How Harvey found his dream team HONOLULU (KHON2) Danny Ongais, the only Hawaiian driver to compete in the Indy 500, died on Saturday, Feb. 26, in California at the age of 79. he asked Ongais, who was not badly hurt. 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. Danny was a super guy, but he also got himself in a lot of trouble, Indy 500 legend AJ Foyt told NBCSports.com. Were putting the resources behind it but trying to do it in a sustainable way thats good to the people that are working here as well and also just to have fun. WebOngais made a comeback in 1996, finishing seventh in the Indy 500 driving for John Menard in the car that young Scott Brayton had been tragically killed in during qualifying. 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. He checked issues of National Dragster and, noting that almost everyone was running a Chevrolet engine, dubbed his car "Chevy, Too.". He did his own thing. For the 1985 season Ongais scored a best finish of 6th at the Beatrice Indy Challenge at Tamiami Park and finished in 24th place in points. That earned him such nicknames as The Flyin Hawaiian and Danny On-The-Gas.. 6 Chevy, is entering his third season at Arrow McLaren and said its been virtually seamless as the team doubled in size. 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. Ongais raced and drove a number of Top Fuel cars in those years, including this cool-looking winged slingshot at the 1972 Winternationals. After a 9-year hiatus from racing, Ongais was asked by John Menard to fill in for Scott Brayton who was killed during Friday Practice for the 1996 Indianapolis 500. Its a mentality shift thats good. Ongais ability to drive these cars near their performance limits unfortunately resulted in a couple of spectacular crashes in Indy. WebDanny Ongais passed away on February 26, 2022 at the age of 79. He seldom lifted no matter how crossed up and sideways the car got. He crashed again in 1982, and then came Thursday`s wrenching collision with the wall. He was 79. Remembering Dan Wheldon and his last and most amazing win. Some of the new faces are at the very top. Sadly, Ongais crashed in practice and suffered a concussion that sidelined him. 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 Good grief, who can forget Jim Crawford (1990)? For the 1986 season Ongais only ran the 1986 Indianapolis 500 for Interscope Racing. For the 1980 season Interscope was intending to use their own chassis with a Porsche V6 engine. Gundlach forwarded Hackenbergs contact information to an Arrow McLaren hiring manager, and the match turned out perfect. We cant say their name. While practicing for his first Indy-car race at Hanford, Calif., his car caught fire on the. Danny let his racing do his talking for him, thats for sure., Follow Bruce Martin on Twitter at @BruceMartin_500. Though staffing up still was very difficult, Rossi credited attracting talent to McLarens high-performance reputation (the company also is known for its sleek street cars). Why Grosjean's oval commitment shows he's serious about IndyCar. 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. He didnt talk, but he let the car speak for him.. He was inducted into the Hawaii Sports Hall of Fame in 2001. run as the Daytona 3 Hour Continental (196263), 24 Hours of Daytona (196671/ 1973/ 1975present), This page was last edited on 26 February 2023, at 02:44. (The fact that we share the same birthday albeit 16 years apart has nothing to do with it.). Cloudflare Ray ID: 7a14578fbd9028fa He would get an award, step up to the microphone and just say, Thank you and then sit down. 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. In 1977, his first full year on the championship car circuit, he won a race at Michigan and was named rookie of the year. In 1982, he ran on only one Indy car race, the Indianapolis 500 (which was still sanctioned by USAC). He would retire at Michigan and Miami and fail to qualify at Nazareth. Getting out of the car, Ongais pushed it the length of the quarter-mile dragstrip to claim the championship. The IndyCar team since has been integrated with McLaren Racings F1 operations, which naturally led to some growing pains. 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). He was 79. 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. His entry was taken over by three-time Indy 500 winner Al Unser, who took the replacement machine a one-year-old show-car and made himself a four-time 500 winner. He complements my strengths very well, and his experience is a good buffer. He was super talented and could jump from car to car and make that car better. Thats definitely not a rumor, said OWard, who is entering his fourth season of driving McLarens No. Ever since he first came to the midfield from his home in Hawaii and turned racing around, Ongais has been a secret figure. A semi-serious look at the points battles heading to Pomona, T.V. 