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Line 1: {{short description\|American racing driver (1918–1984)}} ~~'''Johnnie Parsons''' (July 4, 1918 – September 8, 1984) was an American race car driver who won the [[Indianapolis 500]] in 1950.~~ {{About\|the Indianapolis 500 winner\|his son, also a racing driver\|Johnny Parsons}} {{Infobox racing driver \| name = Johnnie Parsons \| image = Johnnie Parsons USAC circa 1957.jpg \| caption = Parsons, circa 1957 \| birth_name = John Woodrow Parsons \| birth_date = {{birth date\|1918\|07\|04}} \| birth_place = [[Los Angeles, California]], U.S. \| death_date = {{death date and age\|1984\|09\|08\|1918\|07\|04}} \| death_place = Los Angeles, California, U.S. \| titles = [[AAA Contest Board\|AAA Midwest]] [[Midget car racing\|Midget Car]] (1948) <br/> [[AAA Contest Board\|AAA]] [[Championship Car]] ([[1949 AAA Championship Car season\|1949]]) <br/> [[United States Auto Club\|USAC Pacific Coast]] [[Midget car racing\|Midget Car]] (1956) <br/> '''Major victories''' <br/> [[Indianapolis 500]] ([[1950 Indianapolis 500\|1950]]) \| awards = \| module1 = {{Infobox Champ Car driver\|embed=yes \| Total_Champ_Races = 61 \| Years_In_Champ = 11 \| Best_Champ_Pos = 1st ([[1949 AAA Championship Car season\|1949]]) \| First_Champ_Race = [[1948 AAA Championship Car season\|1948]] [[Illinois State Fairgrounds Racetrack\|Springfield 100]] ([[Illinois State Fairgrounds Racetrack\|Springfield]]) \| Last_Champ_Race = [[1958 USAC Championship Car season\|1958]] [[1958 Indianapolis 500\|Indianapolis 500]] ([[Indianapolis Motor Speedway\|Indianapolis]]) \| First_Champ_Win = [[1948 AAA Championship Car season\|1948]] [[DuQuoin State Fairgrounds Racetrack\|DuQuoin 100]] ([[DuQuoin State Fairgrounds Racetrack\|DuQuoin]]) \| Last_Champ_Win = [[1952 AAA Championship Car season\|1952]] [[Bobby Ball Memorial\|Phoenix 100]] ([[Arizona State Fairgrounds\|Phoenix]]) \| Champ_Wins = 11 \| Champ_Podiums = 20 \| Champ_Poles = 1 \| module2 = {{Infobox F1 driver\|embed=yes \| Years = {{F1\|1950}} – {{F1\|1958}} \| Team(s) = [[Kurtis Kraft]], [[Eddie Kuzma\|Kuzma]] \| Races = 9 \| Championships = 0 \| Wins = 1 \| Podiums = 1 \| Points = 12 \| Poles = 0 \| Fastest laps = 1 \| First race = [[1950 Indianapolis 500]] \| First win = 1950 Indianapolis 500 \| Last win = 1950 Indianapolis 500 \| Last race = [[1958 Indianapolis 500]] }}}}}} '''John Woodrow''' "'''Johnnie'''" '''Parsons''' (July 4, 1918 – September 8, 1984) was an American [[racing driver]] in the [[AAA Contest Board\|AAA]] and [[United States Automobile Club\|USAC]] [[Championship Car]] series. He was the [[1949 AAA Championship Car season\|1949 AAA]] [[List of American open-wheel racing national champions\|national champion]], and won the [[1950 Indianapolis 500]]. 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." The error was corrected posthumously when the trophy was restored in 1991. He had a son named [[Johnny Parsons\|Johnny]] who competed at Indy a dozen times. Parsons was known as a "charger" - needing others to compete against in order to bring out the best in him as a driver - frequently moving from near the back of the grid to the front in spectacular displays of driving ability. He drove for several seasons on a team owned by [[Frank Kurtis]], owner of [[Kurtis Kraft]], the leading constructor of AAA Championship cars during the early 1950s.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web \|title=Johnnie Parsons \|url=https://www.mshf.com/hall-of-fame/inductees/johnnie-parsons.html \|access-date=2023-04-23 \|website=www.mshf.com}}</ref> ~~==Racing career==~~ Parsons first raced in open wheel cars on the West Coast of the United States in a [[midget car racing\|midget car]]. He won the 1942 season championship in the [[United Midget Association]]. He won 18 feature events in the abbreviated season. <ref name=NMARHoF>[http://worthyofhonor.com/Inductees/Johnnie_Parsons.htm Biography] at the [[National Midget Auto Racing Hall of Fame]]</ref> Parsons began racing in the [[American Automobile Association\|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 Indianapolis 500\|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. == Early life == ~~After he retired, he became the Chief Steward for the [[United States Automobile Club]] Midget division on the West Coast in the 1970s.