IROC IX

1985 International Race of Champions

Previous

1984

Next

1986

File:HarryGant.jpg

Harry Gant, the IROC IX champion

IROC IX was the ninth year of IROC competition, which took place in 1985. It saw the use of the Chevrolet Camaro in all races, was the second straight season that television coverage was on CBS, and continued the format introduced in IROC VIII. Race one took place on the Daytona International Speedway, race two took place at Mid-Ohio, race three was rained out at Talladega Superspeedway, and race four concluded the year at Michigan International Speedway. Harry Gant won the championship and $158,200 in a tie-breaker with Darrell Waltrip.

The roster of drivers and final points standings were as follows:

Rank	Driver	Points	Winnings	Series
1	Template:Flagicon Harry Gant 1	45	$158,200	NASCAR Winston Cup Series 2nd in 1984 Winston Cup points
2	Template:Flagicon Darrell Waltrip 1	45	$80,400	NASCAR Winston Cup Series 5th in 1984 Winston Cup points
3	Template:Flagicon Bobby Rahal	40	$55,100	CART PPG IndyCar World Series 3rd in 1984 IndyCar points
4	Template:Flagicon Tom Sneva	32	$43,000	CART PPG IndyCar World Series 2nd in 1984 IndyCar points
5	Template:Flagicon Terry Labonte 2	31	$39,300	NASCAR Winston Cup Series 1984 Winston Cup Champion
6	Template:Flagicon Derek Bell 2	31	$30,000	World Endurance Championship 4th in 1984 World Sportscar Championship
7	Template:Flagicon John Watson	30	$29,000	FIA Formula One World Championship World Endurance Championship Winner of the 1984 Fuji 1000KM
8	Template:Flagicon Cale Yarborough	29	$27,400	NASCAR Winston Cup Series Defending IROC Champion 1984 Daytona 500 winner
9	Template:Flagicon A. J. Foyt	28	$29,500	CART PPG IndyCar World Series IROC III & IROC IV Champion
10	Template:Flagicon Jochen Mass	27	$23,000	World Endurance Championship 2nd in 1984 World Sportscar Championship
11	Template:Flagicon Mario Andretti 3	25	$26,700	CART PPG IndyCar World Series 1984 IndyCar Champion IROC VI champion
12	Template:Flagicon Tom Gloy	13	$20,000	SCCA Trans-Am Series 1984 Trans-Am Champion

Race results

Race One, Daytona International Speedway

Friday, February 15, 1985

Finish	Grid	Car no.	Driver	Car Make	Car Color	Laps	Status	Laps Led	Points
1	11	5	Template:Flagicon Darrell Waltrip	Chevrolet Camaro	Light Blue	40	0:32:55	1	23 (2)
2	6	1	Template:Flagicon Tom Sneva	Chevrolet Camaro	White	40	Flagged		17
3	9	4	Template:Flagicon A. J. Foyt	Chevrolet Camaro	Cream	40	Flagged	35	19 (5)
4	4	8	Template:Flagicon Derek Bell	Chevrolet Camaro	Orange	40	Flagged		12
5	12	7	Template:Flagicon Harry Gant	Chevrolet Camaro	Blue	40	Flagged		10
6	7	3	Template:Flagicon Cale Yarborough	Chevrolet Camaro	Pink	40	Flagged	4	12 (3)
7	8	17	Template:Flagicon Jochen Mass	Chevrolet Camaro	Silver	40	Flagged		8
8	1	2	Template:Flagicon John Watson	Chevrolet Camaro	Dark Blue	40	Flagged		7
9	3	12	Template:Flagicon Bobby Rahal	Chevrolet Camaro	Red	39	Crash		6
10	5	6	Template:Flagicon Terry Labonte	Chevrolet Camaro	Yellow	39	Flagged		5
11	10	11	Template:Flagicon Tom Gloy	Chevrolet Camaro	Black	15	Crash		4
12	2	9	Template:Flagicon Mario Andretti	Chevrolet Camaro	Orange Yellow	5	Mechanical		3

(5) Indicates 5 bonus points added to normal race points scored for leading the most laps.
(3) Indicates 3 bonus points added to normal race points scored for leading the 2nd most laps
(2) Indicates 2 bonus points added to normal race points scored for leading the 3rd most laps.

