IROC III - 1976

The International Race of Champions was an auto racing competition, featuring identically-prepared stock cars set up by a single team of mechanics, in an effort to make the race purely a test of driver ability. It was run with a small field of invited drivers (6-12) from all the major racing series including NASCAR, SCCA, FIA and USAC. Over the years CART and the IRL drivers, among others also participated.   IROC - (1974-2006) Main Page IROC - (1974-2006) Champions

IROC III - 1976

A. J. Foyt won his first IROC title without winning a race, as for the first time the series champion was determined by total points in the four events. Foyt finished third in Race 1, as he edged past Benny Parsons at the finish line. Bobby Allison and David Pearson had battled for the lead most of the race until Pearson made a pass in turn three on the final lap to take the win. In Race 2 Foyt charged from 10th on the grid to finish second behind Bobby Unser, who had missed the first race because of a broken kneecap. Emerson Fittipaldi moved from eighth to third but spun on the last lap and dropped to fourth behind Mario Andretti. In Race 3 Foyt won a furious battle with Andretti and Bobby Unser for third, as Bobby Allison comfortably led most of the race. Al Unser, in second place, moved up to Allison's bumper at the finish line with Foyt right alongside. Race 4 was a dramatic slingshot battle on the banked Daytona oval with 24 official lead changes at the finish line and at least another 30 changes at other parts of the track. Eight of the nine finalists swapped positions throughout the race. Parsons held on to win with Foyt finishing second. (from IROC Website)

Final Points
	IROC 3 Champion A.J. Foyt
Position	Driver/Residence/Sanction	Money Earned
1	A. J. Foyt/Houston, TX/USAC	$50,000
2	Mario Andretti/Nazareth, PA/SCCA	25,000
3	Benny Parsons/Ellerbe, NC/NASCAR	25,000
4	Bobby Allison/Hueytown, AL/NASCAR	23,000
5	David Pearson/Spartanburg, SC/NASCAR	21,000
6	Al Unser/Albuquerque, NM/USAC	15,000
7	Bobby Unser/Albuquerque, NM/USAC	16,000
8	Emerson Fittipaldi/Sao Paolo, Brazil/FIA	11,000
9	Brian Redman/Gargrave, England/SCCA	10,000
10	Richard Petty/Randleman, NC/NASCAR	5,000
11	James Hunt/London, England/FIA	5,000
12	Jody Scheckter/E. London, S. Africa/FIA	5,000

 

Race One

September 13, 1975

Michigan International Speedway

Brooklyn, Michigan

Two-mile high-banked oval, 50 laps, 100 miles

 

Finish	Start	Driver	Laps	Status
1	7	David Pearson	50	Running
2	11	Bobby Allison	50	Running
3	4	A. J. Foyt	50	Running
4	8	Benny Parsons	50	Running
5	5	Emerson Fittipaldi	50	Running
6	9	Richard Petty	50	Running
7	10	Brian Redman	50	Running
8	6	Al Unser	50	Running
9	21	Mario Andretti	50	Running
10	3	Jody Scheckter	50	Running
11	2	James Hunt	49	Running
12	DNS	Bobby Unser	0	Didn't start

 

Race Three

October 26, 1975

Riverside International Raceway

Riverside, California

2.54-mile road course, 30 laps, 76.2 miles

 

Finish	Start	Driver	Laps	Status
1	2	Bobby Allison	30	Running
2	4	Al Unser	30	Running
3	11	A. J. Foyt	30	Running
4	10	Mario Andretti	30	Running
5	12	Bobby Unser	30	Running
6	1	James Hunt	30	Running
7	5	Brian Redman	30	Running
8	3	David Pearson	30	Running
9	8	Benny Parsons	30	Running
10	6	Jody Scheckter	27	Flat tire
11	7	Richard Petty	23	Accident
12	9	Emerson Fittipaldi	18	Accident

 

Time of Race: 45 minutes, 54.124 seconds

Average Speed: 99.603 MPH

Margin of Victory: .534 second

Lead Changes: 1

 

Race Four

February 13, 1976

Daytona International Raceway

Daytona Beach, Florida

2.5-mile high-banked tri-oval, 40 laps, 100 miles

 

Finish	Start	Driver	Laps	Status
1	2	Benny Parsons	40	Running
2	7	A. J. Foyt	40	Running
3	6	Mario Andretti	40	Running
4	3	David Pearson	40	Running
5	8	Al Unser	40	Running
6	1	Emerson Fittipaldi	36	Engine
7	9	Bobby Allison	28	Oil leak
8	5	Bobby Unser	23	Engine
9	4	Brian Redman	1	Transmission

 

Time of Race: 35 minutes, .041 seconds

Average Speed: 168.146 MPH

Margin of Victory: One car

Lead Changes: 24