{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}} {{American Championship Car race report infobox |Country = USA |Race = Pocono 500 |Image = Pocono Raceway.svg |Caption = |Date = June 30 |Year = 1974 |Series = USAC Championship Car |Official name = 1974 Schaefer 500 |Round_No = 8th |Location = Long Pond, Pennsylvania |Course = Permanent racing facility |Course_mi = 2.5 |Course_km = 4.023 |Distance_laps = 200 |Distance_mi = 500 |Distance_km = 804.672 |Weather = Temperatures up to {{convert|77|F|C}}; wind speeds up to {{convert|17|mph|km/h}}<ref>{{cite web|title=1974 Pocono 500 weather information|url=https://www.wunderground.com/history/daily/us/pa/avoca/KAVP/date/1974-6-30|publisher=Wunderground|accessdate=April 25, 2023}}</ref> |Pole_Driver = Bobby Unser |Pole_Team = All American Racers |Pole_Time = 182.5 mph |Pole_Country = USA |Fast_Driver = |Fast_Team = |Fast_Time = |Fast_Lap = |Fast_Country = |First_Driver = Johnny Rutherford |First_Team = McLaren |First_Country = USA |Second_Driver = Jimmy Caruthers |Second_Team = Fletcher Racing |Second_Country = USA |Third_Driver = Gordon Johncock |Third_Team = Patrick Racing |Third_Country = USA }} The '''1974 Pocono 500''', the 4th running of the event, was held at the Pocono Raceway in Long Pond, Pennsylvania, on Sunday, June 30, 1974. Branded as the '''1974 Schaefer 500''' for sponsorship reasons, the race was won by Johnny Rutherford, who one month earlier won the 1974 Indianapolis 500.
==Background== 1974 was the first year that the California 500 was held in March, making the Pocono 500 the final leg in IndyCar's Triple Crown of 500 mile races. Scoring the most points in the three races carried a $1000 prize and a ring presented at an awards ceremony.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-pocono-record-1972-pocono-500-triple/161670447/ |work=Pocono Record |location=Pennsylvania |agency=Associated Press |title=Schaefer 500 Rounds Out Unique Racing Triple Crown |date=July 29, 1972 |page=10A}}</ref>
By 1974, several drivers criticized USAC over their lack of promotion for the Triple Crown.<ref name="auto">{{cite news |last1=Fleischman |first1=Bill |title=USAC Triple Crown Needs Polish |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/philadelphia-daily-news-1974-usac-triple/161670593/ |access-date=3 August 2021 |work=Philadelphia Daily News |date=June 25, 1974}}</ref> Shortly after Secretariat won the similar prize in horse racing, it was lamented that auto racing's Triple Crown was not similarly embraced. After Pocono's General Manager, Bill Marvel, left his position, promotion of the Crown was reduced and USAC neglected to even mention Roger McCluskey won the 1973 Crown in their media guide.
"The Triple Crown was one man's dream," Mario Andretti said in June 1974.<ref name="auto"/> "Since Bill Marvel isn't connected here anymore, the whole thing died. It has some definite meaning, but it has to be talked about."
"It is a good publicity thing," Mark Donohue said,<ref name="auto"/> "but it has to be promoted. Right now everybody is just trying to win the race at hand." In June 1974, Philadelphia Daily News writer Bill Fleischman wrote,<ref name="auto"/> "A few years ago, Joe Leonard was honored at a dinner in Philadelphia as the first Triple Crown Winner. Leonard said he hoped his sport's Triple Crown would soon be as prestigious as horse racing's established salute. It hasn't happened. And it won't until auto racing cares enough to promote what could be an exciting attention getter."
