Johnnie Parsons

Born John Woodrow Parsons on 4 July 1918 in Los Angeles, California, Johnnie Parsons lived a life that blended show-business flair with hard-nosed mechanical skill and fearless racing talent. He became one of America’s standout open-wheel drivers of the post-war era—1949 AAA National Champion and winner of the Indianapolis 500 in 1950—and a racer remembered as much for his dramatic charge through the field as for the silverware he earned.

Nationality	American
Born	John Woodrow Parsons 4 July 1918 Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Died	8 September 1984 (aged 66) Los Angeles, California, U.S.

Parsons was born into show business. His parents, Harmon and Belle Parsons, earned their living on stage, and by the age of three, Johnnie was already part of the family song-and-dance act, touring vaudeville theatres on the Orpheum Circuit. That early exposure gave him something many racers lacked: natural showmanship. Long before victory lanes and victory wreaths, Parsons learned how to play to a crowd—an instinct that would later make him a fan favourite.

After his parents separated in the mid-1920s, Parsons moved in with his uncle Jack Bridges, who owned a garage in Los Angeles. This change proved decisive. The garage attracted a remarkable cast of renters, including dirt-track standout Fred Lecklider, rising star Frank Lockhart, and Ralph DePalma, winner of the 1915 Indianapolis 500. Watching these men work—and race—sparked Parsons’ ambition.

He attended races at Legion Ascot Speedway in the late 1920s and, as a teenager, sold programs at midget events at venues like Gilmore Stadium. Racing wasn’t just entertainment; it was becoming a calling.

Driver and Mechanic

Parsons idolised racers who could do it all—especially Bob Swanson, a two-time Turkey Night Grand Prix winner known for combining driving skill with mechanical expertise. Determined to follow that path, Parsons learned to weld, fabricate, and repair race cars. By junior high school, he was already working for local drivers whose machines were stored at his uncle’s garage.

After graduating from Polytechnic High School, Parsons had built an enviable résumé as a mechanic, working for drivers such as Curly Wetteroth and Kelly Petillo. He later took a job with an engineering firm in Glendale, producing design layouts while continuing to hone his welding skills—training that would prove invaluable throughout his racing career.

Midgets & Sprints

Parsons’ driving career officially began in 1940, when he entered a midget race at Atlantic Boulevard Speedway in Los Angeles. His first victory followed later that year at Colton, California. He soon became a regular in United Midget Association (UMA) events across the West Coast.

In 1942, Parsons dominated the series, winning 18 races and claiming the UMA championship before racing activities were curtailed by World War II. During the war years, he worked for the Douglas Aircraft Company, keeping his mechanical skills sharp.

When peace returned, Parsons returned to racing with a vengeance. Turning fully professional, he sometimes raced five nights a week, and even twice on Sundays. In 1947, he ventured east for the first time, relocating to the Midwest to compete in AAA-sanctioned events nationwide.

The breakthrough came in 1948, when he won the AAA Midwest Midget Championship. That season also included victory in the prestigious third feature of the “Night Before the 500” triple-header at 16th Street Speedway, directly across from the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Championship car owners took notice.

Even after moving into bigger machinery, Parsons never abandoned midgets. He won the 1955 Turkey Night Grand Prix, raced sprint cars extensively, and finished third in the 1951 AAA Eastern Sprint Car Championship—a testament to his versatility.

Championship Cars and Indianapolis Glory

Parsons entered AAA Championship Car racing in earnest after the war and immediately made an impression. Known as a classic “charger,” he seemed to thrive on adversity—often starting deep in the field and carving his way forward with bold, crowd-pleasing moves.

In 1949, he finished second in his first Indianapolis 500 and went on to secure the AAA National Championship that same season. One year later, he delivered his defining moment: victory in the 1950 Indianapolis 500, driving a Kurtis Kraft entry owned by Frank Kurtis, whose cars dominated the era.

Parsons remained a regular at Indy through the 1950s, making his final start in 1958. Over 11 seasons, he compiled 11 wins, 20 podiums, and one pole position—numbers that undersell his reputation for spectacular racecraft.

World Championship Records

Between 1950 and 1960, the Indianapolis 500 counted toward the FIA World Drivers’ Championship. During this period, Parsons entered nine World Championship races, all at Indianapolis.

His record was exceptional: one win, one fastest lap, 12 World Championship points.

Remarkably, Parsons is one of only three drivers to win on their World Championship debut, joining Nino Farina and Giancarlo Baghetti—a rare and elite statistic that cements his place in F1 history.

Life Beyond the Cockpit

Around 1942, Parsons married his first wife, Arza. They had two children: John Wayne Parsons and Joan. John Wayne—better known as Johnny Parsons Jr.—would follow his father into racing and compete at Indianapolis multiple times. After Johnnie and Arza separated around 1947, Arza later married Duane Carter, and their son Duane “Pancho” Carter also became a racing driver, creating a uniquely intertwined racing family tree.

In 1947, Parsons married his second wife, Lila, and they welcomed a daughter, Patricia.

After retiring from driving, Parsons remained deeply involved in the sport, serving as Chief Steward for the USAC West Coast Midget division during the 1970s, helping guide the next generation.

He died of a heart attack on 8 September 1984, at his home in Van Nuys, California.

The Borg-Warner Trophy

Parsons holds one of the most unusual distinctions in Indianapolis history: he is the only Indianapolis 500 winner whose name is misspelt on the Borg-Warner Trophy. When his likeness was added after the 1950 race, the engraver inscribed “Johnny” instead of “Johnnie.”

The mistake is visible on screen in MGM’s 1950 film To Please a Lady, where the camera briefly pans across the trophy. Although a correction was proposed during a 1991 restoration, officials ultimately decided to preserve the error as part of the trophy’s living history.

It’s a fitting footnote for a man who combined precision with personality—proof that even legends can leave behind a charming imperfection.

Johnnie Parsons Formula One World Championship career

F1 Career	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	1960 Indianapolis 500

Johnnie Parsons Wins

Win No.	Grand Prix
1	1950 Indianapolis 500

Johnnie Parsons Teammates

4 drivers	Involvement	First Year	Last Year
Fred Agabashian	1	1950
Spider Webb	1	1955
Dick Rathmann	1	1957
Marshall Teague	1	1957

Johnnie Parsons Complete Formula One Results

Year	Entrant	Chassis	Engine	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	WDC	Pts
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