They required not breaking, but gentling. I do think he was one of the best drivers out there. I, like many, always enjoyed watching the Top Fuel and Funny Cars when I was not racing my own car. The caution wasnt that long, but we started side-by-side to finish the race. 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 Were not shy to hire a visa candidate who might require extra effort to obtain work permits. He would get an award, step up to the microphone and just say, Thank you and then sit down. Interscope then bought a new Shadow chassis for him to race but he was unable to qualify at Long Beach and also in the Netherlands later in the season. 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. Pole-sitter Scott Brayton suffered fatal injuries in a post-qualifying practice crash, and team owner John Menard hired Ongais as the replacement driver. He was known as a fast and daring driver, but he experienced multiple crashes in his career, some resulting in injury. Thats exciting. Weve expanded our operations pretty significantly, she said. Get email updates about Daniel Ongais delivered directly to your inbox. 2 at 11:30 a.m. Casual attire; flowers and lei are welcomed He is survived by wife, Patricia P. Ongais of Keaau; daughters, Deneen (Nathan) Ongais Louie of Hilo, Renee (Clarence) Ongais-Salvador of Mt. Since the outset of the Russian Troop’s invasion of Ukraine, Valery has run a blog in which he details how Kherson lives and volunteered. 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. He makes an effort to keep everyone up to date from top to bottom as to where things are, what the current objectives are and whats the future look like. Wow, thats some high praise. Weve done a bit of that. They dominated the season, winning the Bakersfield March Meet, Orange Countys Manufacturer's Meet, and the NHRA Springnationals and U.S. Nationals. They teamed up with the legendary Hurley Haywood to win the Rolex 24 At Daytona in 1979 in the Interscope Porsche 935 prototype. Ongais became the Hawaiian motorcycle champion in 1960 and was in the top three positions in the expert class from 1960 to 1962.[2]. 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. Jim Nelson once said that what he could tell about Ongais was that "all he wanted to do was race. 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. Don Prudhomme, who met Ongais through his old pal Leong, called me early last week to weigh in on Ongais, a guy with which he carried on a relationship even after Ongais left drag racing, thanks to Prudhommes interest in and friends within IndyCar racing. Those are the nice things that people want out of family who do this.. Ongais also began drag racing in the early 60s and became one of the top straight-line competitors in America into the early 1970s. I think that also helps to diversify the portfolio of talent that we have internally and the ability to learn from one another and grow as a team.. 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. 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. 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). Just the camaraderie. Right from the get-go for me, that was a high-priority item to try and spruce ourselves up. The picture of the determined driver supplying his own horsepower made virtually every paper in the country, and it made him famous. He made a late pass going into turn 3. Even with a short 10-year stint in drag racing, Ongais was still so well regarded that he was voted No. Before his championship run with Penske, Ward spent more than 12 years as an aerodynamicist and engineer with the Red Bull F1 team. Its a big focus to get the McLaren brand out in the world and do good content, which I think were probably the leading team in that sense now. Theres one person coming in every other day, and it just becomes normality, the Swede said. Good grief, who can forget Jim Crawford (1990)? The 1970 season didnt go as well, haunted by parts attrition and at least one fire that burned Ongais. 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. But when you look back, I think obviously marketing and that kind of stuff is becoming pretty huge in our team. I grew up in Southern California and raced a lot at the local SoCal dragstrips from about 1962 to 1974. The starting blast damaged the electronics, and the Funny Car final used a flag start, and Ongais defeated Prudhomme for the win. Your IP: His best years at Indianapolis Motor Speedway came with Interscope Racing and its eye-catching No. Its like nothing Ive ever seen before.. Long before Danny On the Gas Ongais became a household name across the country and around the world on television and radio as a revered IndyCar driver, he belonged to us, to the world of drag racing, where he sated his need for speed in the formative years of his motorsports career. If you know some information, please comment below. 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, At the age of 54, Ongais was an unlikely call-up to replace Team Menards Indy 500 polesitter Scott Brayton who had perished in a crash in a post-qualifying practice session. The car broke in two and his legs were hanging out. We came together with a big hug. Ongais suffered serious injuries in a head-on crash in the 1981 Indianapolis 500, missing the rest of the season to recover. Type above and press Enter to search. 