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| {{InfoboxLost
| | #REDIRECT [[1978 USAC Championship Car Season (partially found footage of IndyCar races; 1978)]] |
| |title=<center>1978 Daily Mail Indy Trophy</center>
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| |image=1978dailyexpressindysilverstone1.jpg
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| |imagecaption=Program for the race.
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| |status=CBS broadcast - <span style="color:orange;">'''Partially Lost'''</span> / BBC One broadcast - <span style="color:red;">'''Lost'''</span>
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| }}
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| The '''''1978 Daily Mail Indy Trophy''''' was the 17th race of the 1978 USAC Championship Car Season. Occurring on 7th October at the Brands Hatch Circuit, the event would be one of two USAC Championship events to occur in England that year. The race would ultimately be won by Rick Mears in a Penske-Cosworth, after long-term leader and Parnelli-Cosworth driver Danny Ongais suffered a gearbox failure with 17 laps remaining.
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| ==Background==
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| By January 1978, it was confirmed that the USAC Championship Car Season would contain races from overseas for the first time in its history.<ref name="nyt">[https://www.nytimes.com/1978/01/09/archives/what-the-road-ahead-looks-like-in-auto-racing-formula-one-racing-in.html ''The New York Times'' reporting on the 1978 USAC Championship Car Season containing races in England.] Retrieved 24th Jun '22</ref><ref name="motorsport">[https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/archive/article/november-1978/61/usac-in-england-misguided ''MotorSport Magazine'' reviewing the two races in England, and noting the issues both faced.] Retrieved 24th Jun '22</ref><ref name="retro">[https://www.motorsportretro.com/2011/05/indycars-brands-hatch-1978/ ''Motorsport Retro'' detailing the USAC races held in England, and summarising the 1978 Daily Mail Indy Trophy.] Retrieved 24th Jun '22</ref><ref name="schedule">[https://www.racing-reference.info/season-stats/1978/UO/ ''Racing-Reference'' detailing the 1978 USAC Championship Car Season schedule.] Retrieved 24th Jun '22</ref> Both international races for the 1978 season would be hosted in England, with a Silverstone race commencing on 1st October which was won by A.J. Foyt in a Coyote-Foyt, while an event at Brands Hatch would occur six days later on 7th October.<ref>[https://www.racing-reference.info/race-results/1978_Daily_Express_Indy_Silverstone/UO/ ''Racing-Reference'' detailing the results of the 1978 Daily Express Indy Silverstone.] Retrieved 24th Jun '22</ref><ref name="crash">[https://www.crash.net/indycar/news/16853/1/when-champcars-came-to-brands-hatch ''Crash'' detailing the 1978 USAC Championship Car Season races held in England and the Brands Hatch event.] Retrieved 24th Jun '22</ref><ref name="nyt"/><ref name="motorsport"/><ref name="retro"/><ref name="schedule"/> It arose from agreements with the Motor Circuit Developments, who felt that British spectators may have interest in USAC racing, especially considering Formula One's popularity in the country.<ref name="motorsport"/><ref name="crash"/><ref name="retro"/> While this was not the first time USAC cars visited Europe, with such vehicles racing in Italy in 1957 and 1958, these would be the first overseas to count towards the Championship.<ref name="motorsport"/><ref name="nyt"/><ref name="schedule"/> The fact both races were also to occur on English road circuits would provide unknown qualities and challenges for USAC cars that primarily competed in oval tracks.<ref name="crash"/><ref name="motorsport"/><ref name="retro"/>
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| A qualifying session in Michigan helped determine the top 16 competitors that would make the overseas trip, with Tom Sneva in a Penske-Cosworth setting the fastest speed at 209.059 mph.<ref name="motorsport"/> Unlike with Silverstone, which was hampered with rain throughout the practice, qualifying, and race sessions, the 1978 Daily Mail Indy Trophy would commence on a sunny day.<ref name="crash"/><ref name="retro"/><ref name="motorsport"/> However, to avoid any chance of the race being shortened by rain, USAC opted to race on a shorter track at Brands Hatch, now known as the "Indy Circuit".<ref name="crash"/><ref name="motorsport"/> While the rationale was that the short track would dry quicker, the move by USAC surprised both the drivers and tyre supplier Goodyear, especially considering the tyres were designed to cope with the long circuit and that Goodyear personnel only learnt of the decision through reading racing magazines.<ref name="crash"/> Around 15,000 were in attendance for the race, which like with Silverstone, was considered a disappointing number.<ref name="motorsport"/><ref name="crash"/> This produced only half the revenue Motor Circuit Developments required to justify hosting future USAC races, thus marking the final IndyCar race in England until 2001.<ref name="crash"/>
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| Prior to the race, qualifying commenced with Al Unser winning the pole position in a Lola-Cosworth with a speed of 105.811 mph.<ref name="results">[https://www.racing-reference.info/race-results/1978_Daily_Mail_Indy_Trophy/UO/ ''Racing-Reference'' detailing the qualifying and race results of the event.] Retrieved 24th Jun '22</ref> Despite the tight nature of the small circuit conflicting greatly with USAC cars that were designed for ovals in mind, Unser's speed was the second fastest recorded at Brands Hatch at the time, beaten only by the Brabham BT46B Formula One "fan car".<ref name="crash"/> Rick Mears qualified second, with Danny Ongais lining up third out of the 16 runners.<ref name="results"/> Meanwhile, Steve Krisiloff qualified 12th in a Wildcat-Offenhauser, but was unable to compete after wrecking his car during the warm-up session.<ref name="crash"/><ref name="results"/>
