# Johnny Rutherford

John Sherman Rutherford III (born March 12, 1938), also known as "Lone Star JR", is an American former automobile racing driver. During an Indy Car career that spanned more than three decades, he scored 27 wins and 23 pole positions in 314 starts. He became one of six drivers to win the Indianapolis 500 at least three times, winning in 1974, 1976, and 1980. He also won the CART championship in 1980.
Rutherford began racing modified stock cars in 1959 and he also dabbled in stock car racing, making 35 NASCAR Cup Series starts from 1963 to 1988. Rutherford won in his first start, at Daytona International Speedway driving for Smokey Yunick. This made him one of the youngest drivers ever to win a NASCAR points-paying race, as well as only the sixth racer in history to win in their NASCAR debut race, a distinction not again achieved until SuperCars racer Shane van Gisbergen won in his NASCAR debut in 2023.

## Racing career

In 1959, Rutherford started driving modified stock cars in Dallas. He joined the International Motor Contest Association sprint car circuit in 1961 leading it for most of 1962. Rutherford later joined the United States Auto Club (USAC) starting in the Hoosier Hundred and later winning his first championship.
Rutherford won his qualifying heat race for the 1963 Daytona 500, becoming the youngest winner of a Duel as a championship race, a record that would stand as the races were taken off the championship schedule in 1971 (though it has since been broken, the race was not a championship race when it happened). Later that year he also had his first start in the Indianapolis 500. Rutherford's first Indy car race win took place at the Atlanta 250. He won the USAC National Sprint Car Championship in 1965.
Rutherford made his first start in the Indianapolis 500 in 1963. The following year he was directly behind Eddie Sachs when Sachs plowed into the burning car of Dave MacDonald, killing both drivers. Rutherford miraculously squeezed between the crash and the wall, passing so close to Sachs' car that a lemon that Sachs wore on a string around his neck was found inside Rutherford's engine compartment.
On April 3, 1966, Rutherford suffered a serious crash at Eldora Speedway. His car flipped out of the track, and he suffered broken arms, a broken finger, and a head injury. He was forced to sit out the 1966 Indy 500 and the rest of the season. He struggled without a competitive ride for the next several seasons. He raised his profile by qualifying a surprising 2nd for the 1970 500. He was back with a top-flight ride when he joined the McLaren team in 1973.
Rutherford won pole position at the Indianapolis 500 in 1973, 1976, and 1980. In 1973, Rutherford set a one-lap track record of 199.071 mph, falling just shy of becoming the first driver to break the 200 mph barrier at Indianapolis. His long-awaited second career win came at the Ontario Motor Speedway in 1973, and victories at the Indianapolis 500 followed in 1974, 1976 and 1980. In 1984, at Michigan International Speedway, Rutherford set an all time Indy car qualifying lap speed record of 215.189 mph. His win in the 1986 Michigan 500 at age 48 made him the oldest winner of a 500-mile race, a record that still stands. From 1973 to 1981 Rutherford recorded nine straight seasons with a victory making him one of just six drivers in Indy Car history to do so.
In October 1977, Rutherford travelled 'down under' to compete in Australia's most famous motor race, the Bathurst 1000 km (600 mi) touring car race at the Mount Panorama Circuit. There, partnering fellow Indianapolis racer Janet Guthrie (who earlier that year had become the first woman to qualify for the Indianapolis 500), Rutherford drove a V8 powered Holden Torana for the team that had won the 1976 race, Ron Hodgson Motors. Driving a completely unfamiliar car (Australian cars have the steering wheel on the right side of the car) on a 6.172 km (3.835 mi) public road course carved into the side of a mountain, Rutherford qualified 26th out of 60 starters. During practice he complained about his car as it was not as good as the teams lead car driven by 1976 winners Bob Morris and John Fitzpatrick (JR was 8.2 seconds slower). Morris then got in the car and while not as quick as his own Torana, easily lapped over 5 seconds faster showing the problem was simply JR's lack of familiarity with the car and track. Wisely, JR made a cautious start to the race (another new experience was the standing start), but his race would come effectively to an end on lap 8 when he attempted to lap the Ford Escort RS2000 of 1966 winner Bob Holden. The Torana and Escort made contact and Rutherford ended up crashing into an earth bank at the top of The Mountain. The bent Torana was then brought back to the pits on the back of a tilt-tray truck (with the race still going at full speed and cars passing the truck going along the 2 km long Conrod Straight at over 150 mph (241 km/h)). It was then disqualified before being reinstated. Rutherford then completed another 5 laps before finally retiring with Guthrie not getting to drive.
Rutherford's NASCAR Winston Cup career included 35 starts from 1963 to 1988. He won in his first start, at Daytona International Speedway driving for Smokey Yunick. The win, in the second 100-mile Daytona 500 qualifying race, made him one of the youngest drivers ever to win a full points-paying NASCAR race, as well as the only driver to date to have won in their first start in the Cup Series. (Until 1971, the qualifying races were full points-paying races.) In 1981, Rutherford drove twelve races, the most he ever raced in a single NASCAR season. In addition, Rutherford competed in five runnings of the International Race of Champions – 1975, 1977, 1978, 1980 and 1984.

