Template:Short description
Template:Use mdy dates
Template:American Championship Car season
The 1980 CART PPG Indy Car World Series season was the second in the CART era of U.S. open-wheel racing. It consisted of twelve races, beginning in Ontario, California on April 13 and concluding in Avondale, Arizona on November 8. The PPG Indy Car World Series Drivers' Champion and Indianapolis 500 winner was Johnny Rutherford. Rookie of the Year was Dennis Firestone. The entire season, including the 64th Indianapolis 500, was to be co-sanctioned by both the USAC and CART under the banner of the Championship Racing League (CRL). However, USAC withdrew from the arrangement after five races.
The season-opening race at Phoenix, set for March 2, was cancelled due to local flooding and washed out roads.
Johnny Rutherford in Jim Hall's Chaparral 2K ground effects chassis dominated the season. Rutherford won five races, including a dominating performance at the 1980 Indianapolis 500. Rutherford finished in the top five in the first ten races, pulling out to a commanding and unmatchable points lead. Rutherford started the season out by finishing 1st or 2nd in the first six races, and ended with a total of eight finished of 1st or 2nd. Rutherford's season was not without incident, however. In the final race of the season at Phoenix, while battling Tom Sneva for the lead, Rutherford tangled with a lapped car, hit the wall, then flipped over. The car landed upside-down hard on its rollbar, but Rutherford was not seriously injured.
Drivers and constructors
The following teams and drivers competed for the 1980 CART World Series.
| Team/Car Owner
|
Chassis
|
Engine
|
#
|
Drivers
|
Rounds
|
| Template:Flagicon Team Penske
|
Penske
|
Cosworth
|
1
|
Template:Flagicon Rick Mears
|
All
|
| 11
|
Template:Flagicon Bobby Unser
|
All
|
| 12
|
Template:Flagicon Mario Andretti
|
2, 4, 10, 12
|
| 61
|
Template:Flagicon Tom Gloy
|
5, 9-10
|
| Template:Flagicon Leader Card Racing
|
Watson (2-4, 8-10, 12)
Eagle (1)
|
Offenhauser
|
2
|
Template:Flagicon Bill Vukovich II
|
2-4, 9-10, 12
|
| Template:Flagicon Sheldon Kinser
|
8
|
| Watson
|
Offenhauser (1, 7)
Cosworth (All other races)
|
24
|
Template:Flagicon Sheldon Kinser
|
All except 8
|
| Template:Flagicon Bill Vukovich II
|
8
|
| Template:Flagicon AMI Racing
|
Lola (2, 4)
Orbiter (3)
McLaren (8)
|
Cosworth
|
7
|
Template:Flagicon Jerry Sneva
|
2-4, 8
|
| Orbiter (3-10)
Lola (12)
|
Cosworth
|
43
|
Template:Flagicon Tom Bigelow
|
4, 8
|
| Template:Flagicon Howdy Holmes
|
3-7
|
| Template:Flagicon Jerry Sneva
|
9
|
| Template:Flagicon Danny Ongais
|
10
|
| Template:Flagicon Greg Leffler
|
12
|
| Lola
|
Cosworth
|
44
|
Template:Flagicon Greg Leffler
|
2, 4, 9-10
|
| Wildcat (All except 1, 11-12)
Orbiter (12)
|
DGS (All except 1, 9, and 11-12)
Offenhauser (11)
Cosworth (12)
|
46
|
Template:Flagicon Gary Bettenhausen
|
All except 1 and 11
|
| Template:Flagicon Chaparral Cars
|
Chaparral
|
Cosworth
|
4
|
Template:Flagicon Johnny Rutherford
|
All
|
| Template:Flagicon Longhorn Racing
|
Longhorn
|
Cosworth
|
5
|
Template:Flagicon Al Unser
