# Herm Johnson

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{{more references needed|date=August 2025}}
'''Herman Austin Johnson''' (March 4, 1953 – December 10, 2016), was a driver in the [CART](/source/Champ_Car) [Indy Car](/source/American_Championship_car_racing) series, born in [Eau Claire, Wisconsin](/source/Eau_Claire%2C_Wisconsin). He raced in seven seasons (1979–1985), with 35<ref>35 starts do not include the 1982 Indy 500, as it was not a CART race that year.</ref> career starts. He drove in the [Indianapolis 500](/source/Indianapolis_500) in [1982](/source/1982_Indianapolis_500) and [1984](/source/1984_Indianapolis_500). He finished in the top ten eight times, with his best finish in 6th position in [1982](/source/1982_CART_PPG_Indy_Car_World_Series) at [Atlanta](/source/Atlanta_500_Classic).

In 1976, Johnson won the [SCCA](/source/Sports_Car_Club_of_America) [National Championship](/source/SCCA_National_Championship_Runoffs) at [Road Atlanta](/source/Road_Atlanta) and was the 1977 [USAC](/source/United_States_Auto_Club) [Mini-Indy](/source/Formula_Super_Vee) Champion. Johnson had two serious pit fires in 1981 roughly a month apart from each other. Johnson's father suffered a fatal heart attack, just days before the [1982 Indianapolis 500](/source/1982_Indianapolis_500).<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=PYFQAAAAIBAJ&sjid=JBIEAAAAIBAJ&pg=3512,5803947&dq=herm+johnson+father+indianapolis&hl=en |title=Johnson Says Dad was along |access-date=2016-09-20 |archive-date=2020-04-21 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200421220439/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=PYFQAAAAIBAJ&sjid=JBIEAAAAIBAJ&pg=3512,5803947&dq=herm+johnson+father+indianapolis&hl=en |url-status=dead }}</ref> Also during this race, [Rick Mears](/source/Rick_Mears) bumped into the back of his car on a lap 183 pit stop. For his next race Johnson, who ran a business painting helmets, trimmed the back edge of his rear wing with the message "Rick...if you can read this, you're too close."

Johnson suffered a serious crash in practice for the [1986 Indianapolis 500](/source/1986_Indianapolis_500). Johnson suffered injuries to his back and neck, and the crash effectively ended his Indy car driving career. After his recovery, Johnson was known to occasionally compete in sports car and ice racing events.

Johnson resided in Eau Claire, running a custom painting business, 'Just Herm Designs'. The shop has done work for several Indy 500 winners, IndyCar, and NHRA Champions, as well as amateur racers. The shop specializes in custom paint jobs for helmets, race cars, and motorcycles. Johnson also served as a performance driving instructor<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.birperformance.com/viewpage.aspx?ID=87 |title=BIR Performance Driving School Instructors |access-date=2008-12-31 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131224085027/http://www.birperformance.com/viewpage.aspx?ID=87 |archive-date=2013-12-24 |url-status=dead }}</ref> at [Brainerd International Raceway](/source/Brainerd_International_Raceway) in [Brainerd, Minnesota](/source/Brainerd%2C_Minnesota).

On December 10, 2016, Johnson died from liver and renal failure.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.racer.com/indycar/item/137110-herm-johnson-1953-2016 |title=You are being redirected... |website=www.racer.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161215022446/http://www.racer.com/indycar/item/137110-herm-johnson-1953-2016 |archive-date=2016-12-15}} </ref>

==Racing record==

===SCCA National Championship Runoffs===

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; font-size:90%"
|-
! Year !! Track !! Car !! Engine !! Class !! Finish !! Start !! Status
|-
| 1975 || [Road Atlanta](/source/Road_Atlanta) || [Lola](/source/Lola_Cars) T324 || [Volkswagen](/source/Volkswagen) || [Formula Super Vee](/source/Formula_Super_Vee) ||style="background:#DFDFDF;"| 2 || 2 || Running
|-
| 1976 || [Road Atlanta](/source/Road_Atlanta) || [Lola](/source/Lola_Cars) T324 || [Volkswagen](/source/Volkswagen) || [Formula Super Vee](/source/Formula_Super_Vee) ||style="background:#FFFFBF;"| 1 || 3 || Running
|}