## Post-racing career

Rutherford's 24th and final start at the Indianapolis 500 would come in 1988. By that time he was running only a part-time schedule, and was splitting time working as a television analyst on NBC, CBS, and ESPN. Starting in 1989, Rutherford also began serving as the driver analyst on the IMS Radio Network, a position he would hold in most years through 2002.
When not racing or working in broadcasting, Rutherford served as the pace car driver for the CART series. He also served as a driver coach, evaluating rookies during rookie orientation and rookie tests. He failed to qualify at Indy in three attempts (1989, 1990, 1992) and was not able to secure a ride in 1991 or 1993. During the month of May 1994, Rutherford officially retired from racing. He was never able to achieve his milestone 25th Indy 500 start.
At the inception of the Indy Racing League in 1996, Rutherford took a full-time position as an official, serving as pace car driver (until 2016) and driver coach. Rutherford also served as a racing consultant for Team Pennzoil, and later, as an ambassador for Arrow McLaren.

## Personal life

Although "Lone Star JR" proudly displayed the flag of Texas on his racing helmet, Rutherford was actually born in Coffeyville, Kansas and moved to Texas at a young age.
Johnny met Betty Hoyer, a nurse, at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in 1963 when he was taking his rookie test. They married two months later and were a highly visible and inseparable couple throughout Johnny's racing career. His first Indy 500 win in 1974, with Betty looking on from the pits, helped to end the superstition in American racing against allowing women in the pit area.
Rutherford was the honorary chairman of the Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance in 2006.
Rutherford was a talented artist during his school, and after the conclusion of his racing career devoted time to renewing his skill. Rutherford's art was featured on the program cover of the 2021 Indianapolis 500.
Rutherford, who has been invited to The White House on behalf of Indy on multiple occasions, is considered a popular ambassador and spokesman for the sport of Indy car racing.

## Awards

* Inducted into the International Motorsports Hall of Fame in 1996
* Inducted in the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame in 1995
* Inducted in the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America in 1996
* Inducted in the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Hall of Fame in 1987

## Motorsports career results
### NASCAR

(key) (Bold – Pole position awarded by qualifying time. Italics – Pole position earned by points standings or practice time. * – Most laps led.)