~~ Parsons was born in [[Los Angeles]], [[California]], to Harmon and Belle Parsons, who both made their living in [[show business]]. By the age of three, Parsons was a participant in his family's song-and-dance act, working [[vaudeville]] theaters of the [[Orpheum Circuit]].<ref name=":3" /> During these experiences Parsons developed a knack for showmanship that helped him become a fan favorite during his racing career.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1">{{Cite web \|title=Johnnie Parsons \|url=https://imsmuseum.org/fame_inductee/johnnie-parsons/ \|access-date=2023-04-23 \|website=IMS Museum \|language=en-US}}</ref> Parsons' parents separated in the mid-1920s, after which he went to live with his uncle, Jack Bridges, who owned a garage in Los Angeles.<ref name=":3" /> ~~==Awards==~~ He was inducted in the [[Motorsports Hall of Fame of America]] in 2004. He was inducted in the [[National Midget Auto Racing Hall of Fame]] in 1984. Parsons died before receiving notification that he was selected to the hall of fame. <ref name=NMARHoF /> Among those who leased space from Bridges included local legend [[Dirt track racing\|dirt track]] driver [[Fred Lecklider]], rising star [[Frank Lockhart (racing driver)\|Frank Lockhart]], and [[Ralph DePalma]], winner of the [[1915 Indianapolis 500]]. Exposure to these drivers coupled with the experiences attending his first races at the [[Legion Ascot Speedway]] during the late 1920s inspired Parsons to aspire to a driving career for himself.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":3" /> As a teenager, he sold programs during [[Midget car racing\|midget races]] in the grandstands of venues such as [[Gilmore Stadium]].<ref name=":0" /> ~~==Indy 500 results==~~ ~~<table><tr valign=top>~~ Parsons was heavily influenced by drivers such as [[Bob Swanson]] - a two-time winner of the [[Turkey Night Grand Prix]] - who were also skilled mechanics. Parsons, determined to emulate the career of Swanson, learned to weld and work on cars, becoming multi-talented within the sport.<ref name=":0" /> During junior high school he began working for some of the local drivers who had cars stored at his uncle's garage. By the time of his graduation from [[John H. Francis Polytechnic High School\|Polytechnic High School]], he had worked for drivers such as [[Louis Wetteroth\|Curly Wetteroth]] and [[Kelly Petillo]]. He was then hired by an engineering firm in [[Glendale, California\|Glendale]], where he did design layouts and worked as a welder.<ref name=":3" /> ~~<td>~~ == Driving career == === Midget and Sprint car career === Parsons' open-wheel racing career began in 1940, competing in a [[midget car\|midget]] race at [[Atlantic Boulevard Speedway]] in Los Angeles. Later that year, he scored his first victory at a race held in [[Colton, California]].<ref name=":0" /> Around this time he began competing in semi-professional, [[United Midget Association]] (UMA) sanctioned midget races on the U.S [[West Coast of the United States\|West Coast]]. In 1942, Parsons won the UMA championship, winning 18 races during the season, which was interrupted by the [[Second World War]].<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":2">{{Cite web \|date=2007-09-27 \|title=Johnnie Parsons \|url=http://worthyofhonor.com/Inductees/Johnnie_Parsons.htm \|access-date=2023-04-24 \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927032911/http://worthyofhonor.com/Inductees/Johnnie_Parsons.htm \|archive-date=2007-09-27 }}</ref> During the war, Parsons worked for the [[Douglas Aircraft Company]].<ref name=":3" /> Post-war, Parsons resumed racing in UMA sanctioned events throughout California. He also turned professional, in one week racing as often as five nights, and twice during Sundays.<ref name=":3" /> In 1947, Parsons raced out of state for the first time, relocating to the [[American Midwest\|Midwest]], where he competed in [[AAA Contest Board\|AAA]]-sanctioned events held throughout the United States.