1971 USAC Championship Car season
{{Short description|Sports season}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}}
{{American Championship Car season
|series = USAC Championship Car
|year = 1971
|series_logo =
|series_name = USAC Marlboro Championship Trail
|races = 12
|start_date = February 28
|end_date = October 23
|season_champ_title = National champion
|season_champ = {{flagicon|United States}} Joe Leonard
|indy_winner = {{flagicon|United States}} Al Unser
|previous = 1970
|next = 1972
}}
The 1971 USAC Championship Car season consisted of 12 races, beginning in Rafaela, Argentina on February 28 and concluding in Avondale, Arizona on October 23. The USAC National Champion was Joe Leonard and the Indianapolis 500 winner was Al Unser. For 1971 it was decided that there should be three separate points championships, for paved ovals, dirt ovals, and road courses.{{cite web |last1=Waltz |first1=Keith |title=Sweeping Changes For USAC After 1970 Season |url=https://speedsport.com/racing-history/sweeping-changes-for-usac-after-1970-season/ |website=Speed Sport |access-date=15 August 2019}}{{cite news |last1=Braddock |first1=Bill |title=$300,000 Marlboro Auto Slate Hits Paved Oval Trail in 1971 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1970/11/15/archives/300000-marlboro-auto-slate-hits-paved-oval-trail-in-1971-motor.html |access-date=15 August 2019 |work=The New York Times |date=15 November 1970}}
The existing Championship Car championship was then restricted to only paved ovals, and two new championships were created. The National Dirt Car Championship (which would become the modern Silver Crown Series in 1981) was run over four races, and won by George Snider. The Road Racing championship was originally to be run over between 8 and 10 races, however a lack of interest lead to just two races being held on the same day, on the 7th of August at Seattle International Raceway. Continental Championship cars were allowed, and made up the majority of the grid, with just 5 USAC specification cars entered. Jim Dittemore won the series in a Formula 5000 specification Lola T192-Chevrolet.{{cite book |last1=Klopfer |first1=Wolfgang |title=Formula A and Formula 5000 in America |date=2004 |isbn=383340566X |page=79|publisher=Books on Demand }} The Road Racing championship did not continue in 1972.
Schedule and results
All races were run on oval speedways. On February 18, the non-championship races at Rafaela were transformed into a points-paying double round, due to a request from race organizers. On June 3, the Langhorne round was cancelled by its promoter because of insufficient entries. He alleged that the event had been boycotted by a number of drivers refusing to race at the outdated venue, which was torn down at the end of the year. On June 30, USAC cancelled the race at the new Mountaineer Speedway, which was never built to completion. The 1971 season was the first time the 500 mile triple crown was on the schedule with the addition of Ontario Motor Speedway's California 500 the previous year and the Pocono 500 added in this season.
| class="wikitable" style="font-size:85%" |
| Rnd
! Date ! Race Name ! Track ! Location ! Pole Position ! Winning Driver |
|---|
| 1
|rowspan=2|February 28 | {{flagicon|Argentina}} Rafaela Indy 300 Heat 1 |rowspan=2|Autódromo de Rafaela | {{flagicon|US}} Lloyd Ruby | {{flagicon|US}} Al Unser |
| 2
| {{flagicon|Argentina}} Rafaela Indy 300 Heat 2 | {{flagicon|US}} Al Unser | {{flagicon|US}} Al Unser |
| 3
| March 27 | {{flagicon|US}} Phoenix 150 | Phoenix International Raceway | {{flagicon|US}} Bobby Unser | {{flagicon|US}} Al Unser |
| 4
| April 25 | {{flagicon|US}} Trenton 200 | Trenton International Speedway | {{flagicon|US}} Bobby Unser | {{flagicon|US}} Mike Mosley |
| 5
| May 29 | {{flagicon|US}} International 500 Mile Sweepstakes | {{flagicon|US}} Peter Revson | {{flagicon|US}} Al Unser |
| 6
| June 6 | {{flagicon|US}} Rex Mays Classic 150 | Wisconsin State Fair Park Speedway | {{flagicon|US}} Bobby Unser | {{flagicon|US}} Al Unser |
| -
| June 13 | {{flagicon|US}} Langhorne 150 | colspan=2| Race cancelled due to security concerns |
| 7
| July 3 | {{flagicon|US}} Inaugural Pocono 500 | Pocono International Raceway | {{flagicon|US}} Mark Donohue | {{flagicon|US}} Mark Donohue |
| 8
| July 18 | {{flagicon|US}} Michigan 200 | Michigan International Speedway | {{flagicon|US}} Bobby Unser | {{flagicon|US}} Mark Donohue |
| -
| August 8 | {{flagicon|US}} Mountaineer 150 | Mountaineer Speedway | colspan=2| Race cancelled |
| 9
| August 15 | {{flagicon|US}} Tony Bettenhausen 200 | Wisconsin State Fair Park Speedway | {{flagicon|US}} Bobby Unser | {{flagicon|US}} Bobby Unser |
| 10
| September 5 | {{flagicon|US}} California 500 | {{flagicon|US}} Mark Donohue | {{flagicon|US}} Joe Leonard |
| 11
| October 3 | {{flagicon|US}} Trenton 300 | Trenton International Speedway | {{flagicon|US}} Bobby Unser | {{flagicon|US}} Bobby Unser |
| 12
| October 23 | {{flagicon|US}} Bobby Ball 150 | Phoenix International Raceway | {{flagicon|US}} Bobby Unser | {{flagicon|US}} A. J. Foyt |
Final points standings
Note 1: Donnie Allison, Carlos Pairetti, Denny Hulme, David Hobbs and Jim Hurtubise were not eligible for points.