|
All
|
| Template:Flagicon Jerry O'Connell Racing
|
McLaren
|
Cosworth
|
7
|
Template:Flagicon Tom Sneva
|
1
|
| McLaren (All except 1, 8, 10, 12)
Phoenix (8, 10, 12)
|
9
|
Template:Flagicon Tom Sneva
|
2-12
|
| McLaren
|
89
|
Template:Flagicon Vern Schuppan
|
2
|
| Template:Flagicon Vollstedt Enterprises
|
Vollstedt
|
Offenhauser
|
8
|
Template:Flagicon Dick Simon
|
All except 1, 10, 12
|
| 12
|
Template:Flagicon Dick Simon
|
12
|
| Template:Flagicon Alex Morales Motorsports
|
Penske (All except 4)
Lightning (4)
|
Cosworth
|
10
|
Template:Flagicon Pancho Carter
|
All
|
| Template:Flagicon Gilmore Racing
|
Parnelli
|
Cosworth
|
14
|
Template:Flagicon A. J. Foyt
|
1-2, 4
|
| 16
|
Template:Flagicon George Snider
|
2, 4
|
| Template:Flagicon Tempero Racing
|
Eagle
|
Chevrolet
|
15
|
Template:Flagicon Bill Tempero
|
1
|
| 65
|
Template:Flagicon Bill Tempero
|
All except 1, 4
|
| Template:Flagicon Lindsey Hopkins Racing
|
Lightning
|
Offenhauser (2)
Chevrolet (10)
Cosworth (9)
|
15
|
Template:Flagicon Johnny Parsons
|
2, 9-10
|
| Chevrolet
|
51
|
Template:Flagicon Johnny Parsons
|
4, 6
|
| Cosworth
|
55
|
Template:Flagicon Janet Guthrie
|
2-3
|
| Chevrolet
|
99
|
Template:Flagicon Hurley Haywood
|
2
|
| Template:Flagicon McElreath Racing
|
Eagle
|
Offenhauser
|
16
|
Template:Flagicon Jim McElreath
|
11
|
| Penske
|
Cosworth
|
23
|
Template:Flagicon Jim McElreath
|
2, 7-8
|
| Template:Flagicon Rhoades Competition
|
Penske
|
Cosworth
|
18
|
Template:Flagicon Dennis Firestone
|
2, 4, 6, 9-12
|
| McLaren
|
Offenhauser
|
19
|
Template:Flagicon Dana Carter
|
2
|
| Eagle
|
Ram
|
X
|
Template:Flagicon Larry Rice
|
12
|
| Template:Flagicon Patrick Racing
|
Wildcat (1-2, 6)
Phoenix (All except 1-2, 6)
|
Cosworth
|
20
|
Template:Flagicon Gordon Johncock
|
All
|
| Penske (1)
Wildcat (2, 4, 6, 9-10)
Phoenix (3, 5, 7-8, 11-12)
|
40
|
Template:Flagicon Tom Bagley
|
All
|
| Penske
|
60
|
Template:Flagicon Gordon Smiley
|
1
|
| Phoenix
|
70
|
Template:Flagicon Gordon Smiley
|
2
|
| Template:Flagicon Mach I Racing
|
Penske (2-6, 8)
Eagle (9)
|
Cosworth (2-6, 8)
Chevrolet (9)
|
21
|
Template:Flagicon Tim Richmond
|
2-6
|
| Template:Flagicon Mike Mosley
|
8-9
|
| Template:Flagicon Davis Racing
|
Wildcat
|
Offenhauser
|
22
|
Template:Flagicon Ross Davis
|
1
|
| Template:Flagicon Sanett Racing
|
Penske
|
Cosworth
|
23
|
Template:Flagicon Dick Ferguson
|
1
|
| 26
|
Template:Flagicon Dick Ferguson
|
2
|
| Template:Flagicon Interscope Racing
|
Parnelli
|
Cosworth
|
25
|
Template:Flagicon Danny Ongais
|
All except 1, 8, 10, and 12
|
| Template:Flagicon Menard Racing
|
Lightning
|
Offenhauser
|
28
|
Template:Flagicon Herm Johnson
|
All except 5-7
|
| Template:Flagicon Beaudoin Racing
|
McLaren
|
Cosworth
|
29
|
Template:Flagicon Billy Engelhart
|
2-4, 8-9, 12
|
| Template:Flagicon Machinists Union Racing
|
IAM
|
Donovan (2-4, 6)
DGS (8)
Chevrolet (9, 12)
|
30
|
Template:Flagicon Phil Threshie
|
2-4, 6, 8
|
| Template:Flagicon Larry Dickson
|
9, 12
|
| Template:Flagicon Medlin Racing
|
Eagle
|
Offenhauser
|
32
|
Template:Flagicon Tony Bettenhausen Jr.
