The Indy 500 drivers — Where are they now?
by Richard Jenkins
Sections
I have endeavoured to try and provide as up-to-date and accurate information as possible for everyone featured on this site, and I am always indebted to the many contributors who help with the information on this site and sadly, space doesn't allow for me to thank everyone here. However, I would like to dedicate the ongoing work, progress and achievements on this site to those contributors who are sadly no longer with us but helped aide this project so much: Len Calinoff, Phil Harms, Gene Heeter, Earl Ma, Don Radbruch, Roscoe H Rann and Barry Lake.
Updates and corrections are always welcomed — please either join the debate here or feel free to contact me on with any information you might have.
This part of the site is also dedicated to the memory of Tony Marsh, as it was his post-Grand Prix life that served as the initial inspiration for "Where Are They Now" back in 1998 For more about what this part of the site is trying to achieve, please read my full introduction.
A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z |
| Name | Born | Died | Nat | Indy 500s | Biography |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jimmy Jackson | 25 Jul 1910 Indianapolis, Indiana |
24 Nov 1984 Desert Hot Springs, California |
USA | 6 (1946-1954) |
Later worked as an accessory rep at Indianapolis. Started off as a riding mechanic, then raced midgets. |
| Bruce Jacobi | 23 Jun 1935 Salem, Indiana |
04 Feb 1987 Bloomington, Indiana |
USA | 0 (1962-1974) |
Died in a coma after suffering head injuries in a crash 3 and a half years earlier at Daytona, Florida. |
| Joe Jagersberger | 14 Feb 1885 Wiener-Neustadt |
05 Oct 1952 Racine, Wisconsin, USA |
A | 1 (1911) |
Also of Austrian stock, but later settled in Wisconsin. Worked as an engine builder. (Last updated 7 Jul 2010) |
| James Jakes | 04 Aug 1987 Leeds, West Yorkshire, England |
GB | 2 (2011-2013) |
New IRL driver, back for a third season in 2013, who has also appeared in GP2. (Last updated 24 May 2013) | |
| Joe James | 23 May 1925 Saucier, Mississippi |
05 Nov 1952 San Jose, California |
USA | 2 (1950-1952) |
Killed in a Champ car race at San Jose. A dirt track regular, he raced from 1946 onwards. (Last updated 24 Jan 2010) |
| Rupert Jeffkins | 20 Oct 1881 East Maitland, New South Wales |
18 Oct 1954 Liverpool, New South Wales |
AUS | 0 (1911) |
One of the most colourful personalities in Australian racing history, Rupert, whose real name was Jiffkins, moved over to Europe both to work and race before a move to the US in 1904 brought him fame. He worked for a number of firms before moving back to Australia shortly after his Indy 500 attempt. Once back home, he became a businessman, race promoter and motorsport entrepreneur, but finished his working days as a postmaster. |
| Ab Jenkins | 25 Jan 1883 Spanish Fork, Utah |
09 Aug 1956 Milwaukee, Wisconsin |
USA | 0 (1931) |
Full name David Abbott Jenkins, he was a Mormon carpenter who was also a speed record and salt-flat legend, who also raced bikes and on dirt-tracks. Raced on until he was in his 60's, and later became Mayor of Salt Lake City. Died of a heart-attack whilst on his way to Elkhart Lake to drive the pace car for the upcoming race there. Son Marv, who died in 2008, was also involved with the sport for many years. |
| Johnny Jenkins | 11 Nov 1875 Springfield, Ohio |
26 Nov 1945 Brownsville, Texas |
USA | 2 (1911-1914) |
A former lightweight boxer, Jenkins was of Welsh ancestry. He mainly was based in Ohio. Former Cole works driver, who was good at hillclimbing and road races, he was also a car owner. A daring driver, his career stuttered to a halt after his involvement in Harry Knight's fatal accident. After boxing, he promised his wife he would quit, settle down and work in the family quarry. But he then quit, fought in the Spanish-American war, then worked in Indiana as a superintendent on a railway, light and power business. After he was laid off, he returned to Ohio, joined Cole and went from there. Later worked for Stutz, and set a few speed records, but then devoted his time and money to creating a valveless engine, but it left him financially bereft. After his daughter became ill, he moved to Texas, but he died there of bone cancer. (Last updated 24 Jan 2010) |