#### Grand National Series

NASCAR Grand National Series results :
| Year | Team | No. | Make | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | 32 | 33 | 34 | 35 | 36 | 37 | 38 | 39 | 40 | 41 | 42 | 43 | 44 | 45 | 46 | 47 | 48 | 49 | 50 | 51 | 52 | 53 | 54 | 55 | 56 | 57 | 58 | 59 | 60 | 61 | 62 | NGNC | Pts |
| 1963 | Smokey Yunick | 13 | Chevy | BIR | GGS | THS | RSD | DAY | DAY 1 | DAY 9 | PIF | AWS | HBO | ATL | HCY | BRI | AUG | RCH | GPS | SBO | BGS | MAR | NWS | CLB | THS | DAR | ODS | RCH | CLT | BIR | ATL | DAY | MBS | SVH | DTS | BGS | ASH | OBS | BRR | BRI | GPS | NSV | CLB | AWS | PIF | BGS | ONA | DAR | HCY | RCH | MAR | DTS | NWS | THS | CLT | SBO | HBO | RSD | | | | | | | | NA | - |
| 1964 | Bud Moore Engineering | 01 | Mercury | CON | AUG | JSP | SVH | RSD | DAY 18 | DAY | DAY 26 | RCH | BRI | GPS | BGS | ATL | AWS | HBO | PIF | CLB | NWS | MAR | SVH | DAR | LGY | HCY | SBO | CLT | GPS | ASH | ATL | CON | NSV | CHT | BIR | VAL | PIF | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | NA | - |
| 1964 | Holman-Moody | 0 | Ford | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | DAY 7 | ODS | OBS | BRR | ISP | GLN | LIN | BRI | NSV | MBS | AWS | DTS | ONA | CLB | BGS | STR | DAR | HCY | RCH | ODS | HBO | MAR | SVH | NWS | CLT | HAR | AUG | JAC | NA | - |
| 1965 | | 77 | Ford | RSD | DAY | DAY | DAY | PIF | ASW | RCH | HBO | ATL 13 | GPS | NWS | MAR | CLB | BRI | DAR | LGY | BGS | HCY | CLT | CCF | ASH | HAR | NSV | BIR | ATL | GPS | MBS | VAL | DAY | ODS | OBS | ISP | GLN | BRI | NSV | CCF | AWS | SMR | PIF | AUG | CLB | DTS | BLV | BGS | DAR | HCY | LIN | ODS | RCH | MAR | NWS | CLT | HBO | CAR | DTS | | | | | | | | NA | - |
| 1966 | Curtis Satterfield | 33 | Chevy | AUG | RSD | DAY 23 | DAY | DAY 28 | CAR | BRI | ATL | HCY | CLB | GPS | BGS | NWS | MAR | DAR | LGY | MGR | MON | RCH | CLT | DTS | ASH | PIF | SMR | AWS | BLV | GPS | DAY | ODS | BRR | OXF | FON | ISP | BRI | SMR | NSV | ATL | CLB | AWS | BLV | BGS | DAR | HCY | RCH | HBO | MAR | NWS | CLT | CAR | | | | | | | | | | | | | | NA | - |

#### Winston Cup Series

NASCAR Winston Cup Series results :
| Year | Team | No. | Make | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | NWCC | Pts |
| 1972 | Donlavey Racing | 90 | Ford | RSD | DAY | RCH | ONT | CAR | ATL | BRI | DAR | NWS | MAR | TAL | CLT | DOV | MCH | RSD | TWS | DAY | BRI | TRN | ATL | TAL | MCH | NSV | DAR | RCH | DOV | MAR | NWS | CLT | CAR | TWS 26 | NA | - |
| 1973 | B & B Racing | 61 | Chevy | RSD | DAY | RCH | CAR | BRI | ATL | NWS | DAR | MAR | TAL | NSV | CLT | DOV | TWS | RSD | MCH | DAY | BRI | ATL | TAL | NSV | DAR | RCH | DOV | NWS | MAR | CLT | CAR 13 | | | | NA | - |
| 1974 | B & B Racing | 61 | Chevy | RSD | DAY 24 | RCH | CAR | BRI | ATL | DAR | NWS | MAR | TAL | NSV | DOV | CLT | RSD | MCH | DAY 39 | BRI | NSV | ATL | POC | TAL | MCH | DAR | RCH | DOV | NWS | MAR | | | | | 82nd | 4.16 |
| 1974 | Howard & Egerton Racing | 1 | Chevy | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | CLT 24 | CAR | ONT | | 82nd | 4.16 |
| 1975 | DiGard Motorsports | 08 | Chevy | RSD | DAY 27 | RCH | CAR | BRI | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | NA | - |
| 1975 | Norris Reed | 83 | Chevy | | | | | | ATL 32 | NWS | DAR | MAR | TAL | NSV | DOV | CLT | RSD | MCH | DAY 40 | NSV | POC | TAL | MCH | DAR | DOV | NWS | MAR | CLT 34 | RCH | CAR | BRI | ATL | ONT | | NA | - |
| 1976 | Johnny Ray | 77 | Chevy | RSD | DAY | CAR | RCH | BRI | ATL | NWS | DAR | MAR | TAL | NSV | DOV | CLT | RSD | MCH | DAY 20 | NSV | POC | TAL | MCH | BRI | DAR | RCH | DOV | MAR | NWS | CLT 31 | CAR | ATL | ONT | | NA | - |
| 1977 | Johnny Ray | 77 | Chevy | RSD | DAY 41 | RCH | CAR | ATL 40 | NWS | DAR | BRI | MAR | TAL | NSV | DOV | CLT | RSD | MCH | DAY | NSV | POC | | | | | | | | | | | | | | NA | - |
| 1977 | A. J. Foyt Enterprises | 51 | Chevy | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | TAL 21 | MCH | BRI | DAR | RCH | DOV | MAR | NWS | CLT | CAR | ATL | ONT | | NA | - |
| 1981 | Benfield Racing | 98 | Pontiac | RSD | DAY 10 | RCH | CAR 12 | ATL 12 | BRI | NWS | DAR 28 | MAR | TAL | NSV | DOV | CLT | TWS | RSD | MCH 17 | DAY 5 | NSV | POC | TAL | MCH 13 | BRI | DAR 33 | RCH 31 | DOV | MAR | NWS | | | | | 33rd | 1140 |
| 1981 | Benfield Racing | 98 | Buick | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | CLT 27 | CAR 29 | ATL 37 | RSD | 33rd | 1140 |
| 1988 | Bob Clark Motorsports | 31 | Olds | DAY | RCH | CAR | ATL | DAR | BRI | NWS | MAR | TAL | CLT | DOV | RSD | POC | MCH | DAY | POC | TAL | GLN | MCH | BRI | DAR | RCH | DOV | MAR | CLT | NWS | CAR | PHO 39 | ATL | | | 89th | 46 |