Note 2: John Mahler qualified 21st at Indianapolis. His car was driven in the race by Dick Simon who started 33rd as a result of the driver change. {{further|List of American Championship car racing point scoring systems}}
| {| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 85%" |
| valign="top"
!valign="middle"| Pos !valign="middle"| Driver !colspan=2|RAF ! PHX1 ! TRE1 ! INDY ! MIL1 ! POC ! MIC ! MIL2 ! ONT ! TRE2 ! PHX2 !valign="middle"| Pts |
| 1
|{{flagicon|USA}} Joe Leonard |style="background:#CFEAFF;" align=center| 6 |style="background:#FFDF9F;" align=center| 3 |style="background:#DFFFDF;" align=center| 4 |style="background:#EFCFFF;" align=center| 24 |style="background:#EFCFFF;" align=center| 19 |style="background:#DFDFDF;" align=center| 2 |style="background:#DFDFDF;" align=center| 2 |style="background:#EFCFFF;" align=center| 19 |style="background:#FFCFCF;" align=center| DNQ |style="background:#FFFFBF;" align=center| 1 |style="background:#FFDF9F;" align=center| 3 |style="background:#CFEAFF;" align=center| 10 ! 3015 |
|---|
| 2
|{{flagicon|USA}} A. J. Foyt | | |style="background:#EFCFFF;" align=center| 17 | |style="background:#FFDF9F;" align=center| 3 |style="background:#EFCFFF;" align=center| 20 |style="background:#FFDF9F;" align=center| 3 |style="background:#EFCFFF;" align=center| 17 |style="background:#DFDFDF;" align=center| 2 |style="background:#EFCFFF;" align=center| 16 |style="background:#DFFFDF;" align=center| 5 |style="background:#FFFFBF;" align=center| 1 ! 2320 |
| 3
|{{flagicon|USA}} Bill Vukovich II | | | |style="background:#EFCFFF;" align=center| 25 |style="background:#DFFFDF;" align=center| 5 |style="background:#FFDF9F;" align=center| 3 |style="background:#DFFFDF;" align=center| 5 |style="background:#DFDFDF;" align=center| 2 |style="background:#EFCFFF;" align=center| 14 |style="background:#CFEAFF;" align=center| 10 |style="background:#DFFFDF;" align=center| 4 |style="background:#FFDF9F;" align=center| 3 ! 2250 |
| 4
|{{flagicon|USA}} Al Unser |style="background:#FFFFBF;" align=center| 1 |style="background:#FFFFBF;" align=center| 1 |style="background:#FFFFBF;" align=center| 1 |style="background:#EFCFFF;" align=center| 21 |style="background:#FFFFBF;" align=center| 1 |style="background:#FFFFBF;" align=center| 1 |style="background:#EFCFFF;" align=center| 31 |style="background:#EFCFFF;" align=center| 24 |style="background:#EFCFFF;" align=center| 17 |style="background:#EFCFFF;" align=center| 15 |style="background:#EFCFFF;" align=center| 17 |style="background:#EFCFFF;" align=center| 21 ! 2200 |
| 5
|{{flagicon|USA}} Lloyd Ruby |style="background:#DFDFDF;" align=center| 2 |style="background:#DFDFDF;" align=center| 2 |style="background:#DFFFDF;" align=center| 5 |style="background:#EFCFFF;" align=center| 13 |style="background:#EFCFFF;" align=center| 11 |style="background:#CFEAFF;" align=center| 7 |style="background:#CFEAFF;" align=center| 8 |style="background:#EFCFFF;" align=center| 21 |style="background:#CFEAFF;" align=center| 6 |style="background:#DFFFDF;" align=center| 4 |style="background:#EFCFFF;" align=center| 23 |style="background:#EFCFFF;" align=center| 24 ! 1830 |
| 6
|{{flagicon|USA}} Bobby Unser |style="background:#EFCFFF;" align=center| 27 | |style="background:#DFDFDF;" align=center| 2 |style="background:#DFFFDF;" align=center| 4 |style="background:#EFCFFF;" align=center| 12 |style="background:#EFCFFF;" align=center| 14 |style="background:#CFEAFF;" align=center| 9 |style="background:#EFCFFF;" align=center| 18 |style="background:#FFFFBF;" align=center| 1 |style="background:#EFCFFF;" align=center| 21 |style="background:#FFFFBF;" align=center| 1 |style="background:#CFEAFF;" align=center| 8 ! 1805 |
| 7
