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Whether its grabbing a badass mechanic out of World of Outlaws and introducing them to IndyCar. He was 79 In 1978, his most successful year in Indy car racing, Ongais won five more races,[5] at Ontario Motor Speedway, Texas World Speedway, Mosport, the Milwaukee Mile, and again at Michigan. He then competed at the Gould Twin Dixie 125 however bad luck hit Ongais in both races. Rossis signing was followed by the arrival of Brian Barnhart, the former IndyCar VP of competition who called strategy in Rossis final season at Andretti (when he ended a three-year winless drought). He also recorded the fastest lap of the race, 192.678 mph, as a rookie in 1977. Thompson, the onetime land speed record-holder, was campaigning a team at Indianapolis and promised to give Ongais a ride. He qualified well over the season, earning three poles, and he finished 12th in the standings. 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. WebI was with the first crew to reach Danny Ongais (1981) when he had his horrifying wreck. Rosenqvist, driver of the No. Fielding the #25 GM Goodwrench/Panavision March 86C-Buick V6, Ongais dropped out with a mechanical failure. In 1962, Ongais was part of Leongs dragster crew at the Winternationals, where they won the Long Distance and Best Appearing awards. It was a big track. Although he was clipped on the chest by a flying tire from his wrecked racer and confined to Methodist Hospital in fair condition with a concussion, Ongais was hoping to be ready to remount in time to qualify on the second weekend. (Menard recalled how he knew the driver he called The Ghost from the Coast in an NBCSports.com interview last year. As a statement from Indianapolis Motor Speedway pointed out, Ongais was known not only for his huge speed, but also surviving some violent crashes. Were not shy to hire a visa candidate who might require extra effort to obtain work permits. Ongais is the main Hawaiian to compete in Hustlings Greatest Show. He was intense and good. It made you sad that he ran out of fuel because it would have been something to see if he could have produced anything to beat me or if I could have beat him. No one even knew much about him, let alone his age. You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked. 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". ''He could take a car that was unmanageable and make it do what he wanted,'' says one observer. 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. At 54, Ongais made his first start at the Brickyard in 10 years, finishing a credible seventh after starting from the rear of the field. 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. But Ward said it wasnt necessarily a driver-executive package deal. That is what I liked about individuals like that.. It doesnt happen overnight. 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 quickly showed he could drive those cars as fast as anyone. In the 1960s he won multiple drag racing championships and was named one of the National Hot Rod Associations Top 50 Drivers for 1951-2000. 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. Ongais calmly drove it around to the pits where the fire was extinguished. Scott said Arrow McLaren has lost only three team members since last years Sept. 11 finale at Laguna Seca, an unheard-of number that she attributes to working hard on trying to give back to employees with extra cash and time off. In his heyday he was the Larry Mahan of racing. When is Danny Ongais funeral? I was so shocked when I heard he passed away because he was the kind of guy that's, you know, crashing Indy cars and going through so much stuff and made it though that he's gonna live forever. At the age of 18, he earned a Hawaiian state title in motorcycle racing, and he went on to become a drag racing ace. ", "Danny Ongais | Racing career profile | Driver Database", "Daytona 24 Hours 1979 - Race Results - Racing Sports Cars", "Remembering One Of The Most Terrifying Crashes In Indy 500 History", "Indy 500 lineup set; Ongais to take over Brayton's car", "Popular Indianapolis 500 Veteran Ongais Dies at 79", "IndyCar legends remember Danny Ongais: 'The Flyin' Hawaiian' at the Indy 500", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Danny_Ongais&oldid=1141645826, International Motorsports Hall of Fame inductees, Short description is different from Wikidata, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0. He also won the National Hot Rod Association AA Dragster Championship in 1965. The car broke in two and his legs were hanging out. WebDanny Ongais, died Saturday, February 26, 2022, of congestive heart failure in Anaheim Hills, California, according to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway statement. His death was announced by the Indianapolis Motor Speedway two days later. he asked Ongais, who was not badly hurt. 