With most of the motorsports world on hiatus because of the coronavirus pandemic, we’ve decided to highlight some of the sport’s legends on a daily basis. We begin each story within the pages of National Speed Sport News.
Joe Leonard is remembered by auto and motorcycle racing fans as one of the finest competitors their sports have seen.
Leonard began his career in his native California racing motorcycles.
He won the first American Motorcycle Ass’n Grand National championship in 1954 and added two more championships in 1956 and ’57.
Making the transition to racing cars, particularly Indy cars, in 1962, Leonard went on to a successful driving career
In 1971-’72 Leonard collected consecutive USAC IndyCar championships while driving for Vel’s Parnelli Jones Racing, becoming the first — and only — American to win multiple championships.
Leonard was injured in a crash at Ontario (Calif.) Motor Speedway in 1974, suffering extensive damage to his feet and legs. He attempted a comeback the following year at Ontario, but failed his physical, ending his driving career.
Leonard competed in nine Indianapolis 500s, finishing third twice. He won the pole for the 1968 race in one of Andy Granatelli’s controversial turbine-powered machines.
Leonard was inducted into the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America in 1991 and the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame in 1998.
