| Race details | |
|---|---|
| Race 12 of 18 in the 1970 USAC Championship Car season | |
 | |
| Date | September 6, 1970 |
| Official name | 1970 California 500 |
| Location | Ontario Motor Speedway, Ontario, California, United States |
| Course | Permanent racing facility 2.500 mi / 4.023 km |
| Distance | 200 laps 500.000 mi / 804.672 km |
| Pole position | |
| Driver |  Lloyd Ruby (Gene White) |
| Time | 177.567 mph (285.766 km/h) |
| Podium | |
| First | Jim McElreath (A. J. Foyt Racing) |
| Second | Art Pollard (Hayhoe Racing Enterprises) |
| Third | Dick Simon (Racing International) |
The 1970 California 500, the inaugural running of the event, was held at the Ontario Motor Speedway in Ontario, California, on Sunday, September 6, 1970. The event was race number 12 of 18 in the 1970 USAC Championship Car season. The race was won by Jim McElreath, his final Indy Car victory. The race commenced an 11-year history of the California 500 being a part of IndyCar racing's Triple Crown.