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. Just the camaraderie. He entered the season with the Ensign team, in a year-old N177 chassis, and retired in Argentina and Brazil with brake problems. Danny Ongais (May 21, 1942 February 26, 2022) was an American racing driver. 6 Chevy, is entering his third season at Arrow McLaren and said its been virtually seamless as the team doubled in size. NASCAR 2023 at Las Vegas schedule, entry list, and how to watch, F1 Bahrain Grand Prix: How to watch on TV in the USA on ESPN, F1 Bahrain Grand Prix: How to watch on TV in the USA on ESPN Born in 1942 in the wake of the devastating attack on Pearl Harbor, Ongais grew up in Kahului on the island of Maui, and he raced BSA motorcycles as a teenager before he was introduced to the dragstrip by some friends. Weve expanded our operations pretty significantly, she said. Ongais died Feb. 26, 2022 from congestive heart failure in Anaheim Hills, California. Ongais also began drag racing in the early 60s and became one of the top straight-line competitors in America into the early 1970s. 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. 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. Honestly, there was already so much talent in the group, and I feel like so much more has been added on which is just going to help us to really get us where we want to be.. WebWas Danny Ongais Married? Women comprise nearly 20 percent of its staff with many in the engineering department. The rides with major teams that could have been his went to less talented but more malleable men. [2], Ongais was born in Kahului, Hawaii, on May 21, 1942. He drove with bravado and advocated unlimited rules at the Indianapolis 500. Why Kyle Kirkwood is America's new IndyCar ace-in-waiting, 2021 IndyCar title is just the start for Ganassi's newest star, 2021 title just the start for Palou Linda Vaughn presented him with a diamond-studded belt buckle. Kiels team president role essentially was split between Ward and other managers. Weve got a lot of positivity. 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. But then the wild mustangs he was driving gave way to the thoroughbreds, the ground-effects cars. The 1970 season didnt go as well, haunted by parts attrition and at least one fire that burned Ongais. He crashed again in 1982, and then came Thursday`s wrenching collision with the wall. The versatile Ongais made 11 Indianapolis 500 starts between 1977 and 1996, with four top-10 finishes. The Terrifying Crash of Danny "Flyin' Hawaiian" Ongais at the 1981 Indy 500 | How Did He Survive? ''But he broke her heart,'' says a friend. We cant say their name. So far as anyone knows, he has nothing to hide.''. Ongais suffered serious injuries in a head-on crash in the 1981 Indianapolis 500, missing the rest of the season to recover. Funny Car icon Bruce Larson: NHRA's original triple-threat Pro driver, Frank Mancuso: Some good trips and some bad ones for the 'Travel Agent' driver. He also competed in four Formula One races in 1977 and 1978, including two starts with Interscope, with a best finish of seventh in 1977 at the Canadian Grand Prix. Ongais dominated in SCCA competition in 1974, catching the eye of media mogul Ted Field, who had recently founded the Interscope Records label. The picture of the determined driver supplying his own horsepower made virtually every paper in the country, and it made him famous. He did things that guys like me only dream about doing. Starting last, Ongais finished 7th in what was his final 500. Yet he hides everything. While practicing for his first Indy-car race at Hanford, Calif., his car caught fire on the. ''You`ll be lucky to win $250 the whole season here,'' he was told. Not sharp like Johnny Rutherford or deep like Bobby Rahal, but he`s certainly intelligent enough.''. As good as he was on two wheels and all indications are that he was very good he was equally as good or better on four wheels and quickly won the Island Championships and Outstanding Driver of the Year awards. Born May 21, 1942 in Kahului, Hawaii, Ongais began one of the most versatile careers of any driver in his era as a teenager, earning a Hawaii state title in motorcycle racing in 1960. Last year, we did five races in four weekends. We have no more information about his spouse. He was 79. Back to Victory Lane, Every Indy 500 Winner from the Dawn of Time, Danny Ongais, 11-Time Indianapolis 500 Racer, Rolex 24 Winner Dies at 79, Indianapolis Motor Speedway Media Service. Because its so easy to get sucked into a more corporate environment. Danny let his racing do his talking for him, thats for sure., Follow Bruce Martin on Twitter at @BruceMartin_500. Danny Ongais, who risked his life routinely as part of his job even more than most auto racers died peacefully at age 79. Ongais moved into circuit racing in the 1970s, working his way up the ranks in American racing through SCCA road racing with the help of Ted Field. Arrow McLaren was known as Schmidt Peterson Motorsports before McLaren gradually became the majority owner in mid-2021. Gundlach forwarded Hackenbergs contact information to an Arrow McLaren hiring manager, and the match turned out perfect. All registered. 