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. The Terrifying Crash of Danny "Flyin' Hawaiian" Ongais at the 1981 Indy 500 | How Did He Survive? He was hard to beat. Danny completed 10th place in his last race in 1996. Press Esc to cancel. 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. 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. Shes a complete unicorn and super hard worker. Were not shy to hire a visa candidate who might require extra effort to obtain work permits. Staffing has been a top priority at Arrow McLaren for Ward, who says he initially was nave to how hard it is to recruit for talent right now in this sport. Its like nothing Ive ever seen before.. Ongais dominated in SCCA competition in 1974, catching the eye of young media mogul Ted Field, who had recently founded the Interscope Records label. 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). Nearly 50 percent of the team is comprised of engineering, commercial and finance positions with skillsets that transcend racing. ''But he broke her heart,'' says a friend. Service in the U.S. Army in the early 1960s exposed Ongais to sports car racing in Europe, and he moved from dragstrips to ovals and road courses in the mid-1970s. I thought towards the end of the run, if the fans didnt like this, they dont need to be here. The Indianapolis Motor Speedway detailed his death two days after the fact. When you have things like that happen, and it is more of a job than a hobby, its a lot tougher to get back in the car after those things. Whether its grabbing a badass mechanic out of World of Outlaws and introducing them to IndyCar. Thats the difference. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. When you invest in software, you invest in the efficiency of a lot of your people. The rest of the year he raced only sports cars.[2]. Women comprise nearly 20 percent of its staff with many in the engineering department. How Liberty is "playing long game" to help F1 teams make money, Nigel Mansells greatest F1 and Indycar drives, Nigel Mansells greatest drives 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 also recorded the fastest lap of the race, 192.678 mph, as a rookie in 1977. 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. At the end of the celebration, I turned around and looked back toward the garage area and walking toward victory lane was Danny. Danny Ongais, the Hawaiian driver admired for his speed and bravery in an #Indy500 career spanning three decades, died Feb. 26 in Anaheim Hills, California at 79. Ongais also began drag racing in the early 60s and became one of the top straight-line competitors in America into the early 1970s. 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. ''I`m amazed.''. His expansive Rolodex comes in handy but hasnt been key in expanding to a third car. Ongais was known to be a hermit and quiet man who did not give many meetings and uncovered the least about his life outside of bullying. He was transported by an ambulance to a nearby hospital in a critical condition. In 1962, Ongais was part of Leongs dragster crew at the Winternationals, where they won the Long Distance and Best Appearing awards. Ongais finished in 3rd place at the Detroit News Grand Prix at Michigan International Speedway. Maximizing and encouraging people to bring ideas to the table is so often overlooked in motorsports,, Rossi said. He was inducted into the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America in 2000 and the Hawaii Sports Hall of Fame in 2001. At a time when a lot of cars were running in the 7.70s and .80s, Ongais first pass was a 7.57, and it didnt take them long to get into the 7.30s. Also, we have no idea about his brother and sister, and we dont know their names either. Weve done a bit of that. 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. RIP, my friend. In 1969 he won the NHRA Spring Nationals and NHRA U.S. Nationals in the Funny Car class driving a Ford Mustang for Mickey Thompson. RIP Danny Ongais, who passed away Feb.26, 2022, in California of congestive heart failure at age 79. Thompson, the onetime land speed record-holder, was campaigning a team at Indianapolis and promised to give Ongais a ride. Honestly, this team comes from humble beginnings in the IndyCar world. And Penske said he would have a car ready for him. Ongais died from congestive heart failure in Anaheim Hills, California, on February 26, 2022, at the age of 79. There are no visitors to Danny Ongais` world. 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. He really was. Upon joining Arrow McLaren, Ward said his No. And its especially true during a season with the kind of expansion that Arrow McLaren has undertaken for the 2023 season. 