# Who is the best IndyCar driver of the 1970s?

> Rear-engined roadsters, early turbo boost and a series still run by USAC: this decade crowned some champions twice and left others one Indy win short of legend.

*By YPB Team · Published October 31, 2026 · https://youpick.best/ranking/who-is-the-best-indycar-driver-of-the-1970s*

---

## Current results (no votes yet)

1. **A.J. Foyt** — score 1000/1000
   Texan legend who won the 1975 and 1979 USAC titles and became the first four-time Indianapolis 500 winner in 1977.
2. **Rick Mears** — score 679/1000
   Young Penske star who won the 1979 Indianapolis 500 and the inaugural CART championship that year.
3. **Al Unser** — score 555/1000
   Won back-to-back Indianapolis 500s in 1970 and 1971, the 1970 USAC title and a third Indy win in 1978.
4. **Johnny Rutherford** — score 555/1000
   McLaren driver who won the Indianapolis 500 in 1974 and again in 1976.
5. **Bobby Unser** — score 0/1000
   Dominant Eagle driver who took the 1974 USAC championship and won the 1975 Indianapolis 500.
6. **Tom Sneva** — score 0/1000
   Penske driver who won back-to-back USAC titles in 1977 and 1978 and broke the 200 mph barrier at Indianapolis.
7. **Mark Donohue** — score 0/1000
   Engineer-driver who gave Roger Penske his first Indianapolis 500 win in 1972.
8. **Mario Andretti** — score 0/1000
   Former USAC champion who kept winning Indy car races through the decade while chasing Formula One glory.
9. **Danny Ongais** — score 0/1000
   Fearless Hawaiian who won five races for Interscope in 1978, the most of any driver that season.

Tags: usa, 70s, racing, drivers, motorsport, indycar