|
2-4
|
| Template:Flagicon Wysard Racing
|
Wildcat (1-2, 4-5, 7)
McLaren (9, 12)
|
Offenhauser (1)
DGS (2, 4-5, 7)
Cosworth (9, 12)
|
34
|
Template:Flagicon Pete Halsmer
|
1-2, 12
|
| Template:Flagicon Vern Schuppan
|
4-5, 7, 9
|
| Template:Flagicon Bob Fletcher Racing
|
Penske
|
Cosworth
|
35
|
Template:Flagicon Spike Gehlhausen
|
2, 4, 6, 8-9
|
| Template:Flagicon Gordon Smiley
|
10-11
|
| 55
|
Template:Flagicon Spike Gehlhausen
|
1
|
| Template:Flagicon J J Enterprises
|
Wildcat
|
DGS
|
36
|
Template:Flagicon John Martin
|
5
|
| DGS (2, 6, 8-9)
Cosworth (4)
|
37
|
Template:Flagicon John Martin
|
2, 4, 6, 8-9
|
| Template:Flagicon Pacific Coast Racing
|
Penske
|
Cosworth
|
38
|
Template:Flagicon Rick Muther
|
1
|
| 82
|
Template:Flagicon Rick Muther
|
2-3, 5-7, 9
|
| Lightning
|
Offenhauser
|
86
|
Template:Flagicon Al Loquasto
|
2, 4
|
| Template:Flagicon Jeff Heywood
|
9
|
| Template:Flagicon Karl Racing
|
McLaren (2, 4-6)
Gerhardt (3)
Karl (7-9, 11-12)
|
Chevrolet
|
38
|
Template:Flagicon Jerry Karl
|
All except 1, 10
|
| Template:Flagicon Alsup Racing
|
Penske
|
Cosworth
|
41
|
Template:Flagicon Bill Alsup
|
All
|
| McLaren
|
Offenhauser
|
47
|
Template:Flagicon Phil Caliva
|
1-2, 4-5, 9, 11
|
| Template:Flagicon Mergard Racing
|
Eagle
|
Offenhauser
|
42
|
Template:Flagicon John Wood
|
1-2, 4-5, 8
|
| Template:Flagicon All American Racers
|
Eagle
|
Cosworth (1)
Chevrolet (2, 4)
|
48
|
Template:Flagicon Mike Mosley
|
1-2, 4
|
| Template:Flagicon BFM Enterprises
|
Antares
|
Offenhauser
|
50
|
Template:Flagicon Jan Sneva
|
1
|
| Manta
|
Template:Flagicon Rich Vogler
|
2
|
| Template:Flagicon Dick Ferguson
|
3
|
| Template:Flagicon Milt Harper
|
4
|
| Template:Flagicon Garza Racing
|
Penske
|
Cosworth
|
55
|
Template:Flagicon Josele Garza
|
12
|
| Template:Flagicon Hurtubise Racing
|
Mallard
|
Offenhauser
|
56
|
Template:Flagicon Jim Hurtubise
|
2
|
| Template:Flagicon Frantz Racing
|
McLaren
|
Cosworth
|
57
|
Template:Flagicon Tom Frantz
|
2
|
| Template:Flagicon Hoffman Racing
|
Lightning
|
Offenhauser
|
59
|
Template:Flagicon Lee Kunzman
|
2
|
| Template:Flagicon Joe Saldana
|
4-6, 8, 10
|
| Penske
|
Cosworth
|
69
|
Template:Flagicon Joe Saldana
|
1-2
|
| Eagle
|
Offenhauser
|
Template:Flagicon Bob Frey
|
10
|
| Spyder
|
Offenhauser