|{{flagicon|USA}} Gary Bettenhausen |style="background:#CFCFFF;" align=center| 11 |style="background:#CFEAFF;" align=center| 7 |style="background:#EFCFFF;" align=center| 20 |style="background:#EFCFFF;" align=center| 16 |style="background:#CFEAFF;" align=center| 10 |style="background:#EFCFFF;" align=center| 16 |style="background:#CFEAFF;" align=center| 6 |style="background:#EFCFFF;" align=center| 22 |style="background:#FFDF9F;" align=center| 3 |style="background:#FFDF9F;" align=center| 3 |style="background:#EFCFFF;" align=center| 24 |style="background:#DFFFDF;" align=center| 5 ! 1800 |
| 8
|{{flagicon|USA}} Mark Donohue | | |style="background:#CFEAFF;" align=center| 6 |style="background:#EFCFFF;" align=center| 19 |style="background:#EFCFFF;" align=center| 25 | |style="background:#FFFFBF;" align=center| 1 |style="background:#FFFFBF;" align=center| 1 | |style="background:#EFCFFF;" align=center| 18 |style="background:#CFEAFF;" align=center| 6 |style="background:#EFCFFF;" align=center| 16 ! 1760 |
| 9
|{{flagicon|USA}} Mario Andretti |style="background:#DFC484;" align=center| Wth | |style="background:#CFEAFF;" align=center| 9 |style="background:#EFCFFF;" align=center| 18 |style="background:#EFCFFF;" align=center| 30 |style="background:#CFCFFF;" align=center| 11 |style="background:#DFFFDF;" align=center| 4 |style="background:#EFCFFF;" align=center| 12 |style="background:#EFCFFF;" align=center| 19 |style="background:#EFCFFF;" align=center| 33 |style="background:#DFDFDF;" align=center| 2 |style="background:#DFFFDF;" align=center| 4 ! 1370 |
| 10
|{{flagicon|USA}} Wally Dallenbach Sr. | | |style="background:#CFEAFF;" align=center| 7 |style="background:#DFDFDF;" align=center| 2 |style="background:#EFCFFF;" align=center| 24 |style="background:#DFFFDF;" align=center| 4 |style="background:#CFCFFF;" align=center| 15 |style="background:#DFFFDF;" align=center| 4 |style="background:#DFFFDF;" align=center| 4 |style="background:#EFCFFF;" align=center| 23 |style="background:#CFEAFF;" align=center| 9 |style="background:#CFCFFF;" align=center| 11 ! 1220 |
| 11
|{{flagicon|USA}} Art Pollard |align=center| | |style="background:#EFCFFF;" align=center| 24 |style="background:#CFEAFF;" align=center| 6 |style="background:#EFCFFF;" align=center| 26 |style="background:#DFFFDF;" align=center| 5 |style="background:#EFCFFF;" align=center| 16 |style="background:#EFCFFF;" align=center| 16 |style="background:#EFCFFF;" align=center| 16 |style="background:#DFDFDF;" align=center| 2 |style="background:#EFCFFF;" align=center| 20 |style="background:#CFEAFF;" align=center| 9 ! 1170 |
| 12
|{{flagicon|USA}} Peter Revson | | | | |style="background:#DFDFDF;" align=center| 2 | |style="background:#EFCFFF;" align=center| 21 | | |style="background:#CFEAFF;" align=center| 7 | | ! 1100 |
| 13
|{{flagicon|USA}} Roger McCluskey |style="background:#DFFFDF;" align=center| 5 |style="background:#DFFFDF;" align=center| 4 |style="background:#EFCFFF;" align=center| 22 |style="background:#EFCFFF;" align=center| 22 |style="background:#CFEAFF;" align=center| 9 |style="background:#EFCFFF;" align=center| 23 |style="background:#EFCFFF;" align=center| 25 |style="background:#FFDF9F;" align=center| 3 |style="background:#EFCFFF;" align=center| 18 |style="background:#EFCFFF;" align=center| 28 |style="background:#EFCFFF;" align=center| 22 |style="background:#DFDFDF;" align=center| 2 ! 1050 |
| 14
|{{flagicon|USA}} Jim Malloy |style="background:#CFCFFF;" align=center| 14 |style="background:#EFCFFF;" align=center| 21 |style="background:#CFCFFF;" align=center| 11 | |style="background:#DFFFDF;" align=center| 4 |style="background:#FFFFFF;" align=center| DNS |style="background:#EFCFFF;" align=center| 26 |style="background:#EFCFFF;" align=center| 13 |style="background:#FFCFCF;" align=center| DNQ |style="background:#CFEAFF;" align=center| 6 | | ! 1030 |
| 15
|{{flagicon|USA}} Steve Krisiloff | | |style="background:#FFCFCF;" align=center| DNQ |style="background:#EFCFFF;" align=center| 11 |style="background:#EFCFFF;" align=center| 31 | |style="background:#CFEAFF;" align=center| 10 |style="background:#CFEAFF;" align=center| 7 |style="background:#EFCFFF;" align=center| 24 |style="background:#DFFFDF;" align=center| 5 |style="background:#CFEAFF;" align=center| 7 |style="background:#EFCFFF;" align=center| 20 ! 990 |
