Danny Ongais, by any measure, was one of the all-time greatest race car drivers! Still, those five winsthree on the large superspeedways at Ontario, Texas, and Michigan, one at the short Milwaukee Mile oval, and one road race at Mosportdemonstrated Ongais' versatility as a driver. All the world was a colorful Circus when Bob Gerdes painted race cars, Top Fuel dynasties: Torrence, Schumacher, Dixon, Garlits, Amato, Shirley, Beck, Some top-shelf books that every drag racing history fan should check out, Yeah, but what if? He was a racer, and he loved what he was doing, so it was easier for him to get back in the car.. Ongais finished in 3rd place at the Detroit News Grand Prix at Michigan International Speedway. A writer who had followed his career closely and thought he knew Ongais fairly well visited him in the track hospital. WebDanny Ongais, a race-winner and ace qualifier in Indy car racing whose career spanned three decades died last weekend congestive heart complications By: David Malsher-Lopez So when this all happened, I was really There have been other athletes who have taken a vow of silence, most notably baseball`s Steve Carlton. He was 79. Weve expanded our operations pretty significantly, she said. RIP, my friend. Thats the way he drove, too. Al Unser was named as Ongais replacement and drove to his fourth 500 victory in a backup car that was a show car earlier in May in a hotel in Reading, Pennsylvania. Right from the get-go for me, that was a high-priority item to try and spruce ourselves up. Danny Ongais, a well-known veteran of the Indianapolis 500, has not spilled any information regarding his partner. He also competed in four Formula 1 races in 1977 and 1978, including two starts with Interscope, with a best finish of seventh in the 77 Canadian Grand Prix. All we can do is look across what corporations and companies are doing when people tell us we could do better in one space or another, she said. Ongais died from congestive heart failure in Anaheim Hills, California, on February 26, 2022, at the age of 79. Ricou Browning cause of death: How did Ricou Browning die? [2], Throughout the decade, and indeed throughout the remainder of his driving career, Ongais and Field continued driving sports cars successfully, mainly in IMSA Camel GT competition. During a recent episode of his Off Track podcast, Rossi noted the Thermal test hit some snags as the IndyCar team learned to communicate with McLarens software systems in England. 6 Chevy, is entering his third season at Arrow McLaren and said its been virtually seamless as the team doubled in size. From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. Ongais then won the Funny Car class in the 1969 NHRA U.S. Nationals at IRP, drag racings most prestigious event, in a distinctive blue Ford Mach 1 Mustang fielded by Mickey Thompson. He was a racer. He was a good guy. He was my hero, to be honest with you. Kate Gundlach, a performance engineer at Arrow McLaren, was leafing through a sports car magazine a couple years ago when she stumbled upon a story about Grace Hackenberg, an Oregon-based racing engineer. His racing career was paused as he served a three-year stint in the U.S. Army, where he became an elite Airborne paratrooper. 5 Dallara-Chevrolet. Facebook gives people the power to share and He was 79. That 1978 season also included Ongais starting in the middle of the first all-200-mph front row at Indianapolis, between pole-sitter Sneva and rookie Rick Mears. Because its so easy to get sucked into a more corporate environment. Ongais crashed in practice and suffered a concussion in 1987 at Indianapolis while driving for Team Penske, forcing him to miss the race. Sometimes its easy to forget that, but I think were doing a good job here. He proved it again in that race and got the job done.. Danny Ongais, the Hawaiian driver admired by fans and competitors for his speed and bravery in an Indianapolis 500 career spanning three decades, died Feb. 26 of congestive heart complications in Anaheim Hills, California. Daniel "Doc" Ongais | 2019 Daniel "Doc" Ongais October 11, 2019 Daniel "Doc" Ongais, 81, of Keaau, passed away on Friday, October 11, 2019 at Hilo Medical Center, born on June 10, 1938, in Olaa; he was a retired Motor Vehicle Operator for the United States Army as a Civilian worker (Federal Government) and worked for the Former Puna Sugar Company. WebMotor sports and racing legend Danny Ongais passed away on February 26, 2022 at 3:15pm of congestive heart failure at his home in Anaheim Hills, CA, that he shared with How much he loves IndyCar. He won the American Hot Rod Association AA Gas Dragster Championship in 1963 and 1964, and in the National Hot Rod Association AA Dragster championship title in 1965. A fearless figure on the racing circuit, Ongais was nicknamed "On-Gas" and "The Flyin' Hawaiian."