|
|
| Line 1: |
Line 1: |
| {{InfoboxLost
| | #REDIRECT [[1976 USAC Championship Car Season (partially found footage of IndyCar races; 1976)]] |
| |title=<center>1976 Jimmy Bryan 150</center>
| |
| |image=1976jimmybryan1501.jpg
| |
| |imagecaption=Program for the race.
| |
| |status=<span style="color:red;">'''Lost'''</span>
| |
| }}
| |
| The '''''1976 Jimmy Bryan 150''''' was the inaugural race of the 1976 USAC Championship Car Season. Occurring on 14th March at the Phoenix International Raceway, the race would ultimately be won by Bobby Unser, after narrowly fending off fellow Eagle-Offenhauser driver Pancho Carter. The race also marked the sole USAC Championship appearance of Arlene Hiss, who became the first woman to compete at an IndyCar event.
| |
| | |
| ==Background==
| |
| The ''1976 Jimmy Bryan 150'' was the 12th running of the event, with the annual race lasting 150 miles.<ref name="results">[https://www.racing-reference.info/race-results/1976_Jimmy_Bryan_150/UO/ ''Racing-Reference'' detailing the qualifying and race results of the event.] Retrieved 16th Jun '22</ref> It was one of two 1976 USAC Championship Car Season races to commence at Phoenix International Raceway, the other being the Bobby Ball 150,<ref>[https://www.racing-reference.info/season-stats/1976/UO/ ''Racing-Reference'' detailing the 1976 USAC Championship Car Season schedule.] Retrieved 16th Jun '22</ref> which occurred on 7th November and was won by Al Unser in a Parnelli-Cosworth.<ref>[https://www.racing-reference.info/race-results/1976_Bobby_Ball_150/UO/ ''Racing-Reference'' detailing the results of the 1976 Bobby Ball 150.] Retrieved 16th Jun '22</ref> The race, named in honour of 1958 Indianapolis 500 winner Jimmy Bryan,<ref>[http://www.motorsportmemorial.org/focus.php?db=ct&n=91 ''Motorsport Memorial'' page for Jimmy Bryan.] Retrieved 16th Jun '22</ref> would have ties with Phoenix events like the Desert Diamond West Valley Phoenix Grand Prix, before Phoenix races were dropped from the IndyCar schedule after 2018 following low attendance.<ref>[https://eu.indystar.com/story/sports/motor/2018/06/22/indycar-not-return-phoenix-2019/727625002/ ''IndyStar'' reporting on Phoenix races being dropped from the IndyCar schedule after 2018.] Retrieved 16th Jun '22</ref>
| |
| | |
| Prior to the race, qualifying commenced with Al Unser winning the pole position with a speed of 140.845 mph.<ref name="qualifying">[https://www.nytimes.com/1976/03/14/archives/arlene-hiss-getting-her-chance-in-big-time-today-about-motor-sports.html ''The New York Times'' reporting on Unser winning the pole position and Hiss becoming the first woman to qualify for an IndyCar race.] Retrieved 16th Jun '22</ref><ref name="results"/> This was deemed an upset performance, as his Parnelli-Cosworth was an experimental car during that time period, and so was considered unlikely to challenged the proven competitors.<ref name="qualifying"/> Directly behind him was his brother Bobby, who was making his return to the USAC Championship after breaking his leg at the [[1975 Michigan 150 (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1975)|1975 Michigan 150]].<ref name="qualifying"/><ref name="results"/> A.J. Foyt lined up third in a Coyote-Foyt.<ref name="results"/>
| |
| | |
| Elsewhere, media coverage was centring on Arlene Hiss, who had qualified 21st out of 22 competitors with a speed of 128.94 mph, becoming the first woman to qualify for an IndyCar event.<ref name="speed">[http://speedqueens.blogspot.com/2020/02/arlene-hiss.html ''Speed Queens'' detailing the career of Arlene Hiss.] Retrieved 16th Jun '22</ref><ref name="qualifying"/><ref name="results"/> Hiss, along with Janet Guthrie, was aiming to become the first woman to compete at the Indianapolis 500 by qualifying [[1976 Indianapolis 500 (partially found footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1976)|for that year's event]].<ref name="speed"/><ref name="qualifying"/> However, USAC was concerned by her lack of experience, and although she had raced for 13 years at that point, it was only on a part-time basis.<ref name="qualifying"/><ref name="speed"/> Nevertheless, she earned her conditional licence after completing two tests at Phoenix and the Ontario International Raceway, her speed in the former being enough to compete in the 1975 Phoenix races.<ref name="qualifying"/><ref name="speed"/> Heading into the race, she stated "At one point I wanted to be a professional but instead I got married. Now the opportunity has come knocking. I feel I'm ready for the challenge."<ref name="qualifying"/>
