Friday 19th February 1960

Born on this day, John Paul Jr., a US racer.. After becoming the youngest ever IMSA champion, he made 21 CART starts from 1982 to 1985 with a win at Michigan International Speedway. Paul also finished 2nd in the 1984 24 Hours of Le Mans with Jean Rondeau in a Porsche 956. Paul’s racing career was interrupted in 1986 when he was incarcerated for his involvement in a drug trafficking ring with his father and his subsequent refusal to testify against him. He would return to the series in 1989, but only drove in the Indianapolis 500 from 1990 to 1994. Respectable performances with obsolete race cars characterized this period of his career. In his seven Indy 500 starts he has a best finish of 7th in 1998. He made his last IRL start in 1999 and retired from racing after failing to qualify for the 2001 Indy 500.