|
|
| Line 1: |
Line 1: |
| {{InfoboxLost
| | #REDIRECT [[1979 SCCA/CART Indy Car Series (partially found footage of IndyCar races; 1979)]] |
| |title=<center>1979 California 500</center>
| |
| |image=1979california5001.jpg
| |
| |imagecaption=Program for the race.
| |
| |status=<span style="color:grey;">'''Existence Unconfirmed'''</span>
| |
| }}
| |
| The '''''1979 California 500''''' was the 11th race of the 1979 SCCA/CART IndyCar Series. Occurring on 2nd September at the Ontario Motor Speedway, the race would ultimately be won by Bobby Unser, after edging out fellow Penske-Cosworth teammates Rick Mears and Mario Andretti.
| |
| | |
| ==Background==
| |
| The ''1979 California 500'' was the tenth running of the event, with the annual race lasting 500 miles.<ref name="results">[https://www.racing-reference.info/race-results/1979_California_500/R/ ''Racing-Reference'' detailing the qualifying and race results of the event.] Retrieved 30 Jun '22</ref> The only 1979 SCCA/CART IndyCar Series race to commence at Ontario Motor Speedway,<ref>[https://www.racing-reference.info/season-stats/1979/R/ ''Racing-Reference'' detailing the 1979 SCCA/CART IndyCar Series schedule.] Retrieved 30 Jun '22</ref> the track itself was nicknamed the "Indianapolis of the West", and was also part of USAC's Triple Crown alongside the Indianapolis 500 and the Pocono 500.<ref name="circuit">[https://www.circuitsofthepast.com/ontario-motor-speedway-california-usa/ ''Circuits of the Past'' detailing the history of the Ontario Motor Speedway.] Retrieved 30 Jun '22</ref><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 30 Jun '22</ref> However, the speedway closed in 1980 because of financial issues, and was demolished shortly afterwards.<ref name="circuit"/>
| |
| | |
| Prior to the race, qualifying commenced with Rick Mears winning the pole position with a speed of 203.046 mph.<ref name="results"/> Directly behind him was Chaparral-Cosworth's Al Unser, who entered a new ground effect car,<ref name="nyt">[https://www.nytimes.com/1979/09/03/archives/bobby-unser-wins-in-california-huntington-wins.html ''The New York Times'' reporting on Unser winning the race.] Retrieved 30 Jun '22</ref> with his older brother Bobby lining up third out of 35 competitors.<ref name="results"/>
| |
| | |
| ==The Race==
| |
| With the starting order decided, the 1979 California 500 commenced on 2nd September.<ref name="results"/> Al shot into the lead on the opening lap, leading the first 25 before being passed by McLaren-Cosworth's Tom Sneva on lap 26.<ref name="results"/> Unser quickly regained it on lap 31, and with the exception of a few laps led by his brother Bobby, would control the early stages of the race, the Chaparral generally outpacing the Penskes.<ref name="nyt"/><ref name="results"/> But after losing first to Bobby on lap 72, Al dropped out of leadership contention, as a broken front‐spoiler bracket necessitated multiple pitstops, with him ultimately finishing fifth after losing two laps because of it.<ref name="nyt"/><ref name="results"/>
| |
| | |
| With Al out of contention, the only driver that challenged the Penskes for the win was McLaren-Cosworth's Johnny Rutherford.<ref name="nyt"/><ref name="results"/> Despite remaining competitive in a car that did not utilise ground effect, he would lose distance from the trio of Unser, Mears, and Mario Andretti, eventually dropping back a lap with 55 miles remaining.<ref name="nyt"/> The teammates were evenly matched, though it appeared Mears was gaining the upper hand as he made his penultimate pitstop.<ref name="nyt"/><ref name="results"/> However, while his pitstop only lasted 15 seconds, he misfired the engine, resulting in him losing 12 seconds to Unser.<ref name="nyt"/><ref name="results"/> In contrast, Unser's pitstop was 17 seconds with no engine issues, while Andretti's took 21.5 seconds.<ref name="nyt"/>
| |
| | |
| Thus, Unser led from laps 166 to 183, eventually making his final pitstop that took only 16 seconds.<ref name="nyt"/><ref name="results"/> Mears stayed out for another four laps, and when he pitted, his stop only required 13.7 seconds.<ref name="nyt"/><ref name="results"/> However, he was still considerably behind Unser, while Andretti dropped out of contention as his final pitstop lasted 24.5 seconds.<ref name="nyt"/><ref name="results"/> Ultimately, Unser kept the distance between himself and Mears, claiming victory with a 9.94-second margin and $72,900 in prize money.<ref name="nyt"/><ref name="results"/> Mears finished second, while Andretti took third, being the only drivers on the lead lap.<ref name="nyt"/><ref name="results"/> This was Unser's third California 500 victory, having also won the [[1974 California 500 (partially found footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1974)|1974]] and 1976 editions.<ref name="nyt"/> His team also made history, as the 1-3 was the first of its kind in any 500‐mile championship car race.<ref name="nyt"/>
| |
| | |
| ==Availability==
| |
| According to ''IndyCar on TV'', rumours have persisted that the race was televised by ABC, most likely as part of its ''Wide World of Sports''.<ref name="indycar">[https://sites.google.com/site/indycarontv/home/unconfirmed-broadcasts/1979-california-500 ''IndyCar on TV'' detailing the possibility of an ABC broadcast of the race.] Retrieved 30 Jun '22</ref> As of the present day however, no confirmation that a broadcast occurred has been achieved,<ref name="indycar"/> with no race footage currently being publicly available. Nevertheless, some photos of the event can be found online.
