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.
| Born | July 4, 1918 |
|---|---|
| Died | September 8, 1984 (aged 66) |
| Formula One World Championship career | |
| Nationality |  American |
| Active years | 1950 - 1958 |
| Teams | Kurtis Kraft, Kuzma |
| Entries | 9 |
| Championships | 0 |
| Wins | 1 |
| Podiums | 1 |
| Career points | 12 |
| Pole positions | 0 |
| Fastest laps | 1 |
| First entry | 1950 Indianapolis 500 |
| First win | 1950 Indianapolis 500 |
| Last win | 1950 Indianapolis 500 |
| Last entry | 1958 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." 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
- 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.[2]
Indy 500 results
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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
- ^ The Talk of Gasoline Alley - 1070-AM WIBC, May 15, 2007
- ^ a b Biography at the National Midget Auto Racing Hall of Fame