|
79
|
Template:Flagicon Bob Frey
|
4
|
| Template:Flagicon Rager Racing
|
Wildcat
|
Chevrolet
|
66
|
Template:Flagicon Roger Rager
|
All except 1, 3, 7, and 10
|
| Template:Flagicon Rasmussen Racing
|
Rascar
|
Foyt
|
67
|
Template:Flagicon Bob Harkey
|
2
|
| Template:Flagicon Buddie Boys
|
4
|
| McLaren
|
Offenhauser
|
68
|
Template:Flagicon Frank Weiss
|
2
|
| Template:Flagicon Vetrock Racing
|
Eagle
|
Offenhauser
|
71
|
Template:Flagicon Dean Vetrock
|
8
|
| Template:Flagicon Hodgdon Racing
|
McLaren
|
Cosworth
|
72
|
Template:Flagicon Roger Mears
|
1
|
| Template:Flagicon Mike Chandler
|
9
|
| Template:Flagicon Stanton Racing
|
Penske
|
Cosworth
|
75
|
Template:Flagicon Ron Shuman
|
1-2
|
| Template:Flagicon O'Hanlon Racing
|
March
|
Chevrolet
|
75
|
Template:Flagicon Bruce Hill
|
3
|
| McLaren
|
Cosworth
|
Template:Flagicon Lee Kunzman
|
5
|
| McLaren
|
Cosworth
|
81
|
Template:Flagicon Cliff Hucul
|
3
|
| Template:Flagicon Lee Kunzman
|
4
|
| Template:Flagicon Jerry Sneva
|
10, 12
|
| Template:Flagicon Spike Gehlhausen
|
11
|
| Template:Flagicon Walmotor
|
Penske
|
Cosworth
|
Template:Flagicon Salt Walther
|
2
|
| 77
|
Template:Flagicon Salt Walther
|
6
|
| Template:Flagicon RP Racing
|
X
|
X
|
80
|
Template:Flagicon Larry Dickson
|
2
|
| Template:Flagicon Woodward Racing
|
McLaren
|
Cosworth (9)
Chevrolet (6)
|
81
|
Template:Flagicon Dick Ferguson
|
6, 9
|
| Template:Flagicon Shade Tree Racing
|
Eagle
|
Offenhauser
|
85
|
Template:Flagicon Michel Jourdain Sr.
|
11-12
|
| Template:Flagicon Pronosticos Deportivos
|
Penske
|
Cosworth
|
88
|
Template:Flagicon Daniel Muñiz
|
11
|
| Template:Flagicon Intercomp
|
Finley (2)
Eagle (9)
|
Offenhauser
|
91
|
Template:Flagicon John Mahler
|
2
|
| Template:Flagicon Chip Mead
|
9
|
| Eagle (3)
Penske (5, 7-9, 11)
|
92
|
Template:Flagicon John Mahler
|
3, 5, 7-9, 11
|
| Template:Flagicon Ovaciones
|
Penske
|
Cosworth
|
91
|
Template:Flagicon Juan Carlos Bolaños
|
11
|
| Template:Flagicon Whittington Bros. Racing
|
Parnelli
|
Cosworth
|
94
|
Template:Flagicon Bill Whittington
|
2
|
| Penske
|
96
|
Template:Flagicon Don Whittington
|
2, 4
|
| Template:Flagicon Cannon Racing
|
Wildcat
|
DGS (1-2, 6-7, 9-12)
Offenhauser (3-5, 8)
|
95
|
Template:Flagicon Larry Cannon
|
All except 1 and 11.
