Jason Fitch Pro Driver
Number of posts : 664 Age : 44 Location : Frankfort, IN Registration date : 2015-04-18
| Subject: RIP Smokin Joe Sun 30 Apr 2017 - 3:21 | |
| These things tend to come in 3's.
Joe Leonard passed away Thursday, April, 27th, he was 84.
For us here, Joe was the 2-time USAC National Drivers Champion in 71 and 72. He also sat on the pole at Indy in one of the Lotus Turbines. His accomplishments also included 27 national wins, including 2 wins in the Daytona 200 in motorcycles before he turned to cars.
| |
|
Bob Holada Club Driver
Number of posts : 119 Age : 73 Location : Fort Wayne, Indiana Registration date : 2016-05-17
| Subject: Re: RIP Smokin Joe Sun 30 Apr 2017 - 4:33 | |
| - Jason Fitch wrote:
These things tend to come in 3's.
Joe Leonard passed away Thursday, April, 27th, he was 84.
For us here, Joe was the 2-time USAC National Drivers Champion in 71 and 72. He also sat on the pole at Indy in one of the Lotus Turbines. His accomplishments also included 27 national wins, including 2 wins in the Daytona 200 in motorcycles before he turned to cars. Allways a match to the Unsers,Andretti,Johncock. Maybe not as Charismatic but a hard charging smart racer. Rest in peace Joe. | |
|
Jason White Racing Legend
Number of posts : 14725 Age : 47 Location : Ferndale, MI USA Registration date : 2011-12-25
| Subject: Re: RIP Smokin Joe Sun 30 Apr 2017 - 7:08 | |
| | |
|
Jason White Racing Legend
Number of posts : 14725 Age : 47 Location : Ferndale, MI USA Registration date : 2011-12-25
| Subject: Re: RIP Smokin Joe Sun 30 Apr 2017 - 7:36 | |
| A winner on both two and four wheels Indy pole 1968 1971 1972 With Al, Mario and Parnelli in '72 1973 1974 (Joe's last race) Later in life, holding his metallic blue Samsonite helmet | |
|
Frank Verplanken League Owner
Number of posts : 13574 Age : 48 Location : Nice, France Registration date : 2008-09-08
| Subject: Re: RIP Smokin Joe Sun 30 Apr 2017 - 12:04 | |
| Yes very sad news indeed . A very underrated driver, and certainly one of the most overlooked Indycar champions ever. He was even despised by many back in the day because he won his titles thanks to his consistency (and thanks to the points system) while his team-mate Al Unser won many races but was not as consistent. At least his fans from his AMA days knew how good he truly was ! Not as known as Leonard was Billy Scott, who passed away on the 23rd of this month. Scott had a handful of Indycar starts in the 1970s, including the 1976 Indy 500. RIP racers. | |
|
Sponsored content
| Subject: Re: RIP Smokin Joe | |
| |
|