Kevin Cogan

Kevin Cogan (31 March 1956 - Present): American racing driver from Culver City, California who participated in five Formula One World Championship Grands Prix from 1980 to 1981, scoring no championship points. Cogan is best remembered not for his Formula One career but for causing one of the most spectacular first-lap crashes in Indianapolis 500 history in 1982, an incident that involved legends A.J. Foyt and Mario Andretti.

Cogan began racing in Formula Ford and progressed through American racing's junior categories, showing enough promise to catch the attention of Formula One teams. His F1 opportunity came when he was signed by RAM Racing for the final two races of 1980, making his debut at the Canadian Grand Prix where he failed to qualify. At the season finale in Watkins Glen he qualified 23rd but retired after just seven laps with gearbox failure. For 1981, Cogan secured a full-season drive with RAM, but the team's Cosworth-powered March 811 was hopelessly uncompetitive against the emerging turbo cars.

His season was a nightmare of non-qualifications and retirements—he failed to qualify at Argentina, San Marino (where he damaged the car in practice), Belgium, Monaco, and Spain. He made just one race start all season at the French Grand Prix, where he qualified last in 26th position and retired after 36 laps with handling problems. Cogan's Formula One career ended after that dismal 1981 season with a record of five race entries, two starts, and two retirements. Returning to American racing, Cogan found more success in CART IndyCar competition.

He won the 1981 CART Rookie of the Year award and established himself as a regular competitor, though victories eluded him. His career is indelibly linked to the 1982 Indianapolis 500, where he started from pole position alongside Rick Mears on the front row. At the start, Cogan's car wiggled as he accelerated, and he drifted right into the path of A.J. Foyt. The contact triggered a massive first-lap accident also involving Mario Andretti, putting three of American racing's most prominent figures out of the race before completing a single lap.

The incident was replayed endlessly on television and made Cogan infamous. Foyt was furious, confronting Cogan after the race, and the crash became one of the Indy 500's most memorable moments for all the wrong reasons. Despite this setback, Cogan continued racing in CART through 1990, achieving eight podium finishes with a best result of second place at Phoenix in 1984 and Michigan in 1986. His consistency earned him seventh in the 1986 championship standings, his best season.

He also competed in the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1985 and 1986 without success. After retiring from active competition, Cogan remained involved in motorsport through team ownership and driver coaching. He established Kevin Cogan Racing, which competed in various American racing series. Cogan also worked as a driving instructor, sharing his experience with younger drivers at racing schools. His son, Kevin Cogan Jr.

, followed him into motorsport, competing in sports car racing. Known for his aggressive driving style and determination, Cogan's racing career produced more notoriety than trophies, but his persistence through a difficult Formula One stint and recovery from the 1982 Indy incident demonstrated resilience. The 1982 Indianapolis crash remains his unwanted legacy—a cautionary tale about how a single moment can define a career, regardless of achievements before or after.