| 16
|{{flagicon|USA}} Cale Yarborough |style="background:#CFEAFF;" align=center| 8 |style="background:#CFEAFF;" align=center| 8 |style="background:#EFCFFF;" align=center| 13 |style="background:#DFFFDF;" align=center| 5 |style="background:#EFCFFF;" align=center| 16 |style="background:#FFCFCF;" align=center| DNQ |style="background:#EFCFFF;" align=center| 32 |style="background:#DFFFDF;" align=center| 5 |style="background:#CFEAFF;" align=center| 8 |style="background:#EFCFFF;" align=center| 14 |style="background:#EFCFFF;" align=center| 11 |style="background:#FFCFCF;" align=center| DNQ ! 710 |
| 17
|{{flagicon|USA}} Mike Mosley |style="background:#FFDF9F;" align=center| 3 |style="background:#EFCFFF;" align=center| 23 |style="background:#CFEAFF;" align=center| 10 |style="background:#FFFFBF;" align=center| 1 |style="background:#EFCFFF;" align=center| 13 | | | | | | |style="background:#EFCFFF;" align=center| 19 ! 655 |
| 18
|{{flagicon|USA}} Swede Savage |style="background:#DFFFDF;" align=center| 4 |style="background:#DFFFDF;" align=center| 5 |style="background:#FFDF9F;" align=center| 3 | | | | | | |style="background:#EFCFFF;" align=center| 12 |style="background:#EFCFFF;" align=center| 16 |style="background:#EFCFFF;" align=center| 23 ! 590 |
| 19
|{{flagicon|USA}} Johnny Rutherford |style="background:#CFEAFF;" align=center| 7 |style="background:#EFCFFF;" align=center| 20 |style="background:#EFCFFF;" align=center| 21 |style="background:#EFCFFF;" align=center| 17 |style="background:#CFCFFF;" align=center| 18 |style="background:#CFEAFF;" align=center| 6 |style="background:#CFEAFF;" align=center| 7 |style="background:#CFEAFF;" align=center| 10 | |style="background:#EFCFFF;" align=center| 26 |style="background:#DFC484;" align=center| Wth |style="background:#EFCFFF;" align=center| 22 ! 570 |
| 20
|{{flagicon|USA}} Dick Simon |style="background:#EFCFFF;" align=center| 13 |style="background:#CFEAFF;" align=center| 6 |style="background:#EFCFFF;" align=center| 12 |style="background:#CFEAFF;" align=center| 7 |style="background:#CFCFFF;" align=center| 14 |style="background:#CFEAFF;" align=center| 9 |style="background:#EFCFFF;" align=center| 17 |style="background:#EFCFFF;" align=center| 15 |style="background:#FFCFCF;" align=center| DNQ |style="background:#EFCFFF;" align=center| 22 |style="background:#EFCFFF;" align=center| 25 |style="background:#CFEAFF;" align=center| 7 ! 405 |
| 21
|{{flagicon|USA}} Jim McElreath | | | | |style="background:#FFCFCF;" align=center| DNQ | |style="background:#EFCFFF;" align=center| 27 | | |style="background:#CFEAFF;" align=center| 8 |style="background:#EFCFFF;" align=center| 27 |style="background:#CFEAFF;" align=center| 6 ! 370 |
| 22
|{{flagicon|USA}} Bud Tingelstad | | | | |style="background:#CFEAFF;" align=center| 7 |style="background:#FFCFCF;" align=center| DNQ |style="background:#EFCFFF;" align=center| 19 | | |style="background:#EFCFFF;" align=center| 17 | | ! 300 |
| 23
|{{flagicon|USA}} LeeRoy Yarbrough | | | |style="background:#FFDF9F;" align=center| 3 |style="background:#DFC484;" align=center| Wth | | | | | | | ! 280 |
| 24
|{{flagicon|CAN}} George Eaton {{color box|gold|RY|border=silver}} | | | | | | | | |style="background:#CFEAFF;" align=center| 9 |style="background:#CFCFFF;" align=center| 11 |style="background:#CFEAFF;" align=center| 10 |style="background:#EFCFFF;" align=center| 18 ! 270 |
| 25
|{{flagicon|USA}} Greg Weld | | | | |style="background:#FFCFCF;" align=center| DNQ |style="background:#EFCFFF;" align=center| 18 |style="background:#CFCFFF;" align=center| 12 | |style="background:#CFEAFF;" align=center| 10 |style="background:#EFCFFF;" align=center| 30 |style="background:#CFEAFF;" align=center| 8 |style="background:#EFCFFF;" align=center| 14 ! 260 |
| 26
