Johnny White

{{Short description|American racecar driver}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=November 2023}}

{{About||the american football player|Johnny White (American football)}}

{{Infobox racing driver

|name = Johnny White

|image = Johnny_White.jpg

|birth_date = {{Birth date|1932|1|18}}

|birth_place = Warren, Michigan, United States

|death_date = {{Death date and age|1977|12|24|1932|1|18}}

|death_place = Indianapolis, Indiana, United States

}}

John Bedford White (January 18, 1932 – December 24, 1977) was an American race car driver.

Born in Warren, Michigan, White died in Indianapolis, Indiana.{{cite web |title=White, Johnny 1985 |url=https://www.mmshof.org/index.php/inductees/inductees/121-johnny-white |website=Michigan Motor Sports Hall of Fame }} He drove in the USAC Championship Car series, racing in the 1963 and 1964 seasons, with 11 career starts, including the 1964 Indianapolis 500. He finished in the top ten 7 times, with his best finish in 4th position at the 1964 Indianapolis 500, which earned him Rookie of the Year.{{cite news|title=Johnny White Named Indy Rookie Of Year|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/114086296/1964-indy-500-roty-battle-creek/|work=Battle Creek Enquirer|agency=United Press International|page=12|date=June 2, 1964|access-date=December 4, 2022|via=Newspapers.com {{open access}}}}

The career of Johnny White came to an end on June 14, 1964, when he was paralyzed from the neck down after flipping his sprint car and rolling along the top of the guard rail at the Terre Haute Action Track.{{cite news |last1=Hughes |first1=David |title=Safety First: Action Track hasn't had driving fatality since 1967 |url=https://www.tribstar.com/sports/safety-first-action-track-hasnt-had-driving-fatality-since-1967/article_daf5c41e-b78c-5a26-a4ca-418e5f2e8770.html |work=Terre Haute Tribune-Star |date=5 July 2005 |language=en}} Over the years the injuries that Johnny received eventually took a toll on his overall health, resulting in his death on Christmas Eve, 1977.{{cite news |title=Heart Attack Fatal To Johnny White |url=https://www.newspapers.com./article/the-indianapolis-star-obituary-for-johnn/134881883/ |work=The Indianapolis Star |date=December 25, 1977 |page=2}}