Racing legend Gordon Johncock, Indy 500 2-time winner, dies at age 90

Gordon Johncock, two-time winner of the Indianapolis 500, died at age 90 on Monday, September 28, 2026, his family confirmed.

Johncock competed in one of IndyCar’s golden eras and won 25 career IndyCar races.

He raced annually at the Brickyard up against teams such as four-time winners A.J. Foyt, Rick Mears, and Al Unser; three-time winners Bobby Unser and Jihnny Rutherford; and 1996 race winner Mario Andretti, among others.

Johncock died from natural causes at his home in South Branch, Michigan, a representative for the family told the Associated Press.

Among these big names, Johncock managed to leave his mark, winning the 1976 USAC title in an IndyCar.

But he was best remembered for his Indy 500 wins.

He first won it in 1973, which was marked as the most tragic month in racing.

The month of May, 73 marked with rain, and the race suspended over three days and shortened to 133 of 200 laps with two tragic crashes that resulted in the deaths of drivers Art Pollard and Swede Savage, Johncock’s teammate with Patrick Racing, who sustained serious injuries in the race. Savage succumbed to injuries in early July.

His second came in 1982 when he outdid Mears to the finish line for what was then the closest winning margin in race history at 0.16 seconds.

It is still ranked as the seventh closest finish.

Johncock joined the IndyCar Series in 1964 and finished fifth in the 500 as a rookie in 1965.

Johncock went on to compete in the 500 24 times, tied for fifth most.

He made three starts on the front row, nine times on the second row, and racked up 7,895 miles while leading a total of 339 laps.

He finished third in the 500 in 1976 and 1978 and had two fourth-place finishes.

Johncock was honoured with a place in the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Hall of Fame in 1997 and the International Motorsports Hall of Fame in 1999.

He is survived by his wife, Sue, and three daughters and two sons.