|{{flagicon|USA}} Denny Zimmerman |style="background:#EFCFFF;" align=center| 24 |style="background:#EFCFFF;" align=center| 19 |style="background:#EFCFFF;" align=center| 19 | |style="background:#CFEAFF;" align=center| 8 |style="background:#EFCFFF;" align=center| 22 |style="background:#EFCFFF;" align=center| 24 |style="background:#EFCFFF;" align=center| 26 | |style="background:#CFCFFF;" align=center| 20 |style="background:#CFCFFF;" align=center| 13 |style="background:#FFCFCF;" align=center| DNQ ! 250 |
| 27
|{{flagicon|USA}} Gordon Johncock |style="background:#CFEAFF;" align=center| 9 |style="background:#CFEAFF;" align=center| 10 |style="background:#CFEAFF;" align=center| 8 |style="background:#EFCFFF;" align=center| 15 |style="background:#EFCFFF;" align=center| 29 |style="background:#CFEAFF;" align=center| 10 |style="background:#EFCFFF;" align=center| 20 |style="background:#EFCFFF;" align=center| 23 |style="background:#EFCFFF;" align=center| 25 |style="background:#EFCFFF;" align=center| 27 |style="background:#FFCFCF;" align=center| DNQ |style="background:#FFCFCF;" align=center| DNQ ! 225 |
| 28
|{{flagicon|USA}} Sam Sessions | | | |style="background:#FFCFCF;" align=center| DNQ |style="background:#EFCFFF;" align=center| 27 | |style="background:#EFCFFF;" align=center| 11 |style="background:#FFCFCF;" align=center| DNQ |style="background:#CFEAFF;" align=center| 7 |style="background:#FFCFCF;" align=center| DNQ | |style="background:#EFCFFF;" align=center| 13 ! 220 |
| 29
|{{flagicon|USA}} George Snider | | |style="background:#CFCFFF;" align=center| 18 | |style="background:#EFCFFF;" align=center| 33 |style="background:#EFCFFF;" align=center| 21 |style="background:#EFCFFF;" align=center| 33 |style="background:#CFCFFF;" align=center| 14 |style="background:#DFFFDF;" align=center| 5 |style="background:#EFCFFF;" align=center| 32 |style="background:#EFCFFF;" align=center| 14 |style="background:#EFCFFF;" align=center| 15 ! 200 |
| 30
|{{flagicon|USA}} John Mahler |style="background:#CFCFFF;" align=center| 16 |style="background:#CFCFFF;" align=center| 16 | |style="background:#EFCFFF;" align=center| 23 |style="background:#DFC484;" align=center| Wth | |style="background:#EFCFFF;" align=center| 23 | | |style="background:#CFEAFF;" align=center| 9 | | ! 200 |
| 31
|{{flagicon|USA}} Larry Dickson |align=center| | | | |style="background:#EFCFFF;" align=center| 28 | | |style="background:#CFEAFF;" align=center| 6 |style="background:#EFCFFF;" align=center| 15 |style="background:#CFCFFF;" align=center| 13 |style="background:#FFFFFF;" align=center| DNS | ! 160 |
| 32
|{{flagicon|USA}} Bentley Warren |style="background:#CFEAFF;" align=center| 10 |style="background:#EFCFFF;" align=center| 24 |style="background:#CFCFFF;" align=center| 16 |style="background:#EFCFFF;" align=center| 26 |style="background:#EFCFFF;" align=center| 23 |style="background:#CFEAFF;" align=center| 8 |style="background:#EFCFFF;" align=center| 22 | |style="background:#DFC484;" align=center| Wth |align=center| | | ! 120 |
| 33
|{{flagicon|USA}} Karl Busson |align=center| | | |style="background:#FFCFCF;" align=center| DNQ | | | |style="background:#CFEAFF;" align=center| 8 |style="background:#EFCFFF;" align=center| 23 | |style="background:#FFCFCF;" align=center| DNQ |style="background:#FFCFCF;" align=center| DNQ ! 100 |
| 34
|{{flagicon|USA}} Bruce Walkup | | |style="background:#FFCFCF;" align=center| DNQ |style="background:#CFEAFF;" align=center| 8 |style="background:#FFCFCF;" align=center| DNQ | | | | |style="background:#EFCFFF;" align=center| 29 | |style="background:#FFCFCF;" align=center| DNQ ! 100 |
| 35
|{{flagicon|USA}} John Martin | | | | |style="background:#FFCFCF;" align=center| DNQ |style="background:#EFCFFF;" align=center| 15 | |style="background:#CFEAFF;" align=center| 9 |style="background:#CFCFFF;" align=center| 12 |style="background:#FFCFCF;" align=center| DNQ | |style="background:#FFCFCF;" align=center| DNQ ! 100 |
| 36
