Johnny O'Connell
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American
FIA Platinum (until 2015)
FIA Gold (2016–2017)
FIA Silver (2018–2022)
FIA Bronze (2023–)
| Johnny O'Connell | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 O'Connell at Road America in 2014 | |||||||
| Nationality | American | ||||||
| Born | July 24, 1962 Poughkeepsie, New York, U.S. | ||||||
| Racing licence | FIA Platinum (until 2015) FIA Gold (2016–2017) FIA Silver (2018–2022) FIA Bronze (2023–)
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| NASCAR O'Reilly Auto Parts Series career | |||||||
| 1 race run over 1 year | |||||||
| 2013 position | 65th | ||||||
| Best finish | 65th (2013) | ||||||
| First race | 2013 Johnsonville Sausage 200 (Road America) | ||||||
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| IndyCar Series career | |||||||
| 4 races run over 2 years | |||||||
| Best finish | 9th (1996) | ||||||
| First race | 1996 Indy 200 (Orlando) | ||||||
| Last race | 1996-97 Las Vegas 500K (Las Vegas) | ||||||
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| Statistics up to date as of November 16, 2013. | |||||||
| 24 Hours of Le Mans career | |||||||
| Years | 1994, 1998–2010, 2016 | ||||||
| Teams | Clayton Cunningham Racing, Panoz Motorsports, Corvette Racing, Team AAI | ||||||
| Best finish | 5th (1994, 2000) | ||||||
| Class wins | 4 (1994, 2001, 2002, 2009) | ||||||
Johnny O'Connell (born July 24, 1962) is a racing driver from the United States. He currently drives for Cadillac in the Pirelli World Challenge, winning the 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015 GT driver's championship.
Born in Poughkeepsie, New York, O'Connell started racing in the Formula Atlantic series in 1987, winning the Championship and Rookie of the Year. e also spent 1996 in the Indy Racing League, racing in the Indianapolis 500 and finishing in the top-ten in half of his four starts. He has seven class wins in the 12 Hours of Sebring, more than any other driver, and an overall title in 1994 when racing for Nissan. Driving for Corvette Racing, he has also won a number of class victories at the 24 Hours of Le Mans and the 24 Hours of Daytona. With his teammate Ron Fellows, he won the 2003 GTS class driver's championship.
O'Connell was also featured in Chevy's 2007, Super Bowl ad, "Ain't We Got Love" also featuring Mary J. Blige, rapper T.I., Big & Rich, and Dale Earnhardt Jr.[citation needed]
In 2013, O'Connell competed in the Johnsonville Sausage 200 at Road America in the NASCAR Nationwide Series for JR Motorsports, driving the No. 5 Chevrolet Camaro;[1] he finished 12th in the event.
In 2023, O'Connell announced his return to racing in the GT America Series after being reclassified as a bronze driver due to his age.[2][3] He won the 2024 GT America Series in an Audi R8 LMS GT3.[4]
