1968 USAC Championship Car season

1968 USAC Championship Car season

USAC National Championship Trail
Season
Races	28
Start date	March 17
End date	December 1
Awards
National champion	Bobby Unser
Indianapolis 500 winner	Bobby Unser
Chronology
Previous season	Next season
1967	1969

The 1968 USAC Championship Car season consisted of 28 races, beginning in Hanford, California on March 17 and concluding in Riverside, California on December 1. The USAC National Champion and Indianapolis 500 winner was Bobby Unser. Mike Spence died in an accident while practicing for the 1968 Indianapolis 500. Ronnie Duman died of burns suffered during the Rex Mays Classic.

Schedule and results

Rnd	Date	Race Name	Track	Location	Type	Pole Position	Winning Driver
1	March 17	California 200	Hanford Motor Speedway	Hanford, California	Paved	Bobby Unser	Gordon Johncock
2	March 31	Stardust 150	Stardust International Raceway	Las Vegas, Nevada	Road	Dan Gurney	Bobby Unser
3	April 7	Jimmy Bryan Memorial	Phoenix International Raceway	Avondale, Arizona	Paved	Bobby Unser	Bobby Unser
4	April 21	Trenton 150	Trenton International Speedway	Trenton, New Jersey	Paved	Mario Andretti	Bobby Unser
5	May 30	International 500 Mile Sweepstakes	Indianapolis Motor Speedway	Speedway, Indiana	Paved	Joe Leonard	Bobby Unser
6	June 8	Rex Mays Classic	Milwaukee Mile	West Allis, Wisconsin	Paved	Roger McCluskey	Lloyd Ruby
7	June 15	Telegraph Trophy 200^A	Mosport Park	Bowmanville, Ontario	Road	Dan Gurney	Dan Gurney
8	June 15	Telegraph Trophy 200^A	Mosport Park	Bowmanville, Ontario	Road	Dan Gurney	Dan Gurney
9	June 23	Langhorne 150	Langhorne Speedway	Langhorne, Pennsylvania	Paved	Gordon Johncock	Gordon Johncock
10	June 29	Pikes Peak Auto Hill Climb	Pikes Peak Highway	Pikes Peak, Colorado	Hill	Bobby Unser^B	Bobby Unser
11	July 7	Rocky Mountain 150	Continental Divide Raceways	Castle Rock, Colorado	Road	Ronnie Bucknum	A. J. Foyt
12	July 13	Nazareth 100	Nazareth Speedway	Nazareth, Pennsylvania	Dirt	Bill Vukovich, Jr.	Al Unser
13	July 21	Indy 200^C	Indianapolis Raceway Park	Clermont, Indiana	Road	Mario Andretti	Al Unser
14	July 21	Indy 200^C	Indianapolis Raceway Park	Clermont, Indiana	Road	Al Unser	Al Unser
15	July 28	Langhorne Twin 100^C	Langhorne Speedway	Langhorne, Pennsylvania	Paved	Gordon Johncock	Al Unser
16	July 28	Langhorne Twin 100^C	Langhorne Speedway	Langhorne, Pennsylvania	Paved	Al Unser	Al Unser
17	August 4	Saint-Jovite 200^C	Circuit Mont-Tremblant	Saint-Jovite, Quebec	Road	Mario Andretti	Mario Andretti
18	August 4	Saint-Jovite 200^C	Circuit Mont-Tremblant	Saint-Jovite, Quebec	Road	Mario Andretti	Mario Andretti
19	August 17	Tony Bettenhausen 100	Illinois State Fairgrounds	Springfield, Illinois	Dirt	Al Unser	Roger McCluskey
20	August 18	Tony Bettenhausen 200	Milwaukee Mile	West Allis, Wisconsin	Paved	Art Pollard	Lloyd Ruby
21	September 2	Ted Horn Memorial	DuQuoin State Fairgrounds	Du Quoin, Illinois	Dirt	Al Unser	Mario Andretti
22	September 7	Hoosier Hundred	Indiana State Fairgrounds	Indianapolis, Indiana	Dirt	Mario Andretti	A. J. Foyt
23	September 22	Trenton 200	Trenton International Speedway	Trenton, New Jersey	Paved	Al Unser	Mario Andretti
24	September 29	Golden State 100	California State Fairgrounds	Sacramento, California	Dirt	Mario Andretti	A. J. Foyt
25	October 13	Michigan Inaugural 250	Michigan International Speedway	Brooklyn, Michigan	Paved	Mario Andretti	Ronnie Bucknum
26	November 3	California 200	Hanford Motor Speedway	Hanford, California	Paved	Joe Leonard	A. J. Foyt
27	November 17	Bobby Ball 150	Phoenix International Raceway	Avondale, Arizona	Paved	Mario Andretti	Gary Bettenhausen
28	December 7	Rex Mays 300	Riverside International Raceway	Riverside, California	Road	Dan Gurney	Dan Gurney