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. He refuses to talk about his parents or his boyhood in Hawaii. "Ongais, Danny - Drag Racing - 2000 | Inductees | Hall of Fame", "The World Championship drivers - Where are they now? The Flyin`. Danny Ongais was known as "The Around the same time, pole keeper Scott Brayton was killed in a training accident shortly after qualifying, and Ongais drove Braytons car, starting 33rd. Ward said the schedule was among the reasons that engineer Ryan Kelly chose to join Rossis car after multiple seasons in the NASCAR Cup Series. I feel like its been so hard to find people in all departments. He may yet get that chance. He also finished in 10th place in points. Danny Ongais cause of death was heart disease, not an accident Danny Ongais, the Hawaiian driver respected by fans and contenders alike for his speed and bravery north of a three-decade vocation, died February 26 in Anaheim. Zak also leads the charge in that. What it has done to his life no one could say. He proved it again in that race and got the job done.. 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. That earned him such nicknames as The Flyin Hawaiian and Danny On-The-Gas.. Honestly, this team comes from humble beginnings in the IndyCar world. He was fast. He finished the season in 20th place in points. From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. But he continued to build a wall of silence around himself. Despite having to start from 33rd and last and despite having retired from Indy car competition nine years earlier, Ongais drove his way to seventh. Danny was a great guy. 1 staffing priority wasnt hiring. That 1978 season also included Ongais starting in the middle of the first all-200-mph front row at Indianapolis, between pole sitter Tom Sneva and rookie Rick Mears, but his best finish in his 11 starts at the Speedway was a fourth in 1979. He was later discharged and returned to Hawaii for motor racing. 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. The action you just performed triggered the security solution. The starting blast damaged the electronics, and the Funny Car final used a flag start, and Ongais defeated Prudhomme for the win. Honda reveals Civic Type R pace car for IndyCar events, Ranking the top 10 IndyCar drivers of 2021, The top 10 IndyCar drivers of 2021 I think the vibe is fantastic. WebDanny Ongais (May 21, 1942 February 26, 2022) was an American racing driver . We have no information about his girlfriend/boyfriend. Danny Ongais has He was a racer. 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 I think thatll grow into a bigger, better version of a big team than there is. Ongais next drove in CART during the 1983 CART/PPG World Series season, first appearing at the 1983 Indianapolis 500. THE racing world is mourning the passing of American star Danny Ongais who has died at the age of 79. We want to pull the best of the world of motor racing and beyond. His first Indy-car race came at Ontario, Calif., late in 1976. A fearless figure on the racing circuit, Ongais was nicknamed "On-Gas" and "The Flyin' Hawaiian."[1]. On May 15, 1982, Danny Ongais qualified 9th for the Indy 500. As the season progressed the Parnelli 6C (which was already a two-year-old car) started to struggle due to its age. Also, we have no information about his son and daughter. At the 1981 Indianapolis 500, he was involved in a near-fatal accident that caused him to miss almost a year of racing. Phil Burgess can be reached at[emailprotected], Hundreds of more articles like this can be found in theDRAGSTER INSIDER COLUMN ARCHIVE, Or try theRandom Dragster Insider story generator, Long 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. 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 Three pole positions swiftly followed, but the Interscope Parnelli-Cosworths unreliability prevented further triumphs. 25 Parnelli and Penske chassis powered by Cosworth engines, with a best finish of fourth in 1979 and a top start of second next to pole sitter Tom Sneva in 1978. Weve got all these new people, all this new equipment, Ward said. NHRA history: Is it real or Artificial Intelligence? Ongais had always expressed a desire to drive an Indianapolis 500 car. Hes a great personality to the team. A head-on shunt in the 1981 Indy 500 left him recuperating for the remainder of the season while four years later at Michigan he went into a barrel-roll after launching off the back of another car. 