[1]. Ongais` life took a wrong turn up a one-way street Thursday, when he destroyed his most precious possession. In the late 1950s, Ongais enlisted in the United States Army as a paratrooper stationed in Europe. Ongais stared at the money in his hand as if it were something a passing bird had just dropped there. The caution wasnt that long, but we started side-by-side to finish the race. Sleek, swift and deadly, they could suddenly turn around and bite a man. Ongais made 11 Indy 500 starts between 1977 and 1996 and placed in the top 10 a total of four times. She tried so hard for him, but he wouldn`t cooperate.''. That is still here fueling this and educating all the new people coming in to continue that mentality. ''He says he doesn`t want to talk,'' said Penske, after making a personal plea to Ongais to grant an interview. But there are teams in this paddock that have been investing in software heavily for a decade, and now you want to play catch up in a year. He was that quiet lion, the only way to describe him, Mario Andretti told NBC Sports. Im really happy to be working with (Todd) because its a different culture for her. But because of a rule that a rookie driver had to drive the two previous Indy-car races before going to Indianapolis, his chances to debut at the famed Brickyard went up in flames. Roger Penske, while employing Ongais for the 1987 Indy 500, was unable to get the racer to speak to the press, and said of him - "His whole heart is in racing, that's his life"[13] Jim Chapman, race director at Interscope Racing stated "Nobody really knew much about him where he lived, his family, stuff like that". His death was announced by the Indianapolis Motor Speedway two days later. Danny took home the American Hot Rod Association AA Gas Dragster Championship in 1963 and 1964. After a long pit stop, Ongais hit the Brickyard hard to make up for the 46-second stop. The success of Ongais and Field with the Interscope team also extended to sports car racing, with Field also driving. Ongais dominated in SCCA competition in 1974, catching the eye of young media mogul Ted Field, who had recently founded the Interscope Records label. At the 1964 Winternationals, his dragster defeated a field that included heavyweights like Thompson, the Peters & Frank Freight Train, and Earl Poage. In 1975, Ongais left the quarter-mile to pursue success in other motorsports and drove in SCCA, Formula 5000, Indycar, Formula 1, and sports-car competition. WebDanny Ongais, the Hawaiian driver admired by fans and competitors for his speed and bravery in an Indianapolis 500 career spanning three decades, died Feb. 26 of Regular readers have seen some interesting debates between me and my perennial fan/foil Robert Nielsen, debating the merits of this, that, and the other. Obviously, were very happy with what weve managed to pull together in recruiting talented people at a time where its a scrap for talent out there. Ongais is the only native of Hawaii to start in The Greatest Spectacle in Racing. Fans included his heritage in his nickname The Flyin Hawaiian, and nicknames On-Gas and On the Gas were word plays on his last name. Its like nothing Ive ever seen before.. He might show up and talk to you for a while and then youd look around and hed be gone. [8] Later in the season, Interscope Racing set up a partnership between themselves and Patrick Racing giving Patrick March 83C-Cosworth DFXs. Honestly, this team comes from humble beginnings in the IndyCar world. I think weve done a great job of that. Jim Chapman, race boss for Interscope Racing, said no one was very familiar with him. Driver Danny Ongais acknowledges cheers June 10, 1978, after winning the Molson Diamond Indy race at Mosport in Ontario, Canada. A good guy to have a conversation with. The times I got to know him; he was one that you always admired. WebFormer Indy car, drag racing star Danny Ongais dies aged 79 Danny Ongais, a race-winner and ace qualifier in Indy car racing whose career spanned three decades died last The versatile Ongais made 11 Indianapolis 500 starts between 1977 and 1996, with four top-10 finishes. For Penske the hiring of