Paved/Dirt Oval

Road Course/Hill Climb

^A Run in two heats of 98 miles (158 kilometers) each.

^B No pole is awarded for the Pikes Peak Hill Climb, in this schedule on the pole is the driver who started first. No lap led was awarded for the Pikes Peak Hill Climb, however, a lap was awarded to the drivers that completed the climb.

^C Run in two heats of 100 miles (161 kilometers) each.

Final points standings

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

Pos	Driver	HAN1	LVG	PHX1	TRE1	INDY	MIL1	MOS		LAN1	PIP	CDR	NAZ	IRP		LAN2		MTR		SPR	MIL2	DQSF	ISF	TRE2	SAC	MIC	HAN2	PHX2	RIV	Pts
1	Bobby Unser	5	1	1	1	1	21	17		2	1	11	7	3	21	2	16	2	11	DNQ	4	18	16	7	DNQ	17	2	19	2	4330
2	Mario Andretti	23	2	15	2	33	2	2	2	17	4	15	2	2	2	23		1	1	18	2	1	2	1	4	2	3	24	18	4319
3	Al Unser	2	14	16	17	26	3	4	5	12	22	4	1	1	1	1	1	9	15	12	3	7	15	22	3	18	15	15	26	2895
4	Lloyd Ruby	3	4	2	12	5	1	15	12	21		2	17	23	15	10	6	19	14	DNQ	1	DNQ	DNQ	16		15	18	2	3	2799
5	Bill Vukovich, Jr.	26	6	19	5	7	13	9	7	14		9	3	13	6	6	4			4	7	3	5	6	16	19	6	4	7	2410
6	A. J. Foyt	4	13	23	21	20	14					1		4	3			18		17	24	2	1	24	1	14	1	23	20	1860
7	Dan Gurney		16			2		1	1																				1	1800
8	Gary Bettenhausen	10	10	13		24	DNS	10	13	3		7	4	21	12	13	12	13	13	13	5	4	4	12	2	21	21	1	19	1595
9	Mel Kenyon	8		3	10	3	DNQ													DNQ	22	DNQ		DNQ		4	24	13	DNP	1355
10	Jim Malloy	DNQ		9	11	22	10	8	8	20		3		17	10	5	3	4	3	5	8	15	14	11	18	24	11	22	24	1265
11	Sam Sessions					9	11			16		12		22	19	4	11				6			4		7	8	5	25	1260
12	Gordon Johncock	1	7	18	4	27	12	13	DNS	1		25		5	16	21		15			15			19		DNQ	DNQ	7	11	1257
13	Roger McCluskey	6	12	14	16	29	20	3	14	9		17		19	7	22				1	23	5	12	2	12	25	10	11	12	1228
14	Bud Tingelstad	18		7	DNS	16	9	DNQ		19		13	13	16	5	15	2			8	18	DNQ	DNQ	3	8	9	7	10		1016
15	Wally Dallenbach	7		4	3	17	7			15		DNQ	11			3	5	20		7	20	DNQ	13	18	9	22	23	25	29	960
16	George Snider	9	5	6	6	31	8						8							3		10	3	DNQ	13			3	DNP	919
17	Larry Dickson			12		28	6		11	5		DNQ	6							2		DNQ	7	DNQ	7	8	26	8		890
18	Johnny Rutherford	20	11	17		18	4			DNQ		20	DNQ	24	20	25		5	5		11			5		16	25	17	6	890
19	Mike Mosley					8	19	16	9	4		14		9	20						17			DNS		3	13	9	14	860
20	Joe Leonard	22	3	22	8	12	18	7	6			8		14	DNS						16						4		17	850
21	Jim McElreath					14	DNQ					22		10	11	7	17	7	10		9			15		DNQ	5	6	28	771
22	Ronnie Bucknum					21		5	3			19		6	4			3	4							1	20	14	13	760
23	Art Pollard	16	8	5	5	13	13	16	14		18		5		7	9	26			DNQ	14	14	10	10	10	6	DNQ	20	16	696
24	Sonny Ates	15		DNQ	22	DNQ				6						8	13							26		5	9	16		520
25	Rick Muther			DNQ	7	DNQ						6															DNQ	21	5	510
26	Ronnie Duman				DNP	6	22																							400
27	Bruce Walkup	13		20		DNQ	5			11			12	18	18	9	7			15	13	DNQ	DNQ		5					390
28	Max Dudley	17		DNQ	9		15	DNQ		7		18				16	10	11	7		12			21		26	12			285
29	Bill Puterbaugh					DNQ	17			8			9			12	9			6		11								265
30	George Follmer	11	15	24	DNQ		11	10			DNS																		8	240
31	Arnie Knepper	24		DNQ	DNP	25	DNS					24	15	11	22	18				11	10	16	6	14		20		12	15	206
32	George Benson	25																				9	8		6		22			170
33	Carl Williams					15							5			17	8			DNS		13		13	15		19			150
34	Bobby Grim					10																DNQ								150
35	Jerry Daniels												10									8	9				DNQ			120
36	Wib Spalding																							8						100
37	Bob Veith					11																								100
38	Chuck Booth				DNQ	DNQ				10			18			11	18			14		DNQ	11	DNQ						85
39	Tom Bigelow																					6	DNQ		14					80
40	Keith Rachwitz	12	9	DNQ																							17	DNQ	DNQ	80
41	Rollie Beale				15	DNQ										19			DNQ		DNQ			9		DNQ		DNQ		80
42	Chuck Hulse	21	DNQ	8		DNQ																								75
43	Jigger Sirois																			16	21	DNQ		25		10				75
44	Bob Harkey					DNQ		DNQ		13				20	17			12	8		DNQ			23		13				60
45	Denny Zimmerman																							20		11		DNS		50
46	Bob Hurt	DNQ	DNQ	10		DNQ																								45
47	Ralph Liguori					DNQ							16			20				9		17	18							40
48	Roger West																			10	19	DNQ	DNQ			DNQ			DNQ	30
49	Bruce Jacobi	19		21	19		DNQ			22		DNQ		15	13	DNQ	19					12	DNQ	DNQ	11		16	18		30
