Josele Garza

Josele Garza[1] (born March 15, 1962, in Mexico City, Mexico) is a Mexican professional race car driver. He started seven Indianapolis 500 races. Garza was the 1981 Indianapolis 500 Rookie of the Year after starting sixth, leading 13 laps, and finishing 23rd at the age of 19. At 19 years, two months, and nine days, Garza is the second youngest driver to compete in the Indianapolis 500 and was not surpassed until 2003 by A. J. Foyt IV. USAC rules at the time required drivers to be 21 years of age, but Garza's racing license listed him as being 22 years old. Garza claims he does not know how the error occurred, but he did not notify officials of the error. He finished 10th in the 1984 Indianapolis 500.

Josele Garza
Garza at the 1986 Indianapolis 500
NationalityMexico Mexican
Born (1962-03-15) March 15, 1962 (age 62)
Mexico City
IndyCar Series
Years active1981 – 1987
TeamsGarza Racing (22 starts)
Machinists Union Racing (66 starts)
Starts88
Wins0
Poles0
Best finish2nd Michigan 500 in 1986
Awards
1981

Garza was winless in 88 CART races. His best career finish was a second place at the 1986 Michigan 500. In 1986, he tested a Brabham Formula One car, during free practice of the 1986 Mexican Grand Prix. After he finished his career in CART, he tested with Minardi in F1 during 1987-88 but never got the required sponsorship to be awarded a race seat and he never made his debut in F1. He came back to Mexico and later he became a team owner in Mexican F2 and F3000 and sometimes raced when his drivers were not up to standard, or absent for some reason.

Garza qualifying for the 1987 Indianapolis 500

Racing record

Complete USAC Mini-Indy Series results

YearEntrant123456PosPoints
1980David PsachieMIL
19
POC
1
MDO
16
MIN1
2
MIN2
2
ONT
24
3rd532

Complete Formula One World Championship results

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position / Races in italics indicate fastest lap)

YrEntrantChassisEngine12345678910111213141516WDCPoints
1986Motor Racing Developments Ltd.Brabham BT55BMW Straight-4 (t/c)BRA
ESP
SMR
MON
BEL
CAN
DET
FRA
GBR
GER
HUN
AUT
ITA
POR
MEX
PO
AUS

CART

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position)

YearTeam1234567891011121314151617RankPointsRef
1981Garza RacingPHX
21
MIL
14
ATL
12
ATL
18
MCH
19
RIV
12
MIL
8
MCH
23
WGL
24
MEX
18
PHX
6
21st30[2]
1982Garza RacingPHX
13
ATL
16
MIL
8
CLE
14
MCH
22
MIL
8
POC
15
RIV
13
ROA
4
MCH
9
PHX
18
13th56[3]
1983Machinists Union RacingATL
INDY
MIL
CLE
17
MCH
19
ROA
11
POC
9
RIV
20
MDO
23
MCH
17
CPL
11
LAG
12
PHX
22nd9[4]
1984Machinists Union RacingLBH
23
PHX
DNS
INDY
10
MIL
DNS
POR
7
MEA
23
CLE
17
MCH
11
ROA
7
POC
25
MDO
11
SAN
4
MCH
10
PHX
8
LAG
13
LVS
10
13th42[5]
1985Machinists Union RacingLBH
28
INDY
31
MIL
7
POR
12
MEA
27
CLE
6
MCH
19
ROA
18
POC
26
MDO
11
SAN
6
MCH
6
LAG
7
PHX
10
MIA
9
12th46[6]
1986Machinists Union RacingPHX
23
LBH
7
INDY
18
MIL
7
POR
17
MEA
8
CLE
7
TOR
23
MCH
2
POC
7
MDO
14
SANMCH
ROALAGPHX
MIA
24
14th45[7]
1987Machinists Union RacingLBH
5
PHX
6
INDY
17
MIL
22
POR
6
MEA
24
CLE
16
TOR
17
MCH
12
POC
11
ROA
11
MDO
8
NAZ
8
LAG
8
MIA
18
11th46[8]

Indianapolis 500 results

Josele Garza at the 2016 Brickyard SVRA Pro-Am race at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
YearChassisEngineStartFinish
1981PenskeCosworth6th23rd
1982MarchCosworth33rd29th
1983PenskeCosworth18th25th
1984MarchCosworth24th10th
1985MarchCosworth18th31st
1986MarchCosworth17th18th
1987MarchCosworth25th17th
Sporting positions
Preceded by Indianapolis 500
Rookie of the Year

1981
Succeeded by

References