Average speed:
Cautions: 1 (Lap 15, Tom Gloy accident in the tri-oval.)
Margin of victory: 3 sec
Lead changes: 3

Race Two, Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course

File:IROCMarioAndretti1985.jpg

Mario Andretti in IROC race at Mid-Ohio (1985)

Friday, June 8, 1985

Finish	Grid	Car no.	Driver	Car Make	Car Color	Laps	Status	Laps Led	Points
1	4	17	Template:Flagicon Bobby Rahal	Chevrolet Camaro	Silver	29	0:49:30	2	24 (3)
2	5	7	Template:Flagicon John Watson	Chevrolet Camaro	Blue	29	Flagged		17
3	1	3	Template:Flagicon Mario Andretti	Chevrolet Camaro	Pink	29	Flagged	27	19 (5)
4	6	8	Template:Flagicon Jochen Mass	Chevrolet Camaro	Orange	29	Flagged		12
5	9	2	Template:Flagicon Derek Bell	Chevrolet Camaro	Dark Blue	29	Flagged		10
6	8	1	Template:Flagicon Harry Gant	Chevrolet Camaro	White	29	Flagged		9
7	12	6	Template:Flagicon Darrell Waltrip	Chevrolet Camaro	Yellow	29	Flagged		8
8	11	11	Template:Flagicon Tom Sneva	Chevrolet Camaro	Black	29	Flagged		7
9	3	5	Template:Flagicon Terry Labonte	Chevrolet Camaro	Powder Blue	29	Flagged		6
10	10	10	Template:Flagicon A. J. Foyt	Chevrolet Camaro	Red	29	Flagged		5
11	2	18	Template:Flagicon Tom Gloy	Chevrolet Camaro	Light Blue	29	Flagged		4
12	7	12	Template:Flagicon Cale Yarborough	Chevrolet Camaro	Dark Red	29	Flagged		3

(5) Indicates 5 bonus points added to normal race points scored for leading the most laps.
(3) Indicates 3 bonus points added to normal race points scored for leading the 2nd most laps
(2) Indicates 2 bonus points added to normal race points scored for leading the 3rd most laps (Did not occur in this race so not awarded).

Average speed:
Cautions: none
Margin of victory: 2.4 sec
Lead changes: 1

Race Three, Talladega Superspeedway

This race was scheduled for Saturday July 27th, 1985 but was canceled due to rain

Race Four, Michigan International Speedway

Saturday, August 10, 1985

Finish	Grid	Car no.	Driver	Car Make	Car Color	Laps	Status	Laps Led	Points
1	8	18	Template:Flagicon Harry Gant	Chevrolet Camaro	Light Blue	50	0:39:09	33	26 (5)
2	10	5	Template:Flagicon Terry Labonte	Chevrolet Camaro	Powder Blue	50	Flagged	13	20 (3)
3	9	12	Template:Flagicon Cale Yarborough	Chevrolet Camaro	Dark Red	50	Flagged		14
4	1	2	Template:Flagicon Darrell Waltrip	Chevrolet Camaro	Dark Blue	50	Flagged	4	14 (2)
5	2	1	Template:Flagicon Bobby Rahal	Chevrolet Camaro	White	50	Flagged		10
6	6	11	Template:Flagicon Derek Bell	Chevrolet Camaro	Black	50	Flagged		9
7	3	6	Template:Flagicon Tom Sneva	Chevrolet Camaro	Yellow	50	Flagged		8
8	7	17	Template:Flagicon Jochen Mass	Chevrolet Camaro	Silver	50	Flagged		7
9	4	8	Template:Flagicon John Watson	Chevrolet Camaro	Orange	50	Flagged		6
10	11	3	Template:Flagicon Tom Gloy	Chevrolet Camaro	Pink	49	Flagged		5
11	5	7	Template:Flagicon A. J. Foyt	Chevrolet Camaro	Blue	27	Mechanical		4
12	X	X	Template:Flagicon Mario Andretti 3	Chevrolet Camaro	Not Assigned	0	Did Not Start, Injured		3

(5) Indicates 5 bonus points added to normal race points scored for leading the most laps.
(3) Indicates 3 bonus points added to normal race points scored for leading the 2nd most laps
(2) Indicates 2 bonus points added to normal race points scored for leading the 3rd most laps.

Average speed:
Cautions: none
Margin of victory: 4 feet
Lead changes: 8

Notes

1. Harry Gant and Darrell Waltrip tied for the championship, but Gant was awarded the title due to a higher finishing position in the final race.
2. Terry Labonte and Derek Bell tied for fifth place, but Labonte was awarded the position due a higher finish in the final race.
3. Mario Andretti did not compete in the final race due to injury.

External links

• IROC IX History - IROC Website