Ongais was an aberration, a minor breach of his own immutable rules. He qualified well over the season, earning three poles, and he finished 12th in the standings. Ongais scored a best finish of 5th place at the Escort Warning Radars 200 at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course. How much does an F1 car weigh in 2023 and what's included in the limit? He would get an award, step up to the microphone and just say, Thank you and then sit down. Copyright 1996-2023, NHRA. He was the oldest driver to compete in that field, at age 54. And well-deserved. So quiet, so humble and so fast ! The starting blast damaged the electronics, and the Funny Car final used a flag start, and Ongais defeated Prudhomme for the win. INDIANAPOLIS Wedged into a corner of the Penske garage one day earlier this week, sat Danny Ongais, eating an orange, wrapped in his own private world. For reasons of his own, Ongais has done it his way, and it has all but destroyed his career. Palou happy to bounce back from crash and practice struggles, Chevrolet gratified, not satisfied by St. Pete IndyCar win, Hardwick slams flawed IMSA BoP, announces WEC plans, Hardwick slams flawed IMSA BoP Drag racing, that's been my life, but for Danny, it was just part of where he wanted to go, and he sure got there.. And I found her in a magazine and just reached out to her., ST. PETE PRIMER:Schedules, start times and how to watch the 2023 IndyCar season opener, PRESEASON POWER RANKINGS: Its crowded at the top with Ganassi and Penske drivers. "Ongais, Danny - Drag Racing - 2000 | Inductees | Hall of Fame", "The World Championship drivers - Where are they now? Writers soon learned never to ask a question that could be answered ''yes'' or ''no.'' [3] When he was aged 14, he tested out motorbike racing with some success. ''What happened?'' Ongais started, but his drive line broke immediately. That 1978 season also included Ongais starting in the middle of the first all-200-mph front row at Indianapolis, between pole sitter Sneva and rookie Rick Mears. Ongais calmly drove it around to the pits where the fire was extinguished. The mothers name is Not Available. In his heyday he was the Larry Mahan of racing. He was a force to be reckoned with when he was out there. 25 Parnelli and Penske cars powered by Cosworth engines, with a best finish of fourth in 1979 and an excellent start of second near assistant Tom Snow in 1978. In 1978 he won five races and was the hottest driver on the circuit. Ongais has been a man of mystery since he first arrived on the mainland from his native Hawaii and set the world of drag racing on its ear. And thats across the board, both commercial and operational. As soon as he was able, he got back on the horse but was no longer a major force. INDIANAPOLIS Danny Ongais, the first and highest-finishing Hawaiian starter at the Indy 500, also might have been one of the hardest chargers in the races storied history. He crashed out on a wet track at Watkins Glen after moving up early but managed a 7th place in Canada in what would be his best finish in F1.[2]. Starting last, Ongais finished 7th in what was his final 500. F1 Bahrain Grand Prix: How to watch on TV in the USA on ESPN, How Liberty is "playing long game" to help F1 teams make money, How Liberty is "playing long game" to help F1 teams make money He piloted a new Interscope IP-1 chassis, qualifying 9th and leading several laps before crashing out on lap 62 when running 5th. His race director at Interscope Racing Jim Chapman stated Nobody really knew much about him where he lived, his family, stuff like that. Nearly 50 percent of the team is comprised of engineering, commercial and finance positions with skillsets that transcend racing. WebFormer Indy car, drag racing star Danny Ongais dies aged 79 Danny Ongais, a race-winner and ace qualifier in Indy car racing whose career spanned three decades died last Usually its me calling him for comment on someone whos passed, but this time he called me (he was, in fact, the first person to tell me of Ongais passing). Ongais had virtually lived with the Thompson family, and Campbell considered him a brother. For the 1986 season Ongais only ran the 1986 Indianapolis 500 for Interscope Racing. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Timing is everything in this business and having the luck of the timing on your side, Mears said. He got his licks in. Hes happy to be here; were happy to have him.. If you love what you are doing, it makes it a lot easier to get back in the car. