Joe Leonard (AMA and USAC champion)

[NaBUru38]

http://www.racer.com/indycar/item/14...nard-1932-2017

"Joe Leonard was the AMA Grand National champion in 1954, 1956 and 1957 before retiring in 1961 to concentrate on cars, and Gurney gave him a shot in 1965.

At Langhorne, Kenyon crashed and was knocked out as his car was engulfed in fire. As he sat slumped in his burning roadster, Leonard jumped out of his damaged car and pulled Kenyon to safety.

In 1968, Leonard won the pole at Indy in Andy Granatelli's turbine and was nine laps away from victory when his fuel pump broke.

He was snapped up by Parnelli Jones in 1971 and scored the first of his back-to-back USAC titles. For 1972 he was paired with Andretti and Unser in the Firestone-backed Super Team. Pelican clinched the crown with three races to go."

[owrforever]

This snap was taken at the 1972 Bettenhausen 200, at Milwaukee. Joe is at the wheel of the VPJ1 "Samsonite Suitcase Special," designed by Maurice Philippe, and was commonly referred to as the dihedral car.[IMG]

[skycafe]

He twice won the Daytona 200 motorcycle race, on the beach, along with many other motorcycle victories on the dirt tracks. He was a 'tough SOB' as AJ Foyt commented.

[jimclark]

Originally Posted by NaBUru38

http://www.racer.com/indycar/item/14...nard-1932-2017
In 1968, Leonard won the pole at Indy in Andy Granatelli's turbine and was nine laps away from victory when his fuel pump broke.

RIP Joe.

(NaBUru38 - I PMd you)