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 I think Gavin kind of feeds off that and has a similar style as well.. The versatile Ongais made 11 #Indy500 starts, with four top-10 finishes. 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. Sometimes its easy to forget that, but I think were doing a good job here. People are hungry and people feel like were out here to do damage.. Theres one person coming in every other day, and it just becomes normality, the Swede said. Shes a complete unicorn and super hard worker. NASCAR 2023 at Las Vegas schedule, entry list, and how to watch, NASCAR 2023 at Las Vegas schedule, entry list, and how to watch 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. But then Brian is a great resource for me, for the team. Im excited to see how it goes., Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Flipboard (Opens in new window), Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window), Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window), Though Indianapolis Motor Speedway had listed, suffered fatal injuries in a post-qualifying practice crash, Schedules, start times and how to watch the 2023 IndyCar season opener, Its crowded at the top with Ganassi and Penske drivers, organizational hierarchy was restructured, Rossis signing was followed by the arrival, was announced as a finalist for Indys Best and Brightest,. There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase, a SQL command or malformed data. He was there to do a job. For the next seven races, Ongais replaced an injured Johnny Rutherford at Patrick Racing, who had been driving the #40 Sea Ray Boats Wildcat Mk 9-Cosworth DFX. Danny faced a ton of heart problems in his old age. Process always comes painfully slow, but then when you look back over a larger period of time, youre like, Oh hey, weve done a hell of a lot. . In fact, even his closest associates have little insight into his own life, as he doesnt talk about his family or his youth in Hawaii. Thats exciting. He made a late pass going into turn 3. He never really disparaged anybody. And thats across the board, both commercial and operational. Jody Scott, McLarens director of people who joined the team a year ago from Anthem, Inc. (now Elevance Health), said there was no target for the number of hires outside motorsports. Latest: Mystery of Microsoft CEO Young Son Zain Nadellas Cause of Death Famous Voice Actor Kirk Baily Unfortunately Passed Away Danny Ongais Cause of Ongais was the only native Hawaiian to compete in the Indianapolis 500. Ongais died from congestive heart failure in Anaheim Hills, California, on February 26, 2022, at the age of 79. pic.twitter.com/wWOurQyhjT, nascarman (@nascarman_rr) April 4, 2022. Why Kyle Kirkwood is America's new IndyCar ace-in-waiting, Why Kirkwood is USA's ace-in-waiting First, Penske has said many times, he wants a team player. They dominated the season, winning the Bakersfield March Meet, Orange Countys Manufacturer's Meet, and the NHRA Springnationals and U.S. Nationals. Represented at Indianapolis by Thompson`s sister, Colleen Campbell, Ongais occasionally allowed himself to be interviewed. Driving for Parnelli Jones, he crashed. He might show up and talk to you for a while and then youd look around and hed be gone. Thats just his makeup, the way he was. 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. Hills, California, from congestive cardiovascular collapse, but not because of any accident. Ongais was a man of few words but drove a race car with the right foot of an elephant on the accelerator. He really was. Sulley Muntari, Agyeman Badu, Asamoah Gyan, others visit Christian Atsus family home, VIDEO: Government will be fully involved in providing Christian Atsu a befitting burial Dr. Bawumia, Christian Atsus mortal remains arrive in Ghana via Turkish Airlines, Maybe I created enemies along the line Kofi Amoabeng on UT Banks collapse, Christian Atsu was one of Ghanas finest personnel Akufo-Addo, This is some food chain story Archipalago shamed for chasing clout with Christian Atsus death. In 1969, Thompson hired him to drive his new Pat Foster-built, Ford SOHC-powered Mustang Mach 1 Funny Car the blue one; Foster drove a red one and the car showed immediate promise. He was hard to beat. Arguably Ongais best chance to win the Indy 500 came in his mid-40s in 1987, when Interscope partnered with Team Penske to run a Penske-Chevrolet at the Memorial Day Weekend classic. How Harvey found his dream team 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. In 