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Molson Diamond Indy

Coordinates: 44°03′00″N 78°40′40″W / 44.05000°N 78.67778°W / 44.05000; -78.67778
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Molson Diamond Indy
NTT IndyCar Series
LocationMosport Park
Bowmanville, Ontario, Canada
44°03′00″N 78°40′40″W / 44.05000°N 78.67778°W / 44.05000; -78.67778
Corporate sponsorMolson
First race1967
First USAC race1978
Laps76
Previous namesTelegraph Trophy 200 (1967-1968)
Molson Diamond Indy (1977–1978)
Most wins (driver)Bobby Unser (2)
Dan Gurney (2)
Most wins (team)Eagle (2)
Oscar Olson (2)
Most wins (manufacturer)Chassis: Eagle (4) (13)
Engine: Ford (2)
Circuit information
SurfaceAsphalt/Concrete
Length3.957 km (2.459 mi)
Turns10

The Molson Diamond Indy was an annual USAC Championship Car race. It was held in Bowmanville, Ontario, Canada. It was held from 1967 to 1968 and again from 1977 to 1978.

In 1967, the first ever Indy race held in Canada was the Telegram Trophy 200, held at Mosport Park in Bowmanville, Ontario as part of the USAC Championship Car season. The race was won by Bobby Unser for his first career Indy victory. Following Dan Gurney’s victory in 1968, a group led by John Bassett and Imperial Tobacco made the first proposal to run both the 1969 Telegram Trophy Indy race and the Formula One Canadian Grand Prix at a new street circuit along Lake Shore Boulevard and through Exhibition Place with the start/finish line and pits to be located inside Exhibition Stadium.[1][2][3] Bassett dropped the idea just as the bill was going through third reading before Toronto city council.[4]

Drivers view towards the start finish line and turn 1 at the Princes' Gates

After a nine-year absence, IndyCars returned to the Toronto area for the Molson Diamond Indy at Mosport Park won by A. J. Foyt in 1977 and Danny Ongais in 1978.

Past winners

[edit]
Season Date Driver Team Chassis Engine Race distance Race time Average speed
(mph)
Report
Laps Miles (km)
USAC National Championship Trail
1967 July 1 United States Bobby Unser Leader Cards Racing Eagle Ford 40 98.36 (158.295) 0:59:14 102.770 Report
6 14.754 (23.744)
1968 June 15 United States Dan Gurney Oscar Olson Eagle Weslake-Ford 40 98.36 (158.295) 0:56:45 105.727 Report
40 98.36 (158.295) 0:55:16 108.564
1969

1976
Not held
1977 July 3 United States A. J. Foyt A. J. Foyt Enterprises Coyote Foyt 75 184.425 (296.803 km) 2:03:35 90.733 Report
1978 June 11 United States Danny Ongais Interscope Racing Parnelli Cosworth 76 186.884 (300.761 km) 2:08:38 87.164 Report
1979 Not held
1980 Sept 14 Race cancelled following unification of USAC and CART schedules.
  • 1967: Run in two heats of 98 miles (158 kilometers/40 laps) each. Second race stopped after 6 laps due to rain.
  • 1968: Run in two heats of 98 miles (158 kilometers/40 laps) each.

[5][6]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Charters, David A. (2007). The Chequered Past: Sports Car Racing & Rallying in Canada, 1951-1991. University of Toronto Press. pp. 235–236. ISBN 978-0-8020-9394-3.
  2. ^ McDonald, Norris (June 10, 2017). "The Canadian Grand Prix has its own, unique story". The Toronto Star. Retrieved June 2, 2020.
  3. ^ Coates, Len, ed. (October 1968). GP & Tely race may be at C.N.E. (Magazine). Vol. 10. Toronto, Ontario: Cantrack Publishing Company Ltd. p. 52. {{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help)CS1 maint: date and year (link)
  4. ^ Brockington, Robert J. (2001). Aykroyd, Steve; Jones, Neal (eds.). Mosport 1961-2001: Four Decades of Racing. Mosport International Raceway. p. 39.
  5. ^ "Mosport Park". Champ Car Stats. Retrieved 9 December 2010.
  6. ^ "Mosport Park". Ultimate Racing History. Retrieved 9 December 2010.