|{{flagicon|USA}} Al Loquasto | | | |style="background:#CFEAFF;" align=center| 9 |style="background:#FFCFCF;" align=center| DNQ | |style="background:#FFCFCF;" align=center| DNQ | | |style="background:#FFCFCF;" align=center| DNQ | | ! 80 |
| 37
|{{flagicon|CAN}} Ludwig Heimrath Sr. |style="background:#EFCFFF;" align=center| 25 |style="background:#CFCFFF;" align=center| 18 | |style="background:#CFEAFF;" align=center| 10 | | | |style="background:#FFCFCF;" align=center| DNQ | | | | ! 60 |
| 38
|{{flagicon|USA}} Jerry Karl | | | |style="background:#CFCFFF;" align=center| 12 |style="background:#DFC484;" align=center| Wth | | |style="background:#EFCFFF;" align=center| 11 |style="background:#EFCFFF;" align=center| 22 | | | ! 60 |
| 39
|{{flagicon|USA}} Carl Williams | | | | |style="background:#FFCFCF;" align=center| DNQ | | | |style="background:#CFCFFF;" align=center| 11 |style="background:#EFCFFF;" align=center| 31 |style="background:#EFCFFF;" align=center| 26 |style="background:#EFCFFF;" align=center| 17 ! 40 |
| 40
|{{flagicon|USA}} Salt Walther |style="background:#CFCFFF;" align=center| 15 |style="background:#CFCFFF;" align=center| 11 | |style="background:#FFCFCF;" align=center| DNQ |style="background:#FFCFCF;" align=center| DNQ | | |style="background:#EFCFFF;" align=center| 20 | |align=center| | | ! 30 |
| 41
|{{flagicon|USA}} Mel Kenyon | | | | |style="background:#EFCFFF;" align=center| 32 |style="background:#FFCFCF;" align=center| DNQ | | | |style="background:#EFCFFF;" align=center| 25 |style="background:#CFCFFF;" align=center| 12 |style="background:#FFCFCF;" align=center| DNQ ! 30 |
| 42
|{{flagicon|USA}} Bill Simpson |style="background:#CFCFFF;" align=center| 17 |style="background:#CFCFFF;" align=center| 13 |style="background:#EFCFFF;" align=center| 23 | |style="background:#FFCFCF;" align=center| DNQ |style="background:#EFCFFF;" align=center| 19 |style="background:#EFCFFF;" align=center| 18 |style="background:#FFCFCF;" align=center| DNQ | |style="background:#FFCFCF;" align=center| DNQ |style="background:#EFCFFF;" align=center| 28 |style="background:#EFCFFF;" align=center| 12 ! 15 |
| 43
|{{flagicon|USA}} Jimmy Caruthers | | | | |style="background:#DFC484;" align=center| Wth |style="background:#CFCFFF;" align=center| 12 |style="background:#CFCFFF;" align=center| 13 | | |style="background:#EFCFFF;" align=center| 19 | |style="background:#FFCFCF;" align=center| DNQ ! 15 |
| 44
|{{flagicon|USA}} Dee Jones |style="background:#EFCFFF;" align=center| 26 |style="background:#CFCFFF;" align=center| 12 |style="background:#EFCFFF;" align=center| 15 | |style="background:#FFCFCF;" align=center| DNQ | | | | | | | ! 15 |
| -
|{{flagicon|USA}} Donnie Allison | | | | |style="background:#CFEAFF;" align=center| 6 |style="background:#EFCFFF;" align=center| 17 |style="background:#EFCFFF;" align=center| 28 | | |style="background:#EFCFFF;" align=center| 24 | | ! 0 |
| -
|{{flagicon|ARG}} Carlos Pairetti {{color box|orange|R|border=silver}} |style="background:#CFCFFF;" align=center| 12 |style="background:#CFEAFF;" align=center| 9 | | | | | | | | | | ! 0 |
| -
|{{flagicon|USA}} Bill Puterbaugh | | | | |style="background:#FFCFCF;" align=center| DNQ | |style="background:#CFCFFF;" align=center| 14 |style="background:#FFCFCF;" align=center| DNQ |style="background:#CFCFFF;" align=center| 13 | |style="background:#EFCFFF;" align=center| 19 | ! 0 |
| -
|{{flagicon|USA}} Jerry Grant | | | | |style="background:#FFCFCF;" align=center| DNQ |style="background:#EFCFFF;" align=center| 13 | | | |align=center| | | ! 0 |
| -
|{{flagicon|USA}} Don Brown |style="background:#CFCFFF;" align=center| 18 |style="background:#CFCFFF;" align=center| 14 | |style="background:#EFCFFF;" align=center| 14 | | | | |style="background:#EFCFFF;" align=center| 21 | |style="background:#CFCFFF;" align=center| 15 |style="background:#FFCFCF;" align=center| DNQ ! 0 |
| -
|{{flagicon|USA}} Bob Harkey | | |style="background:#CFCFFF;" align=center| 14 | |style="background:#EFCFFF;" align=center| 22 | |style="background:#EFCFFF;" align=center| 29 |style="background:#FFCFCF;" align=center| DNQ | |style="background:#FFCFCF;" align=center| DNQ | | ! 0 |