<ref name=":3" /><ref name=":2" /> In 1948, Parsons claimed the AAA Midwest Midget championship, a year during which he won the prestigious third feature of the [[Night Before the 500]] triple-header held at the [[16th Street Speedway]] - located across from the [[Indianapolis Motor Speedway]].<ref name=":3" /><ref name=":1" /><ref name=":2" /> His successes during this year earned Parsons [[Championship Car]] opportunities. Parsons continued racing midgets during his Championship car career. He won the 1955 [[Turkey Night Grand Prix]] midget car race, and also began racing sprint cars. In 1951, he finished third in the AAA Eastern Sprint Car championship.<ref name=":1" /> === Championship car career === [[File:Indy500winningcar1950.JPG\|thumb\|Parsons' winning car from the 1950 Indianapolis 500]] Parsons began racing in the [[American Automobile Association\|AAA]] after [[World War II]]. Parsons finished second in his first Indy 500 in [[1949 Indianapolis 500\|1949]]. He won the season championship that season. He also won the [[1950 Indianapolis 500]]. After he retired, he became the Chief Steward for the [[United States Automobile Club\|USAC]] Midget division on the West Coast in the 1970s. === World Drivers' Championship career === [[File:Ferrari 375 Indy front-left Enzo Ferrari Museum.jpg\|thumb\|Parsons intended to drive this [[Ferrari 375 F1\|Ferrari 375 Indianapolis]] in the [[1952 Indianapolis 500]] - he later elected to race the [[Kurtis Kraft]] in which he had driven the [[1949 Indianapolis 500\|1949]] and [[1950 Indianapolis 500\|1950]] events]] The [[AAA Contest Board\|AAA]]/[[United States Auto Club\|USAC]]-sanctioned Indianapolis 500 was included in the [[Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile\|FIA]] [[List of Formula One World Drivers' Champions\|World Drivers' Championship]] from 1950 through 1960. Drivers competing at Indianapolis during those years were credited with World Drivers' Championship points and participation in addition to those which they received towards the [[AAA Contest Board\|AAA]]/[[United States Auto Club\|USAC]] [[List of American open-wheel racing national champions\|National Championship]]. Parsons participated in nine World Drivers' Championship races at Indianapolis. He won once, recorded one fastest lap, and accumulated 12 World Drivers' Championship points. Parsons is one of only three drivers to win on their World Drivers' Championship début. The other two are [[Giuseppe Farina\|Nino Farina]], who won the inaugural World Championship race – the [[1950 British Grand Prix]], 17 days earlier – and [[Giancarlo Baghetti]], who won the [[1961 French Grand Prix]]. == Personal life == Around 1942, Parsons met and married his first wife, Arza. Together they had two children; a son, [[Johnny Parsons\|John Wayne Parsons]], and a daughter, Joan. John, commonly referred to as "Johnny Parsons, Jr.," would grow up to also become a race car driver. Parsons, Sr. and Arza separated around 1947. Arza would later marry [[Duane Carter]], having a son, [[Pancho Carter\|Duane, Jr.]] - commonly known as "Pancho" - who coincidentally also grew up to be a race car driver.<ref name=":3" /> In 1947, Parsons married his second wife, Lila, together having a daughter, named Patricia.<ref name=":3" /> == Borg-Warner Trophy == [[File:Borgwarnertrophy018.JPG\|thumb\|right\|Parsons' misengraved name on the [[Borg-Warner Trophy]]]] Johnnie Parsons had the dubious distinction of being the only Indianapolis 500 winner to have his name misspelled on the [[Borg-Warner Trophy]]. The silversmith engraved "Johnny" instead of "Johnnie." He had a son named [[Johnny Parsons\|Johnny]] who competed at Indy a dozen times. Evidence of the engraver's mistake can be seen in MGM’s production, ''[[To Please a Lady]]'' (1950). When the camera pans across Johnnie Parsons' name and bust relief, while they’re doing a brief segment on the trophy, his misspelled name is revealed.