John Sherman Rutherford III[1] (born March 12, 1938), also known as "Lone Star JR", is an American former automobile racing driver.

During an Indy Car career that spanned more than three decades, he scored 27 wins and 23 pole positions in 314 starts.

Rutherford later joined the United States Auto Club (USAC) starting in the Hoosier Hundred and later winning his first championship.

His long-awaited second career win came at the Ontario Motor Speedway in 1973, and victories at the Indianapolis 500 followed in 1974, 1976 and 1980.

In 1984, at Michigan International Speedway, Rutherford set an all time Indy car qualifying lap speed record of 215.189 mph.

His win in the 1986 Michigan 500 at age 48 made him the oldest winner of a 500-mile race, a record that still stands.

From 1973 to 1981 Rutherford recorded nine straight seasons with a victory making him one of just six drivers in Indy Car history to do so.

The Torana and Escort made contact and Rutherford ended up crashing into an earth bank at the top of The Mountain.

Starting in 1989, Rutherford also began serving as the driver analyst on the IMS Radio Network, a position he would hold in most years through 2002.

When not racing or working in broadcasting, Rutherford served as the pace car driver for the CART series.

Rutherford also served as a racing consultant for Team Pennzoil,[2] and later, as an ambassador for Arrow McLaren.

Johnny met Betty Hoyer, a nurse, at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in 1963 when he was taking his rookie test.

They married two months later[4] and were a highly visible and inseparable couple throughout Johnny's racing career.

Rutherford was a talented artist during his school, and after the conclusion of his racing career devoted time to renewing his skill.