|
| Template:FlagiconGrant King Racing
|
King
|
Chevrolet
|
86
|
Template:Flagicon Roger Mears
|
5
|
| 97
|
Template:Flagicon Roger Mears
|
2, 7-8
|
| Template:Flagicon Billie Harvey
|
3
|
| Template:Flagicon Jim McElreath
|
4
|
| Template:Flagicon Jerry Miller
|
12
|
| 98
|
Template:Flagicon Bob Harkey
|
4
|
| Template:Flagicon Tony Bettenhausen Jr.
|
5, 7
|
Notable team and driver changes
- After racing only at Indy in 1979, Leader Card Racing moved from USAC to CART, with Sheldon Kinser as lead driver and Bill Vukovich II running a limited schedule.
- AMI Racing also moved from USAC to CART, with Gary Bettenhausen as the driver.
- Team McLaren shut down their IndyCar operations so they could concentrate on their Formula One program. Driver Johnny Rutherford moved to Chaparral Cars, replacing Al Unser.
- With Al Unser out at Chaparral, he moved to Longhorn Racing, replacing Tom Bagley.
- Vollstedt Enterprises, which only ran Indy the previous year, moved to a full schedule, driven by Dick Simon.
- Rookie driver Bill Tempero debuted with owner-driver team Tempero Racing.
- Wally Dallenbach Sr. retired from CART at the end of the 1979 season, becoming its competition director. His ride at Patrick Racing was filled by Tom Bagley.
- John Menard Jr. formed the new Team Menard organization, with Herm Johnson as the driver.
- Jerry Karl moved from USAC to CART, with his owner-driver team Karl Racing.
- Alsup Racing expanded to a two-car team, with Bill Alsup joined in most races by Phil Caliva.
- After running a full season in 1979, All American Racers and driver Mike Mosley only ran three races in 1980.
- Hoffman Racing once again fielded a variety of drivers, with Lee Kunzman, Joe Saldana, and Bob Frey splitting the year.
- Roger Rager moved his owner-driver team Rager Racing from USAC to CART.
- After competing in most of the 1979 races, Salt Walther and team Walmotor only raced in two races.
- Larry Cannon and his Cannon Racing team moved to a full-time schedule after running part-time in 1979.
- Gehlhausen Racing, which fielded a full-time team in 1979, closed, with driver Spike Gehlhausen moving to Bob Fletcher Racing.
Notable equipment changes
- Longhorn Racing switched from a Penske chassis to its own Longhorn.
- Morales Motorsports switched from a Lightning chassis to a used Penske.
- Patrick Racing switched from a Penske to Phoenix chassis.
- Bob Fletcher Racing switched from a Lightning to Penske chassis.
- Alsup Racing switched from a McLaren to Penske chassis and from an Offenhauser to Cosworth engine.
Season summary
Schedule
| Rd
|
Date
|
Name
|
Circuit
|
Location
|
| -
|
March 2
|
Template:Flagicon Arizona Republic/Jimmy Bryan 150
|
<templatestyles src="Legend/styles.css" /> O Phoenix International Raceway
|
Avondale, Arizona
|
| 1
|
April 13
|
Template:Flagicon Datsun Twin 200
|
<templatestyles src="Legend/styles.css" /> O Ontario Motor Speedway
|
Ontario, California
|
| 2
|
May 25
|
Template:Flagicon Indianapolis 500
|
<templatestyles src="Legend/styles.css" /> O Indianapolis Motor Speedway
|
Indianapolis, Indiana
|
| 3
|
June 8
|
Template:Flagicon Gould Rex Mays Classic
|
<templatestyles src="Legend/styles.css" /> O Milwaukee Mile
|
West Allis, Wisconsin
|
| 4
|
June 22
|
Template:Flagicon True Value 500
|
<templatestyles src="Legend/styles.css" /> O Pocono Raceway
|
Long Pond, Pennsylvania
|
| 5
|
July 13
|
Template:Flagicon Red Roof Inns 250
|
<templatestyles src="Legend/styles.css" /> R Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course