| Stefan Johansson | 08 Sep 1956 Vaxjo |
S | 3 (1993-1995) |
Ran his own team in ALMS and the IRL. Won the 2001 European Le Mans Series as a driver and then had a spell out, before he returned to driving in 2004 in endurance and GPM events. Raced in ALMS and Speedcars in 2009 and still does the odd endurance event now four years on. Also runs a watch design company and a couple of kart centres. (Last updated 10 Jan 2013) | |
| Gordon Johncock | 05 Aug 1936 Hastings, Michigan |
USA | 24 (1965-1992) |
Recently drove in the Firestone Heroes of Indy race in Texas, but otherwise has kept a relatively low-profile since leaving the sport in the early 1990's. Now involved in the timber industry, he lives near West Branch, Michigan. | |
| Ronnie Johncox | 13 Feb 1969 Jackson, Michigan |
USA | 0 (2000) |
Business owner. He runs his metal stamping business, Technique Inc. in Jackson, Michigan, where he also supports local projects. He now also makes prototypes for various industries, using state-of-the-art cutting technology, and this includes parts for NASCAR. Rarely drives now, bar kart challenges. (Last updated 24 Jan 2010) | |
| Bobby Johns | 22 May 1932 Miami, Florida |
USA | 2 (1964-1971) |
Is now the distributor and dealer of his own tyre dealership, Bobby Johns Enterprises, in his native Miami and has been so, for some time now. (Last updated 24 Jan 2010) | |
| Art Johnson | 1884 Sioux City, Iowa |
1949 Chicago, Illinois |
USA | 1 (1916) |
Worked as a mechanic for Duesenberg, then became a car owner and finally a garage owner. |
| Eddie Johnson | 10 Feb 1919 Richmond, Virginia |
30 Jun 1974 Cleveland, Ohio |
USA | 15 (1952-1966) |
A fine midget driver, with numerous wins. Mainly based in Ohio during his racing career. Died in a plane crash. (Last updated 24 Jan 2010) |
| Herm Johnson | 04 Mar 1953 Eau Claire, Wisconsin |
USA | 2 (1980-1986) |
Now runs and works in a helmet design company, which both designs and paints customised helmets for any racing driver or motorcyclist. Also works as a race instructor. (Last updated 24 Jan 2010) | |
| Junior Johnson | 28 Jun 1931 Ingle Hollow, North Carolina |
USA | 0 (1963) |
NASCAR legend. Real name Robert, he moved into motor racing to avoid crime, and it worked all round! Later became a NASCAR team owner but is now running his beef cattle farm near his home in North Carolina. | |
| Luther Johnson | 19 Jul 1903 South Bend, Indiana |
12 Apr 1978 South Bend, Indiana |
USA | 3 (1931-1937) |
Primarily a stock car driver, originally given his chance when he went well in tests. |
| Van Johnson | 04 Feb 1927 Greeley, Colorado |
19 Jul 1959 Williams Grove Motor Speedway |
USA | 0 (1958) |
First name Dale, he was killed in a race just 5 weeks after winning his first champ car race. (Last updated 24 Jan 2010) |
| Ben Jones | 02 Apr 1903 Schlater, Mississippi |
23 Dec 1938 nr. Uniontown, Alabama |
USA | 1 (1926) |
Helped into the sport by Harry Hartz, he later became a member of the US Air Army Corps. Had only a brief racing career. He died in a military plane crash, along with 8 others, when the Army Corps training mission went horribly wrong. Worked as a plantation manager on a cotton farm. (Last updated 4 Oct 2010) |
| Bubby Jones | 05 Jun 1941 Danville, Illinois |
USA | 1 (1977-1978) |
Still working as a promoter as well as a mentor to many sprint car drivers. Was formerly the track manager of Perris Auto Speedway, California and is now involved in track operations in Indiana. A sprint car legend, he continues to attend all kinds of USAC meetings, historic or otherwise. Real name is Norman. (Last updated 24 Jan 2010) | |
| Danny Jones | 19 Feb 1934 Long Beach, California |
USA | 0 (1961) |
Now retired from Ford, who he joined shortly after his Indy effort. Runs his own development company and still attends races. (Last updated 2 Feb 2011) | |
| Davy Jones | 01 Jun 1964 Chicago, Illinois |
USA | 5 (1987-2000) |
Later became an endurance racer after his CART career ended, winning Le Mans in 1996. Still racing, as he appears, infrequently, in endurance events. He formerly ran a kart track and a driver training and consultancy company, but is now involved in two projects - one is a country club in Texas, where Davy both drives and host events for corporate events and individual car enthusiasts, and the other is as a race driving instructor and academy head in Reno, Nevada. Davy himself now lives in Tahoe. (Last updated 24 Jan 2010) | |
