Jump to content

Johnnie Parsons

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Isaac.rs200 (talk | contribs) at 17:28, 14 November 2016 (References). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

Johnnie Parsons
Born(1918-07-04)July 4, 1918
DiedSeptember 8, 1984(1984-09-08) (aged 66)
Formula One World Championship career
NationalityUnited States American
Active years1950 - 1958
TeamsKurtis Kraft, Kuzma
Entries9
Championships0
Wins1
Podiums1
Career points12
Pole positions0
Fastest laps1
First entry1950 Indianapolis 500
First win1950 Indianapolis 500
Last win1950 Indianapolis 500
Last entry1958 Indianapolis 500

Johnnie Woodrow Parsons [1] (July 4, 1918 – September 8, 1984) was an American race car driver from Los Angeles, California who won the Indianapolis 500 in 1950.

Parsons had the dubious distinction of being the only Indianapolis 500 winner to have his name misspelled on the Borg-Warner Trophy. Silversmiths carved "Johnny" instead of "Johnnie." He had a son named Johnny who competed at Indy a dozen times.

Racing career

Parsons first raced in open wheel cars on the West Coast of the United States in a midget car. He won the 1942 season championship in the United Midget Association. He won 18 feature events in the abbreviated season.[2] Parsons began racing in the AAA after World War II. He captured the third feature in the 1948 Night Before the 500 midget race at the 16th Street Speedway. Parsons finished second in his first Indy 500 in 1949. He won the season championship that season. He also won the 1950 Indianapolis 500. He won the 1955 Turkey Night Grand Prix midget car race.

After he retired, he became the Chief Steward for the USAC Midget division on the West Coast in the 1970s.

Awards

Indy 500 results

Parsons' misspelled likeness on the Borg-Warner Trophy

World Championship career summary

The Indianapolis 500 was part of the FIA World Championship from 1950 through 1960. Drivers competing at Indy during those years were credited with World Championship points and participation. Johnnie Parsons participated in 9 World Championship races. He won 1 race, set 1 fastest leading lap, and finished on the podium once. He accumulated a total of 12 championship points.

Parsons is one of only three drivers to win on his world championship début. The other two are Giuseppe Farina, who won the first world championship grand prix, the 1950 British Grand Prix, and Giancarlo Baghetti, who won the 1961 French Grand Prix.

Complete Formula One World Championship results

(key) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)

Year Entrant Chassis Engine 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 WDC Points
1950 Wynn's Friction / Kurtis-Kraft Kurtis Kraft 1000 Offenhauser L4 GBR MON 500
1
SUI BEL FRA ITA 6th 9
1951 Wynn's Friction Proofing / Walsh Kurtis Kraft 3000 Offenhauser L4 SUI 500
Ret
BEL FRA GBR GER ITA ESP NC 0
1952 Jim Robbins Kurtis Kraft 1000 Offenhauser L4 SUI 500
10
BEL FRA GBR GER NED ITA NC 0
1953 Belond Equa-Flow Kurtis Kraft 500B Offenhauser L4 ARG 500
Ret
NED BEL FRA GBR GER SUI ITA NC 0
1954 Belond Equa-Flow / Calif. Muffler Kurtis Kraft 500C Offenhauser L4 ARG 500
Ret
BEL FRA GBR GER SUI ITA ESP NC 0
1955 Trio Brass Foundry / Anderson Kurtis Kraft 500C Offenhauser L4 ARG MON 500
Ret
BEL NED GBR ITA NC 0
1956 J.C. Agajanian Kuzma Indy Roadster Offenhauser L4 ARG MON 500
4
BEL FRA GBR GER ITA 18th 3
1957 Sumar/Chapman Root Kurtis Kraft 500G Offenhauser L4 ARG MON 500
16
FRA GBR GER PES ITA NC 0
1958 Fred Gerhardt Kurtis Kraft 500G Offenhauser L4 ARG MON NED 500
12
BEL FRA GBR GER POR ITA MOR NC 0

References

Awards
Preceded by Indianapolis 500 Winner
1950
Succeeded by
Records
Preceded by Youngest Grand Prix Race Winner
31 years, 330 days
(1950 Indianapolis 500)
Succeeded by
Preceded by Youngest driver to set
Fastest Lap in Formula One

31 years, 330 days
(1950 Indianapolis 500)
Succeeded by
Preceded by Youngest race leader,
for at least one lap in Formula One

31 years, 330 days
(1950 Indianapolis 500)
Succeeded by