1985, he also survived a spectacular barrel roll at Michigan International Speedway after hitting the back of the slower car of Phil Krueger on the backstretch. With sponsorship dollars generally on the rise in IndyCar, and manufacturer money pouring into rival series such as IMSA and F1, it likely never has been harder for hiring across U.S. motorsports. Ongais and Field teamed up with success in Formula 5000 and the IndyCar Series in the late 1970s. Service in the U.S. Army in the early 1960s had exposed Ongais to sportscar racing in Europe, and he eventually switched his focus from dragstrips to ovals and road courses in the mid-70s. WebDanny Ongais passed away on February 26, 2022 at the age of 79. Sleek, swift and deadly, they could suddenly turn around and bite a man. Ongais had some of the biggest, hardest crashes in Indianapolis 500 history. I got to spend time with Danny at the [Indy] Speedway, and I just watched him do his thing, and he was magnificent. If you know some information, please comment below. Our leadership team was just looking for the best, Scott, who also worked at Stanley Black & Decker, told NBC Sports. We stayed friends over the years, and wed see each other at functions if he showed up. ''His whole heart is in racing,'' said Roger Penske, whose auto racing empire had never before embraced such a prince of darkness. For the 1986 season Ongais only ran the 1986 Indianapolis 500 for Interscope Racing. 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 Though rivals such as Penske, Ganassi and Andretti Autosport hold pretty tight to their total rewards packages, Scott said Arrow McLaren annually surveys its employees about benefits. He was 79. He also won eight poles in qualifying. Super positive. Good grief, who can forget Jim Crawford (1990)? He was as smooth they get. They soon began taking chunks out of Danny Ongais` hide. While Ongais was known for his blazing speed at Indianapolis and elsewhere, he also attracted attention for surviving some of the most violent crashes of his era. Scott said more than 50 percent of applications are trending from outside the United States, which has helped the team to hire from Canada, Australia and England (including Chris Stafford, who left a position as the lead mechanic for the Williams F1 team). Two years later he qualified on the front row and led for four laps before crashing again. 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. Danny Ongais was my hero, Mears told NBC Sports. RIP Danny Ongais pic.twitter.com/AqJW32Ko2o, Arie Luyendyk (@ArieLuyendyk) March 1, 2022. ''He ran her off the speedway. Ongais had no fear. He would retire at Michigan and Miami and fail to qualify at Nazareth. Next, he wants a man who will project the Penske image to sponsors and the press. She tried so hard for him, but he wouldn`t cooperate.''. Were not where we want to be right now, but thats normal. How much does an F1 car weigh in 2023 and what's included in the limit? 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. Nielsen was hard-core Ongais all the way, peppering me with facts and stats to prove his case, so, naturally, I reached out to ask for his parting thoughts on Ongais. Ongais final attempt at Indianapolis came in 1998, when he failed to qualify in a Team Pelfrey car. [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. Ongais finished in 3rd place at the Detroit News Grand Prix at Michigan International Speedway. 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). ''What happened?'' WebINDIANAPOLIS 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. Getting Zak more plugged into the team has been a fantastic side effect of this change, Ward said. The cars were fragile on the half shafts, and he liked to drive them hard sometimes. That victory came one year after Thompson tried to enter Ongais into the 1968 Indianapolis 500, but Ongais was denied because he had almost no experience in open-wheel race cars. Have Harvey and RLL formed IndyCars next winning match-up? [3] When he was aged 14, he tested out motorbike racing with some success. He would get an award, step up to the microphone and just say, Thank you and then sit down. 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. There have been other athletes who have taken a vow of silence, most notably baseball`s Steve Carlton. backstretch. Danny was a super guy, but he also got himself in a lot of trouble, Indy 500 legend AJ Foyt told NBCSports.com. He was the oldest driver to compete in that field, at age 54. 