KevinCogan

Early Career and Formula One Attempts

John Kevin Cogan, an American racing driver born on March 31, 1956, embarked on his professional career with aspirations that briefly touched the pinnacle of motorsport, Formula One. His foray into F1 was short-lived, spanning the 1980 and 1981 seasons. Driving for RAM Williams at the 1980 Canadian Grand Prix, Cogan encountered an immediate hurdle, failing to qualify for the event. The following year, his attempt with Tyrrell at the 1981 United States Grand Prix West yielded a similar outcome, as he again failed to make the grid. This brief and challenging period in Formula One marked the prelude to his transition to American open-wheel racing, specifically Indy cars, in 1982. Before his full commitment to Indy cars, Cogan made a notable debut at the 1981 Indianapolis 500, competing in the USAC Gold Crown Championship. Piloting the No. 32 Sugaripe Prunes Phoenix PR-01-Cosworth DFX for Jerry O'Connell Racing, he demonstrated early promise by qualifying in a respectable 12th position. In the race, Cogan completed 197 laps, securing a fourth-place finish. Despite this strong performance, he was not awarded the Rookie of the Year title, which went to Josele Garza. Following his Indianapolis debut, Cogan joined the rival CART/PPG World Series, continuing with O'Connell. His CART debut at the Gould Rex Mays Classic at the Milwaukee Mile saw him qualify seventh and finish second, placing him fifth in the points standings early in the season. He participated in four additional races that year, achieving his best finish at the Los Angeles Times 500 at Riverside International Raceway, and concluded his inaugural CART season 23rd in points.

The Penske Years and Indianapolis Controversy

The 1982 season marked a significant step for Cogan as he joined the formidable Team Penske, driving the No. 4 Norton Spirit Penske PC-10-Cosworth DFX. His tenure with Penske began with a strong showing at the season-opening Kraco Car Stereos 150 at Phoenix International Raceway, where he qualified and finished in third place. While the remainder of his season was characterized by inconsistency, a notable performance included a second-place finish at the Domino's Pizza Pocono 500, where he was bested only by his teammate, Rick Mears. Cogan also secured two pole positions that year, at the Budweiser Cleveland 500 and the AirCal 500. He concluded the season sixth in points, a respectable position, though Mears ultimately claimed the championship. Despite these achievements, Cogan was released by Penske at the end of the season, a decision that would be heavily influenced by a controversial incident at the 1982 Indianapolis 500. The 1982 Indianapolis 500 proved to be a pivotal, and ultimately infamous, moment in Cogan's career. During qualifying, he showcased exceptional speed, setting a new one-lap track record of 204.638 mph and a record four-lap average of 204.082 mph, only to be surpassed by his teammate, Rick Mears. Starting from the middle of the front row, positioned between pole-sitter Mears and the legendary A.J. Foyt, Cogan was at the heart of the action as the field approached the start-finish line. In a sudden and dramatic turn of events, Cogan's car swerved right, making contact with Foyt's car and subsequently collecting Mario Andretti. The incident also caused damage to the cars of Dale Whittington and Roger Mears further back in the field, while Bobby Rahal reported being hit but remained undamaged. The race was immediately red-flagged. The shocking accident eliminated four cars, including Cogan's and Andretti's. Foyt's team managed to repair his car for the restart. The immediate aftermath was marked by intense frustration from Andretti and Foyt. Andretti, visibly angered, shunned Cogan's attempts at explanation with a light shove and publicly declared on live radio and television, "This is what happens when you have children doing a man's job up front." In the garage area, Andretti further criticized Cogan, claiming he was "looking for trouble," "couldn't handle the responsibilities of the front row," and that the Penske car was "too good for him." A.J. Foyt, known for his outspoken nature, commented to ABC's Chris Economaki, "...he ran right square into my goddamned left front...'Coogin'." Later, Foyt dismissed the incident as "a stupid deal" and asserted that Cogan "had his head up his ass." The incident sparked wider debate, with drivers like Gordon Johncock, Johnny Rutherford, and Bobby Unser placing some blame on pole-sitter Rick Mears for bringing the field down at an unusually slow pace. Johncock, who went on to win the race, also pointed out that Andretti had jumped the start, suggesting he might have avoided Cogan's spinning car had he been properly aligned. Foyt, in his 1983 memoir, analytically assigned partial blame to Mears for the slow start, while attributing the majority of the responsibility to Cogan. For his part in the USAC Gold Crown season, Cogan finished 47th in points, largely because his fourth-place finish at the 1981 Indy 500 did not count due to the absence of a USAC Class I license. The controversy surrounding the 1982 Indianapolis 500 had a profound and lasting impact on Cogan's career. He quickly fell out of favor, experiencing a noticeable "blacklisting" by fans and the press. The incident was particularly damaging as he nearly eliminated two of American auto racing's most celebrated figures, Foyt and Andretti, in the season's biggest race. It also reignited a standing feud between Team Penske and Patrick Racing. While Roger Penske publicly supported Cogan, he neither confirmed nor denied the prevailing theory of a broken CV-joint as the cause. This "firestorm of controversy" significantly affected the remainder of Cogan's racing endeavors. The accident's cause was never officially explained by the Penske team, leading to various expert opinions. Rodger Ward of the IMS Radio Network immediately suspected locked rear brakes, a common occurrence during the turbocharged era as drivers "rode the brakes" to engage the turbocharger on warm-up laps. Others theorized a broken CV joint. Sam Posey's comments on ABC-TV, stating "absolutely no idea" how it happened and suggesting "it was as if he turned the wheel intentionally," inadvertently fueled speculation that Cogan was entirely at fault. However, Cogan himself was observed inspecting the rear axle of his car immediately after climbing out, implying he believed a mechanical failure had occurred. Cogan did not secure a win in 1982 and was reportedly fired by Roger Penske, being replaced by Al Unser in 1983.