<ref>MGM, ''To please a Lady'' (1950)</ref> In 1991, during a trophy restoration project, it was proposed to correct the spelling, albeit posthumously. However, it was decided to keep the error intact, as part of the trophy's lore. == Awards and honors == Parsons has been inducted into the following halls of fame: * [[National Midget Auto Racing Hall of Fame]] (1984)<ref name=":2" /> * [[Auto Racing Hall of Fame]] (1986)<ref name=":1" /> * [[Motorsports Hall of Fame of America]] (2004)<ref name=":0" /> * [[National Sprint Car Hall of Fame]] (2008)<ref name=":3">{{cite web \|url=https://www.sprintcarhof.com/helper_pages/FileGet.aspx?id=289\|title=Johnnie Parsons \|website=www.sprintcarhof.com \|access-date=2023-05-08}}</ref> == Motorsports career results == === AAA/USAC Championship Car results === {\| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; font-size:90%" ! Year ! 1 ! 2 ! 3 ! 4 ! 5 ! 6 ! 7 ! 8 ! 9 ! 10 ! 11 ! 12 ! 13 ! 14 ! 15 ! Pos ! Points \|- ! rowspan=1\| [[1948 AAA Championship Car season\|1948]] \| [[Arlington, Texas\|ARL]] \|style="background:#FFCFCF;"\| [[1948 Indianapolis 500\|INDY]]<br><small>DNQ</small> \| [[Milwaukee 225\|MIL]] \| [[Langhorne Speedway\|LAN]] \| [[Milwaukee 225\|MIL]] \|style="background:#DFDFDF;"\| [[Illinois State Fairgrounds Racetrack\|SPR]]<br><small>2</small> \|style="background:#DFDFDF;"\| [[Milwaukee 225\|MIL]]<br><small>2</small> \|style="background:#EFCFFF;"\| [[DuQuoin State Fairgrounds Racetrack\|DUQ]]<br><small>11</small> \| [[Atlanta 500 Classic\|ATL]] \| [[Pikes Peak International Hill Climb\|PIK]] \|style="background:#EFCFFF;"\| [[Illinois State Fairgrounds Racetrack\|SPR]]<br><small>13</small> \|style="background:#FFFFBF;"\| [[DuQuoin State Fairgrounds Racetrack\|DUQ]]<br><small>1</small> \|colspan=3\| !style="background:#CFCFFF;"\| 11th !style="background:#CFCFFF;"\| 700 \|- ! rowspan=1\| [[1949 AAA Championship Car season\|1949]] \|style="background:#FFFFBF;"\| [[Arlington, Texas\|ARL]]<br><small>1</small> \|style="background:#DFDFDF;"\| [[1949 Indianapolis 500\|INDY]]<br><small>2</small> \|style="background:#CFCFFF;"\| [[Milwaukee 225\|MIL]]<br><small>13</small> \|style="background:#EFCFFF;"\| [[Trenton Speedway\|TRE]]<br><small>11</small> \|style="background:#FFDF9F;"\| [[Illinois State Fairgrounds Racetrack\|SPR]]<br><small>3</small> \|style="background:#FFFFBF;"\| [[Milwaukee 225\|MIL]]<br><small>1</small> \|style="background:#EFCFFF;"\| [[DuQuoin State Fairgrounds Racetrack\|DUQ]]<br><small>11</small> \| [[Pikes Peak International Hill Climb\|PIK]] \|style="background:#FFFFBF;"\| [[Great New York State Fair\|SYR]]<br><small>1</small> \|style="background:#EFCFFF;"\| [[Michigan State Fairgrounds Speedway\|DET]]<br><small>12</small> \|style="background:#FFFFBF;"\| [[Illinois State Fairgrounds Racetrack\|SPR]]<br><small>1</small> \|style="background:#FFFFBF;"\| [[Langhorne Speedway\|LAN]]<br><small>1</small> \|style="background:#DFFFDF;"\| [[California State Fairgrounds Race Track\|SAC]]<br><small>5</small> \|style="background:#EFCFFF;"\| [[Del Mar racetrack\|DMR]]<br><small>15</small> \|colspan=1\| !style="background:#FFFFBF;"\| 1st !style="background:#FFFFBF;"\| 2,280 \|- ! rowspan=1\| [[1950 AAA Championship Car season\|1950]] \|style="background:#FFFFBF;"\| [[1950 Indianapolis 500\|INDY]]<br><small>1</small> \|style="background:#EFCFFF;"\| [[Milwaukee 225\|MIL]]<br><small>11</small> \|style="background:#FFFFFF;"\| [[Langhorne Speedway\|LAN]]<br><small>DNS</small> \|style="background:#FFCFCF;"\| [[Illinois State Fairgrounds Racetrack\|SPR]]<br><small>DNQ</small> \|style="background:#FFFFFF;"\| [[Milwaukee 225\|MIL]]<br><small>DNS</small> \| [[Pikes Peak International Hill Climb\|PIK]] \|style="background:#FFCFCF;"\| [[Great New York State Fair\|SYR]]<br><small>DNQ</small> \|style="background:#EFCFFF;"\| [[Michigan State Fairgrounds Speedway\|DET]]<br><small>16</small> \|style="background:#FFCFCF;"\| [[Illinois State Fairgrounds Racetrack\|SPR]]<br><small>DNQ</small> \|style="background:#EFCFFF;"\| [[California State Fairgrounds Race Track\|SAC]]<br><small>11</small> \|style="background:#FFDF9F;"\| [[Desert Diamond West Valley Phoenix Grand Prix\|PHX]]<br><small>3</small> \|style="background:#FFCFCF;"\| [[Bay Meadows Racetrack\|BAY]]<br><small>DNQ</small> \|style="background:#FFFFBF;"\| [[Darlington Raceway\|DAR]]<br><small>1</small> \|colspan=2\| !style="background:#FFDF9F;"\| 3rd !style="background:#FFDF9F;"\| 1,313 \|- ! rowspan=1\| [[1951 AAA Championship Car season\|1951]] \|style="background:#EFCFFF;"\| [[1951 Indianapolis 500\|INDY]]<br><small>21</small> \|style="background:#FFCFCF;"\| [[Milwaukee 