FISHERS, Ind. — Successful as a driver, a crew chief and a motorsports executive, Johnny Capels died June 9. He was 86 years old
Capels began his journey in his native New Mexico and was building and driving his own modifieds by the age of 15. He later became the New Mexico Racing Ass’n champion and the president of the club.
Dubbed “The Golden Greek” by longtime National Speed Sport News writer Bill Hill, Capels followed Al and Bobby Unser to Indianapolis in 1968 and began racing open-wheel cars throughout the Midwest.
He won his first USAC feature in 1968 but went to work for Vel’s Parnelli Jones Racing the following year as a mechanic for Al Unser, while continuing to race sprint cars.
Capels won back-to-back Indy car championships with driver Joe Leonard in 1971 and ’72.
More championships followed, he won the USAC Dirt Car title with Al Unser in 1973, Mario Andretti in 1974 and Duane “Pancho” Carter in 1975.
Meanwhile, he was working as chief mechanic and team manager for Alex Morales’ Indy car operation. Capels purchased the team after Morales’ death in 1988.
Capels also became an investor in Championship Auto Racing Teams when it was formed in 1979.
Capels was named president and Chief Operating Officer of CART in 1989. He became USAC’s senior vice president and director of competition in 1992.
He served as USAC President and COO from 1997 to 2001 and was chairman of the board of directors for USAC from 2002 to 2010.
He was inducted into the USAC Hall of Fame in 2019.
Capels is survived by his wife Dana; his son, Johnny Capels; daughter, Candy Perry; step-son, Roy Caruthers; brother, William Capels; and five grandchildren.