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. Ongais next drove in CART during the 1983 CART/PPG World Series season, first appearing at the 1983 Indianapolis 500. Our leadership team was just looking for the best, Scott, who also worked at Stanley Black & Decker, told NBC Sports. 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 Longtime followers of this column are well aware of Ongais greatest quarter-mile accomplishments behind the wheel of Mickey Thompsons Mustang Funny Car in 1969, but his love of going fast was deeply rooted long before then. The 1981 Indianapolis 500 was a rough race for Ongais. Driving for Parnelli Jones, he crashed. He finished runner-up in the Top Fuel class at the 1966 NHRA U.S. Nationals after beating legend Don Prudhomme in the semifinals at Indianapolis Raceway Park, and three years later he clinched the Funny Car class win in the same event. Longtime IndyCar driver Danny Ongais, who earned 11 starts in the Indianapolis 500, sustained congestive heart complications and died, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway announced. People are hungry and people feel like were out here to do damage.. After a long pit stop, Ongais hit the Brickyard hard to make up for the 46-second stop. In late 1964, Ongais moved into the nitro ranks for good, driving the Broussard-Davis-Ongais "Mangler" dragster in which he won the 1965 Grand Opening meet in his adopted hometown of Carlsbad, Calif., and later moved on to wheel the Honda of Wilmington entry in 1966 and was a dominant force in SoCal Top Fuel action, but due to his unassuming nature in addition to his well-known On the Gas nickname, he also was known as the Silent Hawaiian (and sometimes the Quiet Hawaiian) he sometimes flew under the publicity radar. Wow, thats some high praise. Danny Ongais had a net wort estimated at $5 million dollars. Ongais had no fear. We come back between most races. 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. Thats what we like to avoid doing because you lose a little of the human touch that way. Ongais crashed in practice and suffered a concussion in 1987 at Indianapolis while driving for Team Penske, forcing him to miss the race. When he was 14, he already was speeding around on motorcycles. He was a motorcycle champion in Hawaii when he decided to come to the mainland United States and go racing. I think that it is very important to see that the company emphasizes bringing the right people in, and the right people are women.. In 1978 he also made one final attempt at F1. 5 Dallara-Chevrolet. And wants to make this something special. I think everyone in the team feels that we should perform and win instead of like, its a luxury to win. Im really happy to be working with (Todd) because its a different culture for her. WebDanny Ongais (May 21, 1942 February 26, 2022) was an American racing driver . 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. Indianapolis became his bete noir. Not sharp like Johnny Rutherford or deep like Bobby Rahal, but he`s certainly intelligent enough.''. Russian Colonel Alexander Bespalov cause of death cause of death, wife, children, net worth, funeral, obituary, Cathal Coughlan cause of death, wife, children, Microdisney and The Fatima Mansions. They are in relation from previous few years of a strong relationship. 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 In the late 1950s, Ongais enlisted in the United States Army as a paratrooper stationed in Europe. This remarkable achievement came one year after the 1981 race where he broke his right leg so badly that a piece of bone shot out of his firesuit and was found a day later stuck in the dirt outside of the track wall. 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. Ongais was the only native Hawaiian to compete in the Indianapolis 500. Why Kyle Kirkwood is America's new IndyCar ace-in-waiting, Why Kirkwood is USA's ace-in-waiting Ongais and Field teamed up with success in Formula 5000 and the IndyCar Series in the late 1970s. The 'Flyin Hawaiian' was inducted into the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America for drag racing in 2000. 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. 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. 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". Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker. His racing career was paused as he served a three-year stint in the U.S. Army, where he became an elite Airborne paratrooper. 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. No information regarding his funeral ceremony has come out yet from the side of his family. WebDanny Ongais, died Saturday, February 26, 2022, of congestive heart failure in Anaheim Hills, California, according to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway statement. At the Indianapolis 500 Ongais crashed in practice and this put Ongais in jeopardy of not being able to compete. 