225\|MIL]]<br><small>DNQ</small> \|style="background:#FFFFFF;"\| [[Langhorne Speedway\|LAN]]<br><small>DNS</small> \|style="background:#EFCFFF;"\| [[Darlington Raceway\|DAR]]<br><small>23</small> \| [[Illinois State Fairgrounds Racetrack\|SPR]] \|style="background:#FFDF9F;"\| [[Milwaukee 225\|MIL]]<br><small>3</small> \|style="background:#DFDFDF;"\| [[DuQuoin State Fairgrounds Racetrack\|DUQ]]<br><small>2</small> \|style="background:#EFCFFF;"\| [[DuQuoin State Fairgrounds Racetrack\|DUQ]]<br><small>16</small> \| [[Pikes Peak International Hill Climb\|PIK]] \|style="background:#EFCFFF;"\| [[Great New York State Fair\|SYR]]<br><small>17</small> \| [[Michigan State Fairgrounds Speedway\|DET]] \|style="background:#EFCFFF;"\| [[Littleton, Colorado\|DNC]]<br><small>14</small> \|style="background:#CFEAFF;"\| [[San Jose, California\|SJS]]<br><small>7</small> \|style="background:#FFFFBF;"\| [[Desert Diamond West Valley Phoenix Grand Prix\|PHX]]<br><small>1</small> \|style="background:#FFFFBF;"\| [[Bay Meadows Racetrack\|BAY]]<br><small>1</small> !style="background:#CFEAFF;"\| 6th !style="background:#CFEAFF;"\| 1,012 \|- ! rowspan=1\| [[1952 AAA Championship Car season\|1952]] \|style="background:#CFEAFF;"\| [[1952 Indianapolis 500\|INDY]]<br><small>10</small> \|style="background:#FFCFCF;"\| [[Milwaukee 225\|MIL]]<br><small>DNQ</small> \|style="background:#EFCFFF;"\| [[Raleigh Speedway\|RAL]]<br><small>22</small> \|style="background:#FFCFCF;"\| [[Illinois State Fairgrounds Racetrack\|SPR]]<br><small>DNQ</small> \| [[Milwaukee 225\|MIL]] \| [[Michigan State Fairgrounds Speedway\|DET]] \| [[DuQuoin State Fairgrounds Racetrack\|DUQ]] \| [[Pikes Peak International Hill Climb\|PIK]] \| [[Great New York State Fair\|SYR]] \| [[Littleton, Colorado\|DNC]] \|style="background:#EFCFFF;"\| [[San Jose, California\|SJS]]<br><small>16</small> \|style="background:#FFFFBF;"\| [[XM Satellite Radio Indy 200\|PHX]]<br><small>1</small> \|colspan=3\| !style="background:#CFCFFF;"\| 18th !style="background:#CFCFFF;"\| 350 \|- ! rowspan=1\| [[1953 AAA Championship Car season\|1953]] \|style="background:#EFCFFF;"\| [[1953 Indianapolis 500\|INDY]]<br><small>26</small> \| [[Milwaukee 225\|MIL]] \|style="background:#FFCFCF;"\| [[Illinois State Fairgrounds Racetrack\|SPR]]<br><small>DNQ</small> \|style="background:#EFCFFF;"\| [[Michigan State Fairgrounds Speedway\|DET]]<br><small>8</small> \|style="background:#DFFFDF;"\| [[Illinois State Fairgrounds Racetrack\|SPR]]<br><small>4</small> \|style="background:#EFCFFF;"\| [[Milwaukee 225\|MIL]]<br><small>21</small> \|style="background:#FFDF9F;"\| [[DuQuoin State Fairgrounds Racetrack\|DUQ]]<br><small>3</small> \| [[Pikes Peak International Hill Climb\|PIK]] \|style="background:#EFCFFF;"\| [[Great New York State Fair\|SYR]]<br><small>12</small> \|style="background:#FFDF9F;"\| [[Indiana State Fair\|ISF]]<br><small>3</small> \|style="background:#EFCFFF;"\| [[California State Fairgrounds Race Track\|SAC]]<br><small>15</small> \|style="background:#EFCFFF;"\| [[XM Satellite Radio Indy 200\|PHX]]<br><small>16</small> \|colspan=3\| !style="background:#CFCFFF;"\| 13th !style="background:#CFCFFF;"\| 435.5 \|- ! rowspan=1\| [[1954 AAA Championship Car season\|1954]] \|style="background:#EFCFFF;"\| [[1954 Indianapolis 500\|INDY]]<br><small>32</small> \|style="background:#CFCFFF;"\| [[Milwaukee 225\|MIL]]<br><small>16</small> \| [[Langhorne Speedway\|LAN]] \|style="background:#EFCFFF;"\| [[Darlington Raceway\|DAR]]<br><small>30</small> \|style="background:#FFCFCF;"\| [[Illinois State Fairgrounds Racetrack\|SPR]]<br><small>DNQ</small> \| [[Milwaukee 225\|MIL]] \|style="background:#CFEAFF;"\| [[DuQuoin State Fairgrounds Racetrack\|DUQ]]<br><small>7</small> \| [[Pikes Peak International Hill Climb\|PIK]] \|style="background:#CFEAFF;"\| [[Great New York State Fair\|SYR]]<br><small>8</small> \|style="background:#EFCFFF;"\| [[Indiana State Fair\|ISF]]<br><small>16</small> \|style="background:#FFCFCF;"\| [[California State Fairgrounds Race Track\|SAC]]<br><small>DNQ</small> \|style="background:#FFCFCF;"\| [[XM Satellite Radio Indy 200\|PHX]]<br><small>DNQ</small> \|style="background:#FFCFCF;"\| [[IZOD IndyCar World Championships\|LVG]]<br><small>DNQ</small> \|colspan=2\| !style="background:#CFCFFF;"\| 33rd !style="background:#CFCFFF;"\| 122.5 \|- ! rowspan=1\| [[1955 AAA Championship Car season\|1955]] \|style="background:#EFCFFF;"\| [[1955 Indianapolis 500\|INDY]]<br><small>21</small> \| [[Milwaukee 225\|MIL]] \| [[Langhorne Speedway\|LAN]] \| [[Illinois State Fairgrounds Racetrack\|SPR]] \|style="background:#CFEAFF;"\| [[Milwaukee 225\|MIL]]<br><small>9</small> \|style="background:#FFCFCF;"\| [[DuQuoin State Fairgrounds Racetrack\|DUQ]]<br><small>DNQ</small> \| [[Pikes Peak International Hill Climb\|PIK]] \|style="background:#FFCFCF;"\| [[Great New York State Fair\|SYR]]<br><small>DNQ</small> \| [[Indiana State Fair\|ISF]] \| [[California State Fairgrounds Race Track\|SAC]] \| [[XM Satellite Radio Indy 200\|PHX]] \|colspan=4\| !style="background:#CFCFFF;"\| 39th !style="background:#CFCFFF;"\| 53.2 \|- ! rowspan=1\| [[1956 USAC Championship Car season\|1956]] \|style="background:#DFFFDF;"\| [[1956 Indianapolis 500\|INDY]]<br><small>4</small> \|style="background:#CFCFFF;"\| [[Milwaukee 225\|MIL]]<br><small>17</small> \| [[Langhorne Speedway\|LAN]] \| [[Darlington Raceway\|DAR]] \| [[Lakewood Speedway\|ATL]] \| [[Illinois State Fairgrounds Racetrack\|SPR]] \|style="background:#CFCFFF;"\| [[Milwaukee 225\|MIL]]<br><small>11</small> \|style="background:#FFCFCF;"\| [[DuQuoin State Fairgrounds Racetrack\|DUQ]]<br><small>DNQ</small> \| [[Great New York State Fair\|SYR]]<br><small>DNP</small> \| [[Indiana State Fair\|ISF]] \|style="background:#FFCFCF;"\| [[California State Fairgrounds Race Track\|SAC]]<br><small>DNQ</small> \| [[XM Satellite Radio Indy 200\|PHX]] \|colspan=3\| !style="background:#CFCFFF;"\| 13th !style="background:#CFCFFF;"\| 650 \|- ! rowspan=1\| [[1957 USAC Championship Car season\|1957]] \|style="background:#EFCFFF;"\| [[1957 Indianapolis 500\|INDY]]<br><small>16</small> \| [[Langhorne Speedway\|LAN]] \| [[Milwaukee 225\|MIL]] \| [[Michigan State Fairgrounds Speedway\|DET]] \| [[Lakewood Speedway\|ATL]] \| [[Illinois State Fairgrounds Racetrack\|SPR]] \|style="background:#CFEAFF;"\| [[Milwaukee 225\|MIL]]<br><small>7</small> \| [[DuQuoin State Fairgrounds Racetrack\|DUQ]] \| [[Great New York State Fair\|SYR]] \| [[Indiana State Fair\|ISF]] \| [[Trenton Speedway\|TRE]] \| [[California State Fairgrounds Race Track\|SAC]] \| [[XM Satellite Radio Indy 200\|PHX]] \|colspan=2\| !style="background:#CFCFFF;"\| 27th !style="background:#CFCFFF;"\| 120 \|- ! rowspan=1\| [[1958 USAC Championship Car season\|1958]] \| [[Trenton Speedway\|TRE]] \|style="background:#CFCFFF;"\| [[1958 Indianapolis 500\|INDY]]<br><small>12</small> \|style="background:#DFC484;"\| [[Milwaukee 225\|MIL]]<br><small>Wth</small> \| [[Langhorne Speedway\|LAN]] \| [[Lakewood Speedway\|ATL]] \| [[Illinois State Fairgrounds Racetrack\|SPR]] \| [[Milwaukee 225\|MIL]] \| [[DuQuoin State Fairgrounds Racetrack\|DUQ]] \| [[Great New York State Fair\|SYR]] \| [[Indiana State Fair\|ISF]] \| [[Trenton Speedway\|TRE]] \| [[California State Fairgrounds Race Track\|SAC]] \| [[XM Satellite Radio Indy 200\|PHX]] \|colspan=2\| !style="background:#CFCFFF;"\| 34th !style="background:#CFCFFF;"\| 50 \|- ! rowspan=1\| [[1959 USAC Championship Car season\|1959]] \| [[Daytona International Speedway\|DAY]] \| [[Trenton Speedway\|TRE]] \| [[1959 Indianapolis 500\|INDY]]<br><small>DNP</small> \| [[Milwaukee 225\|MIL]] \| [[Langhorne Speedway\|LAN]] \| [[Illinois State Fairgrounds Racetrack\|SPR]] \| [[Milwaukee 225\|MIL]] \| [[DuQuoin State Fairgrounds Racetrack\|DUQ]] \| [[Great New York State Fair\|SYR]] \| [[Indiana State Fair\|ISF]] \| [[Trenton Speedway\|TRE]] \| [[California State Fairgrounds Race Track\|SAC]] \| [[XM Satellite Radio Indy 200\|PHX]] \|colspan=2\| ! - ! 