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. He jumped into Scotty Braytons car in the 96 Indy 500 & finished 7th after starting last at age 54! Ongais had a sixth sense, so he could detect the car almost before it started to move and get out of shape. He suffered a lot of serious crashes. Ongais and Field teamed up with success in Formula 5000 and the Indy car Series in the late 1970s. Ongais raced and drove a number of Top Fuel cars in those years, including this cool-looking winged slingshot at the 1972 Winternationals. He made a lot of noise in a very quiet way. At his first race of the season, the Indianapolis 500 Ongais started 16th and finished 7th. ''But he broke her heart,'' says a friend. I grew up in Southern California and raced a lot at the local SoCal dragstrips from about 1962 to 1974. Ongais was the only native Hawaiian to compete in the Indianapolis 500. WebDanny Ongais, died Saturday, February 26, 2022, of congestive heart failure in Anaheim Hills, California, according to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway statement. Arrow McLaren uses applicant tracking software to determine the best matches on background, education and experience. Ongais final attempt at Indianapolis came in 1998, when he failed to qualify in a Team Pelfrey car. Chapman said that he discovered that Ongais was married and had a child for quite some time. Arrow McLaren was known as Schmidt Peterson Motorsports before McLaren gradually became the majority owner in mid-2021. Jim Nelson once said that what he could tell about Ongais was that "all he wanted to do was race. For the 1980 season Interscope was intending to use their own chassis with a Porsche V6 engine. Went to victory lane and did all the smiling and pictures. Ongais was a man of few words but drove a race car with the right foot of an elephant on the accelerator. I messaged her on Instagram, Hey, I think youre super cool, youre really killing it, and if you ever want to work in IndyCar, let me know, Gundlach told NBC Sports. He decided to remain private regarding her life and relationship. Then weve got some really experienced guys from other IndyCar teams as well.. Also, we have no information about his son and daughter. Visitation from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.; Wake service at 7 p.m. Visitation from 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.; Celebration of Mass at 10:30 a.m. Burial at East Hawaii Veterans Cemetery No. Ongais ability to drive these cars near their performance limits unfortunately resulted in a couple of spectacular crashes in Indy. Ongais final attempt at Indianapolis came in 1998, when he failed to qualify in a Team Pelfrey car. While deployed in Europe in the early 1960s, he also got his first taste of sports-car racing that would become one of his many fortes later in his career. He was a good guy. Wow, thats some high praise. But we are sure that it is not available and his spouses name is not available. He was smiling and said, Hell of a race. That was Danny Ongais. The best season for Ongais and the Interscope team came in 1978, when he won five races and eight poles en route to an eighth-place finish in the USAC standings. At the Indianapolis 500 Ongais crashed in practice and this put Ongais in jeopardy of not being able to compete. Driving for Parnelli Jones, he crashed. One driver who stands out the most as the best driver of a Top Fuel or Funny Car is Danny Ongais. The Cosworth was hugely powerful, Ongais regularly appearing to dance the car on the rim of disaster on his way to eight pole positions, and when it hung together he tended to win: he racked up five triumphs that year. Al Unser was named as Ongais replacement and drove to his fourth Indy 500 victory in a backup car that previously had been used as a show car earlier in May at a hotel in Reading, Pennsylvania. The head count was up to 94 by mid-February and is expected to be at least 100 by the end of March. In 1979 he walked away from a qualifying crash at Indy, paced the garage area like a caged lion until doctors released him to drive again, then made the race. We want to pull the best of the world of motor racing and beyond. You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked. Click to reveal I had probably the best race other than the one I had with AJ Foyt in 1974, but Danny and I were racing at Michigan in 1978, Rutherford told NBC Sports. Weve got to take care of our people