1970 Rocky Mountain 150 (partially found footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1970)

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1970rockymountain1501.jpg

Program for the race.

Status: Partially Found

The 1970 Rocky Mountain 150 was the seventh race of the 1970 USAC Championship Car Season. Occurring on 28th June at the Continental Divide Raceways, the race would ultimately be won by Mario Andretti in a McNamara-Ford, controlling the race after passing Al Unser’s Colt-Ford on lap 17.

Background

The 1970 Rocky Mountain 150 was the third running of the event, with the annual race lasting just over 150 miles.[1] The only 1970 USAC Championship Car Season to occur at Continental Divide Raceways,[2] the race was also the final Rocky Mountain 150, with the event being dropped after 1970 as USAC turned its attention towards oval racing that sponsors preferred due to providing greater television exposure.[3]

Prior to the race, qualifying commenced with Al Unser winning the pole position with a record speed of 91.461 mph.[4][1] Directly behind him was Mario Andretti, with Eagle-Ford's Bobby Unser lining up third out of 23 competitors.[1][4] The race also set an attendance record at Continental Divide Raceways, estimated to be around 20,000-22,500.[3][1]

The Race

With the starting order decided, the 1970 Rocky Mountain 150 commenced on 28th June.[1] Unser maintained his lead on the opening lap, holding it for the first 16.[1] However, Andretti successfully achieved an overtake at the start of lap 17, and from there, remained in the lead for the remaining 41 laps.[5][1] His main challenge appeared not to have been the other drivers, but the extreme heat, which he ultimately overcame.[5] He therefore claimed victory and $11,162 in prize money.[1][5] Swede Savage finished second in an Eagle Ford, while Coyote-Ford's A.J. Foyt took third, a lap down from Andretti.[5][1] This proved to be Andretti's first and only victory in the 1970 USAC Season.[5][2]

Availability

According to nascarman History's Top 10 Lost IndyCar Broadcasts, the race was televised by the TVS Television Network. But of twelve IndyCar races to have been televised by TVS, none are currently publicly available. Nevertheless, silent footage of the race can be found online.

Gallery

Videos

Silent footage of the race.

nascarman History's Top 10 Lost IndyCar Broadcasts detailing TVS Television Network's IndyCar broadcasts (0:20-0:59).

See Also

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.8 Racing-Reference detailing the qualifying and race results of the event. Retrieved 15th May '22
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Racing-Reference detailing the 1970 USAC Championship Car Season schedule. Retrieved 15th May '22
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Racing Circuits detailing the history of the Continental Divide Raceways, and noting the 1970 event set an attendance record for the circuit. Retrieved 15th May '22
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 The New York Times reporting on Unser winning the pole position. Retrieved 15th May '22
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 The New York Times reporting on Andretti winning the race. Retrieved 15th May '22
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