The 1979 open-wheel racing season was a pivotal year in American motorsports, defined by the ongoing split between USAC and CART (Championship Auto Racing Teams). USAC continued to sanction the Indianapolis 500, which was won by Rick Mears, while CART operated its own full championship schedule featuring many of the sport’s top teams and drivers. Rick Mears captured the 1979 CART National Championship driving for Team Penske, while Gordon Johncock secured the 1979 USAC National Championship through consistent performances across USAC-sanctioned events. The season featured standout competitors including Mario Andretti, Bobby Unser, Johnny Rutherford, Al Unser, and A.J. Foyt, and underscored the contrasting structures and priorities of the two sanctioning bodies. Despite the division, 1979 delivered highly competitive racing and marked a transitional moment that shaped the future of American open-wheel competition.
