1. Johnnie 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.
20 Facts About Johnnie Parsons
1. 2.
Johnnie Parsons was born in Los Angeles, California, to Harmon and Belle Johnnie Parsons, who both made their living in show business.
3.
Johnnie 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.
4.
Exposure to these drivers coupled with the experiences attending his first races at the Legion Ascot Speedway during the late 1920s inspired Johnnie Parsons to aspire to a driving career for himself.
5.
Johnnie Parsons was heavily influenced by drivers such as Bob Swanson - a two-time winner of the Turkey Night Grand Prix - who were skilled mechanics.
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Johnnie Parsons, determined to emulate the career of Swanson, learned to weld and work on cars, becoming multi-talented within the sport.
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Johnnie Parsons was then hired by an engineering firm in Glendale, where he did design layouts and worked as a welder.
8.
Johnnie Parsons' open-wheel racing career began in 1940, competing in a midget race at Atlantic Boulevard Speedway in Los Angeles.
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In 1942, Johnnie Parsons won the UMA championship, winning 18 races during the season, which was interrupted by the Second World War.
10.
Post-war, Johnnie Parsons resumed racing in UMA sanctioned events throughout California.
11.
Johnnie Parsons turned professional, in one week racing as often as five nights, and twice during Sundays.
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Johnnie Parsons won the 1955 Turkey Night Grand Prix midget car race, and began racing sprint cars.
13.
Johnnie Parsons finished second in his first Indy 500 in 1949.
14.
Johnnie Parsons participated in nine World Drivers' Championship races at Indianapolis.
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Johnnie Parsons won once, recorded one fastest lap, and accumulated 12 World Drivers' Championship points.
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Johnnie Parsons is one of only three drivers to win on their World Drivers' Championship debut.
17.
Around 1942, Johnnie Parsons met and married his first wife, Arza.
18.
In 1947, Johnnie Parsons married his second wife, Lila, together having a daughter, named Patricia.
19.
Johnnie Parsons had the dubious distinction of being the only Indianapolis 500 winner to have his name misspelled on the Borg-Warner Trophy.
20.
Johnnie Parsons has been inducted into the following halls of fame:.