#### Daytona 500

| Year | Team | Manufacturer | Start | Finish |
| 1963 | Smokey Yunick | Chevrolet | 4 | 9 |
| 1964 | Bud Moore Engineering | Mercury | 35 | 26 |
| 1966 | Curtis Satterfield | Chevrolet | 42 | 28 |
| 1974 | B & B Racing | Chevrolet | 17 | 24 |
| 1975 | DiGard Motorsports | Chevrolet | 11 | 27 |
| 1977 | Johnny Ray | Chevrolet | 40 | 41 |
| 1981 | Benfield Racing | Pontiac | 35 | 10 |

### International Race of Champions

(key) (Bold – Pole position. * – Most laps led.)
International Race of Champions results :
| Year | Make | Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Pos. | Pts |
| 1974–75 | Chevy | | | | MCH 8 | RSD 9 | RSD 7 | DAY 9 | 9th | - |
| 1976–77 | Chevy | | | | MCH 2 | RSD 5 | RSD 7 | DAY 5 | 4th | - |
| 1977–78 | Chevy | | | | MCH 8 | RSD 7 | RSD 9 | DAY 9 | 9th | - |
| 1978–79 | Chevy | MCH | MCH 6 | RSD | RSD | ATL | | | NA | - |
| 1979–80 | Chevy | MCH | MCH 4 | RSD | RSD 6 | ATL 3 | | | 6th | 24 |
| 1984 | Chevy | | | | MCH 6 | CLE 9 | TAL 4 | MCH 9 | 8th | 33 |

### American open–wheel racing results

(key)