| |
| | |
| ==The Race==
| |
| With the starting order decided, the 1976 Jimmy Bryan 150 commenced on 14th March.<ref name="results"/> Bobby Unser shot into the lead on the first lap, holding it for 19 laps before dropping it to Wildcat-DGS' Gordon Johncock.<ref name="results"/> Johncock was only able to maintain the first position for five laps before dropping it to Al Unser, who controlled proceedings for the next 39 laps.<ref name="results"/> However, Unser would be passed by Johnny Parsons in an Eagle-Offenhauser on lap 64, who lost it to Bobby two laps, Unser also only holding the lead briefly before Eagle-Offenhauser's Mike Mosley took over a lap later.<ref name="results"/> Mosley led for 13 laps before being passed by Wildcat-DGS' Wally Dallenbach.<ref name="results"/>
| |
| | |
| Dallenbach held the lead for 25 laps, only for Bobby Unser to achieve what was ultimately the final lead change on lap 105.<ref name="results"/> Six laps later, Dallenbach's engine failed, handing the advantage to Unser, who seemed likely to claim victory by leading 46 laps.<ref name="results"/> However, Pancho Carter, who started 11th, was quickly closing in, and gave Unser a significant challenge on the final lap.<ref name="nyt">[https://www.nytimes.com/1976/03/15/archives/bobby-unser-first-at-phoenix.html ''The New York Times'' reporting on Unser winning the race.] Retrieved 16th Jun '22</ref><ref name="results"/> Ultimately, Unser held off Carter by fewer than two car lengths to claim victory and $11,305 in prize money.<ref name="nyt"/><ref name="results"/> Johncock took third, being only a further three car lengths behind Unser.<ref name="nyt"/><ref name="results"/>
| |
| | |
| Elsewhere, Hiss completed the race in 14th and last, being 22 laps down from Unser.<ref name="hissnyt">[https://www.nytimes.com/1976/03/16/archives/people-in-sports-japan-club-cancels-durochers-contract.html ''The New York Times'' reporting on Hiss' performance at the event.] Retrieved 16th Jun '22</ref><ref name="speed"/><ref name="results"/> While she was black flagged at one point for driving dangerously slow, the race was generally uncontroversial for Hiss, with her being satisfied with her performance.<ref name="hissnyt"/><ref name="speed"/> She stated "I just wanted to be smooth, to stay out of trouble. It went pretty much like we planned."<ref name="sport">[http://web.archive.org/web/20190417202645/https://www.speedsport.com/racing-history/torn-from-the-headlines/schoolteacher-arlene-hiss-is-first-female-indy-car-driver/ Archived ''Speedsport'' detailing Hiss competing at the event and the criticised she faced from other drivers.] Retrieved 16th Jun '22</ref><ref name="hissnyt"/> The media praised Hiss for her debut, but some drivers, including Bobby Unser, Gary Bettenhausen and Bill Vukovich, Jr., all accused Hiss of dangerous driving due to her generally slow pace and for taking the wrong lines.<ref name="speed"/><ref name="sport"/> In particular, Bettenhausen said "This is a man's business and she has to be measured by a man's standards if she is going to compete. By those standards, she didn't measure up."<ref name="sport"/> It should nevertheless be noted that Hiss actually outqualified Bettenhausen and Vukovich, Jr., who both failed to qualify for the event as a result.<ref name="speed"/><ref name="sport"/><ref name="results"/> She never competed at another USAC event, possibly because of a lack of funding, with her competing in the USAC Stock Car Series before retiring from motorsport in 1978.<ref name="speed"/>
| |
| | |
| ==Availability==
| |
| According to ''IndyCar on TV'', the race received live flag-to-flag coverage from ABC as part of its ''Wide World of Sports''.<ref>[https://sites.google.com/site/indycarontv/home/the-races/usac/1976/1976-jimmy-bryan-150 ''IndyCar on TV'' detailing the ABC broadcast of the race.] Retrieved 16th Jun '22</ref> The broadcast has yet to resurface however, and no footage of the race is currently publicly available. Nevertheless, photos of the event can be found online.
| |
| | |
| ==Gallery==
| |
| ===Images===
| |
| <gallery mode=packed heights=200px>
| |
| 1976jimmybryan1502.jpg|Bobby Unser at the event.
| |
| 1976jimmybryan1503.png|Hiss at the event.
