Stefan Johansson

Stefan Johansson was a Formula One driver from Sweden. He participated in 103 grands prix, debuting on January 13, 1980. He achieved 12 podiums, and scored a total of 88 championship points. He joined Tyrrell in 1984 as a mid-season replacement for the injured Martin Brundle, doing enough to be called up to Ferrari when René Arnoux was surprisingly sacked.

Related Topics:
Formula One - Sweden - January 13 - 1980 - Martin Brundle - Ferrari - René Arnoux

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His role for the season was to back up Michele Alboreto's championship challenge, but in 1986 he often outpaced his Italian team-mate. For 1987 he moved to McLaren as Alain Prost's #2. Further podium finished followed, but the team always itnended to replace him with Ayrton Senna in 1988. Despite 11 podiums in 3 seasons, Stefan was still winless, and was not wanted by a top team.

Related Topics:
Michele Alboreto - Italian - McLaren - Alain Prost - Ayrton Senna

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He joined Ligier, ironically alongside Arnoux, but the car was totally uncompetitive, scoring no points and not always qualifying, even against teams with much smaller budgets such as AGS and Rial. Better was to follow in 1989 as he was signed to lead the new Onyx team. Their car was temperamental and didn't always qualify, but Stefan finished 3rd in Portugal for his last (and the team's only) podium finish. He fell out with new team owner Peter Monteverdi in early 1990 and was duly sacked, making further appearances for AGS and Footwork in 1991.

Related Topics:
Ligier - AGS - Rial - Onyx - Peter Monteverdi - Footwork

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For 1992 he moved over to IndyCars, winning the Rookie of the Year title with two third places, ahead of Belgium's Eric Bachelart. His first pole came at Portland the next year, but as in Formula 1 he never won a race. His last year driving in CART was 1996.

Related Topics:
Belgium - Eric Bachelart - CART

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For 2003 he returned to ChampCar asa team owner, running American Spirit Team Johansson with drivers Ryan Hunter-Reay and Jimmy Vasser This was one of many new teams for this season, ironically Bachelart's Conquest team was another. The team was under-funded, and although it scored a fluke win the wet in Australia, it folded at the end of the season.

Related Topics:
American Spirit Team Johansson - Ryan Hunter-Reay - Jimmy Vasser - Conquest

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