===Complete USAC Mini-Indy Series results===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; font-size:90%"
! Year
! Entrant 
! 1
! 2
! 3
! 4
! 5
! 6
! 7
! 8
! 9
! 10
! Pos
! Points
|-
| [1977](/source/1977_USAC_Mini-Indy_Series_season)
! Austin Johnson
| style="background:#EFCFFF;"| [TRE](/source/Trenton_International_Speedway)<br />{{small|16}}
| style="background:#DFDFDF;"| [MIL](/source/The_Milwaukee_Mile)<br />{{small|2}}
| style="background:#FFDF9F;"| [MOS](/source/Mosport_Park)<br />{{small|3}}
| style="background:#FFFFBF;"| [PIR](/source/Phoenix_International_Raceway)<br />{{small|1}}
| 
| 
|
|
|
|
|style="background:#FFFFBF;"| '''''1st'''''
|style="background:#FFFFBF;"| '''''500'''''
|-
| [1978](/source/1978_USAC_Mini-Indy_Series_season)
! Austin Johnson
|style="background-color:#EFCFFF"| [PIR1](/source/Phoenix_International_Raceway)<br />{{small|16}}
|style="background-color:#DFFFDF"| [TRE1](/source/Trenton_International_Speedway)<br />{{small|5}}
|style="background-color:#EFCFFF"| [MOS](/source/Mosport_Park)<br />{{small|14}}
|style="background-color:#DFDFDF"| [MIL1](/source/The_Milwaukee_Mile)<br />{{small|2}}
|style="background-color:#CFEAFF"| [TEX](/source/Texas_World_Speedway)<br />{{small|7}}
|style="background-color:#DFFFDF"| [MIL2](/source/The_Milwaukee_Mile)<br />{{small|5}}
|style="background-color:#DFFFDF"| [OMS1](/source/Ontario_Motor_Speedway)<br />{{small|5}}
|style="background-color:#EFCFFF"| [OMS2](/source/Ontario_Motor_Speedway)<br />{{small|22}}
|style="background-color:#FFDF9F"| [TRE2](/source/Trenton_International_Speedway)<br />{{small|3}}
|style="background-color:#DFFFDF"| [PIR2](/source/Phoenix_International_Raceway)<br />{{small|5}}
|style="background-color:#DFFFDF"| '''''4th'''''
|style="background-color:#DFFFDF"| '''''773'''''
|-
| [1979](/source/1979_USAC_Mini-Indy_Series_season)
! 
| [TEX1](/source/Texas_World_Speedway)
| [IRP](/source/Indianapolis_Raceway_Park)
| [MIL1](/source/The_Milwaukee_Mile)
| [POC](/source/Pocono_International_Raceway)
| [TEX2](/source/Texas_World_Speedway)
| [MIL2](/source/The_Milwaukee_Mile)
|style="background:#EFCFFF;"| [MIN1](/source/Minnesota_State_Fair)<br />{{small|19}}
|style="background:#EFCFFF;"| [MIN2](/source/Minnesota_State_Fair)<br />{{small|11}}
|
|
|style="background:#CFCFFF;"|  '''''30th'''''
|style="background:#CFCFFF;"|  '''''24'''''
|}

