Main photo: Parker Johnstone (left) talking to Tim McAdam before the start of the 1993 IMSA GP at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Top left, heading counter clockwise: grid for Sebring 12 Hours in 1993; the chicane at Atlanta Motor Speedway 1993 (Parker said that was his favorite part of the track because it was the trickiest; bird's eye view from Mid-Ohio garage 1992; Road Atlanta International Sedan race in Acura Integra 1989; Inernational Sedan Acura Integra at Road Atlanta 1990; and Sebring 1992 heading to the hairpin. Top right: 1993 IMSA GP of Mid-Ohio.
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Parker Johnstone at Sebring, AMS and Mid-Ohio
Johnstone at Mid-Ohio and AMS
Johnstone at Road Atlanta and Sebring

Before arriving in CART in 1994 with the Comptech Honda team, Parker Johnstone led the driving duties that landed Acura many IMSA race wins and championships from the late 1980s to 1993.

A resident originally from Redmond, OR, Parker is, besides a multi-driving champion, an accomplished trumpeter. He began racing in autocrosses in his 428 Cobra Jet Mustang. He raced amatuer Super-Vee in north California. He later competed in the IMSA Renault Cup. A series based on the Renault Alliance. He nearly won the championship in his first season. His second season of the Renault Cup saw him take four of the five races and the championship.

Johnstone then joined the Comptech Team in sedans racing Acura Integras. Here Johnstone blossomed as a driver. In IMSA's International Sedan series Johnstone won two championships. Through five national racing campaigns he had scored three championships and two runner-up titles.

For the 1991 IMSA Camel GT season Acura moved up to the Camel GT Lights division. If people hadn't heard of Johnstone by now he was getting ready to become a household name. In their debut GT Lights season the Comptech Acura team, with Johnstone driving, scored eight wins in 14 events, 12 pole positions, won the Manufacturers Championship and the Driver's Championship. They took wins at the 24 Hours of Daytona, West Palm Beach, Miami, Road Atlanta, Topeka, Mid-Ohio, Watkins Glen, and Del Mar. Johnstone and Acura devestated the competition. Also in the GT Lights class were Ferrari (four wins) and Buick (two wins).

The remainder of his IMSA GT Lights career ended in the same manner in which it started, but for 1994 the Comptech team took on their greatest challenge - CART. As with any first year engine program and the season was a giant learning curve. When Johnstone stopped racing in CART after the 1997 season he managed a very emotional podium finish at Michigan International Speedway in a 500 mile event. That was the highlight of his CART career

 

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Trivia Question of the Week: August 23-30

Of the six CART drivers who have two wins or more at CART events at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, who is the only one to have three victories? Click here for the answer.