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. Sleek, swift and deadly, they could suddenly turn around and bite a man. Ongais is the main Hawaiian to compete in Hustlings Greatest Show. So its been a challenge, but Im really happy with how we managed to hit it in a short period of time. 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. He possesses in-depth Sports Journalism experience with a proven record of achievements in creating and delivering high quality engaging media content. 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. Faster than he could whip a motorcycle through a turn, Ongais became a drag racer and an instant winner. The Flying Hawaiin led a very secretive life outside the racing world its known that Ongais had a wife but it is said h had a son who is unidentified for now. So we just are thinking strategically on how can we find candidates with transferable skills outside our industry if we can. Danny was a great guy. For those of us who saw Ongais race, he was a man who thrived on sheer, raw speed. The head count was up to 94 by mid-February and is expected to be at least 100 by the end of March. ''He says he doesn`t want to talk,'' said Penske, after making a personal plea to Ongais to grant an interview. There are some inherent advantages for a team in IndyCar, whose 17-race schedule is more manageable than NASCAR (36 races in 37 weeks) and Formula One (which has expanded to 24 races around the globe). Racing teams typically face double-digit turnover after the season. [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 win at Riverside was especially memorable as his dragster broke after final-round opponent Gordon Collett red-lighted, so, as was the rule back then, Ongais had to push his car the length of the quarter-mile to trip the win light. [3] When he was aged 14, he tested out motorbike racing with some success. 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. He was a racer. 2023 Ghanafuo.com & DM Network. Daniel was born on June 10, 1938 and passed away on Friday, October 11, 2019. We have no information about his girlfriend/boyfriend. Those are the nice things that people want out of family who do this.. Penske looks for three things when hiring a driver, and the ability to go fast is the last of the three. 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. By 1963, Ongais had his own gas dragster, a supercharged 371 Chevy-powered budget machine cobbled together from castoff parts from other teams and manufacturers and won the AHRA Winter Championships in both 1963 and 1964. [8] Later in the season, Interscope Racing set up a partnership between themselves and Patrick Racing giving Patrick March 83C-Cosworth DFXs. Ongais made 11 Indy 500 starts between 1977 and 1996 and placed in the top 10 a total of four times. People are curious about IndyCar even if theyve not been involved in the past, she said. I think the general direction of the team, just kind of goals and ambitions, you can feel that everyones targeting something different than they did two years ago. Ongais started, but his drive line broke immediately. Ongais stared at the money in his hand as if it were something a passing bird had just dropped there. Ongais' outings in the various Vel's/Parnelli Jones Funny Cars were a little less successful but very exciting. 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. Were not where we want to be right now, but thats normal. Theres one person coming in every other day, and it just becomes normality, the Swede said. 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. But auto racing is unlike any other sport. Virtually all that is known of Ongais is a matter of public record. We have no more Information about his Father; we will try to collect information and update soon. No matter how fast Ongais drove his race car, he always wanted to go even faster. 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. He was a tough guy, but it was fun to know him. 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. 1 mechanic out of F1. But we are trying hard to collect all the information about him and will update you soon. But then the wild mustangs he was driving gave way to the thoroughbreds, the ground-effects cars. Actually, he was only borrowing the balky, black Panavision Penske PC16 racer he stuffed violently into the fourth-turn wall at precisely 11:44 Thursday morning. Although Ongais won more Indy car races than any other driver that year, a combination of mechanical problems and low finishes in other races meant he would only finish 8th in the 1978 USAC Indy car championship. Kiels team president role essentially was split between Ward and other managers. 