Comments on: Indy’s Grumpy Old Man

By: Kenny Lindsay

Kenny Lindsay — Sun, 27 Jan 2013 23:35:09 +0000

First of all, I think the authors commentary on Gordon Johncock is way over exaggerated. Nowhere in this interview was I left with the impression that he was a “bitter, sour old man.” Johncock is a businessman and simply did not get wrapped up into the fanfare of racing. He ran his races, caught the next plane and was back on the farm feeding the chickens. If anything, he’s 100% farm boy. During the interview, Johncock explained why he was not a fan of the “foreign drivers” and elaborated on the fact that they simply cannot compete in NASCAR and ultimately burn out. I’m quite sure there is also some Archie Bunker’isms in there as well which you often find with folks of his era. With all that being said, I have met Johncock on a few different occasions as he was timbering some woods at a hunting property where I was a guest of the owner. My impression of Gordon Johncock is he is a ‘regular’ and easy to talk to fellow. Unless you brought it up to him, he’d never bring up his racing career.

By: Don Cusick

Don Cusick — Sat, 06 Oct 2012 23:15:42 +0000

I just bought the March Herm Johnson drove at the 1984 500 and Johncock campaigned the rest of the season. I would love to get their feedback on that car. Anyone know how to get a hold of them??

By: Ed

Ed — Sat, 08 Sep 2012 20:10:57 +0000

Gordon never sought the limelight during or after his career, and always expressed his opinion in simple, direct terms. It is no surprise the interviewers were uncomfortable with his words, as it is rare anyone in racing nowdays gives an unvarnished and honest view on anything controversial. Whether you agree with Gordon’s opinion or not, he was asked about present day racing and he answered the question.

He is not a grouch. He is a hard working man (now retired) who was a racer with talent too few gave recognition to because of his non-celebrity seeking approach to fame.

As a lifetime race fan and former farm neigbor, I was honored to know him and was always grateful finding his real life compatible with his celebrity.

By: Brian D. Craig

Brian D. Craig — Thu, 04 Aug 2011 02:11:40 +0000

I am a big Gordon Johncock fan. I am a fan of his racing career and how he drove a race car. How he feels about racing today is irrelevent to his career stats. He was never a media darling anyway. Although I don’t mind foreign drivers, I feel that Indy Car racing is top heavy with them. I often think that if the young top guns in NASCAR were in Indy Car, open wheel racing would again be on top. Driver recognition to the fans IS important. What I found interesting is how they had to work hard to get Gordy to say what winning Indy meant to him. I am still a big Gordy fan.

By: Jack The Root

Jack The Root — Sat, 28 May 2011 06:08:29 +0000

He’s right though. There are way too many foreign-born drivers in Indy Car Racing.

Hence, the unpopularity of the sport and the Indy 500.

By: Rick

Rick — Fri, 27 May 2011 14:40:54 +0000

“Johncock” has become slang for “cranky” in our house.
What I don’t understand is how someone excelled in a field that took an enormous amount of dedication, practice, and hard work, but now apparently couldn’t care less about it.

He should be a hero of the sport, but I know now that I might never be able to relate to him as a race fan.

By: james t suel

james t suel — Fri, 27 May 2011 14:04:06 +0000

I think it doesnot matter how grumpy Gordy is! It does not remove his accomplishments on the race track. This guy could drive,end of story!

By: JohnMc

JohnMc — Fri, 27 May 2011 11:34:19 +0000

It makes you appreciate the quality of guys like Rick Mears, AJ Fout, Al Unser, Bobby Unser and Al Jr. I can listen to those guys anytime they have something to say.

By: The Speedgeek

The Speedgeek — Fri, 27 May 2011 11:03:12 +0000

Yeah, man, what a grump. That interview rated really high on the “uncomfortable humor” scale for the several attemtps that Paul and Steph made at trying to get Gordy off the topic. It was like watching an episode of The Office where Michael Scott just can’t keep himself from saying inappropriate things about his co-workers while people desparately try to distract him. Anyway, I didn’t have much of an opinion on Gordy before, other than that I’m now even more comfortable in my picking the Yellow Submarine Chaparral over his STP Wildcat as my favorite of the two cars I got as a kid in my Pit Row Racing slot car set.

By: Mark Wick

Mark Wick — Fri, 27 May 2011 10:34:42 +0000

One lessen it took me many years to learn is when you want to say something that can’t produce anything positive, don’t.