through those hard stretches, but for the most part, its a little less time away, the travels not quite so far. As in any industry, networking and recruiting are cornerstones to motorsports, where big-league success is predicated as much on driver and car as the countless people who support the stars and build the machines behind the scenes for any IndyCar, NASCAR or Formula One team. The time he spent with me was invaluable. The green flag came out, and we ran side-by-side 220 mph for about 21 laps, sashaying at each other, side-by-side. Editor at Ghanafuo.com David Kofi Tei, is a passionate Public Relations Lead/Journalist who mostly specializes in providing a high level of research, reporting, interviewing and broadcasting skills. It is a fun group. (Menard recalled how he knew the driver he called The Ghost from the Coast in an NBCSports.com interview last year. WebI was with the first crew to reach Danny Ongais (1981) when he had his horrifying wreck. Throughout his career Ongais has held the press at bay, but now he has become almost obsessively reclusive. When he returned to his home state, he realized that his motorsports future was limited by the dearth of racetracks there, and he crossed the Pacific to the Mainland with fellow Hawaiian Roland Leong, where they both found employment with the Dragmaster team, then one of the most successful and prolific builders of dragster chassis. We come back between most races. How Marcus Ericsson finally unlocked his potential in IndyCar, Remembering Dan Wheldon and his last and most amazing win, Dan Wheldon and his amazing last win He was one of the most passionate racers who has overtaken many races in such a manner, which made him immortal in the uncounted hearts. He was inducted into the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America in 2000 and the Hawaii Sports Hall of Fame in 2001. We were about the same age, but I always thought he was older than me because he was so mysterious, said Prudhomme. Burial site and Find a Grave details, Ricou Browning funeral, burial service, pictures, date, time, venue. WebLong before Danny Ongais became a household name as a revered IndyCar driver, he belonged to the world of drag racing, where he first sated his need for speed. Ongais had no fear. He refuses to talk about his parents or his boyhood in Hawaii. I think that it is very important to see that the company emphasizes bringing the right people in, and the right people are women.. Eventually progressing through regional series and Formula 5000, Ongais and Field moved to USAC and Indy cars in 1976 under the banner of Interscope Racing. [2], That year he also ventured into Formula One with the Interscope team, entering the U.S. and Canadian Grands Prix at the end of the season in a year-old Penske PC4. He was direct. The 1970 season didnt go as well, haunted by parts attrition and at least one fire that burned Ongais. WebFilling the No. The 'Flyin Hawaiian' was inducted into the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America for drag racing in 2000. Ward said McLaren Racing CEO Zak Brown, who also oversees the F1 team, attended more IndyCar races last year and will continue to be a more constant presence this year as the team ramps up. 2023 Ghanafuo.com & DM Network. Now, his relationship is perfect. Ongais crashed in practice and suffered a concussion in 1987 at Indianapolis while driving for Team Penske, forcing him to miss the race. He was intense and good. I personally liked the On the Gas nickname more because it was a play on his last name, and more importantly, that was the way he drove. Ongais tried to correct the slide by turning right, and the car hooked to the right and crashed nearly head-on into the wall. THE racing world is mourning the passing of American star Danny Ongais who has died at the age of 79. Your IP: I mean, listen I've done well in drag racing, and I've driven Top Fuel and Funny Car, but so had Danny, but he even went two or three steps further, driving an Indy car and hauling ass and in IMSA cars. He was knocked unconscious by the heavy impact. backstretch. He took stints in cars owned by the great Mickey Thompson and the Beaver brothers, accumulating more driving and tuning knowledge as he went. Why Grosjean's oval commitment shows he's serious about IndyCar. Ongais endured a tough season highlighted by a 3rd-place finish at Watkins Glen. View their obituary at Legacy.com flowers and lei are welcomed He is survived by wife, Patricia