Gordon
Johncock proudly poses alongside his trophy after winning the Tony Bettenhausen
Memorial 200-miler at the Milwaukee Mile. – Armin Kreuger Photo
Milwaukee, Wis. (August 22, 1965) – Gordon Johncock of Hastings, Mich., outlasted Joe Leonard of San Jose, Calif., Sunday to win the 200-mile Tony Bettenhausen Memorial at State Fair Park Speedway.
Johncock and Leonard dueled wheel-to-wheel the final 55 miles, swapping the lead three times, before Leonard’s engine failed on the final lap.
Leonard coasted home in fifth, while A.J. Foyt of Houston, Tex., was runner-up to Johncock.
Johncock, who drove a rea-engine Offenhauser, averaged 100.74 miles per hour. He pocketed $11,875 for his efforts.
Foyt’s Lotus-Ford arrived too late for the race, but the two-time Indianapolis 500 winner grabbed the pole position in a dirt track Offy with a top qualifying speed of 107.88 miles per hour.
He led the first three miles before Dan Gurney of Costa Mesa, Calif., and Mario Andretti of Nazareth, Penn., took over.
Gurney and Andretti thrilled the crowd of 30,905 with their spirited battle until Andretti’s engine blew at the 127-mile mark. Gurney went to the pit area three laps later with a fuel line break and Foyt moved ahead, only to have Leonard take command on the 144th lap.
Fifteen laps later, Johncock took the lead for two laps, then Leonard, winner of the earlier 150-mile big car race which initiated the State Fair’s racing program, charged back in front. Johncock edged ahead to stay on the 174th lap.
Results –
1. Gordon Johncock, Hastings, Mich.
2. A.J. Foyt, Houston, Tex.
3. Lloyd Ruby, Wichita Falls, Tex.
4. Roger McCluskey, Tucson, Ariz.
5. Joe Leonard, San Jose, Calif.
6. Jim McElreath, Arlington, Tex.
7. Al Unser, Albuquerque, N.M.
8. Bobby Grim, Indianapolis
9. Jud Larson, Kansas City
10.Chuck Rodee, Indianapolis
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