Joe Leonard

Motorcycle champion turned Indianapolis 500 driver.

Joe Leonard (1932-2017) was an American motorcycle racer and racing driver.

Quick Facts

Birth name: Joseph Paul Leonard
Born: 4 August 1932
Birthplace: San Diego, California, U.S.
Died: 27 April 2017
Place of death: San Jose, California, U.S.

Lore & Background

He won the first AMA Grand National Championship in 1954 and again in 1956 and 1957, with 27 wins including two Daytona 200s. He then moved to car racing; at Indianapolis he drove the Lotus 56 in the 1968 race.

More in Series History

Tony Hulman Gil de Ferran Tony Kanaan Roger Penske Mario Andretti A.J. Foyt First Indianapolis 500 (1911)Chip Ganassi

Elsewhere in IndyCar

The Yard of Bricks · Stadium & Culture Louis Meyer · Honours & Records Al Unser Jr. · Legendary Players Bill Vukovich · Legendary Players 2013 Indianapolis 500 (Tony Kanaan's emotional win) · Iconic Matches Panther Racing · Teams & Constructors

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