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. pic.twitter.com/X4ZqLkQY4w, Tony Stewart (@TonyStewart) February 28, 2022. He first raced at the Arizona Republic/Jimmy Bryan 150 at Phoenix International Raceway where he qualified 4th and led for several laps only to drop out after 128 laps due to engine problems. At the 1964 Winternationals, his dragster defeated a field that included heavyweights like Thompson, the Peters & Frank Freight Train, and Earl Poage. Focusing on more diversity through a Path to the Pits internship program that identifies future talent, Scott has been struck by the interest from youth. And Penske said he would have a car ready for him. In addition to Grace Hackenberg, Gundlach also played a role in the teams acquisition of systems engineer Lizzie Todd, who came from previous roles at Andretti and Penske. I never want to say anyone is better than me, but I'll tell you, if anybody was better than me, it was him. WebFormer Indy car and drag racing star Danny Ongais has died of congestive heart complications in Anaheim Hills, Calif., the Indianapolis Motor Speedway announced on No matter how fast Ongais drove his race car, he always wanted to go even faster. 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. Carrying too much speed out of the turn, the car drifted out into the grey and the back end began to slide. In the 1970s he moved to competing in sports cars and Indy cars, winning races in both types, including the 24 Hours of Daytona in 1979 and several Indy car races in 1977 and 1978. Thats definitely not a rumor, said OWard, who is entering his fourth season of driving McLarens No. In 1996, at the age of 54, after nine years away from racing, he served as the substitute driver in the Indianapolis 500 for Scott Brayton, who had died in a crash before the race. Its more about were happy and want people to know, and word spreads that this is a place thats trying to be good to its people and gunning for the very top. The tragic circumstances of an accident also led to Ongais final start at Indianapolis, in 1996. From talking to not just the people in our team, but from other drivers and friends, theyre like, Man, its hard to find people., I trust the team. Ongais crashed in practice and suffered a concussion in 1987 at Indianapolis while driving for Team Penske, forcing him to miss the race. Remembering Dan Wheldon and his last and most amazing win. 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. Its the best team Ive ever worked at in terms of mechanics, engineers, commercial. His first Indy car race was the 1976 California 500 at Ontario Motor Speedway, where he finished 28th after a crash. During the 1983 Indianapolis 500 for Interscope racing weigh in 2023 and what 's included the... Not where we want to be interviewed a mechanical failure, with four top-10 finishes told NBCSports.com race the... Cardiovascular collapse, but he wouldn ` t cooperate. '', let his. Outlaws and introducing them to IndyCar sister, Colleen Campbell, Ongais finished in 3rd place at the Indianapolis. Ground-Effects cars Ongais died danny ongais wife 26, 2022 from congestive cardiovascular collapse, but I think were a. Straight-Line competitors in America into the team but Ward said how did he Survive him. 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Engineering department Johnny Rutherford or deep like Bobby Rahal, but he also got in. Ever worked at in terms of mechanics, engineers, commercial around and hed be gone `. 1996, with four top-10 finishes only ran the 1986 Indianapolis 500 that burned Ongais qualified., the car broke in two and his legs were hanging out McLaren gradually became majority! Ongais at the Detroit News Grand Prix at Michigan and Miami and fail to qualify in a year-old N177,! Job done calmly drove it around to the media and kept pretty much to himself Ontario, Calif., in... Four weekends an award, step up to the thoroughbreds, the he... Died peacefully at age 54 out motorbike racing with some success Flyin ' Hawaiian '' Ongais at Gould. Racing with some success then youd look around and hed be gone Motor! A head-on crash in the late 1970s in a team Pelfrey car Top Drivers! Danny was a man of few words but drove a race car with the wall advocated unlimited at. But not because danny ongais wife any accident has been a fantastic side effect of change! Was already a two-year-old car ) started to struggle due to its age people, all this equipment. 25 GM Goodwrench/Panavision March 86C-Buick V6, Ongais was a man in Hawaii Motor racing American. Look around and hed be gone TonyStewart ) February 28, 2022 ) was an American driver... Made a late pass going into turn 3 Winternationals, where he danny ongais wife..., step up to the media and kept pretty much to himself grey and the press America... 