Vetrock 8 Hodgdon RacingMcLarenCosworth 72 Roger Mears 1 Mike Chandler9 Stanton Racing Penske Cosworth 75 Ron Shuman 1–2 O'Hanlon RacingMarchChevrolet 75 Bruce Hill 3McLarenCosworth Lee Kunzman5McLarenCosworth 81 Cliff Hucul 3 Lee Kunzman4 Jerry Sneva10, 12 Spike Gehlhausen11 WalmotorPenskeCosworth Salt Walther 2 77 Salt Walther 6 RP Racing X X 80 Larry Dickson 2 Woodward RacingMcLarenCosworth (9) Chevrolet (6) 81 Dick Ferguson 6, 9 Shade Tree RacingEagleOffenhauser 85 Michel Jourdain Sr. 11–12 Pronosticos DeportivosPenskeCosworth 88 Daniel Muñiz 11 Intercomp Finley (2) Eagle (9)Offenhauser 91 John Mahler 2 Chip Mead9Eagle (3) Penske (5, 7–9, 11) 92 John Mahler 3, 5, 7–9, 11 OvacionesPenskeCosworth 91 Juan Carlos Bolaños 11 Whittington Bros. RacingParnelliCosworth 94 Bill Whittington 2Penske 96 Don Whittington 2, 4 Cannon RacingWildcatDGS (1–2, 6–7, 9–12)Offenhauser (3–5, 8) 95 Larry Cannon All except 1 and 11. Grant King Racing KingChevrolet 86 Roger Mears 5 97 Roger Mears 2, 7–8 Billie Harvey3 Jim McElreath4 Jerry Miller12 98 Bob Harkey 4 Tony Bettenhausen Jr.5, 7
Notable team and driver changes
After racing only at Indy in 1979, Leader Card Racing moved from USAC to CART, with Sheldon Kinser as lead driver and Bill Vukovich II running a limited schedule. AMI Racing also moved from USAC to CART, with Gary Bettenhausen as the driver. Team McLaren shut down their IndyCar operations so they could concentrate on their Formula One program. Driver Johnny Rutherford moved to Chaparral Cars, replacing Al Unser. With Al Unser out at Chaparral, he moved to Longhorn Racing, replacing Tom Bagley. Vollstedt Enterprises, which only ran Indy the previous year, moved to a full schedule, driven by Dick Simon. Rookie driver Bill Tempero debuted with owner-driver team Tempero Racing. Wally Dallenbach Sr. retired from CART at the end of the 1979 season, becoming its competition director. His ride at Patrick Racing was filled by Tom Bagley. John Menard Jr. formed the new Team Menard organization, with Herm Johnson as the driver. Jerry Karl moved from USAC to CART, with his owner-driver team Karl Racing. Alsup Racing expanded to a two-car team, with Bill Alsup joined in most races by Phil Caliva. After running a full season in 1979, All American Racers and driver Mike Mosley only ran three races in 1980. Hoffman Racing once again fielded a variety of drivers, with Lee Kunzman, Joe Saldana, and Bob Frey splitting the year. Roger Rager moved his owner-driver team Rager Racing from USAC to CART. After competing in most of the 1979 races, Salt Walther and team Walmotor only raced in two races. Larry Cannon and his Cannon Racing team moved to a full-time schedule after running part-time in 1979. Gehlhausen Racing, which fielded a full-time team in 1979, closed, with driver Spike Gehlhausen moving to Bob Fletcher Racing.
Notable equipment changes Longhorn Racing switched from a Penske chassis to its own Longhorn. Morales Motorsports switched from a Lightning chassis to a used Penske. Patrick Racing switched from a Penske to Phoenix chassis. Bob Fletcher Racing switched from a Lightning to Penske chassis. Alsup Racing switched from a McLaren to Penske chassis and from an Offenhauser to Cosworth engine.
Schedule Icon Legend Oval/Speedway Road courseC Cancelled race
+RdDateNameCircuitLocation CMarch 2 Arizona Republic/Jimmy Bryan 150 Phoenix International RacewayAvondale, Arizona1April 13 Datsun Twin 200 Ontario Motor SpeedwayOntario, California2May 25 Indianapolis 500 Indianapolis Motor SpeedwayIndianapolis, Indiana3June 8 Gould Rex Mays Classic Milwaukee MileWest Allis, Wisconsin4June 22 True Value 500 Pocono RacewayLong Pond, Pennsylvania5July 13 Red Roof Inns 250 Mid-Ohio Sports Car CourseLexington, Ohio6July 20 Norton Twin 200 Michigan International SpeedwayBrooklyn, Michigan7August 3 Kent Oil 150 Watkins Glen InternationalWatkins Glen, New York8August 10 Tony Bettenhausen Classic Milwaukee MileWest Allis, Wisconsin9August 31 California 500 Ontario Motor SpeedwayOntario, California10September 20 Gould Grand Prix Michigan International SpeedwayBrooklyn, Michigan11October 26 I Copa México 150 Autódromo Hermanos RodríguezMexico City, Mexico12November 8 Miller High Life 150 In Memory of Bobby Ball Phoenix International RacewayAvondale, Arizona * The Phoenix race was scheduled for March 2, but cancelled due to flooding.
Results Rd Race Pole position Winning driver Winning teamRace time Report 1 Datsun Twin 200 Johnny Rutherford Johnny Rutherford Chaparral Cars1:14:03 Report 2 Indianapolis 500 Johnny Rutherford Johnny Rutherford Chaparral Cars3:29:59 Report 3 Gould Rex Mays Classic Gordon Johncock Bobby Unser Team Penske1:19:48 Report 4 True Value 500 Bobby Unser Bobby Unser Team Penske3:18:04 Report 5 Red Roof Inns 150 Al Unser Johnny Rutherford Chaparral Cars1:48:04 Report 6 Norton 200 Bobby Unser Johnny Rutherford Chaparral Cars1:20:48 Report 7 Kent Oil 150 Al Unser Bobby Unser Team Penske1:30:51 Report 8 Tony Bettenhausen 200 Johnny Rutherford Johnny Rutherford Chaparral Cars1:54:13 Report 9 California 500 Bobby Unser Bobby Unser Team Penske3:11:51 Report 10 Gould Grand Prix Mario Andretti Mario Andretti Team Penske0:53:44 Report 11 I Copa México 150 Bobby Unser Rick Mears Team Penske1:16:43 Report 12 Miller High Life 150 Mario Andretti Tom Sneva Jerry O'Connell Racing1:30:04 Report
CART and USAC united in 1980 under the banner of the Championship Racing League (CRL).The first five races of the season were run under CRL banner sanction by USAC. The union dissolved after the Mid-Ohio race. CART sanctioned the seven remaining races on the schedule and combined the results of those along with the CRL events for their championship.
Race summaries Race 1: Datsun Twin 200
For the opening race of the year, Johnny Rutherford qualified on the pole, with Bobby Unser, Al Unser, Rick Mears, and Tom Sneva making up the rest of the top five starters.