Bobby Unser won the California 500 in March. Johnny Rutherford won the Indianapolis 500. Two weeks later, Rutherford won again at the Milwaukee Mile.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.racing-reference.info/season-stats/1974/UO/ |title = 1974 USAC Results and Schedule - Racing-Reference}}</ref>
Peter Revson, polesitter for the 1973 Schaefer 500, was killed in a testing crash ahead of the 1974 South African Grand Prix in late March.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=yEMsAAAAIBAJ&sjid=u8wEAAAAIBAJ&pg=5662%2C4121172 |work=Herald Journal |location=South Carolina |agency=Associated Press |title=Fiery Crash Kills Revson |date=March 23, 1974 |page=A6}}</ref>
==Practice== Practice started Wednesday. Gordon Johncock was fastest at 181.847 mph, Johnny Rutherford was second at 181.781 mph.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://ibb.co/h2BXvKZ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230509115924/https://ibb.co/h2BXvKZ |url-status=usurped |archive-date=May 9, 2023 |work=Philadelphia Daily News |location=Pennsylvania |agency=Associated Press |title=Pit Stops - Practice Speeds |date=June 20, 1974 |page=48}}</ref>
Thursday's practice was delayed three hours due to an overnight rain. Mario Andretti posted the fasted speed at 183.036 mph. AJ Foyt was second fastest at 182.897 mph. Billy Vukovich was the first driver to hit the wall when he spun in turn three. He strained his knee but returned to practice hours later in a backup car.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://ibb.co/QJ0Nh4H |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230509120956/https://ibb.co/QJ0Nh4H |url-status=usurped |archive-date=May 9, 2023 |work=Morning Call |location=Pennsylvania |agency=Associated Press |title=Pancho Carter's Problem is Fuel |date=June 21, 1974 |page=39}}</ref>
Friday's practice began at 9 a.m. Dick Simon, Larry McCoy, and Sammy Sessions were the first three cars on track. Shortly after Simon posted a speed of 173.021 mph, it began to thunder and heavy rain fell.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://ibb.co/7kbqkpq |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230509115216/https://ibb.co/7kbqkpq |url-status=usurped |archive-date=May 9, 2023 |work=Philadelphia Inquirer |location=Pennsylvania |agency=Associated Press |title=Drivers Rip Foolproof 500 System |date=June 22, 1974 |page=4C}}</ref> The rain stopped at 11:30 and sun began to shine. Then a second storm came from the southwest and canceled practice for the day.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://ibb.co/wYbpNn0 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230509115218/https://ibb.co/wYbpNn0 |url-status=usurped |archive-date=May 9, 2023 |work=Pocono Record |location=Pennsylvania |agency=Associated Press |title=Rain Halts Schaefer Practice, Time Trials Start Today |date=June 22, 1974 |page=15}}</ref>
==Time Trials== Qualifying runs were a four-lap, ten-mile average speed. Bobby Unser won the pole at an average speed of 182.500 mph. Steve Krisiloff qualified second at 182.269 mph. Wally Dallenbach joined the front row at 182.020 mph. 28 cars posted qualifying speeds on day one. Rick Muther hit the wall in practice and the car was withdrawn.<ref name=bdstm>{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/121418495/the-morning-call/ |work=Morning Call |location=Pennsylvania |agency=Associated Press |title=Schaefer Qualifying Resumes Today |date=June 27, 1974 |page=48}}</ref>
A. J. Foyt had won the pole at the California 500 and Indianapolis 500, and looked to be a favorite to repeat at Pocono.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=pz8sAAAAIBAJ&sjid=QcwEAAAAIBAJ&pg=3821%2C4679305 |work=Herald Journal |location=South Carolina |agency=Associated Press |title=Foyt Heads Group for Schaefer Pole |date=June 22, 1974 |page=B2}}</ref> No one had ever won the pole at all three 500 miles races in one year. On his first qualifying lap, Foyt's average speed was a blistering 185.759 mph. On his second lap, Foyt burned a piston, significantly slowed, and was waved back into the pits by his crew. His crew installed a new engine and Foyt went out for practice during a break in qualifying. Foyt hit a patch of oil on the track and spun in turn two which resulted in a broken universal joint, causing more repair time. With six minutes left in the qualifying session, the car driven by Tom Bigelow went out to attempt a qualifying run. After taking several warmup laps, the qualifying run started. After three slow laps, Bigelow's crew waived off the attempt, wasting several minutes. This aborted qualifying attempt angered Foyt greatly.
