The 1976 SCCA/USAC Formula 5000 Championship [1] was the tenth running of the Sports Car Club of America's premier open wheel racing series[2] and the third to be co-sanctioned by the Sports Car Club of America (SCCA) and the United States Auto Club (USAC).[3]
The championship was won by Brian Redman driving a Lola T332 Chevrolet.[4] It was Redman's third consecutive SCCA/USAC Formula 5000 Championship title win.[5] For the first time in three years, a vehicle other than a Lola won a race, with March and Shadow winning one race each.[5] 1976 also marked the first race win by a non-Chevrolet powered car since the 1971 season, with a Dodge-powered Shadow winning at Road America.[5]
1976 was to be the final year of the SCCA/USAC Formula 5000 Championship as the SCCA replaced it with a revived Can Am Series for 1977.[6] The rules for the new series were to allow the Formula 5000 cars to compete with fully enveloping bodywork.[6]
Race results
edit
The championship was contested over a seven race series.[4]
| Race [7] | Date [7] | Location [7] | Distance [7] | Winning driver [7] | Winning car [7] |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | May 9 | Pocono International Raceway | 35 laps |  Brian Redman
|
Lola T332C – Chevrolet V8 |
| 2 | June 20 | Mosport Park | 40 laps |  Alan Jones
|
Lola T332 – Chevrolet V8 |
| 3 | July 11 | Watkins Glen International | 30 laps | Alan Jones
|
March 76A – Chevrolet V8 |
| 4 | July 25 | Road America | 25 laps | Jackie Oliver
|
Shadow DN6B – Dodge V8 |
| 5 | August 8 | Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course | 42 laps | Brian Redman
|
Lola T332C – Chevrolet V8 |
| 6 | August 28 | Road America | 20 laps | Brian Redman
|
Lola T332C – Chevrolet V8 |
| 7 | October 17 | Riverside International Raceway | 40 laps |  Al Unser
|
Lola T332 – Chevrolet V8 |
Points system
editChampionship points were awarded on a 36-24-16-12-8-5-4-3-2-1 basis for the first ten positions in each race.[4]
Final points standings
edit
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References
edit- ^ Jaycee Grand Prix - SCCA/USAC Formula 500 Championship Race, www.myf5000.com Retrieved on 29 May 2014
- ^ Wolfgang Kopfler, Formula A and Formula 5000 in America - Race by Race, 2003, pages 7 to 102
- ^ Wolfgang Kopfler, Formula A and Formula 5000 in America - Race by Race, 2003, page 81
- ^ a b c Wolfgang Kopfler, 1976 Formula 5000 Championship, Formula A and Formula 5000 in America - Race by Race, 2003, pages 101 & 102
- ^ a b c Gordon Kirby, The Season in the USA, Automobile Year 1976/77, pages 191 to 192
- ^ a b Wolfgang Kopfler, The end of Formula 5000, Formula A and Formula 5000 in America - Race by Race, 2003, page 110
- ^ a b c d e f US Formula 5000 races 1968-1976, www.oldracingcars.com Retrieved on 29 May 2014