1974 Indycar Phoenix Mile Pictures
 

Found some pictures from the Indycar/Midget Doubleheader in 1974 at the Phoenix Mile. Enjoy.

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-..._7791268_n.jpg

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-..._5221949_n.jpg

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-..._2236696_n.jpg

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-..._8205593_n.jpg

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-..._2329906_n.jpg

Re: 1974 Indycar Phoenix Mile Pictures
 

Is that Opperman or Unser in the second picture? Thanks for posting

Re: 1974 Indycar Phoenix Mile Pictures
 

Originally Posted by chadsniffsmethanol:
Is that Opperman or Unser in the second picture? Thanks for posting

I'm not sure who it is in the second photo. Anyone else have an idea? The top photo is Jimmy Caruthers though. I was also told that the guy in the white jacket standing next to Jimmy is 1970 AMA National Champion Gene Romero.

Re: 1974 Indycar Phoenix Mile Pictures
 

Looks like Unser to me! Bob

Re: 1974 Indycar Phoenix Mile Pictures
 

Originally Posted by chadsniffsmethanol:
Is that Opperman or Unser in the second picture? Thanks for posting

It's opperman in picture 2

1974 Desert Indycar Phoenix Mile Pictures....
 

Looks to me also,to be Gene"Burrito"Romero in White Jacket in Photo #1
____________
Brucer':32:

Re: 1974 Indycar Phoenix Mile Pictures
 

Look -closely- at the patches on the uniform.

Al Sr. (picture #5) has a Champion spark plug patch, under the Firestone patch on the left side of his chest.

The driver in picture #2 doesn't have that Champion patch, so unless Al changed uniforms that day (or the patch fell off) the driver in picture #2 and picture #5 is not the same man.

Al's uniform clearly says 'VICEROY' on the right side.

The driver's uniform in picture #2, is identicle to Al's (except for the Champion patch)

Al and Mario Andretti were teammates in 1974 in the Viceroy cars.

I'm thinking Opp was still an 'Outlaw' in 1974, and not running any USAC shows.

Re: 1974 Indycar Phoenix Mile Pictures
 

Opp ran his first Indy 500 and a couple other events in 1974 in a Parnelli Viceroy car. Here is a picture from the 1974 500, notice the suits are very similar, minus one patch above the firestone patch.

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y89...ay/cno1402.jpg

I also have a handful of pictures of Opp running sprint cars with what appears to be duct-tape across the front-top part of his helmet, also wearing a face mark guard that wraps around his helmet.

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y89...ay/Opp1975.jpg

Re: 1974 Indycar Phoenix Mile Pictures
 

Originally Posted by Need For Speed:
Look -closely- at the patches on the uniform.

Al Sr. (picture #5) has a Champion spark plug patch, under the Firestone patch on the left side of his chest.

The driver in picture #2 doesn't have that Champion patch, so unless Al changed uniforms that day (or the patch fell off) the driver in picture #2 and picture #5 is not the same man.

Al's uniform clearly says 'VICEROY' on the right side.

The driver's uniform in picture #2, is identacle to Al's (except for the Champion patch)

Al and Mario Andretti were teammates in 1974 in the Viceroy cars.

I'm thinking Opp was still an 'Outlaw' in 1974, and not running any USAC shows.

Is everyone sure that isn't Mario Andretti in picture #2? I found the results from that race and it shows Al Unser and Mario Andretti in the Viceroy cars. Andretti finished 3rd and Unser finished 5th. They don't show Opperman in the results at all. Not sure how credible the source is though,

http://www.webcitation.org/5gkL8Kd2t Click on Bobby Ball 150 to see the results.

Re: 1974 Indycar Phoenix Mile Pictures
 

Don't know why he is in there, but that IS Opperman in pic #2. Maybe he got a little practice in that day. Pheonix,...... could be he ran Manzy around that time too, maybe the Western World?

---------- Post added at 08:56 PM ---------- Previous post was at 08:54 PM ----------

In the background is what looks like a midget/sprint car. Maybe Opp was running in those.

Re: 1974 Indycar Phoenix Mile Pictures
 

At first I thought photo 2 was Bettenhausen, but decided against it. I believe Opperman is correct and that is a midget sitting behind him, not an IndyCar. I am, however, surprised at how steep the banking is and the "quality" of the guard rail.

---------- Post added at 12:49 PM ---------- Previous post was at 12:45 PM ----------

Wasn't there something in 1974 called the World Series of Auto Racing in which drivers raced midgets, sprints, silver crown, stock cars and IndyCars to decide the best overall driver? Seems I remember a photo in Speed Sport of cars on the track at Trenton with snow flying.
I also believe the World Series was the inspiration IROC.

Any old timers got a better memory than mine?

Re: 1974 Indycar Phoenix Mile Pictures
 

Could that be Greg Staub to AJ's right in the third photo?

Re: 1974 Indycar Phoenix Mile Pictures
 

Neither Al Unser nor Andretti raced with open faced helmets at this point in their careers. It must be Opp in Picture 2.

---------- Post added at 08:22 PM ---------- Previous post was at 08:20 PM ----------

Originally Posted by SPRINTCAR:
Could that be Greg Staub to AJ's right in the third photo?

or Steve Lotshaw to the left of Foyt in picture 3.

Re: 1974 Indycar Phoenix Mile Pictures
 

Regarding pic no. 2
When you're an Opperman fan, this pic is unmistakeable. The eyes, nose, and even the expression is all Opp!

Re: 1974 Indycar Phoenix Mile Pictures
 

Originally Posted by brian26:
Regarding pic no. 2
When you're an Opperman fan, this pic is unmistakeable. The eyes, nose, and even the expression is all Opp!

That's what I've been thinking, definitely Opp's nose haha

Re: 1974 Indycar Phoenix Mile Pictures
 

it was at Pocono

[/COLOR]Wasn't there something in 1974 called the World Series of Auto Racing in which drivers raced midgets, sprints, silver crown, stock cars and IndyCars to decide the best overall driver? Seems I remember a photo in Speed Sport of cars on the track at Trenton with snow flying.
I also believe the World Series was the inspiration IROC.

Any old timers got a better memory than mine?[/QUOTE]

---------- Post added at 9:39 PM ---------- Previous post was at 9:38 PM ----------

Looks Like Steve Lothshaw standing between Bob Higman and A.J.

Re: 1974 Indycar Phoenix Mile Pictures
 

In pic 2 thats Bob Higman in the Shannon shirt-to AJ's left is Jerry Weeks and in the black shirt over AJ's right is Ciecl Taylor long time helper of AJ's

Re: 1974 Indycar Phoenix Mile Pictures
 

:44:

Re: 1974 Indycar Phoenix Mile Pictures
 

Originally Posted by SPRINTCAR:
Could that be Greg Staub to AJ's right in the third photo?

as a resident of the park, you know greg never had any hair:3: