 Leonard would drive the #16 Vel's Parnelli Ford Eagle-Offenhauser.At the season-opening heat races that made up the California 500 Qualification Races at Ontario Motor Speedway he would finish in 4th place.A week later in the main race, after completing 146 laps, his tire blew on the main stretch heading into turn one, causing him to drift high off the groove and crash heavily into the outside wall.