#### Complete USAC Championship Car results

| Year | Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | Pos | Points |
| 1962 | Fred Sclavi | TRE | INDY | MIL | LAN | TRE | SPR | MIL | LAN | SYR | ISF 15 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 25th | 80 |
| 1962 | Federal Engineering | | | | | | | | | | | TRE 14 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 25th | 80 |
| 1962 | Ollie Prather | | | | | | | | | | | | SAC 7 | PHX 11 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 25th | 80 |
| 1963 | Dayton-Walther | TRE 10 | INDY DNQ | MIL 20 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 10th | 640 |
| 1963 | Ed Kostenuk | | INDY 29 | | LAN 7 | TRE 16 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 10th | 640 |
| 1963 | Racing Associates | | | | | | SPR 5 | MIL 7 | DUQ 10 | ISF 4 | TRE 6 | SAC 17 | PHX 11 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 10th | 640 |
| 1964 | Racing Associates | PHX 21 | TRE Wth | INDY 27 | MIL 22 | LAN 12 | TRE 17 | SPR 17 | MIL 5 | DUQ 7 | ISF 18 | TRE Wth | SAC 14 | PHX 23 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 21st | 270 |
| 1965 | Racing Associates | PHX 15 | | INDY 31 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 12th | 993 |
| 1965 | Beletsky | | TRE 11 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 12th | 993 |
| 1965 | J. Frank Harrison | | | | MIL 15 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 12th | 993 |
| 1965 | Gilbert Morcroft | | | | | LAN DNQ | PPR | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 12th | 993 |
| 1965 | Leader Cards | | | | | | | TRE DNS | IRP 11 | ATL 1 | LAN 8 | MIL 13 | SPR 4 | MIL 24 | DSF 5 | ISF 6 | TRE 16 | SAC 6 | PHX 22 | | | | | | | | | | | | | 12th | 993 |
| 1966 | Leader Cards | PHX 18 | TRE | INDY | MIL | LAN | ATL | PIP | IRP | LAN | SPR | MIL | DUQ | ISF | TRE | SAC | PHX | | | | | | | | | | | | | - | 0 |
| 1967 | W & W Enterprises | PHX | TRE | INDY 25 | MIL 12 | LAN 10 | PIP | MOS 14 | MOS 14 | IRP 13 | LAN 20 | MTR 15 | MTR | SPR 16 | MIL 25 | DUQ 11 | ISF 16 | TRE Wth | SAC 5 | HAN 23 | PHX 22 | RIV 8 | | | | | | | | 21st | 315 |
| 1968 | E.R.E. Enterprises | HAN 20 | LVG 11 | PHX 17 | TRE | INDY 18 | MIL 4 | MOS | MOS | LAN | PIP | CDR 20 | NAZ | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 18th | 890 |
| 1968 | Mitchner Racing | | | | | | | | | | | | | IRP 24 | IRP 20 | | | MTR 5 | MTR 5 | SPR | MIL 11 | DUQ | ISF | TRE 5 | SAC | MCH 16 | HAN 25 | PHX 17 | RIV 6 | 18th | 890 |
| 1968 | Gerhardt | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | LAN 25 | LAN | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 18th | 890 |
| 1969 | Patrick Racing | PHX DNS | HAN 4 | INDY 29 | MIL 5 | LAN 15 | PIP | CDR 11 | NAZ | TRE 22 | IRP Wth | IRP | MIL Wth | SPR | | | | BRN 11 | BRN | TRE 12 | SAC | KEN 19 | KEN | PHX 4 | RIV 5 | | | | | 11th | 1.130 |
| 1969 | Leader Cards | | | | | | | | | | | | | | DOV 7 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 11th | 1.130 |
| 1969 | Tim Delrose | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | DUQ 14 | ISF DNQ | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 11th | 1.130 |
| 1970 | Patrick Racing | PHX | SON 5 | TRE 20 | INDY 18 | MIL 14 | LAN DNQ | CDR | MCH 3 | IRP 17 | SPR 11 | MIL 21 | ONT 31 | DUQ 11 | ISF DNQ | SED 12 | TRE 4 | SAC 13 | PHX 6 | | | | | | | | | | | 12th | 960 |
| 1971 | Vollstedt | RAF 7 | RAF 20 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 19th | 570 |
| 1971 | Patrick Racing | | | PHX 21 | TRE 17 | INDY 18 | MIL 6 | POC 7 | MCH 10 | MIL | ONT 26 | TRE Wth | PHX 22 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 19th | 570 |
| 1972 | Patrick Racing | PHX 13 | TRE Wth | INDY 27 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 7th | 1,620 |
| 1972 | Gerhardt | | | | MIL 21 | MCH 16 | POC 2 | MIL 3 | ONT 10 | TRE 6 | PHX 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 7th | 1,620 |
| 1973 | Team McLaren | TWS 4 | TRE 15 | TRE | INDY 9 | MIL 5 | POC 5 | MCH 2 | MIL 18 | ONT | ONT 1 | ONT 31 | MCH 3 | MCH 1 | TRE 4 | TWS 2 | PHX Wth | | | | | | | | | | | | | 3rd | 2.595 |
| 1974 | Team McLaren | ONT | ONT 1 | ONT 27 | PHX 7 | TRE 6 | INDY 1 | MIL 1 | POC 1 | MCH 4 | MIL 5 | MCH 9 | TRE 4 | TRE 7 | PHX 7 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 2nd | 3,650 |
| 1975 | Team McLaren | ONT | ONT 2 | ONT 17 | PHX 1 | TRE 2 | INDY 2 | MIL 3 | POC 6 | MCH 6 | MIL 13 | MCH 2 | TRE 3 | PHX 11 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 2nd | 2,900 |
| 1976 | Team McLaren | PHX 18 | TRE 1 | INDY 1 | MIL 9 | POC 4 | MCH 2 | TWS 3 | TRE 7 | MIL 3 | ONT 2 | MCH 11 | TWS 1 | PHX 16 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 2nd | 4,220 |
| 1977 | Team McLaren | ONT 25 | PHX 1 | TWS 4 | TRE 8 | INDY 33 | MIL 1 | POC 5 | MOS 9 | MCH 3 | TWS 1 | MIL 1 | ONT 24 | MCH 2 | PHX 22 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 3rd | 2.840 |
| 1978 | Team McLaren | PHX 16 | ONT 13 | TWS 19 | TRE 10 | INDY 13 | MOS 8 | MIL 2 | POC 2 | MCH 1 | ATL 2 | TWS 2 | MIL 8 | ONT 11 | MCH 13 | TRE 11 | SIL 5 | BRH 3 | PHX 1 | | | | | | | | | | | 4th | 3,067 |
| 1979 | Team McLaren | ONT | TWS | INDY 18 | MIL | POC | TWS | MIL | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - | 0 |
| 1980 | Chaparral Cars | ONT 1 | INDY 1 | MIL 2 | POC 2 | MDO 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 1st | 2,740 |
| 1981-82 | Chaparral Cars | INDY 32 | POC | ILL | DUQ | ISF | INDY 8 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - | 0 |
| 1982-83 | Patrick Racing | SPR | DUQ | NAZ | INDY Wth | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - | 0 |
| 1983-84 | Gilmore Racing | DUQ | INDY 22 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 25th | 15 |