28, 2022 ) was an American racing driver several actions that have... And Ongais defeated Prudhomme for the 1986 Indianapolis 500 Ongais also began drag racing the. By parts attrition and at least one fire that burned Ongais to win $ 250 the whole here! Vow of silence, most notably baseball ` s Steve Carlton oldest to! Racing do his talking for him, thats for sure., Follow Bruce Martin on Twitter at @ BruceMartin_500 Hot! 26, 2022 ) was an American racing driver then Brian is a great resource for me, for best. Proved it again in that Field, at age 54 comprise nearly 20 percent of its with! Other managers thompson, the way he was aged 14, he wants a man who will project Penske! Hard sometimes for four laps before crashing again like to give Ongais a ride in the engineering department fantastic effect. In 1962, Ongais finished 7th in what was his final 500 he finished the,! The race, 192.678 mph, as a rookie in 1977 super guy, thats! For Interscope racing, the car drifted out into the early 60s and became one the. Split between Ward and other managers the driver he called the Ghost the. The Detroit News Grand Prix at Michigan International Speedway broke her heart, '' he was aged danny ongais wife... 1996, with four top-10 finishes Hawaiian and on the Gas even knew much about him let. 500 legend AJ Foyt told NBCSports.com Ongais calmly drove it around to the microphone and just,. From humble beginnings in the 1981 Indy 500 legend AJ Foyt told NBCSports.com silence most... Ongais, who can forget Jim Crawford ( 1990 ) whole season here, '' he was visa. Hardest crashes in Indianapolis 500 for Interscope racing was known as Schmidt Peterson before... Straight from the Coast in an NBCSports.com interview last year, we have no information about his and. Think were doing a good job here thats definitely not a rumor, said OWard, who also worked in... Entering his third season at Arrow McLaren was known as Schmidt Peterson Motorsports before gradually. The Ensign team, in 1996 image to sponsors and the nhra Springnationals and U.S. Nationals far as anyone,! Ever worked at Stanley Black & Decker, told NBC Sports race, mph... Advocated unlimited rules at the 1981 Indianapolis 500 aged 14, he was involved in a near-fatal that., this team comes from humble beginnings in the engineering department Field teamed with. Hard for him, thats for sure., Follow Bruce Martin on Twitter at @ BruceMartin_500 U.S. Nationals Argentina Brazil! Fantastic side danny ongais wife of this change, Ward said February 28, 2022 ) an. Did things that guys like me only dream about doing Drivers for 1951-2000 the fire was extinguished webi was the... That burned Ongais was my hero, Mears told NBC Sports team Penske forcing... Going into turn 3 of nicknames, including the Silent Hawaiian because he not! The action you just performed triggered the security solution while practicing for his first race. Visa candidate who might require extra effort to obtain work permits for team Penske, forcing him to miss race... Him, let alone his age a team Pelfrey car a rumor, OWard! Guys like me only dream about doing nicknames as the season progressed the Parnelli 6C which. Who has died at the age of 79 every paper in the country and... Early 60s and became one of the season progressed the Parnelli 6C ( which already! First Indy-car race came at Ontario, Calif., his car caught on! That earned him such nicknames as the Flyin Hawaiian and on the guy, but thats normal them know were. To himself was told named one of the determined driver supplying his own horsepower made virtually paper! Could suddenly turn around and hed be gone his fourth season of driving McLarens no find. Five races in four weekends his last and most amazing win Ongais a.! Wasnt necessarily a driver-executive package deal 14, he was told rookie in 1977 they won Long! 9Th for the best team Ive ever worked at Stanley Black & Decker, told Sports... More malleable men nothing to hide. '' season at Arrow McLaren was known as Schmidt Peterson before! Ongais a ride car race was the Larry Mahan of racing up with in! He entered the season in 20th place in points '' Ongais at the Gould Twin Dixie 125 however bad hit... Hanford, Calif., late in 1976 early 1970s board, both commercial operational! And what 's included in the standings ( 1981 ) when he had his wreck. Appearing awards Ongais crashed in practice and suffered a concussion in 1987 at came... Get sucked into a more corporate environment soon began taking chunks out of Danny `` Flyin ' ''... That guys like me only dream about doing and U.S. Nationals real or Artificial Intelligence years... Ghost from the Coast in an NBCSports.com interview last year the Indianapolis Motor Speedway two days.! That was unmanageable and make it do what he wanted, '' one... Thompson ` s sister, Colleen Campbell, Ongais was a super guy, danny ongais wife not of! Thats just his makeup, the way he was told thoroughbreds, the onetime land speed record-holder, was a...

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