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1978 USAC Mini-Indy Series season

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The 1978 USAC Mini Indy Series season was the second season of the USAC sanctioned Formula Super Vee championship.

Race calendar and results

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Round Circuit Location Date Pole position Fastest lap Winner Headline event
1[1] Phoenix International Raceway United States Avondale, Arizona 18 March United States Fred Phillips United States Tim Richmond Jimmy Bryan 150
2[2] Trenton International Speedway United States Trenton, New Jersey 12 April United States Bill Alsup United States John Wood Gabriel 200
3[3] Mosport International Raceway Canada Bowmanville, Ontario 11 June United States Bill Alsup United States Bill Alsup Molson Diamond Indy
4[4] The Milwaukee Mile United States West Allis, Wisconsin 18 June United States William Henderson United States William Henderson Rex Mays 150
5[5] Texas World Speedway United States College Station, Texas 6 August Canada Harry MacDonald Canada Harry MacDonald Texas Grand Prix
6[6] The Milwaukee Mile United States West Allis, Wisconsin 20 August Australia Dennis Firestone Australia Dennis Firestone Tony Bettenhausen 200
7[7] Ontario Motor Speedway United States Ontario, California 2 September Australia Dennis Firestone United States Bill Alsup California 500
8[8] United States Tommy Thompson Australia Dennis Firestone
9[9] Trenton International Speedway United States Trenton, New Jersey 23 September Australia Dennis Firestone Australia Geoff Brabham Machinist Union 150
10[10] Phoenix International Raceway United States Avondale, Arizona 28 October United States Kevin Cogan United States Kevin Cogan Miller High Life Bobby Ball 150

Teams and drivers

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No. Driver Owner Car Engine Note
2 United States Herm Johnson Austin Johnson Lola Volkswagen
3 United States Fred Phillips Citation Engineering Zink Volkswagen
10 Australia Dennis Firestone Crosslé Cars Pacific March Volkswagen
12 United States Dick Ferguson Race Research Inc. Volkswagen
19 United States John Kalagian Beth Ardisana Lynx Volkswagen
29 United States Pete Halsmer Simpson Racers Lola Volkswagen
37 United States Nancy James Citation Engineering Zink Volkswagen
38 South Africa Desiré Wilson Citation Engineering Zink Volkswagen
39 United States Richard Tallon Richard Tallon Lola Volkswagen
41 United States Bill Alsup William Alsup Jr. Argo Volkswagen
42 Canada Harry MacDonald HCM Racing Ralt Volkswagen
43 United States John Wood Bill Scott Racing Volkswagen
45 United States William Henderson Bertil Racing Engines Lola Volkswagen
46 United States Stuart Moore Janet Moore Lola Volkswagen
48 United States Dan Park WREP Industries Volkswagen
50 United States Tommy Thompson Black American Racers Lola Volkswagen Thompson died from injuries sustained in a crash in the ninth round of the championship
55 Australia Geoff Brabham David Psachie Ralt Volkswagen
60 United States Bob Cicconi Lou Cicconi Lola Volkswagen
70 United States Syd Demovsky Syd Demovsky Lola Volkswagen
77 United States Bryan Johnson Fitzpatrick Racing Enterprises Volkswagen
82 United States Kevin Cogan Ralt American Ltd. Ralt Volkswagen
94 United States John Sisk Aspen Racing Wheeler Volkswagen
97 United States Gary Bettenhausen American Eagle Racing Lola Volkswagen
98 United States Tim Richmond Sale Chevrolet Lola Volkswagen
99 United States Dave Bruns Linne Enterprises Volkswagen

Death of Tommy Thompson

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African-American racing driver Tommy Thompson participated in the ninth round of the championship at Trenton International Speedway. On the final lap of the 42-lap race one of the other competitor slowed down. John Barringer had to swerve to avoid contact. However Thompson hit Barringer. Thompson's left front wheel and Barringer's right rear wheel became locked. Both cars hit the wall head-on. Thompsons car was launched over the wall. Both Barringer and Thompson were transported to St. Francis Medical Center. Thompson succumbed to his injuries on 28 September.[11]