|
Lexington, Ohio
|
| 6
|
July 20
|
Template:Flagicon Norton Twin 200
|
<templatestyles src="Legend/styles.css" /> O Michigan International Speedway
|
Brooklyn, Michigan
|
| 7
|
August 3
|
Template:Flagicon Kent Oil 150
|
<templatestyles src="Legend/styles.css" /> R Watkins Glen International
|
Watkins Glen, New York
|
| 8
|
August 10
|
Template:Flagicon Tony Bettenhausen Classic
|
<templatestyles src="Legend/styles.css" /> O Milwaukee Mile
|
West Allis, Wisconsin
|
| 9
|
August 31
|
Template:Flagicon California 500
|
<templatestyles src="Legend/styles.css" /> O Ontario Motor Speedway
|
Ontario, California
|
| 10
|
September 20
|
Template:Flagicon Gould Grand Prix
|
<templatestyles src="Legend/styles.css" /> O Michigan International Speedway
|
Brooklyn, Michigan
|
| 11
|
October 26
|
Template:Flagicon I Copa México 150
|
<templatestyles src="Legend/styles.css" /> R Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez
|
Mexico City, Mexico
|
| 12
|
November 8
|
Template:Flagicon Miller High Life 150 In Memory of Bobby Ball
|
<templatestyles src="Legend/styles.css" /> O Phoenix International Raceway
|
Avondale, Arizona
|
- The Phoenix race was scheduled for March 2, but cancelled due to flooding.
<templatestyles src="Legend/styles.css" /> O Oval/Speedway <templatestyles src="Legend/styles.css" /> R Dedicated road course
Race summaries
Race 1: Datsun Twin 200
For the opening race of the year, Johnny Rutherford qualified on the pole, with Bobby Unser, Al Unser, Rick Mears, and Tom Sneva making up the rest of the top five starters.
Johnny Rutherford led the first eight laps, before Bobby Unser caught and passed in lap traffic.[1] However, while leading on lap 14, he suffered a cracked radiator and dropped out. This moved Rutherford back in front, and he was mostly uncontested for the remainder of the race as most challengers had problems. Rick Mears dropped out due to electrical issues while running second. Pancho Carter moved up to second,[1] but he dropped out with fuel pump problems, followed by Al Unser dropping out on lap 45 with a broken transmission. With most of his competition out, Rutherford cruised to an easy victory over Tom Sneva. Gordon Johncock finished third, Spike Gehlhausen fourth, and Tom Bagley fifth.
Race 2: Indianapolis 500
Race 3: Rex Mays Classic
Gordon Johncock qualified on the pole, with Johnny Rutherford starting second, Al Unser starting third, Rick Mears starting fourth, and Bobby Unser rounding out the top five starters.
In the race Rutherford jumped out to the lead on lap 7, and controlled most of the next 50 laps before Gordon Johncock took the lead on lap 55. 60 laps later, under the fourth caution of the day, Al Unser, who was running in second had an engine failure and dropped out.[2] This moved his brother Bobby Unser into second, and on the restart he managed to catch and pass Johncock for the lead, holding on to win. Johnny Rutherford rose to second, Gordon Johncock ended up third, Pancho Carter finished fourth, and Rick Mears fifth.
With his second place, Rutherford now had a 400 point lead over second place Tom Sneva, with Gordon Johncock 550 points back in third, Gary Bettenhausen 925 points back in fourth, and Rick Mears 984 points behind in fifth.
Race 4: True Value 500
Bobby Unser won the pole, with A.J. Foyt starting second, Mario Andretti starting third, Mike Mosley starting in fourth, and Johnny Rutherford starting fifth.
