Two-time Indianapolis 500 winner Gordon Johncock dies at 90
Gordon Johncock, the legendary open-wheel driver who won the Indianapolis 500 twice and claimed the 1976 USAC National Championship, passed away peacefully at his home in South Branch, Michigan, on September 28, 2026. He was 90 years old. Born on August 5, 1936, in Hastings, Michigan, Johncock began driving at just five years old on his family’s farm behind the wheel of a John Deere tractor ...…
Gordon Johncock, a two-time Indianapolis 500 winner, has passed away at the age of 90. Born in Hastings, Michigan, Johncock started driving at just five years old on a John Deere tractor on his family farm. He went on to win the Indianapolis 500 in 1973 and 1982, with his first victory coming in a year marred by tragedy. In 1973, two drivers and a pit crew member lost their lives due to crashes, and Johncock's teammate Swede Savage tragically died from injuries sustained in a crash.
Johncock's second Indianapolis 500 win in 1982 was a triumph, as he defeated Rick Mears in one of the closest finishes in the race's history. Throughout his career, Johncock competed against racing legends such as A.J. Foyt, Mario Andretti, Al and Bobby Unser, Johnny Rutherford, Rick Mears, Tom Sneva, and Emerson Fittipaldi. He drove for owner U.E.
"Pat" Patrick and Patrick Racing, with George Bignotti as his Chief Mechanic in 1973 and George Huening in 1982.
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- Two-Time Indianapolis 500 Winner Gordon Johncock Passes Away At 90 sports.yahoo.com
