Joe Leonard

Joe Leonard (* August 4, 1932 in San Diego ) is a former American professional motorcycle and car racers.

Joe Leonard won his first AMA Grand National titles, the AMA Grand National Championship is a national U.S. Motorcycle Championship, 1954. 1956 and 1957 he was able to re- secure the overall rating of this championship. Overall, he was victorious in 27 races, topsy 1957 and 1958 in the 200 Miles of Daytona.

1961 Leonard moved to four wheels and was 1964-1974 regularly engaged in the USAC series. Nine times he competed in the 500 miles of Indianapolis. He was on a Parnelli - Offenhauser third in 1972. In 1968, he started from pole position, but the race on the turbine Lotus 56- Pratt & Whitney was able to finish in twelfth. He led the race car of Andy Granatelli to 10 laps before the Lotus had a defect of the gas turbine.

In his successful career, Leonard reached 60 top ten finishes. Six races he won in 1971 and 1972 and decide the championship. In addition to John Surtees he is the only racer to have won both a motorcycle as well as car racing championships. Leonard is in the USA a popular size and is a member of ten Hall of Fames. Today, the grandfather enjoying his retirement.