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| ==The Race==
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| With the starting order decided, the 1978 Daily Mail Indy Trophy commenced on 7th October.<ref name="results"/> Unser's race ended without completing a lap, following a clutch failure.<ref name="crash"/><ref name="results"/> This allowed Ongais to assume the lead on the opening lap, where he proceeded to dominate the majority of the race.<ref name="crash"/><ref name="retro"/><ref name="results"/> Even following a few pitstops, Ongais remained in the first position.<ref name="crash"/><ref name="results"/><ref name="retro"/> However, his race would end after 83 laps when his gearbox and clutch failed.<ref name="crash"/><ref name="retro"/><ref name="results"/> Mears assumed the lead, and remained in comfortably front for the remaining 17 laps to claim victory and $33,701 in prize money.<ref name="crash"/><ref name="results"/> Fellow Penske-Cosworth driver Tom Sneva finished second, with McLaren-Cosworth's Johnny Rutherford taking third.<ref name="crash"/><ref name="results"/> Post-race, Mears admitted he was fortunate to win, stating, praising Ongais' performance as "marvellous".<ref name="retro"/>
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| ==Availability==
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| According to ''IndyCar on TV'', 30 minutes of highlights were televised by CBS on 20th October 1978 as part of its ''CBS Sports Spectacular'', attracting an audience of 3.2 million.<ref>[https://sites.google.com/site/indycarontv/home/the-races/usac/1978/1978-daily-mail-indy-trophy ''IndyCar on TV'' detailing the CBS broadcast of the race.] Retrieved 24th Jun '22</ref> The broadcast has mostly resurfaced, with a video uploaded by Hayden Martin on 12th September 2018 containing just over 24 minutes of footage taken from two partial uploads of the race coverage.
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| However, according to Issue 2,865 of ''Radio Times'', a live broadcast occurred on BBC One as part of its ''Grandstand'' program, with commentary being provided by long-time Formula One commentator Murray Walker.<ref name="radio">[https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/schedules/service_bbc_one_london/1978-10-07 ''BBC Genome'' archive of ''Radio Times'' issues detailing the BBC One broadcast of the race.] Retrieved 24th Jun '22</ref> Based on the Issue's synopsis, up to 40 minutes could have been televised on the channel.<ref name="radio"/> The broadcast has yet to resurface however, with no footage from it currently being publicly available. Nevertheless, while a search of the British Film Institute (BFI) indicates it does not have this particular episode of ''Grandstand'' available in its archives, it does contain a documentary titled "The Indy Cars Come to Brands Hatch", a Monroe-sponsored documentary produced by Post Productions.<ref>[http://collections-search.bfi.org.uk/web/Details/ChoiceFilmWorks/150734098 ''British Film Institute'' summary of "The Indy Cars Come to Brands Hatch".] Retrieved 24th Jun '22</ref> Having been obtained on 7th November 2007 as a 20mm film, the BFI enables only restricted access to the documentary.<ref>[http://collections-search.bfi.org.uk/web/Details/ChoiceFilmItems/153836197 ''British Film Institute'' detailing the 20mm film of "The Indy Cars Come to Brands Hatch".] Retrieved 24th Jun '22</ref>
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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 =GzbeB_aY5E8
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| |description1 =The 1978 Daily Mail Indy Trophy on ''CBS Sports Spectacular''.
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| }}
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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)]]
| |
| *[[1970 Bobby Ball 150 (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1970)]]
| |
| *[[1970 Jimmy Bryan 150 (partially lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1970)]]
| |
| *[[1970 Langhorne 150 (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1970)]]
| |
| *[[1970 Rex Mays Classic (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1970)]]
| |
| *[[1970 Rocky Mountain 150 (partially found footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1970)]]
| |
| *[[1970 Trenton 200 (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1970)]]
| |
| *[[1971 Bobby Ball 150 (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1971)]]
| |
| *[[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)]]
| |
| *[[1972 Rex Mays Classic (partially found footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1972)]]
| |
| *[[1972 Tony Bettenhausen 200 (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1972)]]
| |
| *[[1972 Trenton Times 300 (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1972)]]
| |
| *[[1972 Trentonian 200 (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1972)]]
| |
| *[[1973 Schaefer 500 (partially found footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1973)]]
| |
| *[[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)]]
| |
| *[[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)]]
| |
| *[[1976 Michigan 150 (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1976)]]
| |
| *[[1976 Schaefer 500 (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1976)]]
| |
| *[[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 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:Partially found media]]
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| [[Category:Historic]]
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