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Johnny O'Connell
History
 O’Connell began his racing career in 1986, ranking 10th that year in SuperVee competition and third in Formula Russell Pro. He was Formula Atlantic West champion in 1987. Prior to sports-car competition, O’Connell competed in single-seat open wheel racers, posting a win in the Indy Lights division, and competing in the 1996 Indianapolis 500 as well as select Indy Racing League events.
He joined the Panoz team for WSC events in 1997, and spent the 1999 and 2000 ALMS seasons driving a prototype for Panoz. O’Connell is a tireless worker for charity, visiting children’s hospitals in almost every city the ALMS races in to sign autographs and hand out gifts. He also holds an annual auction for a regional Alzheimer’s House in Gainesville, Ga. He has an economics degree from Denison University.
Career Highlights:
- Kicked off 2003 season with victory at Sebring in the No. 3 Compuware Corvette
- Six starts at 24 Hours of Le Mans, won GTS class in 2001 and 2002, class win in 1994
- Total of 13 career wins in 35 starts in the American Le Mans Series (ALMS)
- In 2002, seven wins in 10 ALMS starts, including wins at 12 Hours of Sebring, 24 Hours of Le Mans, and the Petit Le Mans with teammates Ron Fellows and Oliver Gavin
- In 2001, five wins in eight ALMS starts, as well as teaming with Fellows and Chris Kneifel for overall win in 24 Hours of Daytona, and posting GTS class win at 24 Hours of Le Mans with teammates Fellows and Scott Pruett
- In 1999, one win and four podium finishes in seven ALMS starts in a Panoz prototype
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