| -
|{{flagicon|USA}} Dave Strickland |style="background:#CFCFFF;" align=center| 19 |style="background:#CFCFFF;" align=center| 15 | | |style="background:#DFC484;" align=center| Wth | | | | | | | ! 0 |
| -
|{{flagicon|USA}} George Follmer | | | | |style="background:#EFCFFF;" align=center| 15 | |style="background:#FFCFCF;" align=center| DNQ | | | | | ! 0 |
| -
|{{flagicon|USA}} Max Dudley |style="background:#CFCFFF;" align=center| 20 |style="background:#CFCFFF;" align=center| 17 | | | | |style="background:#FFCFCF;" align=center| DNQ | | | | | ! 0 |
| -
|{{flagicon|NZL}} Denny Hulme | | | | |style="background:#EFCFFF;" align=center| 17 | | | | | | | ! 0 |
| -
|{{flagicon|CAN}} Eldon Rasmussen {{color box|orange|R|border=silver}} | | | | | | | | | | |style="background:#EFCFFF;" align=center| 18 |style="background:#FFCFCF;" align=center| DNQ ! 0 |
| -
|{{flagicon|USA}} Arnie Knepper | | | |style="background:#EFCFFF;" align=center| 20 |style="background:#FFCFCF;" align=center| DNQ | | |style="background:#EFCFFF;" align=center| 25 |style="background:#EFCFFF;" align=center| 20 | | |style="background:#FFCFCF;" align=center| DNQ ! 0 |
| -
|{{flagicon|GBR}} David Hobbs | | | | |style="background:#EFCFFF;" align=center| 20 | | | | | | | ! 0 |
| -
|{{flagicon|USA}} Rick Muther |style="background:#EFCFFF;" align=center| 22 |style="background:#EFCFFF;" align=center| 25 |style="background:#FFCFCF;" align=center| DNQ |style="background:#FFCFCF;" align=center| DNQ |style="background:#EFCFFF;" align=center| 21 |style="background:#EFCFFF;" align=center| 24 | | | | | | ! 0 |
| -
|{{flagicon|USA}} Tom Bigelow |style="background:#EFCFFF;" align=center| 21 |style="background:#EFCFFF;" align=center| 22 | |style="background:#FFCFCF;" align=center| DNQ | | | | | | | | ! 0 |
| -
|{{flagicon|USA}} Tom Sneva {{color box|orange|R|border=silver}} | | | | | | | | | | |style="background:#EFCFFF;" align=center| 21 |style="background:#FFCFCF;" align=center| DNQ ! 0 |
| -
|{{flagicon|USA}} Larry Cannon |style="background:#EFCFFF;" align=center| 23 |style="background:#EFCFFF;" align=center| 26 | | |style="background:#DFC484;" align=center| Wth | | |style="background:#FFCFCF;" align=center| DNQ | | | | ! 0 |
| -
|{{flagicon|USA}} Jim Hurtubise | | | | |style="background:#FFCFCF;" align=center| DNQ | |style="background:#EFCFFF;" align=center| 30 | | |style="background:#FFCFCF;" align=center| DNQ | | ! 0 |
| -
|{{flagicon|ARG}} Jorge Cupeiro |style="background:#FFFFFF;" align=center| DNS | | | | | | | | | | | ! 0 |
| -
|{{flagicon|ARG}} Omar Cuvertino |style="background:#FFFFFF;" align=center| DNS | | | | | | | | | | | ! 0 |
| -
|{{flagicon|ARG}} Ángel Monguzzi |style="background:#FFFFFF;" align=center| DNS | | | | | | | | | | | ! 0 |
| -
|{{flagicon|ARG}} Carlos Salatino |style="background:#FFFFFF;" align=center| DNS | | | | | | | | | | | ! 0 |
| -
|{{flagicon|USA}} Jigger Sirois | | | | |style="background:#FFCFCF;" align=center| DNQ | | | | |align=center| | | ! 0 |
| -
|{{flagicon|USA}} Les Scott | | | | | style="background:#FFCFCF;" align="center" | DNQ | | | | | align="center" | | | ! 0 |
| -
|{{flagicon|USA}} Ralph Liguori | | | style="background:#FFCFCF;" align="center" | DNQ | | | | | | | | | ! 0 |
| -
|{{flagicon|USA}} Danny Ongais | | | style="background:#FFCFCF;" align="center" | DNQ | | | | | | | | | ! 0 |
| -
|{{flagicon|USA}} Bobby Allen | | | | style="background:#FFCFCF;" align="center" | DNQ | | | | | | | | ! 0 |
| -
|{{flagicon|USA}} Jim Reynard | | | | style="background:#FFCFCF;" align="center" | DNQ | | | | | | | | ! 0 |
| -
|{{flagicon|USA}} Gig Stephens | | | | style="background:#FFCFCF;" align="center" | DNQ | | | | | | | | ! 0 |
| -
|{{flagicon|USA}} Bobby Johns | | | | | style="background:#FFCFCF;" align="center" | DNQ | | | | | | | ! 0 |
| -