0 \|} === Indianapolis 500 results === {{col-begin\|width=auto}} {{col-break}} {\|class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" \|- Line 32 ⟶ 359: \|132.900 \|2 \|style="background:#dfdfdf;"\| '''2nd''' \|2 \|200 \|0 Line 42 ⟶ 369: \|132.044 \|8 \|style="background:~~green~~#ffffbf;~~color:white~~"\|1 '''1st''' \|138 \|115 Line 107 ⟶ 434: \|Running \|- ![[1957 Indianapolis 500\|1957]]* \|18 \|17 Line 132 ⟶ 459: \| \|} {{col-break\|gap=1em}} ~~</td>~~ ~~<td>~~ {\|class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" \|- Line 157 ⟶ 483: \|4 \|} {{col-end}} ~~</td>~~ Parsons initially failed to qualify for the 1957 Indianapolis 500. However, Dick Rathmann (who had qualified) was mugged the day before the race and therefore deemed unable to drive. Parsons was selected as replacement driver for the car and allowed to start from the position Dick Rathmann had qualified the car at (in later years such a driver change would see the car in question moved to the rear of the field). ~~</tr></table>~~ === FIA World Drivers' Championship ~~career~~results ~~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. ([[:Template:F1 driver results legend 2\|key]]) (Races in ''italics'' indicate fastest lap) ~~==References==~~ {\| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; font-size:90%" ~~<references />~~ ! Year ! Entrant ! Chassis ! Engine ! 1 ! 2 ! 3 ! 4 ! 5 ! 6 ! 7 ! 8 ! 9 ! 10 ! 11 ! WDC ! Points \|- \| [[1950 Formula One season\|1950]] ! Wynn's Friction / Kurtis-Kraft ! [[Kurtis Kraft]] [[Kurtis Kraft 1000\|1000]] ! [[Offenhauser]] [[Straight-4\|L4]] \| [[1950 British Grand Prix\|GBR]] \| [[1950 Monaco Grand Prix\|MON]] \|style="background:#FFFFBF;"\| ''[[1950 Indianapolis 500\|500]]''<br>{{small\|1}} \| [[1950 Swiss Grand Prix\|SUI]] \| [[1950 Belgian Grand Prix\|BEL]] \| [[1950 French Grand Prix\|FRA]] \| [[1950 Italian Grand Prix\|ITA]] \| \| \| \| ! 6th ! 9 \|- \| [[1951 Formula One season\|1951]] ! Wynn's Friction Proofing / Walsh ! [[Kurtis Kraft]] [[Kurtis Kraft 3000\|3000]] ! [[Offenhauser]] [[Straight-4\|L4]] \| [[1951 Swiss Grand Prix\|SUI]] \|style="background:#EFCFFF;"\| [[1951 Indianapolis 500\|500]]<br>{{small\|Ret}} \| [[1951 Belgian Grand Prix\|BEL]] \| [[1951 French Grand Prix\|FRA]] \| [[1951 British Grand Prix\|GBR]] \| [[1951 German Grand Prix\|GER]] \| [[1951 Italian Grand Prix\|ITA]] \| [[1951 Spanish Grand Prix\|ESP]] \| \| \| ! NC ! 0 \|- \| [[1952 Formula One season\|1952]] ! Jim Robbins ! [[Kurtis Kraft]] [[Kurtis Kraft 1000\|1000]] ! [[Offenhauser]] [[Straight-4\|L4]] \| [[1952 Swiss Grand Prix\|SUI]] \|style="background:#CFCFFF;"\| [[1952 Indianapolis 500\|500]]<br>{{small\|10}} \| [[1952 Belgian Grand Prix\|BEL]] \| [[1952 French Grand Prix\|FRA]] \| [[1952 British Grand Prix\|GBR]] \| [[1952 German Grand Prix\|GER]] \| [[1952 Dutch Grand Prix\|NED]] \| [[1952 Italian Grand Prix\|ITA]] \| \| \| ! NC ! 0 \|- \| [[1953 Formula One season\|1953]] ! Belond Equa-Flow ! [[Kurtis Kraft]] [[Kurtis Kraft 500\|500B]] ! [[Offenhauser]] [[Straight-4\|L4]] \| [[1953 Argentine Grand Prix\|ARG]] \|style="background:#EFCFFF;"\| [[1953 Indianapolis 500\|500]]<br>{{small\|Ret}} \| [[1953 Dutch Grand Prix\|NED]] \| [[1953 Belgian Grand Prix\|BEL]] \| [[1953 French Grand Prix\|FRA]] \| [[1953 British Grand Prix\|GBR]] \| [[1953 German Grand Prix\|GER]] \| [[1953 Swiss Grand Prix\|SUI]] \| [[1953 Italian Grand Prix\|ITA]] \| \| ! NC ! 0 \|- \| [[1954 Formula One season\|1954]] ! Belond Equa-Flow / Calif. Muffler ! [[Kurtis Kraft]] [[Kurtis Kraft 500\|500C]] ! [[Offenhauser]] [[Straight-4\|L4]] \| [[1954 Argentine Grand Prix\|ARG]] \|style="background:#EFCFFF;"\| [[1954 Indianapolis 500\|500]]<br>{{small\|Ret}} \| [[1954 Belgian Grand Prix\|BEL]] \| [[1954 French Grand Prix\|FRA]] \| [[1954 British Grand Prix\|GBR]] \| [[1954 German Grand Prix\|GER]] \| [[1954 Swiss Grand Prix\|SUI]] \| [[1954 Italian Grand Prix\|ITA]] \| [[1954 Spanish Grand Prix\|ESP]] \| \| ! NC ! 0 \|- \| [[1955 Formula One season\|1955]] ! Trio Brass Foundry / Anderson ! [[Kurtis Kraft]] [[Kurtis Kraft 500\|500C]] ! [[Offenhauser]] [[Straight-4\|L4]] \| [[1955 Argentine Grand Prix\|ARG]] \| [[1955 Monaco Grand Prix\|MON]] \|style="background:#EFCFFF;"\| [[1955 Indianapolis 500\|500]]<br>{{small\|Ret}} \| [[1955 Belgian Grand Prix\|BEL]] \| [[1955 Dutch Grand Prix\|NED]] \| [[1955 British Grand Prix\|GBR]] \| [[1955 Italian Grand Prix\|ITA]] \| \| \| \| ! NC ! 0 \|- \| [[1956 Formula One season\|1956]] ! J.C. Agajanian ! [[Kuzma (constructor)\|Kuzma]] [[Kuzma Indy Roadster\|Indy Roadster]] ! [[Offenhauser]] [[Straight-4\|L4]] \| [[1956 Argentine Grand Prix\|ARG]] \| [[1956 Monaco Grand Prix\|MON]] \|style="background:#DFFFDF;"\| [[1956 Indianapolis 500\|500]]<br>{{small\|4}} \| [[1956 Belgian Grand Prix\|BEL]] \| [[1956 French Grand Prix\|FRA]] \| [[1956 British Grand Prix\|GBR]] \| [[1956 German Grand Prix\|GER]] \| [[1956 Italian Grand Prix\|ITA]] \| \| \| ! 