Longtime IndyCar driver Danny Ongais, who earned 11 starts in the Indianapolis 500, sustained congestive heart complications and died, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway announced. In this 39 on the list of the Top 50 Racers in 2000, the same year that he served as the NHRA California Hot Rod Reunion grand marshal and was inducted into the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America. 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. After he was discharged, he returned to Hawaii and entered motorsports, first as the Hawaiian motorcycle champion in 1960 before switching to a drag racing career. There probably has never been a driver who hit the wall harder more often and was able to survive than Danny Ongais (who died earlier this year). I grew up in Southern California and raced a lot at the local SoCal dragstrips from about 1962 to 1974. WebDanny N Patsy Ongais is on Facebook. Zak also leads the charge in that. [10], Ongais was notoriously reclusive and a private man, rarely giving interviews and revealing little or no details of his life outside of racing. But Ward said it wasnt necessarily a driver-executive package deal. He piloted a new Interscope IP-1 chassis, qualifying 9th and leading several laps before crashing out on lap 62 when running 5th. Since arriving in the fall of 2019 at the former Schmidt Peterson Motorsports, she said she has watched Arrow McLaren grow while maintaining its gritty origins. That stems more from drag racing. Under qualifying rules he had to start 33rd. Ongais Indy 500 career ended with him leading in four races for 79 total laps. I think everyone in the team feels that we should perform and win instead of like, its a luxury to win. Press Esc to cancel. Arrow McLaren was known as Schmidt Peterson Motorsports before McLaren gradually became the majority owner in mid-2021. 18+, UK residents only, T&Cs Apply, Gamble Responsibly. 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. ''He could take a car that was unmanageable and make it do what he wanted,'' says one observer. "Ongais, Danny - Drag Racing - 2000 | Inductees | Hall of Fame", "The World Championship drivers - Where are they now? ), Danny Ongais stepped up when @INDYCAR & I needed him most. But we are sure that it is not available and his spouses name is not available. Danny Ongais was my hero, Mears told NBC Sports. View their obituary at Legacy.com flowers and lei are welcomed He is survived by wife, Patricia P. Ongais of Keaau; 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. He won the American Hot Rod Association AA Gas Dragster Championship in 1963 and 1964. So thats infectious for everybody.. We needed to fill the car communicator role, and Alex was pretty happy with (Barnhart) previously, Ward said. Im really happy to be working with (Todd) because its a different culture for her. 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]. 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 I always wanted to be like him. 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. This time they carried him away, his body broken almost beyond repair. There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase, a SQL command or malformed data. RIP Danny Ongais pic.twitter.com/AqJW32Ko2o, Arie Luyendyk (@ArieLuyendyk) March 1, 2022. 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. Danny Ongais, by any measure, was one of the all-time greatest race car drivers! The versatile Ongais made 11 Indianapolis 500 starts between 1977 and 1996, with four top-10 finishes. His death was announced by the Indianapolis Motor Speedway two days later. Parents: The undercover bloggers Parents are not WebChapman did state that well into their relationship he learned Ongais was married and had a son. He was direct. 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. In 1998 he attempted to qualify for the Indianapolis 500 with Team Pelfrey but was unable to do so when he suffered a concussion after a crash. Another great driver from that era was three-time Indianapolis 500 winner Johnny Rutherford, who recalled one dramatic showdown with Ongais at Michigan International Speedway in the 1978 Norton Twin 200. His best years at Indianapolis Motor Speedway came with Interscope Racing and its eye-catching No. 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. He was the oldest driver to compete in that field, at age 54. He also finished in 10th place in points. Ongais dominated in SCCA competition in 1974, catching the eye of young media mogul Ted Field, who had recently founded the Interscope Records label. Danny Ongais competed in 11 Indianapolis 500 starts, completing mostly good times between 1977 and 1996. Right from the get-go for me, that was a high-priority item to try and spruce ourselves up. He had previously been inducted into the International Drag Racing Hall of Fame in 1992. Went to victory lane and did all the smiling and pictures. 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. . He was 79. Also, we have no information about his son and daughter. Nigel Mansells greatest F1 and Indycar drives, How Marcus Ericsson finally unlocked his potential in IndyCar, How Ericsson unlocked his potential I think we want people who want to be with the team, so its not so much about trying to headhunt people, he said. Ongais was the only native Hawaiian to compete in the Indianapolis 500. Its collegiate students wanting to grow a career. Driver Danny Ongais acknowledges cheers June 10, 1978, after winning the Molson Diamond Indy race at Mosport in Ontario, Canada. Virtually all that is known of Ongais is a matter of public record. Then weve got some really experienced guys from other IndyCar teams as well.. WebVersatile American racing driver Danny Ongais died on February 26 of congestive heart complications at age 79, it was announced Monday. document.getElementById("ak_js_1").setAttribute("value",(new Date()).getTime()), Skip Bayless Wife Ernestine Sclafani Wiki, Biography, Age, Spouse, Net Worth, Fast Facts. How Liberty is "playing long game" to help F1 teams make money, Nigel Mansells greatest F1 and Indycar drives, Nigel Mansells greatest drives Ongais qualified 27th and finished 4th. He seldom lifted no matter how crossed up and sideways the car got. In this week's Dragster Insider, friends and fellow racers remember the guy nicknamed On the Gas.. 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. He finished runner-up to Mike Snively in the Top Fuel class at the 1966 NHRA U.S. Nationals after beating the legendary Don The Snake Prudhomme in the semifinals at Indianapolis Raceway Park. Ever since he first came to the midfield from his home in Hawaii and turned racing around, Ongais has been a secret figure. People are hungry and people feel like were out here to do damage.. Upon joining Arrow McLaren, Ward said his No. I dont know how hes in so many places at once, seemingly. But then Brian is a great resource for me, for the team. 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 a racer. The tragic circumstances of an accident also led to Ongais final start at Indianapolis in 1996. The cars were fragile on the half shafts, and he liked to drive them hard sometimes. And well-deserved. And wants to make this something special. Ill see what I can do help you out. Two years later he qualified on the front row and led for four laps before crashing again. No ones ever going to say weve got everything figured out. 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. 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. Weve got a lot of new stuff that were now gelling the team and figuring out how to work together and build on the processes. The recruitment pitch to join the Arrow McLaren IndyCar team started with the 21st century social media version of a corporate headhunters cold call. But when you look back, I think obviously marketing and that kind of stuff is becoming pretty huge in our team. 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 WebBrian Ongais, son of Indy car driver Danny Ongais, won the October 17, 1987 CHESTNUT MOUNTAIN, Ga. (AP) _ Brian Ongais, son of Indy car driver Danny Ongais, won the 1 staffing priority wasnt hiring. Born in Kahului, Hawaii on May 21, 1942, Ongais remains the first driver from the Aloha State to race in the Indianapolis 500, and hes an appropriate pioneer as May is Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. 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. 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. Sometimes its easy to forget that, but I think were doing a good job here. Honestly, this team comes from humble beginnings in the IndyCar world. 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 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. Arrow McLaren uses applicant tracking software to determine the best matches on background, education and experience. 2021 IndyCar title is just the start for Ganassi's newest star, Why Grosjean's oval commitment shows he's serious about IndyCar, Why Grosjean's title bid is serious The caution wasnt that long, but we started side-by-side to finish the race. 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