In the race, A.J. Foyt took the lead on the first lap, and led most of the first half of the race, giving up the lead only for pit shuffling. The first caution came on lap 11, when Al Loquasto lost a wheel and Dennis Firestone wrecked in the same part of the track.[3] The second caution came on lap 26, after Howdy Holmes lost control, Jim McElreath slowed and Roger Rager hit the rear of his car.[3]
While leading on lap 82, Foyt encountered a bad valve, and dropped out. This gave the lead to Bobby Unser, who led most of the rest of the race. Johnny Rutherford led 1 lap due to pit stop shuffling,[4] followed by 5 laps under caution after Pancho Carter spun,[5] but when the green flag flew after a caution on lap 165, Unser pulled away. Rutherford's hopes of winning ended with 20 laps to go when his engine stalled in the pits, allowing Unser to win the race by a wide margin over Rutherford. Tom Sneva finished third, Bill Alsup fourth, and Vern Schuppan fifth. Most other stars were taken out due to attrition. Al Unser was never a factor and dropped out with handling problems on lap 35. Mike Mosley broke a piston while running in third on lap 46,[3] Danny Ongais dropped out with clutch problems on lap 100, Mario Andretti was sidelined with a broken transmission on lap 105, and Rick Mears blew his engine on lap 163.
Johnny Rutherford extended his lead to 500 points over Tom Sneva, with Bobby Unser rising to third, 1114 points behind, Gordon Johncock, who didn't enter, falling to fourth, 1350 points back, and Pancho Carter rising to fifth, 1452 points behind.
Race 5: Red Roof Inns 250
Al Unser qualified on the pole, followed by brother Bobby Unser in second, Rick Mears in third, Johnny Rutherford in fourth, and Danny Ongais rounding out the top five starters.
The start of the race was problematic. Starter Duane Sweeney didn't give the green flag when the pace car pulled off as the back rows were strung out, but the field got going anyway, with Al Unser spinning off track in the first turn. Two laps later they got back in two-by-two order for the official start.[6] Danny Ongais and Sheldon Kinser didn't make it to the green flag, with Ongais having ignition problems and Kinser a blown engine. On the first lap, Tim Richmond spun off course and was hit by John Wood.
Bobby Unser jumped out to the lead after his brother spun, and led the first 12 laps, But he encountered a valve problem while leading and dropped out. Rick Mears then took the lead, and throughout the next 20 laps dueled with Johnny Rutherford.[6] After a poor pit stop by Rutherford, Mears had a 20 second lead, but due to heat exhaustion lost concentration and spun out while leading on lap 47. This gave the lead to Rutherford, with Mears's day ending on lap 54 after Rick Muther spun out and Mears hit him. This brought out the caution, allowing second place Gordon Johncock to close. But when the green flew, Rutherford pulled away and won, a rare road course win. Bill Alsup finished third, Roger Mears fourth, and Vern Schuppan fifth. Polesitter Al Unser lost a lap due to an unscheduled pit stop, and dropped out with suspension problems while running fifth.
Rutherford now had a 770 point lead over Tom Sneva, who had crashed out. Bobby Unser was third, 1406 points back, Gordon Johncock fourth, 1410 points back, and Pancho Carter fifth, 1662 points back.
Race Results
- CART and USAC united in 1980 under the banner of the Championship Racing League (CRL).The first five races of the season were run under CRL banner sanction by USAC. The union dissolved after the Mid-Ohio race. CART sanctioned the seven remaining races on the schedule and combined the results of those along with the CRL events for their championship.
Final driver standings
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|
| 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
|
| Red
|
Did not qualify
(DNQ)
|
| Brown
|
Withdrawn
(Wth)
|
| Black
|
Disqualified
(DSQ)
|
| White
|
Did not start
(DNS)
|
| Blank
|
Did not
participate
(DNP)
|
| Not competing
|
|
| In-line notation
|
| Bold
|
Pole position
|
| Italics
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Ran fastest race lap
|
| *
|
Led most race laps
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| <templatestyles src="Legend/styles.css" /> RY
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Rookie of the Year
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| <templatestyles src="Legend/styles.css" /> R
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Rookie
|
|
|
Driver Breakdown
See also
References
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Template:American Championship Car seasons
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