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1977 USAC Championship Car season

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Sports season

1977 USAC Championship Car season
USAC National Championship Trail
Season
Races	14
Start date	March 6
End date	October 29
Awards
National champion	Tom Sneva
Indianapolis 500 winner	A. J. Foyt
← 1976 1978 →

The1977 USAC Championship Car season consisted of 14 races, beginning inOntario,California on March 6 and concluding inAvondale,Arizona on October 29. TheUSAC National Champion wasTom Sneva and theIndianapolis 500 winner wasA. J. Foyt. The schedule included aroad course for the first time since 1970.

Entrants

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(partial list)

Team	Chassis	Engine	Drivers	Rounds
A.J. Foyt Enterprises	Coyote	Foyt	A.J. Foyt	1-3, 5, 7-10, 12
Agajanian	King	Offenhauser	Gary Bettenhausen	4-9, 11-12, 14
All American Racers	Eagle (1-7 9-10, 12) Lightning (11)	Offenhauser	Pancho Carter	1-7, 9-12
Alex Morales	Lightning	Offenhauser	Pancho Carter	14
Alex Morales	Lightning	Offenhauser	Bobby Olivero	5-7, 10-14
Interscope Racing	Parnelli	Cosworth	Danny Ongais	1-3, 5-14
Jerry O"Connell Racing	Eagle (1-4, 14) Lightning (5-7, 9, 12-13)	Offenhauser	Mike Mosley	1-7, 9, 12-14
Joe Hunt	Eagle	Offenhauser	Gary Bettenhausen	1-2
Leader Card Racing	Eagle	Offenhauser	Tom Bigelow	All
Lindsey Hopkins Racing	Lightning	Offenhauser	Roger McCluskey	2-3, 5-13
McLaren	McLaren	Cosworth	Johnny Rutherford	All
Patrick Racing	Wildcat	DGS	Gordon Johncock	All
Patrick Racing	Wildcat	DGS	Wally Dallenbach	All
Team Penske	McLaren (1-8, 11, 14) Penske (9-10, 12-13)	Cosworth (1-13) Offenhauser (14)	Tom Sneva	All
Team Penske	McLaren (2, 4-5, 7, 12, 14) Penske (13)	Cosworth (2, 5, 7, 12-14) Offenhauser (4)	Mario Andretti	2, 4-5, 7, 12-14
Vel's Parnelli Jones Racing	Parnelli	Cosworth	Al Unser	1-3, 5-14

Schedule and results

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Rnd	Date	Race name	Track	Location	Pole position	Winning driver
1	March 6	Datsun Twin 200s	O Ontario Motor Speedway	Ontario,California	Johnny Rutherford	A. J. Foyt
2	March 27	Jimmy Bryan 150	O Phoenix International Raceway	Avondale,Arizona	Johnny Rutherford	Johnny Rutherford
3	April 2	Texas Grand Prix	O Texas World Speedway	College Station,Texas	Johnny Rutherford	Tom Sneva
4	April 30	Trenton 200	O Trenton International Speedway	Trenton,New Jersey	Johnny Rutherford	Wally Dallenbach Sr.
5	May 29	International 500 Mile Sweepstakes	O Indianapolis Motor Speedway	Speedway,Indiana	Tom Sneva	A. J. Foyt
6	June 12	Rex Mays Classic 150	O Wisconsin State Fair Park Speedway	West Allis,Wisconsin	Bobby Unser	Johnny Rutherford
7	June 26	Schaefer 500	O Pocono International Raceway	Long Pond,Pennsylvania	A. J. Foyt	Tom Sneva
8	July 3	Molson Diamond Indy	R Mosport Park	Bowmanville,Ontario	Al Unser	A. J. Foyt
9	July 17	Norton 200	O Michigan International Speedway	Brooklyn,Michigan	Tom Sneva	Danny Ongais
10	July 31	American Parts 200	O Texas World Speedway	College Station,Texas	Danny Ongais	Johnny Rutherford
11	August 21	Tony Bettenhausen 200	O Wisconsin State Fair Park Speedway	West Allis,Wisconsin	Danny Ongais	Johnny Rutherford
12	September 4	California 500	O Ontario Motor Speedway	Ontario,California	Johnny Rutherford	Al Unser
13	September 17	Michigan Grand Prix	O Michigan International Speedway	Brooklyn,Michigan	Danny Ongais	Gordon Johncock
-	September 24	Machinists Union 150	O Trenton International Speedway	Trenton,New Jersey	Race postponed due to rain; eventually cancelled
14	October 29	Bobby Ball 150	O Phoenix International Raceway	Avondale,Arizona	Bobby Unser	Gordon Johncock