"That's really chicken shit. That's low life to go out there and use up that time, waste all those practice laps and then wave off after three qualifying laps. That's really chicken shit."<ref name="auto2">{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/62982574/daily-news/ |work=Daily News |location=New York |agency=Associated Press |title=Foyt Blows His Engine, Then Top, Loses Pole |date=June 24, 1974 |page=132}}</ref>
Pancho Carter was the last car to go on track as the qualifying session ended at 6 p.m. Foyt was the next car in line.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/35099551/the-philadelphia-inquirer/ |work=Philadelphia Inquirer |location=Pennsylvania |agency=Associated Press |title=Foyt, Rutherford Will Watch Each Other at Pocono |date=June 30, 1974 |page=50}}</ref> "What does this mean? It means I'm going to have to start behind a bunch of idiots."<ref name="auto2"/>
Sunday's second round of qualifying was completely rained out. The final day of qualifying was rescheduled for Thursday. A.J. Foyt qualified for the race at an average speed of 181.415 mph. Because his run came on the final day of time trials, Foyt started the race 29th. Larry Cannon and Johnny Parsons Jr failed to qualify for the race.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/4362683/progress-bulletin/ |work=Progress Bulletin |location=California |agency=Associated Press |title=Foyt Settles for 29th Spot at Pocomo Race |date=June 28, 1974 |page=33}}</ref>
In 1973, USAC allowed 340 gallons of methanol fuel per car. For 1974, USAC rules allowed for only 280 gallons of fuel. Because of Pocono's long frontstretch, teams said their engines were running less efficiently than at Indianapolis. Teams estimated their car were getting 1.9 miles per gallon of fuel. Cars were forced to run less turbo boost pressure than allowed in order to improve the fuel economy to be able to make all 500 miles.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/35099551/the-philadelphia-inquirer/ |work=Philadelphia Inquirer |location=Pennsylvania |agency=Associated Press |title=Pocono Expects First 100,000 Crowd |date=June 30, 1974 |page=50}}</ref>
==Race== At the start of the race, third place starter, Wally Dallenbach, took the lead ahead of Bobby Unser. Unser repassed Dallenbach on lap four. Still looking for his first win at his home track, Mario Andretti took the lead on lap 10.<ref name="auto3">{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/35099686/the-philadelphia-inquirer/ |work=Philadelphia Inquirer |location=Pennsylvania |agency=Associated Press |title=Rutherford Rallies to Win at Pocono |date=July 1, 1974 |page=20}}</ref>
By the time of his first pit stop, Johnny Rutherford was fighting a poor handling car and spent over a minute in the pits while his crew made adjustments. This put him over a lap behind Andretti.<ref name="auto3"/>
After climbing from 29th to 12th in 20 laps, defending Pocono 500 champion, AJ Foyt, brushed the wall in turn two and fell out of the race with a damaged suspension. On lap 25, third-place Al Unser ran out of fuel and a caution was thrown to tow him back to the pits.<ref name="auto4">{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=n-hWAAAAIBAJ&sjid=OUMNAAAAIBAJ&pg=5603%2C243283 |work=Reading Eagle |location=Pennsylvania |agency=Associated Press |title=Johnny Went Extra Lap |date=July 1, 1974 |page=22}}</ref>
Andretti led 57 laps before a slow pit stop on lap 72 caused by a stalled engine cost him a lap. Leading the race on lap 78, Gordon Johncock ran out of fuel and brought out another caution to be towed in.
