Johnny Thomson

This article is about the American racecar driver. For the Danish footballer, see Johnny Thomsen. For the illusionist and comedian, see Johnny Thompson.

Johnny Thomson

Born	(1922-04-09)April 9, 1922 Lowell, Massachusetts
Died	September 24, 1960(1960-09-24) (aged 38) Allentown, Pennsylvania
Formula One World Championship career
Nationality	American
Active years	1953–1960
Entries	8
Championships	0
Wins	0
Podiums	1
Career points	10
Pole positions	1
Fastest laps	1
First entry	1953 Indianapolis 500
Last entry	1960 Indianapolis 500

Johnny Thomson (April 9, 1922 in Lowell, Massachusetts – September 24, 1960 in Allentown, Pennsylvania) was an American racecar driver. Thomson was nicknamed "the Flying Scot."

Midget cars

Thomson won the 1948 UCOA New England title after winning 32 midget events. He won his second UCOA title in 1950.

He won the 1952 AAA Eastern division midget car championship.

Championship cars

He drove in the AAA and USAC Championship Car series, racing in the 1953-1960 seasons with 69 starts, including the Indianapolis 500 races in each season. He finished in the top ten 43 times, with 7 victories. His best Indy finish was third in 1959. Roy Sherman, the first National Midget Champion, was his chief mechanic for several Indy 500s.

He was the first driver to win a 100-mile (160 km) dirt track race in less than an hour at Langhorne, Pennsylvania. His champ car's average speed was 100.174 miles per hour.

Sprint cars

Thomson was the 1958 USAC Sprint Car Series champion. He won the Eastern Sprint Car championship in 1954.

In 1960, Thomson died at a sprint car event at the Great Allentown Fair when his car crashed through the fence and flipped into the infield.

Career awards

Thomson was inducted in the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame in 1996 and the National Midget Auto Racing Hall of Fame in 1997.

Trivia

Thomson was a contestant on Bud Collyer's "Beat The Clock".

Indianapolis 500 results

Year	Car	Start	Qual	Rank	Finish	Laps	Led	Retired
1953	56	33	135.262	33	32	6	0	Ignition
1954	43	4	138.787	12	24	165	0	Stalled
1955	44	33	134.113	33	4	200	0	Running
1956	88	18	145.549	2	32	22	0	Spun FS
1957	10	11	143.529	4	12	199	5	Flagged
1958	7	22	142.908	20	23	52	0	Steering
1959	3	1	145.908	1	3rd	200	40	Running
1960	3	17	146.443	3	5	200	10	Running
Totals						1044	55

Starts	8
Poles	1
Front Row	1
Wins	0
Top 5	3
Top 10	3
Retired	4

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. Johnny Thomson participated in 8 World Championship races. He started on the pole once, set 1 fastest lead lap, and finished on the podium once, accumulating a total of 10 World Championship points.

External links

• Johnny Thomson at Find a Grave