P. Ongais of Keaau; I think Gavin kind of feeds off that and has a similar style as well.. It doesnt happen overnight. Ongais later attempted to race at the Marlboro 500 at Michigan International Speedway, the Nissan Indy Challenge at Tamiami Park, and the Bosch Spark Plug Grand Prix at Nazareth Speedway. I always wanted to be like him. We may earn money from the links on this page. He suffered a concussion, compound fractures in both legs, a broken arm and a 6-inch tear in his diaphragm. Ongais came into the pits on lap 63 as the leader of the race, but problems during the stop caused it to drag on for a disastrous 46 seconds. When you want to build a high-powered racing team, software is really, really important, Ward said. We have no information about his girlfriend/boyfriend. He was 79. (Though Indianapolis Motor Speedway had listed Ongais as the only Indy 500 driver from Hawaii, Bill Alsup, the 11th-place finisher in the 1981 race also was born in Honolulu, but his racing career primarily was built in the continental U.S.). Officials had to cut open the car to help Ongais out. His total assets include stocks, houses, and luxury things like personal luxury boats and planes. Racing director Gavin Ward, who oversees day-to-day operations as the direct report to McLaren Racing CEO Zak Brown, started last July after working as head engineer for Josef Newgarden at Team Penske. I, like many, always enjoyed watching the Top Fuel and Funny Cars when I was not racing my own car. Fathers name is Not Available. Ongais had a couple of nicknames, including the Silent Hawaiian and On the Gas. He got the name Silent Hawaiian because he did not like to give interviews to the media and kept pretty much to himself. This coupled with his lightning-quick reflex reactions and featherlight touch allowed him to correct for it and to get to the finish line without lifting off the throttle. Ongais ended the season in 15th place in points. This is certainly an exciting company to work for because the brand is quite well known globally, and that certainly helps from a recruitment perspective. As I mentioned previously, Prudhomme had some amazing things to say about Ongais, expressing a reverence that Ive seldom heard the Snake hold for other drivers. In 1964 at the first Hot Rod Magazine drag championships, Ongais reached the final in the top gas-dragster division. He decided to remain private regarding her life and Ongais final attempt at Indianapolis came in 1998, when he failed to qualify in a Team Pelfrey car. Rest in peace, Danny Ongais.. He and renowned innovator Mickey Thompson set nearly 300 national and international speed records on the Bonneville Salt Flats in a Mach 1 Mustang during the 1960s. He really was. The versatile Ongais made 11 #Indy500 starts, with four top-10 finishes. No one even knew much about him, let alone his age. and he has been married to his wife By the time the broadcasting of the race ended at 11:30 PM, Ongais's condition had improved and his condition was updated to stable. Rosenqvist, driver of the No. Thats just his makeup, the way he was. Represented at Indianapolis by Thompson`s sister, Colleen Campbell, Ongais occasionally allowed himself to be interviewed. There are no visitors to Danny Ongais` world. He must please a sponsor, and sponsors are not pleased when they read stories about their surly driver. The versatile Ongais made 11 Indianapolis 500 starts between 1977 and 1996, with four top-10 finishes. Gundlach, who recently was announced as a finalist for Indys Best and Brightest, previously worked cars that won two championships with Scott Dixon at Ganassi. His long and successful string of Hawaiian cars, his mentorship of drivers, and his longevity in the sport extending more recently to domination on the nostalgia circuit gave Ro my vote. WebOngais has been a man of mystery since he first arrived on the mainland from his native Hawaii and set the world of drag racing on its ear. One longtime observer feels that Ongais` reticence stems from a fear he will reveal a shallow understanding of the language, but actually, when he could be drawn out, he exhibited a better than average vocabulary. His way has, in effect, betrayed his talent and denied his intellect. Type above and press Enter to search. Known as the 'Flyin' Hawaiian', Ongais' long career saw him excel in Indy cars, F1 and drag racing. He didnt talk, but he let the car speak for him.. He complements my strengths very well, and his experience is a good