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| {{InfoboxLost
| | #REDIRECT [[1966-1968 USAC Championship Car Seasons (partially found footage of IndyCar races; 1966-1968)]] |
| |title=<center>1968 Tony Bettenhausen 100</center>
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| |image=1968tonybettenhausen1001.jpg
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| |imagecaption=Roger McCluskey (8) during the race.
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| |status=<span style="color:red;">'''Lost'''</span>
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| }}
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| The '''''1968 Tony Bettenhausen 100''''' was the 19th race of the 1968 USAC Championship Car Season. Occurring on 17th August at the Illinois State Fairground, the race would ultimately be won by Roger McCluskey in a Kuzma-Offenhauser. The race made IndyCar television history, as it was the first to receive live flag-to-flag coverage, and in colour.
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| ==Background==
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| The ''1968 Tony Bettenhausen 100'' was the eighth running of the event, the annual race being named in memory of two-time IndyCar champion Tony Bettenhausen, who had also won three times at the Illinois State Fairground in Springfield.<ref name="bettenhausen">[https://www.stlracing.com/2021/08/21/23rd-to-1st-swanson-charges-to-rain-shortened-bettenhausen-100-win/ ''STL Racing'' detailing the 2021 Tony Bettenhausen 100 and noting Bettenhausen himself won three Springfield events.] Retrieved 3rd May '22</ref> The only 1968 USAC Championship Car Season race to take place at Springfield,<ref>[https://www.racing-reference.info/season-stats/1968/UO/ ''Racing-Reference'' detailing the 1968 USAC Championship Car Season calendar.] Retrieved 3rd May '22</ref> the dirt event lasted 100 miles.<ref name="results">[https://www.racing-reference.info/race-results/1968_Tony_Bettenhausen_100/UO/ ''Racing-Reference'' detailing the qualifying and race results of the event.] Retrieved 3rd May '22</ref> In modern times, the Tony Bettenhausen 100 still occurs annually, with the 2021 edition being won by Kody Swanson.<ref name="bettenhausen"/>
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| Prior to the race, qualifying commenced with Al Unser winning the pole position in a Dunlop-Offenhauser with a speed of 102.975 mph.<ref name="results"/> Directly behind him was Ward-Offenhauser driver Gary Bettenhausen, with A.J. Foyt lining up third in a Meskowski-Offenhauser.<ref name="results"/> Roger McCluskey qualified fourth out of 18 runners.<ref name="results"/>
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| ==The Race==
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| With the starting order decided, the 1968 Bettenhausen 100 commenced on 17th August.<ref name="results"/> Bettenhausen shot into the lead from the first lap, and would dominate the first 71.<ref name="results"/> However, he suddenly retired from the lead shortly afterwards following an engine failure.<ref name="results"/> Unser took back the lead, but also had to retire a lap later, after experiencing terminal steering issues.<ref name="results"/> This enabled McCluskey to assume the first position, which he would hold for the remaining 28 laps. He therefore took victory and claimed $4,734 in prize money.<ref name="results"/> Larry Dickson finished second in a Blum-Offenhauser, with George Snider taking third in a Watson-Offenhauser.<ref name="results"/>
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| ==Availability==
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| The race is significant in that it was the first IndyCar race to receive live flag-to-flag television coverage.<ref name="indycar">[https://sites.google.com/site/indycarontv/home/the-races/usac/1968/1968-tony-bettenhausen-100 ''IndyCar on TV'' detailing the ABC broadcast of the race.] Retrieved 3rd May '22</ref><ref>[https://us.motorsport.com/usac/news/tony-bettenhausen-memorial-100-announces-foyt-grand-marshall/1913499/ ''Motorsport'' noting the race's television significance.] Retrieved 3rd May '22</ref> According to ''IndyCar on TV'', a 90-minute live broadcast was achieved by ABC as part of its ''Wide World of Sports''.<ref name="indycar"/> Despite its historical significance, the broadcast has yet to resurface, and no footage of the race is currently publicly available.
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| ==Gallery==
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| ===Video===
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| {{Video|perrow =1
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| |service1 =youtube
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| |id1 =IY2TffzYa-0
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| |description1 =''nascarman History'''s Top 10 Lost IndyCar Broadcasts detailing the ABC broadcast of the race (2:16-2:31).
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| }}
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| ===Image===
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| <gallery mode=packed heights=100px>
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| 1968tonybettenhausen1002.png|Listing of the ABC broadcast.