Final 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 11th place or lower
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)
Driver replacement (Rpl)
Injured (Inj)
No race held (NH)
Pos. Driver United States
PIR1
United States
TRE1
Canada
MOS
United States
MIL1
United States
TEX
United States
MIL2
United States
ONT1
United States
ONT2
United States
TRE2
United States
PIR2
Points
1 United States Bill Alsup 21 2 1 23 2 10 1 2 4 12 1046
2 Australia Dennis Firestone 5 24 3 22 6 1 24 1 16 2 894
3 Canada Harry MacDonald DNS 20 4 3 1 26 2 3 23 7 831
4 United States Herm Johnson 16 5 14 2 7 5 5 22 3 5 773
5 United States John Wood 1 15 24 3 9 3 5 26 9 674
6 United States Bob Cicconi 25 21 10 5 27 6 14 19 2 4 506
7 United States David Bruns 2 6 4 18 3 504
8 United States Gary Bettenhausen 3 17 4 22 7 9 28 6 453
9 United States Tim Richmond 1 22 16 7 9 4 428
10 United States Ken Nichols 4 7 4 18 5 404
11 United States Kevin Cogan 3 1 340
12 United States Pete Halsmer 4 9 6 21 24 15 10 10 19 23 318
13 Australia Geoff Brabham 12 6 1 290
13 United States Fred Phillips 2 4 13 22 25 290
15 United States Tommy Thompson 8 7 9 9 8 14 245
16 United States William Henderson 11 18 1 224
17 United States Syd Demovsky 8 5 19 18 8 208
18 United States Stuart Moore 2 21 163
19 United States Tom Bagley 3 140
20 United States Dan Park 13 6 8 135
21 United States George Dyer 5 11 16 21 128
22 United States Jim Giffin 12 10 28 6 13 127
23 United States Michael Yoder 7 7 15 115
24 United States John Kalagian 27 10 20 7 21 99
25 United States Joe Gimpel Jr. 15 11 11 14 9 90
26 United States Ted Field 13 16 19 8 25 23 11 89
27 United States Bill Cruse 6 80
27 United States Eddie Miller 6 80
29 United States Bryan Johnson 26 24 25 7 20 16 76
30 United States John Sisk 12 8 18 23 17 18 75
31 United States Richard Tallon 12 11 9 28 72
32 United States Dick Simon 14 12 8 20 69
33 United States Bill Follmer 7 60
34 Canada Heinz Snizek 8 50
35 United States G. Scott Ovel 9 14 45
36 United States Butch Meyer 18 28 16 17 17 12 12 27 41
37 United States Dick Ferguson 24 13 25 10 40
37 United States Larry Skipsey 11 11 40
39 United States Rich Vogler 22 10 33
39 United States Benny Scott 16 20 17 11 33
41 United States Bill Simpson 10 30
41 United States Domenick Billera 10 30
43 United States Gary Passon 13 DNS 15 12 20 28
44 United States Doug Clark 14 27 13 t 15 24 15 25
45 United States Mike Frangkiser 11 19 24
46 United States Roy Kischell 17 28 28 17 16 17
47 United States Phil Caliva 15 21 13 13
47 United States Bobby Unser Jr. 22 19 20 26 13
49 United States Nancy James 25 12 12
49 United States Bob Larson 19 14 24 12
51 United States Roger Mears 26 22 15 10
52 United States Dennis Blackwell 18 23 28 9
52 United States Ron Banks 29 21 19 9
54 United States Bert Busby 23 15 8
55 United States Bubby Jones DNS 17 6
55 United States Tom D'Eath 23 22 6
57 United States John Barringer 13 5
57 United States Bill Thelander 13 5
57 United States Gene Romero 14 5
57 United States Don Schoeny 14 5
57 United States Greg Atwell 16 5
57 United States Bill Noble 27 24 5
63 United States Rich Amick 17 4
63 United States Jan Slesinski 17 4
63 United States Hank Chapman 18 4
63 United States Roger Bighouse 20 4
67 United States Tom Hessert 21 3
67 United States Bobby Hillin Jr. 23 3
69 United States Lou Gigliotti 25 2
69 United States Bobby Olivero 25 2
69 United States Elliott Forbes-Robinson 26 2
69 United States Allan Turner 26 2
69 South Africa Desiré Wilson 26 2
69 United States Howdy Holmes 27 2
69 United States Denny Moothart 27 2
United States Mike Randol

References

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  1. ^ "Round 1". Ultimate Racing History. Retrieved 25 July 2015.
  2. ^ "Round 2". Ultimate Racing History. Retrieved 25 July 2015.
  3. ^ "Round 3". Ultimate Racing History. Retrieved 25 July 2015.
  4. ^ "Round 4". Ultimate Racing History. Retrieved 25 July 2015.
  5. ^ "Round 5". Ultimate Racing History. Retrieved 25 July 2015.
  6. ^ "Round 6". Ultimate Racing History. Retrieved 25 July 2015.
  7. ^ "Round 7". Ultimate Racing History. Retrieved 25 July 2015.
  8. ^ "Round 8". Ultimate Racing History. Retrieved 25 July 2015.
  9. ^ "Round 9". Ultimate Racing History. Retrieved 25 July 2015.
  10. ^ "Round 10". Ultimate Racing History. Retrieved 25 July 2015.
  11. ^ "Race driver succumbs to N.J. crash injuries". Baltimore Afro-American. Retrieved 25 July 2015.