Post-Penske and Career Resilience

Following his departure from Penske, Kevin Cogan embarked on a period characterized by frequent team changes and a determined effort to regain his footing in IndyCar racing. In 1983, he joined Bignotti-Cotter Racing, driving the March 83C-Cosworth DFX. Despite his teammate Tom Sneva winning the Indianapolis 500 that year, Cogan's best result was a fifth-place finish at the same event. The team's decision to develop the Theodore 83 chassis instead of continuing with the proven March 83C did not aid Cogan's results, and he finished 15th in CART standings and 6th in USAC. With team co-owner George Bignotti's retirement, Cogan was not retained for 1984. The 1984 season saw Cogan navigate a complex landscape of multiple teams and significant challenges. He initially drove for Curb Racing in a Ligier and All American Racers in an Eagle for select races. At the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach, he finished 28th, and at Phoenix, he secured an eighth-place finish. The Indianapolis 500 proved particularly arduous; Cogan returned to the Ligier, struggled with pace, and nearly failed to qualify. He eventually secured a spot after Ligier and Curb parted ways, and following an injury to Michael Chandler, which led to the merger of Curb and All American Racers. Cogan qualified 27th, setting a new speed record for stock block engines at Indianapolis, but retired to 20th due to a frozen wheel. After leaving Curb-All American Racers, he joined Forsythe Racing. His debut with Forsythe at the Michigan 500 was promising, starting fifth and finishing eighth, followed by a tenth-place finish at Road America. However, his season was abruptly cut short during practice for the Domino's Pizza 500 at Pocono, where a severe crash resulted in broken heels, a torn Achilles tendon, and a shattered talus bone. These extensive injuries ended his season, and he finished 24th in points. In 1985, Cogan joined Kraco Racing. The season presented a mix of highs and lows, including a challenging qualification for the Indianapolis 500, where he started 32nd but climbed to finish 11th. He also achieved a fourth-place finish at Michigan International Speedway and a fifth at Portland International Raceway, ultimately placing 14th in points.

