Champions aren’t born; they’re made. We see it played out before our eyes regardless of the sport.
It’s the rare convergence of unwavering desire, total commitment, and immense talent that produces champions. Legends? Well, they’re champions that have all that, and more, much more.
Johnny O’Connell is a sports car racing legend.
Some of his accomplishments include four wins at the 24 Hours of Le Mans and the overall winner of the Rolex 24 at Daytona in 2001. Johnny is also Sebring’s all-time winner with one overall victory and eight class titles.
He is a three-time ALMS Champion with 38 ALMS wins. Johnny holds ALMS records for most starts (102), most podium finishes (80), most top-five finishes (93), and most top-10 finishes (100).
In the eyes of many, Johnny O’Connell is the premier American Corvette race car driver of his generation and one of the most successful sports car racing drivers of the modern era.
Recently we had the privilege of spending some time with Johnny as he served as the Grand Marshall of “The Mitty” Historic Sportscar Racing event at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta.
What follows is the edited transcript of that conversation. Enjoy!
Early Desire
Rod Worley – Editor – Johnny, you’re considered by many to be one of the most successful sports car racing drivers of the modern era. When do you know you wanted to make racing your life’s passion?
Johnny O’Connell – Corvette & Sebring Hall of Fame – Rod, I think it was honestly about the first grade when I first started dreaming about it, but it was in the second grade I locked in.
My teacher at that time was teaching us about what it means to be an American, and when she went over that in the U.S., you could be whatever you wanted to be….. well, race driver was all I could come up with.
Joining Corvette Racing
Rod Worley – Editor – You’ve had 41 victories with Corvette Racing over your illustrious career. Yet, not many people know the story of how you first got on the team. Can you share the path you took to join Corvette Racing?
Johnny O’Connell – Corvette & Sebring Hall of Fame – That’s actually sort of interesting. I had been racing proto-types for Don Panoz. Sadly, each year he would hire a different team manager that usually wanted to bring in their own drivers.
I could sense things were not going in a positive direction there, so I called Doug Fehan. I only got his voice mail, but the message I left was pretty cheeky… mentioning how I used to beat up on them when I drove for Nissan, and if his dance card wasn’t full for next year, I’d love to talk with him.
Literally, eight hours later, he returned my call and offered me the ride…. total blessing.
Experiencing Le Mans
Rod Worley – Editor – You’ve won the prestigious 24 Hours of Le Mans four times. What emotions were going through you when you first got on the road course?
And then when you knew for sure, you were going to win the first one?
Johnny O’Connell – Corvette & Sebring Hall of Fame – It was pretty special. The year was 1994, and I was there driving for Nissan. I recall driving on the street from Tetra Rouge down to the first chicane and thinking, man, this just goes on forever.
The first laps there were just magical, and I felt at home right away. We wound up winning that year, and as special as it was…. I think it was the wins with Corvette that I will cherish the most.
Those were some pretty epic battles.
At Home At Sebring
Rod Worley – Editor – In addition to your success at Le Mans, you’ve won at the 12 Hours of Sebring a record eight times. In 2012 you were inducted into the Sebring Hall of Fame.
What makes Sebring such a good track for you?
Johnny O’Connell – Corvette & Sebring Hall of Fame – I might be one of the few guys that will always name Sebring as one of my favorite circuits. I think I just did well there because I found the rhythm and timing of the circuit so well.
The challenge of some of the high-speed corners, combined with the technique needed for the slower tiny corners .. it just really suited my style.
Comparing Endurance Tracks
Rod Worley – Editor – You’ve won at Sebring, Daytona, and Le Mans. How would you compare and contrast these tracks? Is there a favorite among them?
Johnny O’Connell – Corvette & Sebring Hall of Fame – Each has their own challenges. Daytona is a challenge as the night just goes on forever. Also, traffic is a pretty big issue there as it’s not as spread out as Le Mans.
Sebring requires the driver to have a fair amount of mechanical sympathy when driving, so one needs to not overuse the car and still maintain lap time.
Le Mans.. well, just the spectacle of it, the history, and well, just doing the lap, would have to be my favorite.
There is so much pressure there, everyone in the pits watching lap times so closely, the flat-out speed. The place is special for sure.
Greatest Accomplishment
Rod Worley – Editor – Given all of your achievements, what would you consider your most prestigious accomplishment in motorsports and why?
Johnny O’Connell – Corvette & Sebring Hall of Fame – Wow, that’s a tough one. Being put into the Sebring and Corvette Halls of Fame rates pretty high on the cool list. But all things considered, it would be what I did at Le Mans.
The four wins are the most by an American there. The nine podiums also a record for an American.
When I close my eyes and remember that feeling of being there, the French playing our national anthem as they raise our flag while on the podium…. rocking chair equity for sure.
All in all, I was very lucky in my career, mostly because of what I did with GM. During the amazing years driving for both Corvette and Cadillac, I almost always had the tools needed to get the job done.
HSR Grand Marshall
Rod Worley – Editor – Congratulations on being selected the Grand Marshall of Historic Sportscar Racing’s “The Mitty” this year. What draws you to this form of racing?
Johnny O’Connell – Corvette & Sebring Hall of Fame – Well, the first thing that comes to mind is how special most of the cars are. Seeing them run brings back memories.
I recall the first time seeing one of my old Nissans at “The Mitty” and thinking, wow, have I been doing it that long…. and then wanting to hop in it and have some fun.
But added to that is the racing. The guys out there aren’t out to get hired to make a living.
They are pure in that it’s the simple intensity of racing for a trophy, to compete against someone else, and to enjoy the performance of their car that makes it special.
Corvette Success & Beyond
The O’Connell story doesn’t end with his involvement with Corvette racing. He went on to have great success racing with Cadillac Racing in the World Challenge Championship.
While driving for them, he also serves as a popular commentator for ESPN, and at the same time was named Vice President of Global Operations at the Bondurant School of High-Performance Driving.
To display his other talents, O’Connell was also featured singing in Chevy’s 2007 Super Bowl ad, “Ain’t We Got Love,” which also included Mary J. Blige, rapper T.I., Big & Rich, and Dale Earnhardt, Jr.
Through it all, no matter what challenges racing or life has thrown at him, Johnny remains determined, focused, fiercely competitive, and relentless in the pursuit of victory.
They say a champion is one who is remembered. A legend is one who is never forgotten.
If that is the case, Johnny O’Connell will always be a legend to the Corvette faithful.
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