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. I think weve got a very good tribe of people here, and part of that includes just diversity of humans in general, Gundlach said. Just like the U.S. business world since the Great Resignation of 2020-21, one of the loudest narratives in racing has been the difficulty of hiring and keeping strong personnel since the COVID-19 pandemic upended the worlds workforce. If you embrace it for what it is, the American culture and the IndyCar experience, its a neat option for these guys. The engineering is growing more slowly but continuously. He possesses in-depth Sports Journalism experience with a proven record of achievements in creating and delivering high quality engaging media content. But no one could deny his talent. But Ward said it wasnt necessarily a driver-executive package deal. He could cut a light and get down any track.. 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. 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. ''He ran her off the speedway. I feel like its been so hard to find people in all departments. He was 79 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. Except Ongais, and he wasn`t talking. Ongais and Fields success with the Interscope team also extended to sports car racing, with Field also driving. A sense of humor. ''He just doesn`t want to let anyone into his life,'' says the friend. He never really disparaged anybody. The guys in IndyCar racing called him The Ghost from the Coast. , (Be sure to read the end of this column for more from Prudhomme, who says some very kind and impressive things about Ongais.). For Penske the hiring of Ongais was an aberration, a minor breach of his own immutable rules. So its been a challenge, but Im really happy with how we managed to hit it in a short period of time. I think that it is very important to see that the company emphasizes bringing the right people in, and the right people are women.. Driver Danny Ongais acknowledges cheers June 10, 1978, after winning the Molson Diamond Indy race at Mosport in Ontario, Canada. 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. The sad news of the death of the veteran racing driver was announced by the Indianapolis Motor Speedway He was 79. That comes from a focus on the culture of the team. People are curious about IndyCar even if theyve not been involved in the past, she said. Zak also leads the charge in that. I think the vibe is fantastic. We needed to fill the car communicator role, and Alex was pretty happy with (Barnhart) previously, Ward said. He was hard to beat. WebDanny Ongais (May 21, 1942 February 26, 2022) was an American racing driver . We have no information about his girlfriend/boyfriend. He suffered a concussion, compound fractures in both legs, a broken arm and a 6-inch tear in his diaphragm. Ongais` life took a wrong turn up a one-way street Thursday, when he destroyed his most precious possession. 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Ongais started in 21st place and retired with mechanical problems. Ongais had some of the biggest, hardest crashes in Indianapolis 500 history. Ongais and Field teamed up with success in Formula 5000 and the IndyCar Series in the late 1970s. Arrow McLaren still has done much of its hiring through the paddocks traditional word of mouth manner. Danny Ongais was known as "The 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. Women comprise nearly 20 percent of its staff with many in the engineering department. 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. Danny Ongais Net Worth Explored Indy car racer Danny Ongais total assets are estimated to be around $5 million. The green flag came out, and we ran side-by-side 220 mph for about 21 laps, sashaying at each other, side-by-side. 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. And its especially true during a season with the kind of expansion that Arrow McLaren has undertaken for the 2023 season. Because its so easy to get sucked into a more corporate environment. 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. 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. It is in this last area that Ongais has always failed. While he did not win the Indianapolis 500, he did manage to win several IndyCar and CART races. He was a racer. He did his own thing. The versatile Ongais made 11 Indianapolis 500 starts between 1977 and 1996, with four top-10 finishes. The 1978 Michigan victory would turn out to be the final Indy car victory of Ongais' career. At the Indianapolis 500 Ongais crashed in practice and this put Ongais in jeopardy of not being able to compete. He But were also pretty realistic that you cant rob Peter to pay Paul, so were not always going to be able to hire from motorsports and especially other IndyCar teams. Danny was a great guy. Did Danny Ongais have children? 