===Complete CART Indy Car Series results===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; font-size:90%"
! Year
! Entrant 
! 1
! 2
! 3
! 4
! 5
! 6
! 7
! 8
! 9
! 10
! 11
! 12
! 13
! 14
! 15
! 16
! 17
! Pos
! Points
! Ref
|-
! [1979](/source/1979_SCCA%2FCART_Indy_Car_Series)
! Mergard Racing
| [PHX](/source/Desert_Diamond_West_Valley_Phoenix_Grand_Prix)
| [ATL](/source/Atlanta_500_Classic)
| [ATL](/source/Atlanta_500_Classic)
| [INDY](/source/1979_Indianapolis_500)
| [TRT](/source/Trenton_150)
| [TRT](/source/Trenton_150)
| [MIC](/source/Firestone_Indy_400)
| [MIC](/source/Firestone_Indy_400)
| [WGL](/source/Grand_Prix_at_The_Glen)
| [TRT](/source/Trenton_150)
| [ONT](/source/Ontario_Motor_Speedway)
| [MIC](/source/Firestone_Indy_400)
|style="background:#CFEAFF;"| [ATL](/source/Atlanta_500_Classic)<br /><small>7</small>  
|style="background:#CFCFFF;"| [PHX](/source/Desert_Diamond_West_Valley_Phoenix_Grand_Prix)<br /><small>13</small> 
|colspan=3|
!style="background:#CFCFFF;"| 24th
!style="background:#CFCFFF;"| 98
!<ref>{{cite web|url=https://racing-reference.info/drivdet/johnshe01/1979/R|title=Herm Johnson – 1979 CART Results|work=Racing-Reference|publisher=NASCAR Digital Media, LLC|access-date=August 17, 2023}}</ref>
|-
! [1980](/source/1980_CART_PPG_Indy_Car_World_Series)
! rowspan=2| [Menard Racing](/source/Menard_Racing)
|style="background:#EFCFFF;"| [ONT](/source/Ontario_Motor_Speedway)<br /><small>14</small>
|style="background:#ffcfcf;"| [INDY](/source/1980_Indianapolis_500)<br /><small>DNQ</small>
|style="background:#cfcfff;"| [MIL](/source/ABC_Supply_Wisconsin_250)<br /><small>17</small>
|style="background:#cfcfff;"| [POC](/source/ABC_Supply_500)<br /><small>11</small>
| [MDO](/source/Honda_Indy_200)
| [MIC](/source/Firestone_Indy_400)
| [WGL](/source/Grand_Prix_at_The_Glen)
|style="background:#cfcfff;"| [MIL](/source/ABC_Supply_Wisconsin_250)<br /><small>11</small> 
|style="background:#cfcfff;"| [ONT](/source/Ontario_Motor_Speedway)<br /><small>13</small> 
|style="background:#cfcfff;"| [MIC](/source/Firestone_Indy_400)<br /><small>13</small> 
|style="background:#EFCFFF;"| [MXS](/source/Gran_Premio_Tecate)<br /><small>14</small> 
|style="background:#CFEAFF;"| [PHX](/source/Desert_Diamond_West_Valley_Phoenix_Grand_Prix)<br /><small>8</small> 
|colspan=5|
!style="background:#CFCFFF;"| 24th
!style="background:#CFCFFF;"| 272
!<ref>{{cite web|url=https://racing-reference.info/drivdet/johnshe01/1980/R|title=Herm Johnson – 1980 CART Results|work=Racing-Reference|publisher=NASCAR Digital Media, LLC|access-date=August 17, 2023}}</ref>
|-
! rowspan=2| [1981](/source/1981_CART_PPG_Indy_Car_World_Series)
| [PHX](/source/Desert_Diamond_West_Valley_Phoenix_Grand_Prix)
|style="background:#efcfff;"| [MIL](/source/ABC_Supply_Wisconsin_250)<br /><small>22</small>
|style="background:#efcfff;"| [ATL](/source/Atlanta_500_Classic)<br /><small>22</small>
|
|style="background:#efcfff;"| [MIC](/source/Firestone_Indy_400)<br /><small>33</small>
|style="background:#CFEAFF;"| [RIR](/source/Riverside_International_Raceway)<br /><small>7</small>
|style="background:#CFCFFF;"| [MIL](/source/ABC_Supply_Wisconsin_250)<br /><small>13</small>
| [MIC](/source/Firestone_Indy_400)
|style="background:#CFEAFF;"| [WTG](/source/Grand_Prix_at_The_Glen)<br /><small>9</small> 
|style="background:#CFEAFF;"| [MXC](/source/Gran_Premio_Tecate)<br /><small>8</small> 
