Gradle keeps waiting for JavaExec task to Complete

Gradle keeps waiting for JavaExec task to Complete. But I want gradle to move to other task and let the JavaExec Application to run in background till build is over .
In Ant we simply acheived this by <parallel><daemons> <java fork="true"> <daemons/><parallel/>

But in gradle not getting a Simpler solution and Worker API seems complex. JavaExec already triggers the app in fork then why should i use Worker API ? Only requirement here is to let the JavaExec execute and dont wait for it

Please help if any inputs

My Requirement is like below: Both JavaExec App1 and App2 should stay running while my junit tests will run . Once JunitTest completes then App1 and App2 to shut and build to complete.

 task.register("Runner"){
    dependsOn(['CompiletestClasses','RunJavaApplication1','RunJavaApplication2','RunJunitTests'])
    }

tasks.register('RunJavaApplication1', JavaExec){}
tasks.register('RunJavaApplication2', JavaExec){}