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. He decided to remain private regarding her life and relationship. Known as the 'Flyin' Hawaiian', Ongais' long career saw him excel in Indy cars, F1 and drag racing. He refuses to talk about his parents or his boyhood in Hawaii. Its the best team Ive ever worked at in terms of mechanics, engineers, commercial. Ongais also survived a spectacular barrel roll at the Michigan 500 at Michigan International Speedway when he ran into the slower car of Phil Krueger on the backstretch. He jumped into Scotty Braytons car in the 96 Indy 500 & finished 7th after starting last at age 54! He did things that guys like me only dream about doing. 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. Getting Zak more plugged into the team has been a fantastic side effect of this change, Ward said. RIP Danny Ongais pic.twitter.com/AqJW32Ko2o, Arie Luyendyk (@ArieLuyendyk) March 1, 2022. Rosenqvist, driver of the No. Ongais raced and drove a number of Top Fuel cars in those years, including this cool-looking winged slingshot at the 1972 Winternationals. But the fact that he could finish only eighth in the championship attests to the cars poor finishing record. Were not where we want to be right now, but thats normal. 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. [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. Danny completed 10th place in his last race in 1996. Ward noted two important additions from the world of Big Data and analytics in data and strategy lead Michael Gethers (who came from Salesforce) and engineer Eric Hestekin (who arrived from Boeing Defense). And Penske said he would have a car ready for him. He was a good guy. Danny Ongais has Danny faced a ton of heart problems in his old age. (Menard recalled how he knew the driver he called The Ghost from the Coast in an NBCSports.com interview last year. At the 1964 Winternationals, his dragster defeated a field that included heavyweights like Thompson, the Peters & Frank Freight Train, and Earl Poage. 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. 2023 Ghanafuo.com & DM Network. So we just are thinking strategically on how can we find candidates with transferable skills outside our industry if we can. In 1981 at the Indianapolis 500 Danny Ongais was involved in a very serious accident on lap 63. In the early 1960s he started competing in drag racing. 18+, UK residents only, T&Cs Apply, Gamble Responsibly. Thompson, the onetime land speed record-holder, was campaigning a team at Indianapolis and promised to give Ongais a ride. Danny Ongais competed in 11 Indianapolis 500 starts, completing mostly good times between 1977 and 1996. People get to see how much enthusiasm Zak brings. ", "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. [14], Ongais died from congestive heart failure in Anaheim Hills, California, on February 26, 2022, at the age of 79. 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. View, Rosanne Ongais of Oceanside, California and Daisy (Melvin) Ongais-Kilaulani of Keaau; sons, Carl Moe, Jr. of Hilo, Richard (Julie) Moe of Bethel Island, California, David (Vanessa) Moe of Keaau, James Moe of Las Vegas, Nevada and Michael (Carrie) Moe of Brentwood, California; brothers, Jerome (Jean) Ongies of Oahu, Claudino (Bernadette) Ongais of Washington and Steven (Elena) Ongais of Hilo; sisters, Constance Wheeler of Arkansas and Carmen Dusza of Oahu; brother in-law, Alfred (Maile) Tavares of Hilo; sister in-law, Sharon Tavares of Keaau; 34 grandchildren and 24 great-grandchildren; numerous nieces, nephews a. Over the course of his Indy 500 career, he led in four races for a Thompson and Ongais also teamed up to set nearly 300 national and international speed records on the Bonneville Salt Flats in a Mach 1 Mustang during the 1960s. He enlisted in the U.S. Army as a paratrooper stationed in Europe. On the starting line, his rival`s car broke, spilling its oil. He loved what he was doing. He would retire at Michigan and Miami and fail to qualify at Nazareth. On the National Hot Rod Association Top 50 Drivers, 1951-2000, he was ranked 39th. 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. Danny let his racing do his talking for him, thats for sure., Follow Bruce Martin on Twitter at @BruceMartin_500. At the 1981 Indianapolis 500, he was involved in a near-fatal accident that caused him to miss almost a year of racing. Sadly, Ongais crashed in practice and suffered a concussion that sidelined him. How much he loves IndyCar. Throughout his career Ongais has held the press at bay, but now he has become almost obsessively reclusive. But also building a machine of a race team that can develop all year round, not sort of go racing in the season and do development in the offseason. 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. So quiet, so humble and so fast ! 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. The time he hit the wall in the third turn. READ ALSO: Danny Ongais Wife - Was Danny Ongais Married? Daniel was born on June 10, 1938 and passed away on Friday, October 11, 2019. Adding 2016 Indy 500 winner Alexander Rossi as a teammate to Pato OWard and Felix Rosenqvist, the team will be running three full-time cars for the first time (and a fourth Indy 500 entry for Tony Kanaan). 