Former IMS, Daytona president Cooper dies

John Cooper, who at various times in his life was a major player in NASCAR and IndyCar, has died at the age of 83.

A close friend of Bill France, Cooper served as president of Daytona International Speedway from December 1987 to July 1990 after leaving his job with Coca-Cola and was also chairman of Automobile Competition Committee of the United States.

Yet he's probably most remembered for his short, stormy term as president and CEO of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway from 1979-82.

Cooper took over IMS in October 1979 – right in the midst of the war between the United States Auto Club and Championship Auto Racing Teams. USAC sanctioned the Indianapolis 500 and had governed IndyCar racing since its formation in 1956.

But legendary owner/car constructor Dan Gurney, frustrated with low purses, a schedule that seldom grew and lack of information regarding the television revenue, voiced his concern in a 1978 document known as the "White Paper."

That became the genesis of CART, which operated a 13-race season in '79 and featured most of the big-name drivers and owners. USAC staged a seven-race schedule in '79 and continued to run Indy – which CART teams participated in despite six of them having to go through federal court to be allowed to compete.

Cooper came up with the idea of uniting both sides and calling it the CRL (Championship Racing League). It would have 12 races in 1980 and be officiated by USAC and ruled by the CRL Board of Governors, which included five car owners in the six slots – Roger Penske, Pat Patrick, Jim Hall, Rolla Vollstedt and A.J. Foyt – and USAC president Dick King.

The CRL began at Ontario Motor Speedway and ended four races later after USAC pulled the plug following an ultimatum from Joe Cloutier, Tony Hulman's right-hand man and former IMS boss who still controlled the purse strings. Cloutier didn't like the owner-heavy lineup and Cooper acquiesced, but it was basically the end of USAC's reign at the top of American motorsports.

Cooper resigned in early May 1982, just before the track opened for Indy 500 practice, to go with ACCUS ,and Cloutier was renamed IMS president.

Even though his tenure in both major sanctioning bodies was over, it was always believed Cooper was instrumental in bringing NASCAR to IMS with the inaugural Brickyard 400 in 1994 and then advising Tony George as he created the Indy Racing League in 1996.

"The Indianapolis Motor Speedway has been blessed with strong leadership since Carl Fisher founded the track in 1909. John Cooper was one of those iconic leaders," IMS President Doug Boles said in a statement. "As the IMS president in the early '80s, John helped lead a new thought process in track promotions, while balancing the importance of history to IMS and the Indianapolis 500. His many experiences in racing and business made him one of the most knowledgeable and thoughtful resources in our sport, and I enjoyed and appreciated the time he would take to offer advice and counsel related to the operations of a race track. John always maintained his love of racing, especially the Indianapolis 500, and is respected throughout the industry. Here at IMS, his influence is still felt today and our thoughts and prayers are with his family."

"On behalf of NASCAR and the entire France family, I would like to offer my deepest condolences to the friends and family of John Cooper," NASCAR chariman and CEO Brian France said in a statement. "John served in many motorsports roles throughout his life, including president of two of the most iconic racetracks in the world – Daytona International Speedway and Indianapolis Motor Speedway. But beyond any of his exemplary career stops, there was one role that was personally even more important – dear friend. John was a cherished confidant of both my father and grandfather. My family has relied on his counsel – both personally and professionally speaking – countless times. We are all saddened by his passing, and will miss John dearly."

“John Cooper was a true icon in American motorsport for more than 60 years,” said IMSA CEO Ed Bennett. “He was the first man to serve as president of both Daytona International Speedway and Indianapolis Motor Speedway, in addition to representing our country on the international motorsports front as president of the Automobile Competition Committee for the United States (ACCUS). He was a mentor of the highest caliber, providing sage advice and counsel to a countless list of friends and business associates.

"His contributions to the sport over the years are too numerous to mention. He was a great friend to all forms of racing, and he will be sorely missed. Our deepest condolences go out to his family and friends.”