| |
| | |
| ==Gallery==
| |
| ===Images===
| |
| <gallery mode=packed heights=250px>
| |
| 1979california5002.jpg|Mears posing with his Penske.
| |
| 1979california5003.jpg|Rutherford during the race.
| |
| </gallery>
| |
| | |
| ==See Also==
| |
| *[[1962 Trenton 100 (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1962)]]
| |
| *[[1962 Trenton 200 (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1962)]]
| |
| *[[1963 Trenton 100 (partially found footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1963)]]
| |
| *[[1963 Trenton 200 (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1963)]]
| |
| *[[1964 Golden State 100 (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1964)]]
| |
| *[[1964 Trenton 100 (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1964)]]
| |
| *[[1965 Golden State 100 (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1965)]]
| |
| *[[1965 Jimmy Bryan Memorial (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1965)]]
| |
| *[[1966 Jimmy Bryan Memorial (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1966)]]
| |
| *[[1966 Trenton 150 (partially found footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1966)]]
| |
| *[[1967 Trenton 150 (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1967)]]
| |
| *[[1968 Tony Bettenhausen 100 (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1968)]]
| |
| *[[1968 Trenton 150 (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1968)]]
| |
| *[[1969 Langhorne 150 (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1969)]]
| |
| *[[1969 Rex Mays Classic (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1969)]]
| |
| *[[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)]]
| |
| *[[1971 Marlboro 300 (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1971)]]
| |
| *[[1971 Michigan 200 (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1971)]]
| |
| *[[1971 Rex Mays Classic (partially found footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1971)]]
| |
| *[[1971 Schaefer 500 (partially found footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1971)]]
| |
| *[[1971 Trentonian 200 (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1971)]]
| |
| *[[1972 Best Western Motels 150 (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1972)]]
| |
| *[[1972 Indianapolis 500 (partially found footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1972)]]
| |
| *[[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)]]
| |
| *[[1974 Phoenix 150 (partially found footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1974)]]
| |
| *[[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)]]
| |
| *[[1975 Bricklin 150 (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1975)]]
| |
| *[[1975 Michigan 150 (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1975)]]
| |
| *[[1975 Trentonian 200 (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1975)]]
| |
| *[[1976 Indianapolis 500 (partially found footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1976)]]
| |
| *[[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)]]
| |
| *[[1976 Trentonian 200 (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1976)]]
| |
| *[[1977 American Parts 200 (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1977)]]
| |
| *[[1977 Jimmy Bryan 150 (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1977)]]
| |
| *[[1977 Michigan Grand Prix (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1977)]]
| |
| *[[1977 Rex Mays Classic (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1977)]]
| |
| *[[1977 Schaefer 500 (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1977)]]
| |
| *[[1977 Texas Grand Prix (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1977)]]
| |
| *[[1977 Trentonian 200 (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1977)]]
| |
| *[[1978 Coors 200 (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1978)]]
| |
| *[[1978 Daily Express Indy Silverstone (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1978)]]
| |
| *[[1978 Daily Mail Indy Trophy (partially found CBS and BBC One footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1978)]]
| |
| *[[1978 Norton Twin 200 (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1978)]]
| |
| *[[1979 Arizona Republic / Jimmy Bryan 150 (partially found footage of SCCA/CART IndyCar Series race; 1979)]]
| |
| *[[1979 Gould Grand Prix (lost footage of SCCA/CART IndyCar Series race; 1979)]]
| |
| *[[1980 Miller High Life 150 (partially found footage of CART PPG IndyCar World Series race; 1980)]]
| |
| *[[1980 Norton Twin 200 (lost footage of CART PPG IndyCar World Series race; 1980)]]
| |
| *[[1980 Primera Copa Mexico 150 (lost footage of CART PPG IndyCar World Series race; 1980)]]
| |
| *[[1980 Tony Bettenhausen 200 (lost footage of CART PPG IndyCar World Series race; 1980)]]
| |
| *[[1981 Kraco Car Stereo 150 (lost CART PPG IndyCar World Series race; 1981)]]
| |
| *[[1981 Pocono 500 (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1981)]]
| |
| *[[1996 Las Vegas 500K (partially lost footage of IRL Season race; 1996)]]
| |
| *[[Indianapolis 500 WFBM-TV Broadcasts (lost racing footage; 1949-1950)]]
| |
| *[[Indianapolis 500 MCA closed-circuit broadcasts (partially lost racing footage; 1964-1970)]]
| |
| | |
| ==References==
| |
| {{reflist}}
| |
| | |
| [[Category:Lost recordings of sports events]]
| |
| [[Category:Existence unconfirmed]]
| |
| [[Category:Historic]]
| |