The IndyCar community is mourning the loss of Gordon Johncock, a legendary driver who has died at the age of 90. IndyCar announced the news on its official channels, paying tribute to a driver whose ‘hard-charging, no-nonsense style of racing’ produced two Indianapolis 500 wins, 25 career wins and a championship.
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“INDYCAR is deeply saddened to learn of Gordon Johncock’s passing. The 1976 series champion was known for his hard-charging, no-nonsense style that led him to two Indy 500 victories and 25 wins. ‘Gordy’ was 90,” IndyCar shared on X.
Having made his debut in 1965, Johncock drove a front-engined roadster and came in P5 as a rookie. The result came during one of the strongest rookie classes in the event’s history, establishing him as a serious competitor on the biggest stage in American open-wheel racing.
Johncock’s career was defined by his success at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, where he won the Indianapolis 500 twice with Patrick Racing. After his first Indy 500 win in 1973, he returned nearly a decade later and claimed another memorable win in 1982, when Johncock held off Rick Mears in the closing laps. It was one of the most dramatic finishes in IndyCar history back then.
His 1982 Indy 500 win stands out because of the final-stage battle. Mears made a final-lap attempt to get past Johncock in Turn 1. However, Johncock successfully covered the move before pulling away to take the checkered flag. Mears, who had already won the Indy 500 in 1979, had to settle for P2.
Johncock’s success goes well beyond his two Indy 500 victories. He won the 1976 USAC National Championship and finished his IndyCar career with 25 victories and 20 poles. He made 262 career starts across 25 seasons.
He went on to become one of the regular contenders at Indianapolis, recording 24 starts in the 500, finishing on the podium several times in addition to his two victories. He came P3 in 1976 and 1978, and he also came close to adding another victory in 1977, when he was leading with 16 laps remaining, before a crankshaft failure put a premature end to his race.
The Michigan native also spent part of his career as an owner-driver. After a winless 1966 season, Johncock started his own team, Johncock Racing, with Gilmore Broadcasting becoming a primary sponsor. He joined A.J. Foyt as one of the sport’s only owner-drivers at the time. During the three-year period when Johncock Racing was active, the team recorded six victories. However, his team shut down operations in 1973, after losing its primary sponsor in 1970.
Besides open-wheel racing, Johncock also made 21 starts in the NASCAR Cup Series, including three Daytona 500 appearances. He recorded three top-five finishes in NASCAR and secured a pole at Atlanta Motor Speedway during the 1973 season.
While his first retirement in 1985 was short-lived, the 1992 Indy 500 was Johncock’s final race, which ended in a DNF due to an engine failure. He eventually stepped away from racing and focused on his timber business in South Branch, Michigan. Since his retirement, he has maintained a relatively quiet life and largely stayed away from the spotlight, with a few exceptions, of course.
His competitive career earned him recognition from multiple halls of fame. Johncock was inducted into the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Hall of Fame in 1997 and the International Motorsports Hall of Fame in 1999.
Gordon Johncock leaves behind his wife, Sue, three daughters, two sons, two stepdaughters, 12 grandchildren, 17 great-grandchildren, and one great-great-grandchild.