|style="background:#CFEAFF;"| [PHX](/source/Desert_Diamond_West_Valley_Phoenix_Grand_Prix)<br /><small>9</small> 
|colspan=6|
!rowspan=2 style="background:#CFCFFF;"| 17th
!rowspan=2 style="background:#CFCFFF;"| 38
!rowspan=2|<ref>{{cite web|url=https://racing-reference.info/drivdet/johnshe01/1981/R|title=Herm Johnson – 1981 CART Results|work=Racing-Reference|publisher=NASCAR Digital Media, LLC|access-date=August 17, 2023}}</ref>
|-
! [Cannon Racing](/source/Larry_Cannon_(racing_driver))
|colspan=3|
|style="background:#cfcfff;"| [ATL](/source/Atlanta_500_Classic)<br /><small>17</small>
|colspan=13|
|-
! [1982](/source/1982_CART_PPG_Indy_Car_World_Series)
! 
|style="background:#EFCFFF;"| [PHX](/source/Desert_Diamond_West_Valley_Phoenix_Grand_Prix)<br /><small>19</small>
|style="background:#CFEAFF;"| [ATL](/source/Atlanta_500_Classic)<br /><small>6</small>
|style="background:#EFCFFF;"| [MIL](/source/ABC_Supply_Wisconsin_250)<br /><small>23</small>
|style="background:#EFCFFF;"| [CLE](/source/Grand_Prix_of_Cleveland)<br /><small>13</small>
|style="background:#EFCFFF;"| [MIC](/source/Firestone_Indy_400)<br /><small>34</small>
|style="background:#EFCFFF;"| [MIL](/source/ABC_Supply_Wisconsin_250)<br /><small>16</small>
| [POC](/source/ABC_Supply_500)
|style="background:#EFCFFF;"| [RIV](/source/Riverside_International_Raceway)<br /><small>22</small>
|style="background:#EFCFFF;"| [ROA](/source/REV_Group_Grand_Prix_at_Road_America)<br /><small>17</small>
| [MIC](/source/Firestone_Indy_400)
| [PHX](/source/Desert_Diamond_West_Valley_Phoenix_Grand_Prix)
|colspan=6|
!style="background:#CFCFFF;"| 26th
!style="background:#CFCFFF;"| 24
!<ref>{{cite web|url=https://racing-reference.info/drivdet/johnshe01/1982/R|title=Herm Johnson – 1982 CART Results|work=Racing-Reference|publisher=NASCAR Digital Media, LLC|access-date=August 17, 2023}}</ref>
|-
! [1983](/source/1983_CART_PPG_Indy_Car_World_Series)
! 
| [ATL](/source/Atlanta_500_Classic)
|style="background:#FFCFCF;"| [INDY](/source/1983_Indianapolis_500)<br /><small>DNQ</small>
| [MIL](/source/ABC_Supply_Wisconsin_250)
|style="background:#CFCFFF;"| [CLE](/source/Grand_Prix_of_Cleveland)<br /><small>16</small>
|style="background:#EFCFFF;"| [MIC](/source/Firestone_Indy_400)<br /><small>24</small>
|style="background:#FFCFCF;"| [ROA](/source/REV_Group_Grand_Prix_at_Road_America)<br /><small>DNQ</small>
| [POC](/source/ABC_Supply_500)
| [RIV](/source/Riverside_International_Raceway)
|style="background:#EFCFFF;"| [MDO](/source/Honda_Indy_200)<br /><small>17</small>
| [MIC](/source/Firestone_Indy_400)
| [CPL](/source/Caesars_Palace_Grand_Prix)
| [LAG](/source/IndyCar_Monterey_Grand_Prix)
| [PHX](/source/Desert_Diamond_West_Valley_Phoenix_Grand_Prix)
|colspan=4|
!style="background:#CFCFFF;"| 42nd
!style="background:#CFCFFF;"| 0
!<ref>{{cite web|url=https://racing-reference.info/drivdet/johnshe01/1983/R|title=Herm Johnson – 1983 CART Results|work=Racing-Reference|publisher=NASCAR Digital Media, LLC|access-date=August 17, 2023}}</ref>
|-
! rowspan=3| [1984](/source/1984_CART_PPG_Indy_Car_World_Series)
! [Menard Racing](/source/Menard_Racing)
| [LBH](/source/Grand_Prix_of_Long_Beach)
| [PHX](/source/Desert_Diamond_West_Valley_Phoenix_Grand_Prix)
|style="background:#CFEAFF;"| [INDY](/source/1984_Indianapolis_500)<br /><small>8</small>
