Gordon Johncock, a two-time Indianapolis 500 champion and 1976 INDYCAR SERIES national champion who drove his Patrick Racing car to victory in one of the closest finishes in race history, died Sept. 28 of natural causes at his home in South Branch, Michigan, at age 90.
The 1982 Indianapolis 500 Duel With Rick Mears
Johncock secured his second Indianapolis 500 victory in 1982 following a high-speed duel with Rick Mears in the closing laps. Television broadcaster Jim McKay stated that he had “never seen anything like it,” as Johncock defended his position through Turn 1 and outran Mears to the checkered flag. Their margin of victory was .16 of a second, which remains the seventh-closest finish in the history of the event.
Despite the win, Johncock acknowledged nearly losing control on the final lap. He told The Indianapolis Star in 2016 that he hit an unfamiliar bump low in Turn 3 that pushed his car up the track and allowed Mears to close the gap. “I pretty near lost it,” Johncock said in the 2016 interview. Mears finished second, later noting that if he could not win the race himself, seeing Johncock take the victory felt right.
Early Career and 1973 Victory
Born Aug. 5, 1936, in Hastings, Michigan, Johncock began his INDYCAR career in 1964 after competing in sprint car racing. He finished fifth as a rookie in the 1965 Indianapolis 500 driving a roadster. Nine races later, he claimed his first series victory at the Milwaukee Mile, alongside the first of his 20 career poles. In 1967, he established his own team, becoming an owner-driver alongside A.J. Foyt and winning six races over a three-year span.
His 1973 Indianapolis 500 victory occurred during a race marked by poor weather and tragedy. After rain postponed the event for two days, Johncock led 64 laps before rain ended the race on Lap 133. Teammate Swede Savage and crew member Armando Teran were involved in separate horrifying accidents during the event. With the Victory Banquet canceled, Johncock and his Patrick team celebrated with hamburgers at a local Burger Chef after visiting Savage in the hospital.
Statistics and Later INDYCAR Career
Over a 25-season INDYCAR career spanning 262 starts, Johncock finished third in the Indianapolis 500 in 1976 and 1978, and fourth in 1966 and 1974. In 1977, he led 129 laps and held the lead with 16 laps remaining before a crankshaft failure forced him out, allowing Foyt to take the win. Johncock retired initially during practice in 1985, serving on the IMS Radio Network for that year’s race, before returning in 1987 to replace the injured Jim Crawford and finish 22nd. His final Indianapolis 500 appearance came in 1992, when engine failure forced him out on Lap 60.
Johncock made 24 starts in the Indianapolis 500, tying him with Johnny Rutherford and Scott Dixon for fifth all-time. He led 339 laps in the event, ranking 15th overall. In addition to his open-wheel success, Johncock competed in 21 NASCAR top-division races, qualifying fifth in the 1973 Daytona 500 and finishing fourth in that year’s Firecracker 400.
Life After Racing in Michigan
Following his second retirement from racing, Johncock focused on his timber business in South Branch, Michigan, located 200 miles north of Detroit. He maintained a quiet lifestyle where some employees were unaware of his racing career. Most of his collectibles were kept in the basement, while his living room held only a stuffed deer head, the checkered flag from the race, artwork commemorating the 1982 win, and his two winner’s plaques. He entered the International Motorsports Hall of Fame in 1999 and the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Hall of Fame in 1997.
Frequently Asked Questions About Gordon Johncock
How many Indianapolis 500 races did Gordon Johncock win?
Gordon Johncock won two Indianapolis 500 races, taking victories in 1973 and 1982, both times driving for Patrick Racing.
What was the margin of victory in the 1982 Indianapolis 500?
Johncock defeated Rick Mears by .16 of a second in 1982, which remains the seventh-closest finish in Indianapolis 500 history.
How many career starts did Johncock make in INDYCAR?
Johncock made 262 starts across 25 seasons in the INDYCAR SERIES, winning 25 races and the 1976 national championship.
When was Gordon Johncock inducted into the Hall of Fame?
His inductions occurred in 1997 for the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Hall of Fame and in 1999 for the International Motorsports Hall of Fame.