|{{flagicon|USA}} Sam Posey | | | | | style="background:#FFCFCF;" align="center" | DNQ | | | | | | | ! 0 |
| -
|{{flagicon|USA}} Dick Tobias | | | | | | | | | | | style="background:#FFCFCF;" align="center" | DNQ | ! 0 |
| -
|{{flagicon|USA}} Don Hawley | | | | | | | | | | | | style="background:#FFCFCF;" align="center" | DNQ ! 0 |
| -
|{{flagicon|USA}} Johnny Parsons | | | | | | | | | | | | style="background:#FFCFCF;" align="center" | DNQ ! 0 |
| -
|{{flagicon|USA}} Crockey Peterson | | | | | | | | | | | | style="background:#FFCFCF;" align="center" | DNQ ! 0 |
| -
|{{flagicon|USA}} Bruce Jacobi | | | | |style="background:#DFC484;" align=center| Wth | | | | | | | ! 0 |
| -
|{{flagicon|USA}} Tony Adamowicz | | | | |style="background:#DFC484;" align=center| Wth | |align=center| | | | | | ! 0 |
| -
|{{flagicon|USA}} Ronnie Bucknum | | | | |style="background:#DFC484;" align=center| Wth | | | | | | | ! 0 |
| valign="top"
!valign="middle"| Pos !valign="middle"| Driver ! RAF1 ! RAF2 ! PHX1 ! TRE1 ! INDY ! MIL1 ! POC ! MIC ! MIL2 ! ONT ! TRE2 ! PHX2 !valign="middle"| Pts |
|valign="top"|
| {| style="margin-right:0; font-size:85%; text-align:center;" class="wikitable"
! Color ! Result |
| style="background:#FFFFBF;"
| Gold | Winner |
| style="background:#DFDFDF;"
| Silver | 2nd place |
| style="background:#FFDF9F;"
| Bronze | 3rd place |
| style="background:#DFFFDF;"
| Green | 4th & 5th place |
| style="background:#CFEAFF;"
| Light Blue | 6th-10th place |
| style="background:#CFCFFF;"
| Dark Blue | Finished |
| style="background:#EFCFFF;"
| Purple | Did not finish |
| style="background:#FFCFCF;"
| Red | Did not qualify |
| style="background:#DFC484;"
| Brown | Withdrawn |
| style="background:#000000; color:white;"
| Black | Disqualified |
| style="background:#FFFFFF;"
| rowspan="1" | White | Did not start |
| rowspan="2" | Blank
| Did not |
| Not competing |
|-
|
| style="margin-right:0; font-size:85%; text-align:center;" class="wikitable"
|style="background:#F2F2F2;" align=center colspan=2|In-line notation |
| style="background:#F2F2F2;" align=center|Bold
|style="background:#F2F2F2;" align=center|Pole position |
| style="background:#F2F2F2;" align=center|Italics
|style="background:#F2F2F2;" align=center|Ran fastest race lap |
| style="background:#F2F2F2;" align=center| |style="background:#F2F2F2;" align=center|Led most race laps |
| style="text-align:center" colspan=2|{{color box|gold|RY|border=silver}} Rookie of the Year |
| style="text-align:center" colspan=2|{{color box|orange|R|border=silver}} Rookie |
|}
|}
References
- {{cite web|url=http://www.driverdb.com/standings/980-1971/ |title=USAC National Championship 1971 |author=Åberg, Andreas |publisher=Driver Database |access-date=2009-05-03 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080325034358/http://www.driverdb.com/standings/980-1971/ |archive-date=2008-03-25 |url-status=live }}
- {{cite web|url=http://www.oldracingcars.com/indy/1971/|title=Indy 500 and USAC racing 1971|author1=Harms, Phil |author2=Ferner, Michael |author3=Measures, Gerry |author4=Brown, Allen |publisher=OldRacingCars.com}}
- {{cite web|url=http://www.champcarstats.com/year/1971.htm|title=1971 USAC Marlboro Championship Trail|publisher=ChampCarStats.com|access-date=2009-05-11}}
- {{cite web |url=http://old.motorsport.com/stats/champ/data/1971sum.pdf |title=1971 Championship Driver Summary |last=Harms |first=Phil |work=Motorsport.com |access-date=2011-05-03 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120810003609/http://www.motorsport.com/stats/champ/data/1971sum.pdf |archive-date=2012-08-10 |url-status=dead }}
- http://media.indycar.com/pdf/2011/IICS_2011_Historical_Record_Book_INT6.pdf {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304053905/http://media.indycar.com/pdf/2011/IICS_2011_Historical_Record_Book_INT6.pdf |date=2016-03-04 }} (p. 230-231)
{{reflist}}
See also
{{American Championship Car seasons}}
{{USAC Championship Car seasons}}