Originally Posted by davidm:
Mario Andretti won a 30 lap USAC Sprint Car feature on the 1/2 mile dirt Cumberland Speedway in July of 1966. I've read (On the Internet) this was the first race USAC required cages on the sprints. I've also been told that USAC didn't require then until 1970.
USAC made roll cages mandatory for sprint cars and midgets starting with the 1971 season although by the end of 1970 most of the cars were running them. Ralph Ligouri won without a cage at Williams Grove in October of 1970 which was the last USAC sprint car race won without a cage. USAC didn't require cages on Championship Dirt Cars (later Silver Crown) until 1972.
At the time Mario Andretti was one of the most vocal critics against adding cages to the sprints and midgets. He claimed racing would become so safe that just about anyone would be able to do it.
Originally Posted by 2140rc:
USAC made roll cages mandatory for sprint cars and midgets starting with the 1971 season although by the end of 1970 most of the cars were running them. Ralph Ligouri won without a cage at Williams Grove in October of 1970 which was the last USAC sprint car race won without a cage. USAC didn't require cages on Championship Dirt Cars (later Silver Crown) until 1972.
At the time Mario Andretti was one of the most vocal critics against adding cages to the sprints and midgets. He claimed racing would become so safe that just about anyone would be able to do it.
Gary B was another that ran without the cage till rules mandated him to have a cage, He said the cages didn"t let the car flex, He was also vocal bout with cages made the cars to safe ,