|style="background:#cfcfff;"| [MIL](/source/ABC_Supply_Wisconsin_250)<br /><small>18</small>
| [POR](/source/Grand_Prix_of_Portland)
| [MEA](/source/Meadowlands_Grand_Prix)
| [CLE](/source/Grand_Prix_of_Cleveland)
| [MIC](/source/Firestone_Indy_400)
| [ROA](/source/REV_Group_Grand_Prix_at_Road_America)
| [POC](/source/ABC_Supply_500)
|colspan=7|
!rowspan=3 style="background:#CFCFFF;"| 32nd
!rowspan=3 style="background:#CFCFFF;"| 5
!rowspan=3|<ref>{{cite web|url=https://racing-reference.info/drivdet/johnshe01/1984/R|title=Herm Johnson – 1984 CART Results|work=Racing-Reference|publisher=NASCAR Digital Media, LLC|access-date=August 17, 2023}}</ref>
|-
! Pace Racing
|colspan=10|
|style="background:#efcfff;"| [MDO](/source/Honda_Indy_200)<br /><small>23</small>
|colspan=6|
|-
! Jet Engineering
|colspan=11|
|style="background:#ffcfcf;"| [SAN](/source/Grand_Prix_of_Montreal)<br /><small>DNQ</small>
| [MIC](/source/Firestone_Indy_400)
| [PHX](/source/Desert_Diamond_West_Valley_Phoenix_Grand_Prix)
| [LAG](/source/IndyCar_Monterey_Grand_Prix)
| [CPL](/source/Caesars_Palace_Grand_Prix)
|
|-
! rowspan=2| [1985](/source/1985_CART_PPG_Indy_Car_World_Series)
! Menard Cashway Lumber
| [LBH](/source/Grand_Prix_of_Long_Beach)
|style="background:#ffcfcf;"| [INDY](/source/1985_Indianapolis_500)<br /><small>DNQ</small>
| [MIL](/source/ABC_Supply_Wisconsin_250)
| [POR](/source/Grand_Prix_of_Portland)
| [MEA](/source/Meadowlands_Grand_Prix)
| [CLE](/source/Grand_Prix_of_Cleveland)
| [MIC](/source/Firestone_Indy_400)
|colspan=10|
!rowspan=2 style="background:#CFCFFF;"| 39th
!rowspan=2 style="background:#CFCFFF;"| 1
!rowspan=2|<ref>{{cite web|url=https://racing-reference.info/drivdet/johnshe01/1985/R|title=Herm Johnson – 1985 CART Results|work=Racing-Reference|publisher=NASCAR Digital Media, LLC|access-date=August 17, 2023}}</ref>
|-
! [Leader Card Racing](/source/A._J._Watson)
|colspan=7|
|style="background:#CFEAFF;"| [ROA](/source/REV_Group_Grand_Prix_at_Road_America)<br /><small>12</small>
| [POC](/source/ABC_Supply_500)
|style="background:#efcfff;"| [MDO](/source/Honda_Indy_200)<br /><small>24</small>
| [SAN](/source/Grand_Prix_of_Montreal)
| [MIC](/source/Firestone_Indy_400)
| [LAG](/source/IndyCar_Monterey_Grand_Prix)
| [PHX](/source/Desert_Diamond_West_Valley_Phoenix_Grand_Prix)
| [MIA](/source/Grand_Prix_of_Miami_(open_wheel_racing))
|colspan=2|
|-
! [1986](/source/1986_CART_PPG_Indy_Car_World_Series)
! [Team Menard](/source/Team_Menard)
| [PHX](/source/XM_Satellite_Radio_Indy_200)
| [LBH](/source/Grand_Prix_of_Long_Beach)
|style="background:#ffcfcf;"| [INDY](/source/1986_Indianapolis_500)<br />{{small|DNQ}}
| [MIL](/source/Milwaukee_IndyFest)
| [POR](/source/Grand_Prix_of_Portland)
| [MEA](/source/Meadowlands_Grand_Prix)
| [CLE](/source/Grand_Prix_of_Cleveland)
| [TOR](/source/Honda_Indy_Toronto)
| [MIC](/source/Firestone_Indy_400)
| [POC](/source/Pocono_IndyCar_400)
| [MDO](/source/Honda_Indy_200)
| [SAN](/source/Grand_Prix_of_Montreal)
| [MIC](/source/Firestone_Indy_400)
| [ROA](/source/Champ_Car_Grand_Prix_of_Road_America)
| [LAG](/source/Mazda_Raceway_Laguna_Seca)
| [PHX](/source/XM_Satellite_Radio_Indy_200)
| [MIA](/source/Tamiami_Park)
! NC
! -
!<ref>{{cite web|url=https://racing-reference.info/drivdet/johnshe01/1986/R|title=Herm Johnson – 1986 CART Results|work=Racing-Reference|publisher=NASCAR Digital Media, LLC|access-date=August 17, 2023}}</ref>
|}

