1974 SCCA/USAC Formula 5000 Championship

The 1974 SCCA/USAC Formula 5000 Championship was the eighth running of the Sports Car Club of America's premier open wheel racing series.[1] It was the first to be sanctioned jointly by the Sports Car Club of America (SCCA) and the United States Auto Club (USAC),[2] and the first to be held under the "SCCA /USAC Formula 5000 Championship" name.[1] Sponsorship by the L&M cigarette brand was not carried forward from the 1973 championship.[3]

The championship was open to SCCA Formula 5000 cars and, for the first time, to USAC cars powered by 161 cid turbocharged, 255 cid double overhead camshaft or 305 cid "stock block" engines.[3] It was won by Brian Redman driving a Lola T332 Chevrolet.[3]

Race calendar

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Brian Redman won the championship driving a Lola T332, similar to that pictured above

The championship was contested over seven races.[4]

Race Date Name Circuit Race distance Winning driver Winning car
1 June 2 Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course 42 laps   Brian Redman Lola T332Chevrolet V8
2 June 15 Mosport Park 40 laps   David Hobbs Lola T332Chevrolet V8
3 July 14 Watkins Glen International 30 laps   Mario Andretti Lola T332Chevrolet V8
4 July 28 Road America 25 laps   Mario Andretti Lola T332Chevrolet V8
5 September 1 California Grand Prix Ontario Motor Speedway 34 laps   Brian Redman Lola T332Chevrolet V8
6 October 13 Monterey Grand Prix Laguna Seca Raceway 50 laps   Brian Redman Lola T332Chevrolet V8
7 October 27 Riverside Grand Prix Riverside International Raceway 40 laps   Mario Andretti Lola T332Chevrolet V8

Points system

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Championship points were awarded on a 20-15-12-10-8-6-4-3-2-1 basis for the first ten positions at each race.[3]

Championship standings

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Position [5][6] Driver [5] [6] Car [5] [6] [3] Points [5] [6]
1   Brian Redman Lola T332 Chevrolet 105
2   Mario Andretti Lola T332 Chevrolet 97
3   David Hobbs Lola T332 Chevrolet 55
4   Eppie Wietzes Lola T332 Chevrolet 49
5   Brett Lunger Eagle Chevrolet 33
6   John Gunn March 73A Chevrolet
Lola T332 Chevrolet
27
7   Warwick Brown Lola T332 Chevrolet 20
8   Graham McRae Talon MR1 Chevrolet
Lola T332 Chevrolet
McRae GM2 Chevrolet
19
9   Evan Noyes Lola T332 Chevrolet 18
10   Tuck Thomas Lola T332 Chevrolet 16
11   James Hunt Lola T332 Chevrolet
Eagle Chevrolet
15
12   Jon Woodner Talon MR1 Chevrolet 15
13   Mike Mosley Lola T332 Chevrolet 11
14   Al Unser Lola T330 Chevrolet 10
15   Horst Kroll Lola T300 Chevrolet 10
16   Sam Posey Talon MR1 Chevrolet 9
17   Tony Settember Lola T330 Chevrolet 9
18   Roger Bighouse Chevron B24 Chevrolet 8
19   Nestor García-Veiga Eagle Chevrolet
Lola T330 Chevrolet
6
=   Jerry Grant Lola T332 Chevrolet 6
21   Jim Hawes Lola T330 Chevrolet 5
22   Bill Tempero March 73A Chevrolet 4
=   John Morton Lola T332 Chevrolet
Eagle Chevrolet
4
24   Gus Hutchison March 74A Chevrolet 4
25   Johnny Rutherford Lola T330 Chevrolet 4
26   Tom Jones McLaren M22 Chevrolet 3
27   James Dunkel Chevron B24 Chevrolet 2
=   Lella Lombardi Eagle Chevrolet
Lola T332 Chevrolet
2
29   Dan Furey Lola T192 Chevrolet
Lola T332 AMC
1

References

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  1. ^ a b 1967-1974, www.myf5000.com Retrieved on 6 May 2014
  2. ^ David F Stone, Formula 5000, Automobile Year 1974/75, page 168
  3. ^ a b c d e Wolfgang Kopfler, 1974 Formula 5000 Championship, Formula A and Formula 5000 in America - Race by Race, 2003, pages 80 & 81
  4. ^ 1974 Formula 5000 Championship Statistical Review, www.myf5000.com Retrieved on 7 May 2014
  5. ^ a b c d 1974 SCCA/USAC Formula 5000 Championship Review (Part 1), www.myf5000.com Retrieved on 7 May 2014
  6. ^ a b c d 1974 SCCA/USAC Formula 5000 Championship Review (Part 2), www.myf5000.com Retrieved on 7 May 2014
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