#### PPG Indycar Series

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position)
| Year | Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | Rank | Points |
| 1979 | Team McLaren | PHX 3 | ATL 1 | ATL 1 | INDY 18 | TRE 15 | TRE 3 | MCH 3 | MCH 11 | WGL 15 | TRE 5 | ONT 4 | MCH 4 | ATL 11 | PHX 6 | | | | 4th | 2163 |
| 1980 | Chaparral Cars | ONT 1 | INDY 1 | MIL 2 | POC 2 | MDO 1 | MCH 1 | WGL 5 | MIL 1 | ONT 2 | MCH 4 | MEX 10 | PHX 13 | | | | | | 1st | 4723 |
| 1981 | Chaparral Cars | PHX 1 | MIL 6 | ATL 2 | ATL 3 | MCH 22 | RIV 21 | MIL 4 | MCH 20 | WGL 2 | MEX 26 | PHX 21 | | | | | | | 5th | 120 |
| 1982 | Chaparral Cars | PHX 4 | ATL DNS | MIL 15 | CLE 23 | MCH 28 | MIL 17 | POC 12 | RIV 3 | ROA 12 | MCH DNS | PHX 21 | | | | | | | 12th | 62 |
| 1983 | Patrick Racing | ATL 18 | INDY Wth | MIL | CLE | MCH | ROA | POC 21 | RIV | MDO | MCH 23 | CPL 24 | LAG DNQ | PHX 20 | | | | | NC | 0 |
| 1984 | Doug Shierson Racing | LBH | PHX | INDY DNQ | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 22nd | 20 |
| 1984 | Gilmore Racing | | | INDY 22 | MIL | POR | MEA | CLE | MCH 7 | ROA | POC 28 | MDO | | | | | | | 22nd | 20 |
| 1984 | Team Penske | | | | | | | | | | | | SAN 5 | MCH 14 | PHX 11 | LAG | CPL | | 22nd | 20 |
| 1985 | Alex Morales Motorsports | LBH 10 | INDY 6 | MIL 23 | POR 9 | MEA 14 | CLE 15 | MCH 4 | ROA DNS | POC 14 | MDO 22 | SAN 1 | MCH 9 | LAG 21 | PHX 26 | MIA 19 | | | 11th | 51 |
| 1986 | Alex Morales Motorsports | PHX 5 | LBH 9 | INDY 8 | MIL 4 | POR 15 | MEA 7 | CLE 10 | TOR 10 | MCH 1 | POC 18 | MDO 8 | SAN 16 | MCH 9 | ROA 14 | LAG 12 | PHX 9 | MIA 12 | 11th | 78 |
| 1987 | Alex Morales Motorsports | LBH 23 | PHX 9 | INDY 11 | MIL 9 | POR 7 | MEA 11 | CLE 9 | TOR 21 | MCH 28 | POC 26 | ROA 24 | MDO 12 | NAZ 20 | LAG 15 | MIA 16 | | | 18th | 23 |
| 1988 | King Racing | PHX | LBH | INDY 22 | MIL | POR | CLE | TOR | MEA | | | | | | | | | | 43rd | 0 |
| 1988 | A. J. Foyt Enterprises | | | | | | | | | MCH 18 | POC | MDO | ROA | NAZ | LAG | MIA | | | 43rd | 0 |
| 1989 | Team Menard | PHX | LBH | INDY DNQ | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 27th | 3 |
| 1989 | A. J. Foyt Enterprises | | | INDY DNQ | MIL | DET | POR | CLE | MEA | TOR | | | | | | | | | 27th | 3 |
| 1989 | Stoops Racing | | | | | | | | | | MCH 10 | POC 13 | MDO | ROA | | | | | 27th | 3 |
| 1989 | Machinists Union Racing | | | | | | | | | | | | | | NAZ DNS | LAG | | | 27th | 3 |
| 1990 | Stoops Racing | PHX | LBH | INDY DNQ | MIL | DET | POR | CLE | MEA | TOR | MCH | DEN | VAN | MDO | ROA | NAZ | LAG | | NC | - |
| 1992 | Walker Racing | SRF | PHX | LBH | INDY DNQ | DET | POR | MIL | NHA | TOR | MCH | CLE | ROA | VAN | MDO | NAZ | LAG | | NC | - |