=== Indianapolis 500 results ===
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 95%;"
|-
! Year
! Chassis
! Engine
! Start
! Finish
|-
| [1980](/source/1980_Indianapolis_500)
| Lightning
| [Offy](/source/Offy)
| colspan=2|Failed to Qualify
|-
| [1981](/source/1981_Indianapolis_500)
| Lightning
| [Chevrolet](/source/Chevrolet)
| colspan=2|Failed to Qualify
|-
| [1982](/source/1982_Indianapolis_500)
| [Eagle](/source/All_American_Racers)
| [Chevrolet](/source/Chevrolet)
| 14th
| 9th
|-
| [1983](/source/1983_Indianapolis_500)
| [March](/source/March_Engineering)
| [Chevrolet](/source/Chevrolet)
| colspan=2|Failed to Qualify
|-
| [1984](/source/1984_Indianapolis_500)
| [March](/source/March_Engineering)
| [Cosworth](/source/Cosworth)
| 9th
| 8th
|-
| [1985](/source/1985_Indianapolis_500)
| [March](/source/March_Engineering)
| [Cosworth](/source/Cosworth)
| colspan=2|Failed to Qualify 
|-
| [1986](/source/1986_Indianapolis_500)
| [March](/source/March_Engineering)
| [Cosworth](/source/Cosworth)
| colspan=2|Practice Crash
|}

== Notes ==
<references/>

{{Team Menard}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Johnson, Herm}}
Category:1953 births
Category:2016 deaths
Category:Champ Car drivers
Category:Indianapolis 500 drivers
Category:Sportspeople from Eau Claire, Wisconsin
Category:Racing drivers from Wisconsin
Category:SCCA Formula Super Vee drivers
Category:Formula Super Vee Champions
Category:SCCA National Championship Runoffs winners
Category:Deaths from kidney failure

---
Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Herm Johnson](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herm_Johnson) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herm_Johnson?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.