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| </gallery>
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| ==See Also==
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| *[[1962 Trenton 100 (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1962)]]
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| *[[1962 Trenton 200 (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1962)]]
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| *[[1963 Trenton 100 (partially found footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1963)]]
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| *[[1963 Trenton 200 (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1963)]]
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| *[[1964 Golden State 100 (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1964)]]
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| *[[1964 Trenton 100 (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1964)]]
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| *[[1965 Golden State 100 (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1965)]]
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| *[[1965 Jimmy Bryan Memorial (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1965)]]
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| *[[1966 Jimmy Bryan Memorial (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1966)]]
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| *[[1966 Trenton 150 (partially found footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1966)]]
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| *[[1967 Trenton 150 (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1967)]]
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| *[[1968 Trenton 150 (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1968)]]
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| *[[1969 Langhorne 150 (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1969)]]
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| *[[1969 Rex Mays Classic (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1969)]]
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| *[[1969 Trenton 200 (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1969)]]
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| *[[1970 Bobby Ball 150 (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1970)]]
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| *[[1970 Jimmy Bryan 150 (partially lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1970)]]
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| *[[1970 Langhorne 150 (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1970)]]
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| *[[1970 Rex Mays Classic (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1970)]]
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| *[[1970 Rocky Mountain 150 (partially found footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1970)]]
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| *[[1970 Trenton 200 (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1970)]]
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| *[[1971 Bobby Ball 150 (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1971)]]
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| *[[1971 Jimmy Bryan 150 (partially found footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1971)]]
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| *[[1971 Marlboro 300 (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1971)]]
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| *[[1971 Michigan 200 (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1971)]]
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| *[[1971 Rex Mays Classic (partially found footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1971)]]
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| *[[1971 Schaefer 500 (partially found footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1971)]]
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| *[[1971 Trentonian 200 (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1971)]]
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| *[[1972 Best Western Motels 150 (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1972)]]
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| *[[1972 Indianapolis 500 (partially found footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1972)]]
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| *[[1972 Phoenix 150 (partially found footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1972)]]
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| *[[1972 Rex Mays Classic (partially found footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1972)]]
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| *[[1972 Tony Bettenhausen 200 (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1972)]]
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| *[[1972 Trenton Times 300 (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1972)]]
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| *[[1972 Trentonian 200 (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1972)]]
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| *[[1973 Schaefer 500 (partially found footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1973)]]
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| *[[1973 Texas 200 (partially found footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1973)]]
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| *[[1974 Phoenix 150 (partially found footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1974)]]
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| *[[1974 Schaefer 500 (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1974)]]
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| *[[1974 Trentonian 200 (partially found footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1974)]]
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| *[[1975 Bricklin 150 (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1975)]]
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| *[[1975 Michigan 150 (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1975)]]
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| *[[1975 Trentonian 200 (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1975)]]
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| *[[1976 Indianapolis 500 (partially found footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1976)]]
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| *[[1976 Jimmy Bryan 150 (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1976)]]
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| *[[1976 Michigan 150 (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1976)]]
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| *[[1976 Schaefer 500 (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1976)]]
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| *[[1976 Trenton Times Auto Classic (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1976)]]
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| *[[1976 Trentonian 200 (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1976)]]
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| *[[1977 American Parts 200 (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1977)]]
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| *[[1977 Jimmy Bryan 150 (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1977)]]
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| *[[1977 Michigan Grand Prix (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1977)]]
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| *[[1977 Rex Mays Classic (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1977)]]
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| *[[1977 Schaefer 500 (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1977)]]
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| *[[1977 Texas Grand Prix (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1977)]]
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| *[[1977 Trentonian 200 (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1977)]]
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| *[[1978 Coors 200 (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1978)]]
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| *[[1978 Daily Express Indy Silverstone (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1978)]]
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| *[[1978 Daily Mail Indy Trophy (partially found CBS and BBC One footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1978)]]
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| *[[1978 Norton Twin 200 (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1978)]]
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| *[[1979 Arizona Republic / Jimmy Bryan 150 (partially found footage of SCCA/CART IndyCar Series race; 1979)]]
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| *[[1979 California 500 (lost footage of SCCA/CART IndyCar Series race; existence unconfirmed; 1979)]]
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| *[[1979 Gould Grand Prix (lost footage of SCCA/CART IndyCar Series race; 1979)]]
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| *[[1980 Miller High Life 150 (partially found footage of CART PPG IndyCar World Series race; 1980)]]
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| *[[1980 Norton Twin 200 (lost footage of CART PPG IndyCar World Series race; 1980)]]
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| *[[1980 Primera Copa Mexico 150 (lost footage of CART PPG IndyCar World Series race; 1980)]]
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| *[[1980 Tony Bettenhausen 200 (lost footage of CART PPG IndyCar World Series race; 1980)]]
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| *[[1981 Kraco Car Stereo 150 (lost CART PPG IndyCar World Series race; 1981)]]
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| *[[1981 Pocono 500 (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1981)]]
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| *[[1996 Las Vegas 500K (partially lost footage of IRL Season race; 1996)]]
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| *[[Indianapolis 500 WFBM-TV Broadcasts (lost racing footage; 1949-1950)]]
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| *[[Indianapolis 500 MCA closed-circuit broadcasts (partially lost racing footage; 1964-1970)]]
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| ==References==
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| {{reflist}}
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| [[Category:Lost recordings of sports events]]
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| [[Category:Completely lost media]]
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| [[Category:Historic]]
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