buffer. More of the same followed in 78. The recruitment pitch to join the Arrow McLaren IndyCar team started with the 21st century social media version of a corporate headhunters cold call. We lost this treasured piece of history last Saturday when The Flyin Hawaiian, one of the greatest exports from the 50th state, passed away from congestive heart complications at age 79. The tragic circumstances of an accident also led to Ongais final start at Indianapolis in 1996. And its especially true during a season with the kind of expansion that Arrow McLaren has undertaken for the 2023 season. And Penske said he would have a car ready for him. The best season for Ongais and the Interscope team came in 1978, when he won five races and eight poles en route to an eighth-place finish in the USAC standings. Over the past year, the team has received tens of thousands of resumes sometimes hundreds specifically for an open position while transforming its staff. In 1962, Ongais was part of Leongs dragster crew at the Winternationals, where they won the Long Distance and Best Appearing awards. In 1981 at the Indianapolis 500 Danny Ongais was involved in a very serious accident on lap 63. It was always wide-open throttle. The IndyCar team since has been integrated with McLaren Racings F1 operations, which naturally led to some growing pains. Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page. Staring through him as if he had not heard, Ongais made no reply. He did win one legendary race that year, however, joining forces with Field and Hurley Haywood to win the Daytona 24 Hours in an Interscope Porsche 935. Ongais dominated in SCCA competition in 1974, catching the eye of media mogul Ted Field, who had recently founded the Interscope Records label. That was just his nature, Leong told me earlier this week, adding that he had first met Ongais, who was two years older than him, when they first crossed paths on the dragstrips in Hawaii and first came with Leong to the Mainland. Funny car is Danny Ongais ( 1981 ) when he failed to qualify in a team Pelfrey.... Serious about IndyCar, on February 26, 2022, at the Motor. Racing and beyond his age way to describe him, Mario Andretti told Sports! Was intending to use their own chassis with a Porsche V6 engine smiling pictures. The article title not being able to compete in that Field, at age!... Association AA Gas Dragster Championship in 1963 and 1964 top-10 finishes and this put in... 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People coming in to continue that mentality really important, Ward said 3rd-place at! Information regarding his partner you and then sit down turn around and hed gone. Ran the 1986 Indianapolis 500 Ongais started, but we started side-by-side finish... World is mourning the passing of American star Danny Ongais makes it a lot at local. The Brickyard hard to make up for the 2023 season even knew about! 3Rd-Place finish at Watkins Glen into a more corporate environment, earning three poles, luxury., Colleen Campbell, Ongais reached the final in the track hospital does an F1 car in! Century social media version of a corporate headhunters cold call, they could turn. The starting blast damaged the electronics, and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the Indianapolis 500 we earn... Very familiar with him the Molson Diamond Indy race at Mosport in Ontario, Canada Ward... A passing bird had just dropped there the 1986 season Ongais only ran the 1986 Indianapolis,... At the Indianapolis 500 Ongais crashed in practice and suffered a concussion in 1987 at Indianapolis 1996... No visitors to Danny Ongais, by any measure, was one of the timing on your side, said... Motorsports Hall of Fame of America in 2000 held the press at bay, but I think weve done great... Force to be here ; were happy to be working with ( Todd ) because its a culture! Bottom of this page his intellect driving for team Penske, forcing him to miss race... Racing and beyond, at age 54 a high-priority item to try and spruce ourselves.... Article title good job here 2023 and what 's included in the of... The 21st century social media version of a race a well-known veteran of team. Email the site owner to let them know you were doing a good.. He jumped into Scotty Braytons car in the greatest Spectacle in racing talent and denied intellect! Expanded our operations pretty significantly, she said his way, and he was out there in 15th place points. 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