O Oval/Speedway

R Road Course

The Machinist Union 150, scheduled for September 24, was first postponed due to rain, and was eventually cancelled on October 3.^[1]^[2]

Final points standings

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Further information:List of American Championship car racing point scoring systems

Pos	Driver	ONT1	PHX1	TWS1	TRE1	INDY	MIL1	POC	MOS	MIS1	TWS2	MIL2	ONT2	MIS2	TRE2	PHX2	Pts
1	Tom Sneva	14	16	1	10	2	2	1	3	4	5	18	3	10	C	17	3965
2	Al Unser	2	9	2		3	3	25	17	16	21	15	1	4	C	2	3030
3	Johnny Rutherford	25	1	4	8	33	1	5	9	3	1	1	24	2	C	22	2840
4	A. J. Foyt	1	2	14		1		15	1	Wth	19		2		C		2840
5	Gordon Johncock	5	12	9	2	11	12	3	18	2	2	10	11	1	C	1	2830
6	Wally Dallenbach Sr.	18	10	3	1	4	15	4	16	8	17	3	20	3	C	6	2635
7	Mario Andretti		DNQ		16	26		2					4	20	C	4	1580
8	Pancho Carter	3	20	11	9	15	5	20		10	3	2	14			3	1420
9	Tom Bigelow	4	4	12	15	6	7	29	8	11	10	4	28	15	C	19	1370
10	Mike Mosley	16	6	5	3	19	4	8		Wth			16	18	C	DNQ	1030
11	Roger McCluskey	22	3	17	5	8	19	26	11	20	DNQ	20	22	7	C	5	940
12	Danny Ongais RY	7	5	13		20	17	23	15	1	13	21	8	17	C	12	935
13	Bobby Olivero					25	6	32			9	6	5	9	C	21	920
14	Gary Bettenhausen	10	11		11	16	20	7	2	17		8	17		C	14	850
15	Johnny Parsons	DNQ	DNP			5	DNQ	11		18	4	13	29	14	C	20	840
16	Larry Dickson	13	DNQ	18		DNQ			13	5	8	12	7	6	C	18	740
17	Lee Kunzman					7	DNP	6	DNQ		22		15	16		DNQ	700
18	Todd Gibson	11	13	6	6	DNQ	14	DNQ	4	15		DNQ	DNQ				600
19	Rick Mears	24	DNQ	15		DNQ		30		6	7	5	26	8	C		555
20	Spike Gehlhausen	26	14	8	12	DNQ	9	DNQ	10	9	12	7	13	13	C	7	550
21	Jim McElreath					23		24		12	6		9	5			530
22	Vern Schuppan	8	8	16	17	DNQ		21	19				6				475
23	Salt Walther	23	18		4	DNQ	18	12	6		DNP		25	DNQ	C	13	450
24	Dick Simon	6	7			31	13	16		19	14	9	33		C	11	360
25	Steve Krisiloff	21				9	DNP	22	14	7	DNQ	19	27				320
26	James McElreath R		DNQ	7	7	DNQ		31			DNQ	DNQ	23	19	C		240
27	Bill Vukovich II	20	19		13	17		9	12	14			31				220
28	Joe Saldana R					DNQ	11	10		Wth	18	11	DNQ	22	C		220
29	Jerry Grant					Wth		13	5	DNQ	DNQ	16					200
30	Ed Crombie						10		7		DNQ	14	DNS				165
31	Jerry Sneva					10	DNP	18	DNQ	DNQ		22	DNQ	DNQ	C		150
32	John Martin					DNQ							10				150
33	Larry Cannon			DNP		DNQ							12	12	C	9	125
34	Bill Simpson	9	22			Wth											80
35	Bobby Unser	15	17	DNP	Wth	18	16	19		21	15	17	30			8	75
36	Clark Templeman R						8										75
37	Al Loquasto	19	21	DNP	Wth	28		28			11		19	11	C	16	70
38	Gary Irvin R			10	14	DNQ											60
39	Bill Puterbaugh					12											50
40	George Snider					24		33		DNQ	20		32	21	C	10	45
41	Cliff Hucul R	12	15	19		22							DNP			DNQ	20
-	Phil Threshie R									13	16		DNQ				0
-	Eldon Rasmussen					13							21				0
-	John Mahler					14		14		DNQ							0
-	Tom Gloy R															15	0
-	Lloyd Ruby	17				27							DNP				0
-	Bubby Jones					21								DNQ	C	DNQ	0
-	Bob Harkey					DNQ				22			DNQ				0
-	Chuck Gurney							27					DNQ				0
-	Sheldon Kinser					32											0
-	Alan Jones	DNS															0
-	Larry McCoy					DNQ		Wth									0
-	Tommy Hunt												DNS				0
-	Ed Finley														C	DNQ	0
-	Jerry Karl					DNQ										DNQ	0
-	Bertil Roos													DNQ	C	DNQ	0
-	Jim Hurtubise					DNQ											0
-	Mel Kenyon					DNQ											0
-	Teddy Pilette					DNQ											0
-	Tom Frantz					Wth											0
-	Jack Owens														C		0
Ineligible for USAC championship points
-	Janet Guthrie	DNQ				29		17					18		C		0
-	Clay Regazzoni R					30											0
Pos	Driver	ONT1	PHX1	TWS1	TRE1	INDY	MIL1	POC	MOS	MIS1	TWS2	MIL2	ONT2	MIS2	TRE2	PHX2	Pts