50	Dempsey Wilson	14	17	11		DNQ																						DNQ	DNQ	30
51	Al Smith																							DNQ		12				25
52	Ted Foltz										2																			24
53	Wes Vandervoort										3																			21
54	Paul Kleinschmidt										5																			15
55	Malcolm Brazier										6																			12
56	Bob Herring										7																			9
57	Grier Manning										8																			8
58	Ralph Bruning										9																			6
59	Charles Louderman										10																			5
-	John Cannon											10		8	8			6	2										9	0
-	Mark Donohue							6	4																				21	0
-	Denny Hulme					4																								0
-	Skip Scott																												4	0
-	Lothar Motschenbacher																	17	6											0
-	Bud Morley											16						8											DNQ	0
-	Jack Eiteljorg											23						10	9											0
-	Peter Revson																												10	0
-	Bob Daly										11																			0
-	George Fejer							12	15					DNS				14	12											0
-	Lou Sell											21		12	14			16											30	0
-	Thurel Novotny										12																			0
-	Dick Heikes										13																			0
-	Gene Willbanks										14																			0
-	Greg Weld					DNQ							14			24				DNQ		DNQ	17				14	DNQ		0
-	Gig Stephens				DNQ					23						14	14							DNQ						0
-	Bay Darnell				14		23									DNQ										DNQ				0
-	Don Thomas															DNQ	15													0
-	Butch Earley										15																			0
-	Clark Yowell										16																			0
-	Henry Pens					DNQ																		17						0
-	Jerry Colton										17																			0
-	Don Meacham																								17					0
-	Gene Bergin			DNQ	18		DNQ			DNQ																				0
-	Tom Dillon										18																			0
-	Graham Hill					19		DNQ																						0
-	LaVerne Ravenstein										19																			0
-	Chuck Arnold				20																									0
-	Walter Miller										20																			0
-	Gene Pacheco										21																			0
-	Jerry Titus					DNQ																							22	0
-	Jerry Grant					23								DNS	23															0
-	Orville Nance										23																			0
-	Mickey Shaw																									23				0
-	Jack Brabham																												23	0
-	Norm Brown						24																							0
-	Larry Overholser										24																			0
-	Bill Simpson																												27	0
-	Jim Hurtubise					30																								0
-	Jochen Rindt					32																								0
-	Dusty Smith																										DNQ		DNS	0
-	Billy Wilkerson																											DNS		0
-	Jim Reynard												DNQ							DNQ	DNQ	DNQ	DNQ	DNQ						0
-	Les Scott					DNQ	DNQ	DNQ																			DNP		DNQ	0
-	Karl Busson																					DNQ	DNQ			DNQ		DNQ		0
-	Danny Ongais	DNQ		DNQ		DNQ																								0
-	Dee Jones					DNQ	DNQ																							0
-	Ernie Koch																					DNQ	DNQ							0
-	Al Miller					DNQ																				DNQ				0
-	Norm Ellefson																										DNQ	DNQ		0
-	Hamilton Vose							DNQ																					DNQ	0
-	Don Schisler																									DNQ			DNQ	0
-	Otto Becker											DNQ																	DNP	0
-	Bill Cheesbourg					DNQ																								0
-	Masten Gregory					DNQ																								0
-	Bobby Johns					DNQ																								0
-	Bruce McLaren					DNQ																								0
-	Mike Spence					DNQ																								0
-	Chuck Stevenson					DNQ																								0
-	Lee Roy Yarbrough					DNQ																								0
-	Scott Brazier										DNQ																			0
-	Bob Tattersall												DNQ																	0
-	Earl Smith																											DNQ		0
-	Don Brown																												DNQ	0
-	Earl Dykes																												DNQ	0
-	Ludwig Heimrath																												DNQ	0
-	Jackie Stewart					Wth																								0
-	Jim Clark					DNP																								0
-	Bob Herst					DNP																								0
-	Stew McMillan																												DNP	0
Pos	Driver	HAN1	LVG	PHX1	TRE1	INDY	MIL1	MOS1	MOS2	LAN1	PIP	CDR	NAZ	IRP1	IRP2	LAN2	LAN3	MTR1	MTR2	SPR	MIL2	DQSF	ISF	TRE2	SAC	MIC	HAN2	PHX2	RIV	Pts