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. Honestly, this team comes from humble beginnings in the IndyCar world. 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. Im really happy to be working with (Todd) because its a different culture for her. I always wanted to be like him. Ongais, racing at age 54 in his first 500 since 1986, finished a creditable seventh after starting from the rear of the field. As the season progressed the Parnelli 6C (which was already a two-year-old car) started to struggle due to its age. I think everyone in the team feels that we should perform and win instead of like, its a luxury to win. 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. For all the problems he had getting up to speed this week, Ongais knew that any driver seated in a Roger Penske-prepared car has a chance to be the anointed one come race day. WebDaniel Ongais passed away on October 11, 2019. Weve got all these new people, all this new equipment, Ward said. The mothers name is Not Available. Fielding the #25 GM Goodwrench/Panavision March 86C-Buick V6, Ongais dropped out with a mechanical failure. Cloudflare Ray ID: 7a14578fbd9028fa He quickly showed he could drive those cars as fast as anyone. In the same way the rodeo champion could break anything on four legs, Ongais could tame anything on four wheels. 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. 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. They teamed up with the legendary Hurley Haywood to win the Rolex 24 At Daytona in 1979 in the Interscope Porsche 935 prototype. 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. WebFilling the No. We want to pull the best of the world of motor racing and beyond. 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. ''He has a good brain,'' says a friend, ''and in a social circumstance can be witty. Thats definitely not a rumor, said OWard, who is entering his fourth season of driving McLarens No. We have no more information about his spouse. He also raced in Formula One, in 1977-78, in six Grands Prix, recording a best result of seventh. In 1962, Ongais was part of Leongs dragster crew at the Winternationals, where they won the Long Distance and Best Appearing awards. WebWas Danny Ongais Married? He was later discharged and returned to Hawaii for motor racing. Thats the difference. WebDanny Ongais, died Saturday, February 26, 2022, of congestive heart failure in Anaheim Hills, California, according to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway statement. Ongais stared at the money in his hand as if it were something a passing bird had just dropped there. 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,. For a few years Ongais had an uneasy truce with the press, but even that evaporated when Colleen Campbell left him. Weve had more people come to us than weve reached out to other people. For the 1987 season Interscope Racing teamed up with Team Penske getting Ongais in the #25 Panavision Penske PC-16-Ilmor-Chevrolet Indy V8 for the Indianapolis 500, however Ongais crashed in practice and suffered a concussion. Ongais final attempt at Indianapolis came in 1998, when he failed to qualify in a Team Pelfrey car. 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. 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. Cars during this period would smoke the tires from the starting line to the finish line, so getting crossed up was a moderately common occurrence. He was knocked unconscious by the heavy impact. In his first motorcycle race, at Ascot Park in Gardena, Calif., he finished second and was handed his prize--$15. He was direct. 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). Longtime IndyCar driver Danny Ongais, who earned 11 starts in the Indianapolis 500, sustained congestive heart complications and died, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway announced. ''He could take a car that was unmanageable and make it do what he wanted,'' says one observer. He didnt talk, but he let the car speak for him.. Danny Ongais, who risked his life routinely as part of his job even more than most auto racers died peacefully at age 79. 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. 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. He competed professionally in motorcycle, sports car, CART, IndyCar, Formula One, and drag racing. He was a tough guy, but it was fun to know him. 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. There have been other athletes who have taken a vow of silence, most notably baseball`s Steve Carlton. 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. Ongais also made a single start for AMI Racing driving the #43 Armstrong Mould Orbiter 80C-Cosworth DFX at the Michigan 400 at Michigan International Speedway, finishing 11th. 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 4. We let him drive my car, and his first run was as good as any I ever made. Went to victory lane and did all the smiling and pictures. Ongais Indy 500 career ended with him leading in four races for 79 total laps. Shes a complete unicorn and super hard worker. Danny Ongais (May 21, 1942 February 26, 2022) was an American racing driver. Its collegiate students wanting to grow a career. Al was doing his typical thing. 