Remembering Gordon Johncock: The unvarnished legend with a heavy right foot
If you had wandered into a quiet timber mill in northern Michigan over the last 30 years, you would have met an unassuming man in a faded red flannel shirt, smelling of fresh pine and far more eager to talk about forestry than his own place in history. Yet beneath Gordon Johncock’s gentle, soft-spoken nature was a two-time Indianapolis 500 champion who gave motorsport some of its most ... Keep…
Gordon Johncock, a two-time Indianapolis 500 champion, passed away on September 28, 2026, at the age of 90. Born in Hastings, Michigan, Johncock's journey to the racing world began on his family's farm, where he started working at just five years old. His love for driving translated into a successful career racing Midwest modifieds and super-modifieds in the late 1950s and early 60s.
Johncock's breakthrough at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway came in 1965 when he finished fifth in his rookie year. With no pit speed limit at Indianapolis, he had the opportunity to push his car to the limit, reaching speeds of up to 180 mph. Despite his two victories at the Brickyard in 1973 and 1982, Johncock's first win in 1973 came during a rain-marred race where his teammate suffered a fatal injury. In 1982, he clinched his second win by a mere 0.16 seconds, holding off Rick Mears over the final laps.
Johncock's career was marked by both triumph and tragedy. His 1977 Indianapolis 500 victory was overshadowed by a crankshaft break that forced him to retire from the race early. Despite this, his authentic approach to racing and his humility endeared him to fans and fellow competitors alike. Johncock resisted the corporate polish of modern racing, preferring to remain true to himself.
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