Note1: John Cannon, George Fejer, Lou Sell, Mark Donohue, Jack Eiteljorg, Bud Morley, Lothar Motschenbacher, Jochen Rindt, Graham Hill, Jack Brabham, Denis Hulme, Skip Scott and Peter Revson not eligible for points.
Note2: Ronnie Bucknum did not compete with a USAC license until after the events at Indianapolis Raceway Park.

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

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

References

Åberg, Andreas. "USAC National Championship 1968". Driver Database. Archived from the original on 2010-12-29. Retrieved 2010-12-29.
"1968 USAC National Championship Trail". ChampCarStats.com. Archived from the original on 2010-12-29. Retrieved 2010-12-29.
http://media.indycar.com/pdf/2011/IICS_2011_Historical_Record_Book_INT6.pdf (p. 244-249)

American Championship car racing (IndyCar) 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

NASCAR	1952 1953

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 / CCWS	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 2004 2005 2006 2007 ~~2008~~

INDYCAR	1996 1996–97 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017

Years marked in italics are not official championship years.

USAC Championship Cars (1956-1970)

Seasons	1956 1957 1958 1959 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970

Indianapolis 500s	1956 1957 1958 1959 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970

National Champions	Mario Andretti (three times) Tony Bettenhausen Jimmy Bryan (twice) A. J. Foyt (five times) Al Unser Bobby Unser Rodger Ward (twice)

Tracks	Arizona State Fair Atlanta Brainerd California State Fair Continental Divide Darlington Daytona Dover DuQuoin State Fair Hanford Illinois State Fair Indianapolis Indianapolis Raceway Park Indiana State Fair Lakewood Langhorne Michigan Michigan State Fair Milwaukee Missouri State Fair Mont-Tremblant Mosport Nazareth New York State Fair Ontario Pacific Phoenix Pikes Peak Riverside Stardust Sears Point Trenton

1968 USAC Championship Car season

Schedule and results

Final points standings

References

See also