#### Indy 500 results

| Year | Chassis | Engine | Start | Finish | Team/Entrant |
| 1963 | Watson | Offy | 26th | 29th | Ed Kostenuk |
| 1964 | Watson | Offy | 15th | 27th | Racing Associates |
| 1965 | Halibrand | Ford | 11th | 31st | Racing Associates |
| 1966 | Did not compete due to injury | Did not compete due to injury | Did not compete due to injury | Did not compete due to injury | Did not compete due to injury |
| 1967 | Eagle | Ford | 19th | 25th | W&W Enterprises |
| 1968 | Eagle | Ford | 21st | 18th | Alan Green |
| 1969 | Eagle | Offy | 17th | 29th | Michner Petroleum |
| 1970 | Eagle | Offy | 2nd | 18th | Michner Petroleum |
| 1971 | Eagle | Offy | 24th | 18th | Michner Petroleum |
| 1972 | Brabham | Offy | 8th | 27th | Michner-Patrick Racing |
| 1973 | McLaren | Offy | 1st | 9th | McLaren Intl |
| 1974 | McLaren | Offy | 25th | 1st | McLaren Intl |
| 1975 | McLaren | Offy | 7th | 2nd | McLaren Intl |
| 1976 | McLaren | Offy | 1st | 1st | McLaren Intl |
| 1977 | McLaren | Cosworth | 17th | 33rd | McLaren Intl |
| 1978 | McLaren | Cosworth | 4th | 13th | McLaren Intl |
| 1979 | McLaren | Cosworth | 8th | 18th | McLaren Intl |
| 1980 | Chaparral | Cosworth | 1st | 1st | Chaparral Racing |
| 1981 | Chaparral | Cosworth | 5th | 32nd | Chaparral Racing |
| 1982 | Chaparral | Cosworth | 12th | 8th | Chaparral Racing |
| 1983 | Wildcat | Cosworth | Practice Crash | Practice Crash | Patrick Racing |
| 1984 | March | Cosworth | 30th | 22nd | Foyt |
| 1985 | March | Cosworth | 30th | 6th | Morales |
| 1986 | March | Cosworth | 12th | 8th | Morales |
| 1987 | March | Cosworth | 8th | 11th | Morales |
| 1988 | Lola | Buick | 30th | 22nd | King Racing |
| 1989 | Lola | Cosworth | Failed to Qualify | Failed to Qualify | Foyt |
| 1990 | Lola | Cosworth | Failed to Qualify | Failed to Qualify | Stoops Racing |
| 1991 | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter |
| 1992 | Lola | Chevrolet | Failed to Qualify | Failed to Qualify | Walker Racing |
| 1994 | Retired | Retired | Retired | Retired | Retired |