A look back: 1975 Laguna Seca F5000 Race
The next-to-last race of the 1975 F5000 series was held at Laguna Seca and the Monterey GP was a tight battle all the way between Vels-Parnelli Viceroy teammates Mario Andretti and Al Unser Sr.
Mario Andretti in a Lola T332 Chevrolet won the pole by 0.5s over his teammate in the identically prepared Lola. Both Andretti and Unser won their heat races and in the race Andretti led every lap and held off Unser by 2 secs at the finish.
‘The Race was run before the track was lengthened to its current configuration.
In the above photo, note the crowd in attendance, it dwarfs the current IndyCar crowd at Laguna Seca.
Laguna Seca, Oct 12, 1975
Results | Laps | Time/Speed | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Mario Andretti | Lola T332 [HU29] – Chevrolet V8 #5 Viceroy |
50 | 49m 55.61s 114.16 mph |
|||||
2 | Al Unser | Lola T332 [HU35-2] – Chevrolet V8 #51 Viceroy/Hilton |
50 | 49m 57.59s | |||||
3 | Brian Redman | Lola T332 [HU45] – Chevrolet V8 #1 Boraxo |
50 | 50m 11.98s | |||||
4 | Tony Brise | Lola T332 [HU37] – Chevrolet V8 #64 Theodore Racing |
50 | 50m 29.05s | |||||
5 | Jackie Oliver | Shadow DN6 [3A] – Dodge V8 #0 UOP |
50 | 50m 42.78s | |||||
6 | David Hobbs | Lola T332 [HU30] – Chevrolet V8 #10 Hogan Racing |
50 | 50m 45.46s | |||||
7 | Elliot Forbes-Robinson | Lola T332 [HU48] – Chevrolet V8 #33 Evel Knievel |
50 | 50m 46.08s | |||||
8 | Graham McRae | Lola T332 [HU46] – Chevrolet V8 #6 Armour All |
50 | 50m 53.20s | |||||
9 | Warwick Brown | Talon MR-1A – Chevrolet V8 #4 Norris Industries |
49 | ||||||
10 | John Cannon | March 73A/751 [“75AM”] – Chevrolet V8 #9 J.G. Lane |
49 | ||||||
11 | Jon Woodner | Talon MR-1A – Chevrolet V8 #91 Interscope |
49 | ||||||
12 | John Morton | Lola T332 [‘K2’] – Chevrolet V8 #56 Krinitt |
48 | ||||||
13 | John Gunn | Lola T332 [HU47] – Chevrolet V8 #39 Racing Consultants |
48 | ||||||
14 | David E. ‘Tuck’ Thomas | Lola T332 [HU38 (B)] – Chevrolet V8 #88 Lancer Stores |
47 | ||||||
15 | Danny Ongais | Lola T332 [‘K3’] – Chevrolet V8 #63 Interscope/Bell Elec. |
47 | ||||||
16 | Randy Lewis | Lola T332 [HU39] – Chevrolet V8 #28 Wrangler |
46 | ||||||
17 | John David Briggs | Lola T332 [HU50] – Chevrolet V8 #71 Briggs & Fodge |
45 | ||||||
18 | John Korn | Lola T330 [HU24] – Chevrolet V8 #50 Pyett-Boone West |
44 | ||||||
19 | Steve Durst | Talon MR-1 [“007”] – Chevrolet V8 #96? |
44 | ||||||
20 | Skeeter McKitterick | Chevron B24/B28 [24-73-05A] – Chevrolet V8 #30 AME Aero |
43 | ||||||
21 | Eppie Wietzes | Lola T400M [HU9] – Chevrolet V8 #94 Formula Racing |
29 | oil pressure | |||||
22 | Vern Schuppan | Eagle 755 [01] – Chevrolet V8 #48 Jorgensen |
28 | right front suspension | |||||
23 | Bob Allen | Eagle 74A [002] – Chevrolet V8 #97 Manteca Motors |
18 | retired – unknown | |||||
24 | Bob Nagel | Lola T332 [HU33] – Chevrolet V8 #75 Thermo King |
16 | retired – unknown | |||||
25 | Evan Noyes | Lola T332 [HU51] – Chevrolet V8 #24 Eagle Creek |
12 | retired – unknown | |||||
26 | Gary Wilson | Lola T332 [HU52] – Chevrolet V8 #2 Sting Racing |
10 | retired – unknown | |||||
27 | Gus Hutchison | Lola T330 [HU16] – Chevrolet V8 | 2 | retired – unknown | |||||
28 | Michael Brockman | Talon MR-1 – Chevrolet V8 #69 J. Levitt |
2 | retired – unknown | |||||
DNSF | Dick Kantrud | Lola T330/T332 [HU15] – Chevrolet V8 #43 Gordon Oftedahl |
