Saturday 18th March 1978

Gordon Johncock won the USAC Championship ‘Jimmy Bryan 150′ at Phoenix International Raceway. Johncock and Danny Ongais dueled for the win until the clutch began slipping on Ongais’ Interscope Parnelli/Cosworth. Pat Patrick’s Wildcat/DGS entries finished 1-2 with Steve Krisiloff a career best second. Ongais won the pole with a 24.76 lap (145.396 mph). In the preliminary Mini Indy (Super Vee) race, future NASCAR star Tim Richmond won in his first start in the class.