| Race details | |
|---|---|
| Race 1 of 14 in the 1979 IndyCar season | |
 Map of the Track | |
| Date | March 11, 1979 |
| Official name | Arizona Republic / Jimmy Bryan 150 |
| Location | Phoenix International Raceway Avondale, Arizona, United States |
| Course | Tri-Oval 1.000 mi / 1.610 km |
| Distance | 150 laps 150.000 mi / 241.500 km |
| Weather | Temperatures reaching up to 80.1 °F (26.7 °C); wind speeds reaching up to 12.7 miles per hour (20.4 km/h)[1] |
| Pole position | |
| Driver | Bobby Unser (Roger Penske) |
| Time | 24.714 |
| Podium | |
| First | Gordon Johncock (Pat Patrick) |
| Second | Rick Mears (Roger Penske) |
| Third | Johnny Rutherford (Bruce McLaren) |
The 1979 Arizona Republic / Jimmy Bryan 150 was the first round of the 1979 IndyCar season, held on March 11, at Phoenix International Raceway, Avondale, Arizona. It marked the debut of the new Championship Automobile Racing Teams, or CART, era of IndyCar racing.
- ^ Weather information for the 1979 Arizona Republic / Jimmy Bryan 150 at The Old Farmers' Almanac