On lap 121, John Martin stalled on track and brought out a caution. Rutherford had yet to pit and was able to catch up to the leaders under caution.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=zHosAAAAIBAJ&sjid=TcwEAAAAIBAJ&pg=3173%2C74529 |work=Herald Journal |location=South Carolina |agency=Associated Press |title=Rutherford Likes Winning Habit |date=July 1, 1974 |page=B1}}</ref>
On lap 133, Bill Simpson blew an engine entering turn one and dropped oil on track. Following him was Mario Andretti, who spun in the oil, and hit the wall with the rear of the car.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=EycxAAAAIBAJ&sjid=JwIEAAAAIBAJ&pg=7223%2C4726401 |work=Toledo Blade |location=Ohio |agency=Associated Press |title=Protest Unneeded as Rutherford Wins |date=July 1, 1974 |page=28}}</ref><ref name="auto4"/>
On lap 155, Johnny Rutherford passed Bobby Unser to lead for the first time. One lap later, rookie Tom Sneva hit the turn one wall and brought out the sixth and final caution. Unser retook the lead when Rutherford pitted under caution. Unser had led a race high 74 laps, but was forced to run a low powered fuel setting to make the finish on the USAC limit of 280 gallons. Unser finished fifth, three laps behind the race winner.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/35099814/the-philadelphia-inquirer/ |work=Philadelphia Inquirer |location=Pennsylvania |agency=Associated Press |title=Team McLaren Fuel Conservation Strategy Pays Again |date=July 1, 1974 |page=20}}</ref>
Shortly after the restart, Wally Dallenbach passed Unser for the lead and appeared in control of the race. With 13 laps remaining, Dallenbach fell out of the race with a blown engine and handed the lead to Rutherford.<ref name="auto1">{{cite web |url=https://www.racing-reference.info/race-results/1974_Schaefer_500/UO/ |title = Race Results - Racing-Reference}}</ref>
Johnny Rutherford beat Jimmy Caruthers by over a lap to win his first Pocono 500. Caruthers' second-place finish tied his best career finish. Rutherford won $92,700 in prize money. The average speed of the race was 156.701 mph, a race record that stood until 1989. Rutherford became the first driver to win Indianapolis and Pocono in the same year.<ref name="auto1"/>
By finishing fifth, Bobby Unser scored enough points to win the USAC Triple Crown points title.<ref name="auto4"/>
==Box score== {|class="wikitable" !Finish !Grid !{{Tooltip|No|Car number}} !Name !Entrant !Chassis !Engine !Laps !Time/Status !{{Tooltip|Led|Laps led}} !Points |- ! 1 | 5 | 3 | {{flagicon|USA}} Johnny Rutherford | Team McLaren | McLaren M16C/D | Offenhauser | 200 | 3:11:26.810 | 18 | 1000 |- ! 2 | 10 | 21 | {{flagicon|USA}} Jimmy Caruthers | Fletcher Racing Team | Eagle | Offenhauser | 199 | Flagged | 0 | 800 |- ! 3 | 4 | 20 | {{flagicon|USA}} Gordon Johncock | Patrick Racing | Eagle 74 | Offenhauser | 199 | Flagged | 7 | 700 |- ! 4 | 2 | 60 | {{flagicon|USA}} Steve Krisiloff | Patrick Racing | Eagle | Offenhauser | 198 | Flagged | 4 | 600 |- ! 5 | 1 | 48 | {{flagicon|USA}} Bobby Unser | All American Racers | Eagle 74 | Offenhauser | 197 | Flagged | 74 | 500 |- ! 6 | 12 | 9 | {{flagicon|USA}} Lloyd Ruby | Unlimited Racing | Eagle | Offenhauser | 197 | Flagged | 0 | 400 |- ! 7 | 15 | 42 | {{flagicon|USA}} Bentley Warren | Lindsey Hopkins Racing | Eagle | Offenhauser | 196 | Flagged | 0 | 300 |- ! 8 | 19 | 4 | {{flagicon|USA}} Bill Vukovich II | Jerry O'Connell Racing | Eagle | Offenhauser | 194 | Flagged | 0 | 250 |- ! 9 | 33 | 58 | {{flagicon|CAN}} Eldon Rasmussen | Rasmussen Racing | Rascar | Foyt | 192 | Flagged | 0 | 200 |- ! 10 | 3 | 40 | {{flagicon|USA}} Wally Dallenbach | Patrick Racing | Eagle | Offenhauser | 188 | Engine | 40 | 150 |- ! 