Two-time Indianapolis 500 winner and 1976 Champ Car Champion Gordon Johncock died at his home in South Branch, Michigan on Monday (Sept. 28) from natural causes at the age of 90.
Johncock raced in 262 IndyCar events between 1964 and 1992, winning 25 between his first in 1965 and his last in 1983.
During his time in American open wheel, Johncock raced for teams like McLaren Racing, Team Penske and Patrick Racing.
Johncock is most notable for his two Indy 500 wins, both with Patrick, which were anything but similar.
His first came in 1973, a race postponed two days due to rain. When the event took place, it only lasted 133 laps before rain ended it for good.
Johncock’s second Indy 500 win was more memorable as he outdueled a young Rick Mears to the finish. Over the last 10 laps, Johncock battled an ill-handling car, while Mears picked up pace as his fuel burned down. The result was a duel over the final three laps that made the massive crowd erupt in enthusiasm in a never before seen racing thriller. On the final lap, Mears tried a last ditch effort pass, with Johncock holding him off in the closest finish in history, which stood for 10 years.
After retiring from full-time open wheel competition in 1984, Johncock turned to running only at Indianapolis, and sparingly, at the other superspeedways, first with Patrick and then forming a long lasting relationship with Hemelgarn Racing. In 1991 he placed a surprising sixth at Indy, while suffering from the flu race morning. His final start was the next year, finishing 29th.
Besides driving for Patrick, Johncock owned a team from 1967 to 1970, as well as ran 21 NASCAR Cup Series races between 1966 and 1976.
He was a pioneer of open wheel racing in America, earning induction into the International Motorsports Hall of Fame in 1999. Other honors included induction into the Michigan Motorsports Hall of Fame in 1985, Indianapolis Motor Speedway Hall of Fame in 1997, Motorsports Hall of Fame of America in 2002 and the United States Auto Club Hall of Fame in 2025.
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