Color	Result
Gold	Winner
Silver	2nd place
Bronze	3rd place
Green	4th & 5th place
Light Blue	6th-10th place
Dark Blue	Finished (Outside Top 10)
Purple	Did not finish (Ret)
Red	Did not qualify (DNQ)
Brown	Withdrawn (Wth)
Black	Disqualified (DSQ)
White	Did not start (DNS)
Blank	Did not participate (DNP)
Blank	Not competing

In-line notation
Bold	Pole position
Italics	Ran fastest race lap
*	Led most race laps
RY Rookie of the Year
R Rookie

References

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^"Trenton Race Canceled".The New York Times. October 4, 1977. RetrievedAugust 2, 2019.
^"Trenton 200". OldRacingCars.com. RetrievedAugust 2, 2019.

Åberg, Andreas."USAC National Championship 1977". Driver Database.Archived from the original on March 25, 2008. RetrievedMay 4, 2009.
Harms, Phil; Ferner, Michael; Measures, Gerry; Brown, Allen."Indy 500 and USAC racing (1971-1978)". OldRacingCars.com.Archived from the original on September 6, 2012. RetrievedMay 4, 2009.
"1977 USAC National Championship Trail". ChampCarStats.com.Archived from the original on August 27, 2008. RetrievedMay 11, 2009.
Harms, Phil."1977 Championship Driver Summary"(PDF).Motorsport.com. Archived fromthe original(PDF) on May 4, 2011. RetrievedMay 3, 2011.
http://media.indycar.com/pdf/2011/IICS_2011_Historical_Record_Book_INT6.pdf Archived 2016-03-04 at theWayback Machine (p. 217-218)
https://www.champcarstats.com/year/1977.htm Retrieved August 9, 2025
https://www.oldracingcars.com/indy/1977/ Retrieved August 9, 2025
https://www.racingyears.com/results/1977/USAC Retrieved August 9, 2025

v t e American Championship car racing (Indy car) seasons
AAA	1905 1906–1908 1909 1910 1911 1912 1913 1914 1915 1916 1917 1918 1919 1920 1921 1922 1923 1924 1925 1926 1927 1928 1929 1930 1931 1932 1933 1934 1935 1936 1937 1938 1939 1940 1941 1942–1945 1946 1947 1948 1949 1950 1951 1952 1953 1954 1955
USAC	1956 1957 1958 1959 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981–82 1982–83 1983–84 1984–85 1985–86 1986–87 1987–88 1988–89 1989–90 1990–91 1991–92 1992–93 1993–94 1994–95
CART	1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003
CCWS	2004 2005 2006 2007 ~~2008~~
IRL	1996 1996–97 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002
IndyCar	2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 2026
Years marked initalics are not official championship years or upcoming seasons.

v t e USAC Championship Cars (1971–1995)
Seasons	1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981–82 1982–83 1983–84 1984–85 1985–86 1986–87 1987–88 1988–89 1989–90 1990–91 1991–92 1992–93 1993–94 1994–95
Indianapolis 500s	1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995
National Champions	Emerson Fittipaldi (twice) A. J. Foyt (twice) Gordon Johncock Joe Leonard (twice) Arie Luyendyk Roger McCluskey Rick Mears (three times) Bobby Rahal Johnny Rutherford Tom Sneva (three times) George Snider Danny Sullivan Al Unser Al Unser Jr. (twice) Bobby Unser Jacques Villeneuve
Tracks	Atlanta Brands Hatch DuQuoin State Fair Illinois State Fair Indianapolis Indiana State Fair Michigan Mid-Ohio Milwaukee Mosport Nazareth Ontario Phoenix Pocono Rafaela Silverstone Texas World Trenton