Johnnie Parsons

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Johnnie Parsons (born July 4, 1918, died September 8, 1984) was an American race car driver 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." The error was corrected posthumously when the trophy was restored in 1991. Ironically, he had a son named Johnny who competed at Indy a dozen times.

1 Racing career
2 Awards
3 Indy 500 results
4 World Championship career summary
5 References

[edit] 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. ^[1] 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 Stewart for the United States Automobile Club Midget division on the West Coast in the 1970s.

[edit] 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. ^[1]

[edit] Indy 500 results

Year	Car	Start	Qual	Rank	Finish	Laps	Led	Retired
1949	12	12	132.900	2	2	200	0	Running
1950	1	5	132.044	8	1	138	115	Running
1951	3	8	132.154	28	21	87	0	Magneto
1952	5	31	135.328	19	10	200	0	Running
1953	21	8	137.667	3	26	86	0	Crankshaft
1954	15	15	139.578	6	32	79	0	Stalled in pits
1955	16	27	136.809	27	21	119	0	Magneto
1956	98	6	144.144	7	4	200	16	Running
1957	18	17	140.784	21	16	195	0	Flagged
1958	45	6	144.683	6	12	200	0	Running
Totals						1504	131

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

[edit] 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 started on the pole 0 times, won 1 race, set 1 fastest lap, and finished on the podium 1 time. He accumulated a total of 12 championship points.