Did not start final | ||||||
DNRH | Benny Scott | Lola T332 [HU53] – Chevrolet V8 #12 Viceroy/Black Am. Racer |
Retired/Did not restart heat | ||||||
DNRH | Bob Earl | Lola T330 [HU3] – Chevrolet V8 #19 T.P. Racing |
Retired/Did not restart heat | ||||||
DNRH | John Benton | Lola T330 [HU26] – Chevrolet V8 #22 Formula Magazine |
Retired/Did not restart heat | ||||||
DNRH | Bill Baker | Lola T332 [HU41] – Chevrolet V8 #55 Barbara Baker |
Retired/Did not restart heat | ||||||
DNS | Ron Dykes | Lola T192 [HU30] – Chevrolet V8 #13 Justice Brothers |
Did not start | ||||||
DNS | Gordon Johncock | Lola T332 [HU44] – Chevrolet V8 #20 Sinmast |
Did not start | ||||||
DNS | Luis Di Palma | Berta BA3 – Chevrolet V8 #65 der Wienerschntitzel |
Did not start | ||||||
DNS | Garth Pollard | Lola T300 [HU10] – Chevrolet V8 #73? |
Did not start | ||||||
DNS | Arlon J. Koops | Lola T330 [HU20] – Chevrolet V8 #85 Solazure IV |
Did not start | ||||||
DNS | Rodney Green | McRae GM1 [010] – Chevrolet V8 #95 Rodney Green Racing |
Did not start | ||||||
DNSC | George Follmer | Lance LSR1 – Chevrolet V8 #45 Kendall GT-1 |
Did not start (crashed) | ||||||
UNKE | Roger Bighouse | Chevron B24 [24-73-02] – Chevrolet V8 #18 Minutemen |
On entry list |
All cars are 5-liter F5000 unless noted.
Heat 1 | Laps | Time | Speed | |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Mario Andretti | 27 | 26:41.50 | 115.31 mph |
2 | Brian Redman | 27 | ||
3 | Tony Brise | 27 | ||
4 | John Morton | 27 | ||
5 | Eppie Wietzes | 27 | ||
6 | Jon Woodner | 26 | ||
7 | Danny Ongais | 26 | ||
8 | Bob Nagel | 25 | ||
9 | Gary Wilson | |||
10 | Michael Brockman | retired – unknown | ||
11 | Steve Durst | retired – unknown | ||
12 | Dick Kantrud | retired – unknown | ||
Benny Scott | Retired/Did not restart heat | |||
Bill Baker | Retired/Did not restart heat | |||
Randy Lewis | Retired/Did not restart heat | |||
Bob Earl | Retired/Did not restart heat | |||
John Benton | Retired/Did not restart heat | |||
Gordon Johncock | Did not start (no engine) | |||
George Follmer | Did not start (accident) |
Heat 2 | Laps | Time | Speed | |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Al Unser | 27 | 26:46.93 | 114.92 mph |
2 | Graham McRae | 27 | ||
3 | David Hobbs | 27 | ||
4 | Warwick Brown | 27 | ||
5 | Jackie Oliver | 27 | ||
6 | Elliot Forbes-Robinson | 27 | ||
7 | Vern Schuppan | 27 | ||
8 | Evan Noyes | 26 | ||
9 | John Cannon | 26 | ||
10 | John Gunn | 26 | ||
11 | David E. ‘Tuck’ Thomas | 26 | ||
12 | John Korn | 25 | ||
Bob Earl | accident | |||
Benny Scott | accident | |||
Bill Baker | accident | |||
John Benton | accident | |||
Gus Hutchison | 0 | Contact (Gunn) | ||
Skeeter McKitterick | Unknown (retired?) | |||
John David Briggs | Unknown (retired?) | |||
Bob Allen | Unknown (retired?) | |||
Garth Pollard | Unknown (DNS?) | |||
Ron Dykes | Unknown (DNS?) | |||
Rodney Green | Unknown (DNS?) | |||
Luis Di Palma | Unknown (DNS?) |
Qualifying | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Mario Andretti | (F5000) 5-litre Lola T332 [HU29] – Chevrolet V8 | 58.267 | 57.774 | |
2 | Al Unser | (F5000) 5-litre Lola T332 [HU35-2] – Chevrolet V8 | 59.149 | 58.279 | |
3 | Brian Redman | (F5000) 5-litre Lola T332 [HU45] – Chevrolet V8 | 58.944 | ||