| Dee Jones | 17 Mar 1933 Tucson, Arizona |
28 Jan 2011 Fountain Valley, California |
USA | 0 (1964-1973) |
Best remembered as a sprint car driver, though he did other forms of racing, including dirt oval racing. Failed to qualify for the Indianapolis 500 five times. Remained interested in the sport until his death, from cancer, in 2011. (Last updated 17 May 2011) |
| Herbert Jones | 1903 Indianapolis, Indiana |
27 May 1926 Indianapolis, Indiana |
USA | 1 (1925) |
Killed in a testing accident. A young and enthusiastic driver, he was also rather inexperienced, with the Indy 500 attempt being his first real major race appearance. |
| John Jones | 19 Oct 1965 Thunder Bay, Ontario |
CDN | 1 (1988-1989) |
Son of Tom Jones, Canadian ice-racer and rally driver, John now lives in Denver, Colorado. Spends a lot of time as a racing driver instructor. | |
| Milton Jones | 04 Aug 1894 Conwy, Wales |
27 May 1932 Indianapolis, Indiana |
USA | 1 (1925-1932) |
Killed in qualifying for the Indy 500. Welsh born, but moved to Pennsylvania as a small boy, Milton was also based in Ohio. Ran a garage business before becoming a racing driver. (Last updated 24 Jan 2010) |
| Parnelli Jones | 12 Aug 1933 Texarkana, Arkansas |
USA | 7 (1961-1967) |
One of the all-time greats, Parnelli retired comparatively early due to fears over safety, yet he still drives racing cars, now aged over 70, both for historic and exhibition races and for the corporate driving school that he is an instructor of. Became a team owner and his close relationship with Firestone tyres led to a hugely successful dealership, and then later on, a franchise - his name is commonplace in the Mid-West of America for that reason alone. Parnelli's two sons, PJ and Page both raced - PJ had a long and reasonably successful career; Page was injured in a crash in 1994 and whilst he has made a recovery, he still needs therapy for his injuries, a source of great regret for his father. Parnelli, who lives in California, is really called Parnell Rufus Jones, but a newspaper misspelling 'stuck' and so the name Parnelli Jones went down in history! (Last updated 24 Jan 2010) | |
| PJ Jones | 23 Apr 1969 Torrance, California |
USA | 2 (2004-2007) |
Son of Parnelli, PJ had a long racing history before his Indy 500 debut in 2004. Now races in sprints, dirts and midgets (mostly), the IRL and NASCAR amongst others, and more recently, ALMS. Also spends a lot of time as a pilot. (Last updated 4 Jan 2013) | |
| Walter A Jones | 26 Dec 1885 New York City, New York |
unknown |
USA | 0 (1911) |
Riding mechanic and road racer who often drove for Amplex. Later worked for Chevrolet as a mechanic. |
| Will Jones | 23 Jan 1889 Milwaukee, Wisconsin |
04 Feb 1972 St Augustine, Florida |
USA | 1 (1911) |
Son of a major insurance man, William later turned to that field for many years, after finishing his racing career. (Last updated 3 May 2010) |
| Bernard Jourdain | 16 Aug 1950 Brussels, Belgium |
MEX | 2 (1989-1991) |
Uncle of Michel. Was in off-road racing. A pivotal figure in Michel Jr's progression from rookie to race-winner, Bernard now lives in California. He runs a restaurant in Encinitas, called El Callejon, as well as other business projects. (Last updated 24 Jan 2010) | |
| Michel Jourdain Jr. | 02 Sep 1976 Mexico City |
MEX | 2 (1996-2013) |
Made his debut in CART as a teenager and became one of the most experienced drivers in the series, until his switch to the NASCAR Busch Series in 2005. Has also appeared in Grand-Am, the WTCC and A1 GP and more recently in NASCAR and ALMS. Now competing in rallies, but also races in and runs a touring car series in Mexico and in 2012, made a shock return, 16 years on, to the Indy 500. Continues in the same vein in 2013. (Last updated 24 May 2013) | |
| Bruno Junqueira | 04 Nov 1976 Belo Horizonte |
BR | 6 (2001-2011) |
F3000 Champion in 2000, he moved to CART/CCWS, in which he remained until the series collapsed. He then moved to the IRL and is now racing in ALMS after a short period racing Formula Trucks in his homeland. (Last updated 13 Mar 2012) |
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