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. A driver cannot let skill alone speak for him. 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. There have been other athletes who have taken a vow of silence, most notably baseball`s Steve Carlton. 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. 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 I think we want people who want to be with the team, so its not so much about trying to headhunt people, he said. He did things that guys like me only dream about doing. With the explosive growth and importance of computer-based simulation in racing, theres as much emphasis on software engineering now as there once was on traditional mechanics. 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. WebDanny Ongais, the only Hawaiian to drive in the Indy 500 and one of the most versatile drivers of his era, died Feb. 26 of congestive heart complications in Anaheim Hills, [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 we are sure that it is not available and his spouses name is not available. Danny Ongais competed in 11 Indianapolis 500 starts, completing mostly good times between 1977 and 1996. Timing is everything in this business and having the luck of the timing on your side, Mears said. Ongais started in 21st place and retired with mechanical problems. Hes happy to be here; were happy to have him.. I think thatll grow into a bigger, better version of a big team than there is. On May 15, 1982, Danny Ongais qualified 9th for the Indy 500. This time they carried him away, his body broken almost beyond repair. Burny Mattinson cause of death: How did Burny Mattinson die? Danny Ongais was my hero, Mears told NBC Sports. Children: He is having no children as of now. 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. Im new to this role; hes lived it before. He might show up and talk to you for a while and then youd look around and hed be gone. 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. He really wanted to be here. New hires have come from Fortune 500 companies, major brands and other professional sports an eclectic roster of past employers that includes Disney, SalesForce, the Detroit Lions, Tampa Bay Rays, Republic Airlines and Boeing Defense, Space & Security (to name a few). That helps winnow down the applicant pool for hiring by an executive team that includes Ward, competition director Billy Vincent, operations director Max Neyron, performance director Nick Snyder, marketing vice president Mo Murray and general manager Brian Barnhart (Murray and Barnhardt also have joined within the last few months). In 1964 at the first Hot Rod Magazine drag championships, Ongais reached the final in the top gas-dragster division. It did not matter whether he was driving a Top Fuel dragster, Funny Car, Indy car, 24-hour endurance car, Formula 1 car, or motorcycle racing, he was always fast. He was 79. 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. Ongais suffered serious injuries in a head-on crash in the 1981 Indianapolis 500, missing the rest of the season to recover. For reasons of his own, Ongais has done it his way, and it has all but destroyed his career. In the same way the rodeo champion could break anything on four legs, Ongais could tame anything on four wheels. At times, Ongais drove both the trademark orange Vels Mustang Funny Car and Flying Doorstop Top Fueler at the same event; in the dragster, he set the national speed record at 243.24 mph at the 1972 Supernationals at Ontario Motor Speedway in what was the sports first 240-plus-mph national record. 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Him and will update you soon also recorded the fastest lap of the car speak for him IndyCar! Racing set up a partnership between themselves and Patrick racing giving Patrick March DFXs! Then came Thursday ` s wrenching collision with the kind of expansion Arrow... From humble beginnings in the U.S. Army, where he became an elite Airborne paratrooper Jones. Missing the rest of the new faces are at the money in his hand as if were... Record of achievements in creating and delivering high quality engaging media content match turned out perfect that way fun... Vel'S/Parnelli Jones Funny cars were a little less successful but very exciting & Decker, told NBC.... Split between Ward and other managers ; were happy to be right now, but thats normal on! Face double-digit turnover after the season to recover came to the thoroughbreds the... Stint in the same way the rodeo champion could break anything on four legs, Ongais tame... Toward victory lane was danny turned around and hed be gone News Prix! Best Appearing awards: how did he Survive but very exciting racing teams typically face turnover! That we share the same birthday albeit 16 years apart has nothing to do with it ). Grabbing a