11 | 17 | 86 | {{flagicon|USA}} Al Loquasto | K&L Racing | McLaren M16B | Offenhauser | 179 | Flagged | 0 | 100 |- ! 12 | 27 | 63 | {{flagicon|USA}} Larry McCoy | Eastern Racing Associates | Rascar | Offenhauser | 174 | Flagged | 0 | 50 |- ! 13 | 7 | 24 | {{flagicon|USA}} Tom Sneva | Grant King Racers | King | Offenhauser | 155 | Crash | 0 | 0 |- ! 14 | 28 | 61 | {{flagicon|USA}} Lee Brayton | Eisenhour-Brayton Racing | Coyote | Foyt | 151 | Flagged | 0 | 0 |- ! 15 | 22 | 11 | {{flagicon|USA}} Pancho Carter | Fletcher Racing Team | Eagle | Offenhauser | 146 | Connecting rod | 0 | 0 |- ! 16 | 21 | 89 | {{flagicon|USA}} John Martin | Automotive Technology | McLaren M16B | Offenhauser | 138 | Flagged | 0 | 0 |- ! 17 | 8 | 5 | {{flagicon|USA}} Mario Andretti | Vel's Parnelli Jones Racing | Eagle | Offenhauser | 132 | Crash | 57 | 0 |- ! 18 | 16 | 18 | {{flagicon|USA}} Bill Simpson | American Kids Racers | Eagle | Offenhauser | 131 | Connecting rod | 0 | 0 |- ! 19 | 32 | 27 | {{flagicon|USA}} Tom Bigelow | Vollstedt Enterprises | Vollstedt | Offenhauser | 108 | Engine | 0 | 0 |- ! 20 | 26 | 77 | {{flagicon|USA}} Salt Walther | Dayton-Walther | McLaren M16C | Offenhauser | 79 | Transmission | 0 | 0 |- ! 21 | 9 | 98 | {{flagicon|USA}} Mike Mosley | Leader Card Racers | Eagle | Offenhauser | 70 | Turbocharger | 0 | 0 |- ! 22 | 6 | 15 | {{flagicon|USA}} Al Unser | Vel's Parnelli Jones Racing | Eagle | Offenhauser | 64 | Connecting rod | 0 | 0 |- ! 23 | 23 | 45 | {{flagicon|USA}} Jim McElreath | Don Gerhardt | Eagle | Offenhauser | 46 | Turbocharger | 0 | 0 |- ! 24 | 18 | 56 | {{flagicon|USA}} Jim Hurtubise | Gohr Racing | McLaren | Offenhauser | 31 | Ignition | 0 | 0 |- ! 25 | 31 | 82 | {{flagicon|USA}} George Snider | A. J. Foyt Enterprises | Coyote | Foyt | 25 | Radiator | 0 | 0 |- ! 26 | 25 | 26 | {{flagicon|USA}} Bob Harkey | Grant King Racers | King | Offenhauser | 21 | Overheating | 0 | 0 |- ! 27 | 29 | 14 | {{flagicon|USA}} A. J. Foyt | A. J. Foyt Enterprises | Coyote | Foyt | 20 | Upright | 0 | 0 |- ! 28 | 30 | 1 | {{flagicon|USA}} Roger McCluskey | Lindsey Hopkins Racing | Riley | Offenhauser | 18 | Overheating | 0 | 0 |- ! 29 | 13 | 44 | {{flagicon|USA}} Dick Simon | Dick Simon Racing | Eagle | Foyt | 18 | Manifold | 0 | 0 |- ! 30 | 20 | 30 | {{flagicon|USA}} Sammy Sessions | Smokey Yunick | Eagle | Chevrolet | 15 | Turbocharger | 0 | 0 |- ! 31 | 11 | 8 | {{flagicon|USA}} Gary Bettenhausen | Penske Racing | McLaren M16C | Offenhauser | 9 | Piston | 0 | 0 |- ! 32 | 24 | 76 | {{flagicon|USA}} Jerry Karl | Webster Racing | Eagle | Offenhauser | 4 | Connecting rod | 0 | 0 |- ! 33 | 14 | 51 | {{flagicon|USA}} Jan Opperman | Vel's Parnelli Jones Racing | Parnelli | Offenhauser | 4 | Overheating | 0 | 0 |- ! colspan=11| Source:<ref>[https://www.racing-reference.info/race-results/1974_Schaefer_500/UO/ 1974 Schaefer 500]</ref><ref>[https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/database/races/1974-pocono-500/ 1974 Pocono 500 - Round 8]</ref> |}
==Broadcasting==
For the second straight year, the Schaefer 500 was broadcast by ABC Wide World of Sports on July 6. Keith Jackson and Chris Economaki served as broadcasters. ABC paired the race telecast with Cliff Diving Championships from Acapulco.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://ibb.co/vDysdFs |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230512055213/https://ibb.co/vDysdFs |url-status=usurped |archive-date=May 12, 2023 |work=Dayton Daily News |location=Ohio |agency=Associated Press |title=TV Listings |date=July 6, 1974 |page=26}}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist|2}}
Category:Pocono 500 Pocono 500 Schaefer