Retro: Sonoma's first IndyCar race

Images by Cliff Mills128 sharessharetweetemailBy: Sonoma Raceway | 13 hours ago
On this day 49 years ago, Sears Point Raceway hosted the USAC Golden Gate 150 Championship Road Race. The event marked the first major open-wheel race on the 12-turn road course, which opened its gates for its first full season of racing in 1969. The 150-mile, $50,000 event attracted an incredible field of racers, including Dan Gurney, Mario Andretti, A.J. Foyt, Bobby Unser, Mark Donahue, Johnny Rutherford, Gordon Johncock and Al Unser.

In addition to practice and qualifying on Friday, Saturday’s main event featured the 60-lap Golden Gate 150, as well as a stock car demonstration and motorcycle side car race.

Andretti claimed the pole for the race and led the first three laps, but Gurney took the lead on Lap 4 and never looked back before taking the checkered flag. Al Unser, Johncock and Rutherford rounded out the top-five finishers.
Gurney leads the pack at the Golden Gate 150.
Only eight of the 25 cars that started the race crossed the finish line. The bulk of the field was eliminated by mechanical issues.