4 | Graham McRae | (F5000) 5-litre Lola T332 [HU46] – Chevrolet V8 | 1:00.805 | 59.214 | |
5 | Tony Brise | (F5000) 5-litre Lola T332 [HU37] – Chevrolet V8 | 1:01.123 | 59.354 | |
6 | David Hobbs | (F5000) 5-litre Lola T332 [HU30] – Chevrolet V8 | 1:01.144 | 59.556 | |
7 | John Morton | (F5000) 5-litre Lola T332 [‘K2’] – Chevrolet V8 | 1:01.336 | 59.854 | |
8 | Warwick Brown | (F5000) 5-litre Talon MR-1A – Chevrolet V8 | 1:00.895 | 59.879 | |
9 | Eppie Wietzes | (F5000) 5-litre Lola T400M [HU9] – Chevrolet V8 | 1:00.882 | 59.940 | |
10 | Elliot Forbes-Robinson | (F5000) 5-litre Lola T332 [HU48] – Chevrolet V8 | 1:01.242 | 1:00.248 | |
11 | Jon Woodner | (F5000) 5-litre Talon MR-1A – Chevrolet V8 | 1:00.398 | 1:00.248 | |
12 | Jackie Oliver | (F5000) 5-litre Shadow DN6 [3A] – Dodge V8 | 1:00.523 | 1:00.265 | |
13 | Gordon Johncock * | (F5000) 5-litre Lola T332 [HU44] – Chevrolet V8 | 1:02.624 | 1:00.415 | |
14 | John Gunn | (F5000) 5-litre Lola T332 [HU47] – Chevrolet V8 | 1:00.689 | ||
15 | Vern Schuppan | (F5000) 5-litre Eagle 755 [01] – Chevrolet V8 | 1:01.208 | 1:00.745 | |
16 | Bob Earl | (F5000) 5-litre Lola T330 [HU3] – Chevrolet V8 | 1:00.996 | 1:00.714 | |
17 | Danny Ongais | (F5000) 5-litre Lola T332 [‘K3’] – Chevrolet V8 | 1:01.092 | 1:00.746 | |
18 | John Cannon | (F5000) 5-litre March 73A/751 [“75AM”] – Chevrolet V8 | 1:01.653 | 1:01.113 | |
19 | Benny Scott | (F5000) 5-litre Lola T332 [HU53] – Chevrolet V8 | 1:01.562 | 1:01.188 | |
20 | Gus Hutchison | (F5000) 5-litre Lola T330 [HU16] – Chevrolet V8 | 1:03.301 | 1:01.432 | |
21 | Randy Lewis | (F5000) 5-litre Lola T332 [HU39] – Chevrolet V8 | 1:03.065 | 1:01.597 | |
22 | Evan Noyes | (F5000) 5-litre Lola T332 [HU51] – Chevrolet V8 | 1:02.494 | 1:01.667 | |
23 | Michael Brockman | (F5000) 5-litre Talon MR-1 – Chevrolet V8 | 1:07.097 | 1:02.051 | |
24 | David E. ‘Tuck’ Thomas | (F5000) 5-litre Lola T332 [HU38 (B)] – Chevrolet V8 | 1:03.286 | 1:02.278 | |
25 | Bill Baker | (F5000) 5-litre Lola T332 [HU41] – Chevrolet V8 | 1:03.745 | 1:02.634 | |
26 | John Korn | (F5000) 5-litre Lola T330 [HU24] – Chevrolet V8 | 1:02.850 | 1:02.57 | |
27 | Bob Nagel | (F5000) 5-litre Lola T332 [HU33] – Chevrolet V8 | 1:03.325 | 1:03.071 | |
28 | Luis Di Palma * | (F5000) 5-litre Berta BA3 – Chevrolet V8 | 1:03.214 | ||
29 | John Benton | (F5000) 5-litre Lola T330 [HU26] – Chevrolet V8 | 1:03.325 | 1:03.301 | |
30 | John David Briggs | (F5000) 5-litre Lola T332 [HU50] – Chevrolet V8 | 1:05.742 | 1:03.730 | |
31 | Steve Durst | (F5000) 5-litre Talon MR-1 [“007”] – Chevrolet V8 | 1:04.123 | ||
32 | Ron Dykes * | (F5000) 5-litre Lola T192 [HU30] – Chevrolet V8 | 1:04.124 | ||
33 | Gary Wilson | (F5000) 5-litre Lola T332 [HU52] – Chevrolet V8 | 1:04.466 | ||
34 | Bob Allen | (F5000) 5-litre Eagle 74A [002] – Chevrolet V8 | 1:04.793 | ||
35 | Arlon J. Koops * | (F5000) 5-litre Lola T330 [HU20] – Chevrolet V8 | 1:07.125 | ||
36 | Skeeter McKitterick | (F5000) 5-litre Chevron B24/B28 [24-73-05A] – Chevrolet V8 | 1:07.266 | 1:05.55 | |
37 | Dick Kantrud | (F5000) 5-litre Lola T330/T332 [HU15] – Chevrolet V8 | 1:09.357 | ||
38 | Rodney Green * | (F5000) 5-litre McRae GM1 [010] – Chevrolet V8 | 1:15.536 | ||
39 | George Follmer * | (F5000) 5-litre Lance LSR1 – Chevrolet V8 | 1:24.258 | ||
40 | Garth Pollard * | (F5000) 5-litre Lola T300 [HU10] – Chevrolet V8 | No time | ||
* Did not start |