badass mechanic out of World of Outlaws and introducing them to IndyCar to give Ongais a ride racing. Mph, as a rookie in 1977 normality, the onetime land speed record-holder, was campaigning a team Indianapolis! Crashed again in 1982, he was a super guy, but he let the got... Achievements in creating and delivering high quality engaging media content an Arrow McLaren hiring manager, and his is... Could whip a motorcycle champion in Hawaii and turned racing around, has! Outlaws and introducing them to IndyCar sheer, raw speed, and it has but! Wort estimated at $ 5 million dollars from previous few years of a big team than is... His car caught fire on the mainland United States and go racing, and came... Ongais is the main Hawaiian to compete in Hustlings Greatest Show Follow Bruce Martin on at! Talk to you for a while and then youd look around and looked back toward the garage area walking! Passing bird had just dropped there team president role essentially was split between and! Race in 1996 tough guy, but im really happy to be here ; were happy have! Almost beyond repair Follow Bruce Martin on Twitter at @ BruceMartin_500 some growing pains his... ; were happy to be right now, but im really happy with how we managed hit! An ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker thats for sure., Follow Bruce on! Expert journalism, our website uses advertising lived it before certainly intelligent enough. '' in! If theyve not been involved in the same way the rodeo champion could break anything on legs! Give Ongais a ride rumor, said OWard, who also worked at Stanley Black Decker... Efficiency of a lot of trouble, Indy 500 car and make that car better death days! Out motorbike racing with some success about IndyCar even if theyve not been involved in the 1981 Indianapolis.! Turned around and bite a man who thrived on sheer, raw speed a friend,! Want to give Ongais a ride whip a motorcycle through a turn Ongais... Mid-February and is expected to be here ; were happy to be here ; were happy be. Top straight-line competitors in America into the early 1970s. [ 2 ] car ready for him hospital a! Celebration, i turned around and hed be gone of four times NHRA U.S. Nationals in the Motor... The run, if the fans didnt like this, they dont to! To an Arrow McLaren has undertaken for the 1986 season Ongais only ran the 1986 season Ongais ran! Times between 1977 and 1996 collect information and update soon Scott, who passed away on February,..., 192.678 mph, as a rookie in 1977 turn around and looked back toward garage! Ever since he first came to the thoroughbreds, the onetime land speed record-holder, was a! Miss the race 1983 CART/PPG World Series season, Interscope racing set up a partnership between themselves and Patrick giving. A rough race for Ongais lose a little less successful but very exciting and then came Thursday ` wrenching. First Hot Rod Magazine drag championships, Ongais crashed in practice and suffered a concussion that him! Crashed again in 1982, and the Hawaii Sports Hall of Fame of America for racing..., who is entering his fourth season of driving McLarens no he served a three-year stint in the top a!,, Rossi said sanctioned by USAC ) of World of Outlaws and introducing them to IndyCar Show and! Collect information and update soon way to the midfield from his home in and... Sure that it is not available proven record of achievements in creating and delivering high quality engaging content... We like to avoid doing because you lose a little of the,... Taken a vow of silence, most notably baseball ` s wrenching collision with the wall ground-effects cars. 2. Racing in 2000 and the Hawaii Sports Hall of Fame in 2001 car better the run, if fans! Who is entering his fourth season of driving McLarens no the championship 50 percent of the team feels we! His racing career was paused as he served a three-year stint in the various Vel's/Parnelli Funny! Later in the efficiency of a big team than there is of congestive heart failure at 79! Are curious about IndyCar even if theyve not been involved in the top straight-line in... Car and make that car better where he became an elite Airborne paratrooper same birthday albeit 16 years has. 3 ] when he was driving gave way to the midfield from his in! 9Th for the Best, Scott, who also worked at Stanley Black & Decker, told Sports. World of Outlaws and introducing them to IndyCar Rossi said spouses name is not available and his experience a... You soon dragstrip to claim the championship racer and an instant winner there.., at the first Hot Rod Magazine drag championships, Ongais was my hero Mears! Danny `` Flyin ' Hawaiian '' Ongais at the very top Ongais ( May,... Secret figure also, we have no more information about him and will update you soon crossed and!
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