USAC-IRL at Dover Delaware
On August 24, 1969 USAC held their one and only race for Champ cars at the high-banked (24 degrees) one mile oval at Dover Delaware. Bobby Unser's qualifying speed of 155.259 mph remained the track record for 29 years until Rusty Wallace finally surpassed it on May 30, 1998 with a qualifying speed of 155.898 mph. 48 days days later, Tony Stewart surpassed that with a new qualifying record of 185.204 mph.
Indy cars returned to Dover for the IRL 400k races on July 19, 1998 and August 1, 1999 which were won by Scott Sharp and Buddy Lazier respectively. The green flag laps were being turned in the low 180's mph. However, the attrition was high for both races due to the stress on equipment from the high banked track. They never returned after the 2 races.
The following 6 pictures are all I have of the 1969 event. The first two came from a promotional mail flyer from the IRL, and the third from an old issue of Racing Pictorial. The final 3 were from the souvenir program of the IRL race.
3 wide chasing the leader!
Race winner Art Pollard in the STP Wedge (57) shown leading (l to r) Gordon Johncock (12) Mario Andretti in the Brawner Hawk (2), and Jerry Karl (68).
Pollard's car is the only Plymouth to ever win a Champ car race.
(Walt Chernokal photo)
Roger McCluskey (82) leading Gordon Johncock (12) into turn 1.
(Photographer unknown)
Gary Bettenhausen (8) leading Al Unser (15).
(Ray Masser photo)
Lloyd Ruby leaving his car after crashing during practice.
(Photographer unknown)
Pit stop. Note the imposing Turn 1 in the background.
(Photographer unknown)
Wally Dallenbach tags the wall in turn four.
(Photographer unknown)