Peak Performance and Signature Drives

The 1986 season with Patrick Racing, driving the No. 7 7-Eleven March 86C-Cosworth DFX, marked the zenith of Kevin Cogan's IndyCar career. At the season-opening Dana 200 for Special Olympics at Phoenix International Raceway, Cogan secured his first and only IndyCar win, leading second-place Tom Sneva by a full lap. This victory propelled him to lead the CART standings for the first time. The 1986 Indianapolis 500 showcased Cogan's racecraft and determination. With just 13 laps remaining, he executed a bold maneuver, passing both Rick Mears and Bobby Rahal in less than a lap as they were held up by Randy Lanier's slower car. Despite his car conspicuously oversteering in the turns, Cogan pulled away to establish a three-second lead. However, a caution flag on lap 195 for Arie Luyendyk's crash in turn four neutralized his advantage. On the restart on lap 198, Cogan struggled, allowing Rahal to pass him, and he ultimately finished in a commendable second place. Despite this near-victory, Cogan still led the CART standings after Indianapolis. Unfortunately, a series of mechanical retirements in seven of the fourteen remaining races saw him drop to sixth in the championship by season's end. Cogan returned to Patrick Racing in 1987, making it the first team he drove for in consecutive years. However, the season proved disappointing, with his best finishes being two fifth-place results at Mid-Ohio and Nazareth, leading to a 16th-place finish in points.

Later Career and Challenges

In 1988, Cogan moved to Machinists Union Racing. The season started positively with a third-place finish at the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach. After seven rounds, he was ranked 11th in points, but an injury sustained at the Molson Indy Toronto forced him to miss four races. Despite this setback, he finished 13th in points, bolstered by a fourth-place finish at the Nissan Indy Challenge. He continued with Machinists Union in 1989, but it was another frustrating season, yielding a best finish of eighth at Laguna Seca and a 14th-place standing in points. The 1989 Indianapolis 500 brought another dramatic incident when Cogan spun in turn four, impacting the pit lane entrance. His car broke in half, rebounded, and slammed into the pit wall before coming to rest on its side. Remarkably, Cogan emerged from the destroyed car unharmed. The early 1990s saw Cogan's career become more fragmented. In 1990, he secured a drive for the Indianapolis 500 with Vince Granatelli Racing, qualifying 15th and finishing ninth. He later competed in the Marlboro 500 for Stoops Racing, finishing 20th, and ended the season 23rd in points. The 1991 Indianapolis 500 marked another severe turning point. Driving for Team Menard, Cogan qualified 16th. During the race, he was involved in a crash with Roberto Guerrero on lap 25, resulting in devastating injuries: his right femur was broken in four lengthwise pieces near the hip, requiring extensive surgery, and he also suffered a broken right forearm and shoulder. Cogan firmly attributed blame to Guerrero, claiming Guerrero cut down on him. However, an amateur video later surfaced, suggesting Cogan might have moved up into Guerrero's path, or that it was simply a racing accident. Cogan, however, maintained his stance against Guerrero. The severity of his injuries forced him to miss the remainder of 1991 and the entire 1992 season, and he scored no points that year. Cogan made a return to racing in 1993 with Galles-Kraco Racing on a part-time schedule. At the Indianapolis 500, he was on the "bubble" during Bump Day, narrowly avoiding being bumped by Bobby Rahal. He qualified 14th and led four laps during pit stops, ultimately finishing 14th. He competed in three more races for the team, achieving a best finish of 13th at Cleveland. He again scored no championship points.

Retirement and Post-Racing Life

Kevin Cogan retired from racing at the end of the 1993 season. His career statistics include a single IndyCar win at Phoenix in 1986 and a best finish of second at the 1986 Indianapolis 500. He achieved a career-best sixth place in the CART standings in both 1982 and 1986. Since concluding his racing career, Cogan has notably distanced himself from the sport. He has stated that his interest in racing "died with Scott Brayton in 1996," a sentiment that led him to avoid watching races. Instead, he transitioned to a career in real estate, focusing on a business in Palos Verdes Estates, Los Angeles. Cogan has consistently declined invitations to participate in significant racing commemorations, including interviews for the Indianapolis Motor Speedway's centennial era in 2009 and festivities for the 100th anniversary of the Indianapolis 500 in 2011. In a rare interview granted in 2015, Cogan revealed that he continues to experience lingering pain from the numerous crashes he endured, affecting his foot, shoulder, and forearm, and resulting in shaky balance. Regarding his personal life, an ESPN report in 1988 indicated he was married to Tracy and had a son. The couple divorced in 2004. The 2015 interview further disclosed that Cogan has two additional children, a daughter and a son, since his retirement from racing.