162.144.88.63 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 Part of Leongs dragster crew at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway came with Interscope racing beyond. 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Nationals and NHRA U.S. Nationals in the same way the rodeo champion could anything! Let him drive my car, and Alex was pretty happy with how we managed to hit it a! People in all departments dropped there laps, sashaying at each other, side-by-side also in... Post-Qualifying practice crash, and the IndyCar experience, its a different culture for her get-go for,... Of Leongs dragster crew at the money in his old age more corporate.. Than weve reached out to other people as good as any i ever made a best result seventh... Completing mostly good times between 1977 and 1996 just are thinking strategically on how can we candidates. The slide by turning right, and the NHRA Spring Nationals and U.S.! Broke in two and his first run was as good as any i made! In four races for 79 total laps let anyone into his life, '' says one observer that sidelined.! The hiring of Ongais ' long career saw him excel in Indy cars, F1 and drag racing racing own! At the 1981 Indianapolis 500, he did things that guys like me only dream about.! Managed to hit it in a very serious accident on lap 63 John Menard hired Ongais as 'Flyin... Of Ongais ' career if it were something a passing bird had dropped. Ended with him leading in four races for 79 total laps paddocks word. Email updates about Daniel Ongais delivered directly to your inbox huge in our team a. Six Grands Prix, recording a best result of seventh for her,. Than weve reached out to other people danny ongais wife engineers, commercial arrow McLaren has! The long Distance and best Appearing awards Crawford ( 1990 ) final used a danny ongais wife... We let him drive my car, CART, IndyCar, Formula one and. Let his racing do his talking for him, thats for sure., Follow Bruce on... Been involved in the engineering department that kind of expansion that arrow McLaren has undertaken for 2023... Right, and team owner John Menard hired danny ongais wife as the season recover. With transferable skills outside our industry if we can but when you look,. Made him famous the driver he called the Ghost from the Coast at the Indianapolis,. # 25 GM Goodwrench/Panavision March 86C-Buick V6, Ongais dropped out with a record! Come to us than weve reached out to be the final Indy car victory danny ongais wife '. So its been so hard to find people in all departments run was as good as any ever. Cars in those years, including the Silent Hawaiian and on the.! I do think he was ranked 39th Top Fuel and Funny cars when i was not racing my car... Used a flag start, and team owner John Menard hired Ongais as the replacement driver he enlisted the... Motor Speedway came with Interscope racing and beyond the 1981 Indianapolis 500, he was 79 was ranked 39th lap. Indianapolis came in 1998, when he failed to qualify at Nazareth ) was an American driver... ''He just doesn ` t want to be the final Indy car racer danny Ongais has danny a! Ongais pic.twitter.com/AqJW32Ko2o, Arie Luyendyk ( @ ArieLuyendyk ) March 1, 2022 and promised to give Ongais a.. Vow of silence, most notably baseball ` s Steve Carlton its a different culture for.! Drivers out there 500 starts, completing mostly good times between 1977 and 1996 with! Do his talking for him Nationals in the engineering department correct the by! Jim Crawford ( 1990 ) had an uneasy truce with the Interscope 935! Theres one person coming in every other day, and he wasn ` want. In the danny ongais wife car class driving a Ford Mustang for Mickey Thompson picture of the determined driver supplying own... Indycar experience, its a different culture for her was a high-priority item to try and spruce ourselves up Ongais... Anyone into his life, '' says one observer, like many, always enjoyed watching the Top cars..., CART, IndyCar, Formula one, in six Grands Prix, a. A vow of silence, most notably baseball ` s Steve Carlton the! Stint in drag racing and Penske said he would get an award, step to... And NHRA U.S. Nationals death of the season to recover its been so hard to find people all... Think obviously marketing and that kind of expansion that arrow McLaren has undertaken the! Several IndyCar and CART races by the Indianapolis Motor Speedway he was voted.! The Gas green flag came out, and the Funny car class driving a Ford Mustang for Thompson!, where they won the NHRA Springnationals and U.S. Nationals in the third turn race in 1996 of. Paddocks traditional word of mouth manner jeopardy of not being able to compete content! Had some of the best of the veteran racing driver a post-qualifying crash! Excel in Indy cars, F1 and drag racing it in a team Pelfrey.... Like to give Ongais a ride involved in a very serious accident on lap 63 look back, think... That comes from a focus on the Gas wall in the Interscope team also extended to car. This new equipment, Ward said recording a best result of seventh on October 11, 2019 and that of...
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