From 1956 to 1978, the United States Auto Club (USAC) sanctioned Championship Car class featured the top teams and drivers in U.S. open-wheel racing. Until 1971, races included road courses, ovals, dirt courses, and, on occasion, a hill climb. Thereafter, the schedule consisted mainly of paved ovals. In 1979, the majority of car owners left the USAC to race under the auspices of Championship Auto Racing Teams (CART). This led to a decline in the number of events in the schedule, and by the 1984–85 season, the Championship comprised only one race, the Indianapolis 500. The era of USAC Championship Cars concluded with the formation of the Indy Racing League (IRL) in 1995, which was sanctioned by USAC until June 1997 when the IRL assumed officiating duties after the controversial finish of the 81st Indianapolis 500 and a scoring mistake that marred the following event. The most successful driver in USAC Championship Car history was A. J. Foyt with seven National Championships and four Indianapolis 500 victories. Foyt competed in every season from 1957 to 1992–93.
Seasons USAC Championship Trail # Season Races National Champion Indianapolis 500 Drivers Ref Dirt Oval Hill Climb Paved Oval Road Total Ranked Fatalities 1 1956 8 (1) (1) 4 (1) - 12 (3) Jimmy Bryan Pat Flaherty 36 - 2 1957 9 (1) (1) 4 (3) - 13 (5) Jimmy Bryan Sam Hanks 41 1 3 1958 8 (1) (1) 5 (3) - 13 (5) Tony Bettenhausen Jimmy Bryan 38 3 4 1959 7 (1) (1) 6 (1) - 13 (3) Rodger Ward Rodger Ward 50 7 5 1960 7 (1) (1) 5 - 12 (2) A. J. Foyt Jim Rathmann 45 1 6 1961 7 (1) 5 - 12 (1) A. J. Foyt A. J. Foyt 43 2 7 1962 7 (1) 6 - 13 (1) Rodger Ward Rodger Ward 39 1 8 1963 6 (1) 6 - 12 (1) A. J. Foyt Parnelli Jones 36 - 9 1964 5 (1) 8 - 13 (1) A. J. Foyt A. J. Foyt 46 4 10 1965 4 1 12 1 18 Mario Andretti Jim Clark 57 - 11 1966 4 1 10 1 (1) 16 (1) Mario Andretti Graham Hill 57 1 12 1967 4 1 10 6 21 A. J. Foyt A. J. Foyt 62 - 13 1968 5 1 13 9 28 Bobby Unser Bobby Unser 68 2 14 1969 5 1 10 8 24 Mario Andretti Mario Andretti 72 - 15 1970 5 (1) 10 3 18 (1) Al Unser Al Unser 55 - 16 1971 - - 12 - 12 Joe Leonard Al Unser 44 - 17 1972 - - 10 - 10 Joe Leonard Mark Donohue 42 1 18 1973 - - 16 - 16 Roger McCluskey Gordon Johncock 36 3 19 1974 - - 14 - 14 Bobby Unser Johnny Rutherford 37 - 20 1975 - - 13 - 13 A. J. Foyt Bobby Unser 38 - 21 1976 - - 13 - 13 Gordon Johncock Johnny Rutherford 39 - 22 1977 - - 13 1 14 Tom Sneva A. J. Foyt 41 - 23 1978 - - 15 3 18 Tom Sneva Al Unser 45 - 24 1979 - - 7 - 7 A. J. Foyt Rick Mears 32 -
Championship Racing League (CRL) # Season Races National Champion Indianapolis 500 Drivers Ref Paved Oval Road Total Ranked Fatalities 25 1980 4 1 5 Johnny Rutherford Johnny Rutherford 57 -
USAC Gold Crown Championship # Season Races National Champion Indianapolis 500 Drivers Ref Dirt Oval Paved Oval Total Ranked Fatalities 26 1981–82 3 3 6 George Snider Bobby Unser* 51 1 Gordon Johncock* 27 1982–83 3 1 4 Tom Sneva 39 - 28 1983–84 1 1 2 Rick Mears 39 - 29 1984–85 - 1 1 Danny Sullivan 32 - 30 1985–86 - 1 1 Bobby Rahal 33 - 31 1986–87 - 1 1 Al Unser 33 - 32 1987–88 - 1 1 Rick Mears 33 - 33 1988–89 - 1 1 Emerson Fittipaldi 33 - 34 1989–90 - 1 1 Arie Luyendyk 33 - 35 1990–91 - 1 1 Rick Mears 33 - 36 1991–92 - 1 1 Al Unser Jr. 33 1 37 1992–93 - 1 1 Emerson Fittipaldi 33 - 38 1993–94 - 1 1 Al Unser Jr. 33 - 39 1994–95 - 1 1 Jacques Villeneuve 33 - 401996 -33 Buzz Calkins Buddy Lazier371USAC IndyCar Point Standings Scott Sharp411996-97 -6**6**None (season aborted)N/A -
* The 1981–82 season included both the 65th and 66th Indianapolis 500 races. ( ) Figures in parentheses denote the number of non-championship races in that season.
** The IRL dropped USAC sanction following a scoring error at Texas Motor Speedway.
References
See also
List of American Championship Car winners List of American Championship Car Rookie of the Year Winners Indianapolis 500 Rookie of the Year List of Indianapolis 500 winners