18th ! 3 \|- \| [[1957 Formula One season\|1957]] ! Sumar/Chapman Root ! [[Kurtis Kraft]] [[Kurtis Kraft 500\|500G]] ! [[Offenhauser]] [[Straight-4\|L4]] \| [[1957 Argentine Grand Prix\|ARG]] \| [[1957 Monaco Grand Prix\|MON]] \|style="background:#CFCFFF;"\| [[1957 Indianapolis 500\|500]]<br>{{small\|16}} \| [[1957 French Grand Prix\|FRA]] \| [[1957 British Grand Prix\|GBR]] \| [[1957 German Grand Prix\|GER]] \| [[1957 Pescara Grand Prix\|PES]] \| [[1957 Italian Grand Prix\|ITA]] \| \| \| ! NC ! 0 \|- \| [[1958 Formula One season\|1958]] ! Fred Gerhardt ! [[Kurtis Kraft]] [[Kurtis Kraft 500\|500G]] ! [[Offenhauser]] [[Straight-4\|L4]] \| [[1958 Argentine Grand Prix\|ARG]] \| [[1958 Monaco Grand Prix\|MON]] \| [[1958 Dutch Grand Prix\|NED]] \|style="background:#CFCFFF;"\| [[1958 Indianapolis 500\|500]]<br>{{small\|12}} \| [[1958 Belgian Grand Prix\|BEL]] \| [[1958 French Grand Prix\|FRA]] \| [[1958 British Grand Prix\|GBR]] \| [[1958 German Grand Prix\|GER]] \| [[1958 Portuguese Grand Prix\|POR]] \| [[1958 Italian Grand Prix\|ITA]] \| [[1958 Moroccan Grand Prix\|MOR]] ! NC ! 0 \|- \|} == References == {{reflist}} == External links == [http://www.champcarstats.com/drivers/ParsonsJohnnie.htm Johnnie Parsons - ChampCarStats.com] * {{Find a Grave\|20185}} * [http://www.motorsportmemorial.org/LWFWIW/focusLWFWIW.php?db=LWF&db2=ms&n=2690 Johnnie Parsons - Motorsport Memorial] * {{Racing-Reference driver\|Johnnie_Parsons}} {{s-start ~~box~~}} {{s-ach\|aw}} {{succession box\|before=[[Bill Holland]]\|title=[[List of Indianapolis 500 winners\|Indianapolis 500 ~~Winner~~winner]]\|years=[[1950 Indianapolis 500\|1950]]\|after=[[Lee Wallard]]}} {{s-ach\|rec}} {{succession box\|title=[[List of Formula One driver records#Youngest winners\|Youngest Grand Prix ~~Race~~<br>~~Winner~~race winner]]\| before = [[Juan Manuel Fangio]]~~</b><~~{{small>\|<br/>38 years, 331 days<br/>([[1950 Monaco Grand Prix\|1950 Monaco GP]])~~</small>~~}} \| after = [[José Froilán González]]~~</b><~~{{small>\|<br/>28 years, 282 days<br/>([[1951 British Grand Prix\|1951 British GP]])}} \| years = 31 years, 330 days<br/>([[1950 Indianapolis 500]])}} {{succession box\|title=[[List of Formula One driver records#Youngest drivers to set a fastest lap\|Youngest driver to set<br/>~~Fastest~~fastest ~~Lap~~lap in Formula One]]\| before = [[Juan Manuel Fangio]]~~</b><~~{{small>\|<br/>38 years, 331 days<br/>([[1950 Monaco Grand Prix\|1950 Monaco GP]])~~</small>~~}} \| after = [[José Froilán González]]~~</b><~~{{small>\|<br/>29 years, 338 days<br/>([[1952 Italian Grand Prix\|1952 Italian GP]])}} \| years = 31 years, 330 days<br/>([[1950 Indianapolis 500]])}} {{succession box\| title = [[List of Formula One driver records#~~For~~Led for at least one lap, youngest leaders\|Youngest ~~Race~~race ~~Leader~~leader,<br>~~For~~for at least one lap in Formula One]] \| years = 31 years, 330 days<br/>([[1950 Indianapolis 500]]) \| before = [[Juan Manuel Fangio]]~~</b><~~{{small>\|<br/>38 years, 323 days<br/>([[1950 British Grand Prix\|1950 British GP]])~~</small>~~}} \| after = [[Jimmy Davies (racing driver)\|Jimmy Davies]]~~</b><~~{{small>\|<br/>21 years, 285 days<br/>([[1951 Indianapolis 500]])~~</small>~~}}}} {{s-end ~~box~~}} {{Indy 500 winners}} {{American open-wheel car racing champions}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Parsons, Johnnie}} [[Category:1918 births]] [[Category:1984 deaths]] [[Category:Champ Car champions]] [[Category:Indianapolis 500 drivers]] [[Category:~~Indy~~Indianapolis 500 winners]] [[Category:~~American~~Racing ~~Formula~~drivers ~~One~~from ~~drivers~~Los Angeles]] [[Category:~~American~~AAA ~~racecar~~Championship Car drivers]] [[Category:Formula One race winners]] ~~{{US-autoracing-bio-stub}}~~ ~~[[ca:Johnnie Parsons]]~~ ~~[[de:Johnnie Parsons]]~~ ~~[[fr:Johnnie Parsons]]~~ ~~[[it:Johnnie Parsons]]~~ ~~[[hu:Johnnie Parsons]]~~ ~~[[nl:Johnnie Parsons]]~~ ~~[[pl:Johnnie Parsons]]~~ ~~[[pt:Johnnie Parsons]]~~ ~~[[ro:Johnnie Parsons]]~~ ~~[[ru:Парсонс, Джонни]]~~ ~~[[sq:Johnnie Parsons]]~~ ~~[[sl:Johnnie Parsons]]~~ ~~[[fi:Johnnie Parsons]]~~ ~~[[sv:Johnnie Parsons]]~~