| |
| </gallery>
| |
| | |
| ==See Also==
| |
| *[[1962 Trenton 100 (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1962)]]
| |
| *[[1962 Trenton 200 (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1962)]]
| |
| *[[1963 Trenton 100 (partially found footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1963)]]
| |
| *[[1963 Trenton 200 (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1963)]]
| |
| *[[1964 Golden State 100 (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1964)]]
| |
| *[[1964 Trenton 100 (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1964)]]
| |
| *[[1965 Golden State 100 (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1965)]]
| |
| *[[1965 Jimmy Bryan Memorial (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1965)]]
| |
| *[[1966 Jimmy Bryan Memorial (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1966)]]
| |
| *[[1966 Trenton 150 (partially found footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1966)]]
| |
| *[[1967 Trenton 150 (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1967)]]
| |
| *[[1968 Tony Bettenhausen 100 (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1968)]]
| |
| *[[1968 Trenton 150 (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1968)]]
| |
| *[[1969 Langhorne 150 (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1969)]]
| |
| *[[1969 Rex Mays Classic (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1969)]]
| |
| *[[1969 Trenton 200 (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1969)]]
| |
| *[[1970 Bobby Ball 150 (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1970)]]
| |
| *[[1970 Jimmy Bryan 150 (partially lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1970)]]
| |
| *[[1970 Langhorne 150 (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1970)]]
| |
| *[[1970 Rex Mays Classic (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1970)]]
| |
| *[[1970 Rocky Mountain 150 (partially found footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1970)]]
| |
| *[[1970 Trenton 200 (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1970)]]
| |
| *[[1971 Bobby Ball 150 (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1971)]]
| |
| *[[1971 Jimmy Bryan 150 (partially found footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1971)]]
| |
| *[[1971 Marlboro 300 (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1971)]]
| |
| *[[1971 Michigan 200 (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1971)]]
| |
| *[[1971 Rex Mays Classic (partially found footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1971)]]
| |
| *[[1971 Schaefer 500 (partially found footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1971)]]
| |
| *[[1971 Trentonian 200 (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1971)]]
| |
| *[[1972 Best Western Motels 150 (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1972)]]
| |
| *[[1972 Indianapolis 500 (partially found footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1972)]]
| |
| *[[1972 Phoenix 150 (partially found footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1972)]]
| |
| *[[1972 Rex Mays Classic (partially found footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1972)]]
| |
| *[[1972 Tony Bettenhausen 200 (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1972)]]
| |
| *[[1972 Trenton Times 300 (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1972)]]
| |
| *[[1972 Trentonian 200 (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1972)]]
| |
| *[[1973 Schaefer 500 (partially found footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1973)]]
| |
| *[[1973 Texas 200 (partially found footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1973)]]
| |
| *[[1974 Phoenix 150 (partially found footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1974)]]
| |
| *[[1974 Schaefer 500 (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1974)]]
| |
| *[[1974 Trentonian 200 (partially found footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1974)]]
| |
| *[[1975 Bricklin 150 (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1975)]]
| |
| *[[1975 Michigan 150 (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1975)]]
| |
| *[[1975 Trentonian 200 (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1975)]]
| |
| *[[1976 Indianapolis 500 (partially found footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1976)]]
| |
| *[[1976 Michigan 150 (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1976)]]
| |
| *[[1976 Schaefer 500 (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1976)]]
| |
| *[[1976 Trenton Times Auto Classic (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1976)]]
| |
| *[[1976 Trentonian 200 (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1976)]]
| |
| *[[1977 American Parts 200 (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1977)]]
| |
| *[[1977 Jimmy Bryan 150 (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1977)]]
| |
| *[[1977 Michigan Grand Prix (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1977)]]
| |
| *[[1977 Rex Mays Classic (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1977)]]
| |
| *[[1977 Schaefer 500 (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1977)]]
| |
| *[[1977 Texas Grand Prix (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1977)]]
| |
| *[[1977 Trentonian 200 (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1977)]]
| |
| *[[1978 Coors 200 (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1978)]]
| |
| *[[1978 Daily Express Indy Silverstone (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1978)]]
| |
| *[[1978 Daily Mail Indy Trophy (partially found CBS and BBC One footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1978)]]
| |
| *[[1978 Norton Twin 200 (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1978)]]
| |
| *[[1979 Arizona Republic / Jimmy Bryan 150 (partially found footage of SCCA/CART IndyCar Series race; 1979)]]
| |
| *[[1979 California 500 (lost footage of SCCA/CART IndyCar Series race; existence unconfirmed; 1979)]]
| |
| *[[1979 Gould Grand Prix (lost footage of SCCA/CART IndyCar Series race; 1979)]]
| |
| *[[1980 Miller High Life 150 (partially found footage of CART PPG IndyCar World Series race; 1980)]]
| |
| *[[1980 Norton Twin 200 (lost footage of CART PPG IndyCar World Series race; 1980)]]
| |
| *[[1980 Primera Copa Mexico 150 (lost footage of CART PPG IndyCar World Series race; 1980)]]
| |
| *[[1980 Tony Bettenhausen 200 (lost footage of CART PPG IndyCar World Series race; 1980)]]
| |
| *[[1981 Kraco Car Stereo 150 (lost CART PPG IndyCar World Series race; 1981)]]
| |
| *[[1981 Pocono 500 (lost footage of USAC Championship Car Season race; 1981)]]
| |
| *[[1996 Las Vegas 500K (partially lost footage of IRL Season race; 1996)]]
| |
| *[[Indianapolis 500 WFBM-TV Broadcasts (lost racing footage; 1949-1950)]]
| |
| *[[Indianapolis 500 MCA closed-circuit broadcasts (partially lost racing footage; 1964-1970)]]
| |
| | |
| ==References==
| |
| {{reflist}}
| |
| | |
| [[Category:Lost recordings of sports events]]
| |
| [[Category:Completely lost media]]
| |
| [[Category:Historic]]
| |