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| {{InfoboxLost
| | #REDIRECT [[1976 USAC Championship Car Season (partially found footage of IndyCar races; 1976)]] |
| |title=<center>1976 Schaefer 500</center>
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| |image=1976schaefer5001.jpg
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| |imagecaption=Program for the race.
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| |status=<span style="color:red;">'''Lost'''</span>
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| }}
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| The '''''1976 Schaefer 500''''' was the fifth race of the 1976 USAC Championship Car Season. Occurring on 27th June at the Pocono International Raceway, the race would ultimately be won by Al Unser in a Parnelli-Cosworth, his first USAC Championship victory in almost two years.
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| ==Background==
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| The ''1976 Schaefer 500'' was the sixth running of the event, with the annual race lasting 500 miles.<ref name="results">[https://www.racing-reference.info/race-results/1976_Schaefer_500/UO/ ''Racing-Reference'' detailing the qualifying and race results of the event.] Retrieved 20 Jun '22</ref> The only 1976 USAC Championship Car Season race to commence at Pocono,<ref>[https://www.racing-reference.info/season-stats/1976/UO/ ''Racing-Reference'' detailing the 1976 USAC Championship Car Season schedule.] Retrieved 20 Jun '22</ref> it was considered part of USAC's Triple Crown of 500-mile races that lasted between 1971-1980, also consisting of the Indianapolis 500 and California 500.<ref>[https://www.espn.com/racing/indycar/story/_/id/9444226/indycar-tony-kanaan-chasing-triple-crown-pocono-raceway ''ESPN'' detailing USAC's Triple Crown.] Retrieved 20 Jun '22</ref> Pocono IndyCar events would be run on an on-and-off basis, before the track was dropped from the IndyCar schedule from 2020 onwards.<ref>[https://www.autosport.com/indycar/news/indycar-2020-calendar-revealed-richmond-returns-and-pocono-dropped-4989304/4989304/ ''Autosport'' reporting on Pocono being dropped from the 2020 IndyCar schedule.] Retrieved 20 Jun '22</ref>
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| Heading into the event, A.J. Foyt appeared to be the pre-race favourite, with him setting the fastest speeds in practice in a Coyote-Foyt.<ref name="foyt">[https://www.nytimes.com/1976/06/20/archives/foyt-pacesetter-at-pocono-track.html ''The New York Times'' reporting on Foyt setting the fastest speeds in practice.] Retrieved 20 Jun '22</ref> However, rain forced the cancellation of qualifying, and so the starting order was decided by a draw, with Foyt lining up fifth.<ref name="nyt">[https://www.nytimes.com/1976/06/28/archives/al-unser-is-first-in-500-at-pocono-al-unser-triumphs-in-schaefer.html ''The New York Times'' reporting on Unser winning the race.] Retrieved 20 Jun '22</ref><ref name="results"/> Johnny Parsons won the pole position, with fellow Eagle-Offenhauser driver Billy Vukovich, Jr. directly behind him, and Mario Andretti lining up third in a McLaren-Offenhauser.<ref name="bench">[http://bench-racing.blogspot.com/2010/06/june-27-this-day-in-schaefer-racing.html ''Bench-Racing'' detailing the race and providing photos and newspaper clippings of it.] Retrieved 20 Jun '22</ref><ref name="results"/> Al Unser would started 16th, while Janet Guthrie became the first woman to qualify for a 500-mile USAC Championship event, where she would start 22nd out of 33 competitors.<ref name="beaver">[http://bench-racing.blogspot.com/2010/06/june-27-this-day-in-schaefer-racing.html ''The Beaver County Times'' reporting on Unser winning the race (report found on ''Bench-Racing'').] Retrieved 20 Jun '22</ref><ref name="nyt"/><ref name="bench"/><ref name="foyt"/><ref name="results"/>
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| ==The Race==
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| With the starting order decided, the 1976 Schaefer 500 commenced on 27th June.<ref name="results"/> Andretti shot into the lead on the opening lap, leading the first six before Foyt moved into the first position on lap 7.<ref name="results"/> He held it for 12 laps before Unser took over on lap 19, the latter holding it for nine laps until Gordon Johncock in a Wildcat-DGS passed him on lap 28.<ref name="results"/> Unser regained the lead four laps later, with Foyt retiring after 31 laps when his engine failed.<ref name="beaver"/><ref name="bench"/><ref name="results"/><ref name="nyt"/> After Unser lost the first position to Eagle-Offenhauser's Pancho Carter, the race turned into an open competition, with numerous lead changes occurring in the midst of multiple caution periods.<ref name="results"/> Andretti would later gain the lead on 82, controlling it for 19 laps.<ref name="results"/> Meanwhile, Johncock retired after 54 laps because of a broken engine, while Guthrie exited after 89 laps due to a failed gearbox.<ref name="beaver"/><ref name="bench"/><ref name="results"/><ref name="nyt"/> Additionally, Unser was making a recovery following an airjack breakage during his first pit stop, as well as having ran out debris that caused his left rear tyre to puncture and thus require a further pit stop.<ref name="beaver"/><ref name="nyt"/>
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| By lap 122, he had fully recovered from being two laps down, passing Andretti for the lead and holding it for the next 33 laps.<ref name="results"/> He would be passed by Wildcat-DGS' Wally Dallenbach, but would regain the lead six laps later.<ref name="results"/> For the final 40 laps, his main rival was Eagle-Offenhauser's Mike Mosley, who was hoping that Unser's new Cosworth engine would experience problems, especially as reports indicated it was not fuel efficient and may not be able to last 500 miles.<ref name="nyt"/><ref name="results"/> This seemingly proved valid, when with ten laps remaining, Unser's Cosworth began to sputter.<ref name="nyt"/><ref name="beaver"/> It especially was problematic in the final five laps, but ultimately Unser was able to cross the line to claim his first USAC Championship victory in nearly two years and $84,340 in prize money.<ref name="nyt"/><ref name="beaver"/><ref name="bench"/><ref name="results"/> Mosley was around 3.2-3.4 seconds behind in second, with Dallenbach another 22.5 seconds behind in third.<ref name="beaver"/><ref name="nyt"/><ref name="bench"/><ref name="results"/> Post-race, Unser admitted that he was "ready to give up at one point" and genuinely thought he would not finish because of his engine issues.<ref name="nyt"/> Nevertheless, he stated "But I never had doubts about my ability to win."<ref name="beaver"/>
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| ==Availability==
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| According to ''IndyCar on TV'', 30 minutes of highlights were televised by CBS on 3rd July 1976 as part of its ''CBS Sports Spectacular'', alongside Hall of Fame Diving.<ref>[https://sites.google.com/site/indycarontv/home/the-races/usac/1976/1976-schaefer-500 ''IndyCar on TV'' detailing the CBS broadcast of the race.] Retrieved 20 Jun '22</ref> The broadcast has yet to resurface however, and no footage of the race is currently publicly available. Nevertheless, some photos and newspaper clippings of the event can be found online.<ref name="bench"/>
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| ==Gallery==
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| ===Images===
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| <gallery mode=packed heights=200px>
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| 1976schaefer5002.jpg|Unser during the race.
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| 1976schaefer5003.png|Unser celebrating his win.
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| 1976schaefer5004.png|''The Beaver County Times'' reporting on Unser winning the race.
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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 Tony Bettenhausen 100 (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1968)]]
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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 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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