About three laps to go, Danny ran out of fuel, and he dropped out and that was it. 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. In 1981 at the Indianapolis 500 Danny Ongais was involved in a very serious accident on lap 63. [Related Insider column: Whatever came of the famed Blue Mustang?]. We cant say their name. We have no more Information about his Father; we will try to collect information and update soon. He was the only guy that spoke less at functions than I did. Burny Mattinson cause of death: How did Burny Mattinson die? Ongais made 11 Indy 500 starts between 1977 and 1996 and placed in the top 10 a total of four times. He complements my strengths very well, and his experience is a good buffer. Some of the new faces are at the very top. We come back between most races. There are no visitors to Danny Ongais` world. 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. Ongais had a sixth sense, so he could detect the car almost before it started to move and get out of shape. It takes some investment.. In this week's Dragster Insider, friends and fellow racers remember the guy nicknamed On the Gas.. 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. Indianapolis became his bete noir. Ongais stared at the money in his hand as if it were something a passing bird had just dropped there. When he returned to his home state, he realized that his motorsports future was limited by the dearth of racetracks there, and he crossed the Pacific to the Mainland with fellow Hawaiian Roland Leong, where they both found employment with the Dragmaster team, then one of the most successful and prolific builders of dragster chassis. The 2023 Genesis G90 Shows Sedans Still Matter, GM Plans 4-Door, Crossover Vette EVs, Sources Say, 7 US Entries Confirmed for 24 Hour of Le Mans, Autoweek Racing on TV: February 27-March 5, Newman/Haas Racing Is Selling 42 Indy Cars Oct. 29, Three-time Indy 500 Starter Rasmussen Dies at 85, How Dixon's Simple Mistake Cost Him Indy 500 Win, Move Over ABBA, Sweden Has a New Racing Superstar, Jimmie Johnson's Indy 500 Experience Ends in Crash, Ayla Agren Is Montoya's Eyes in the Sky for 500, 11 Closest Indianapolis 500 Finishes in History, Larry Foyt Out to Get A.J. Three pole positions swiftly followed, but the Interscope Parnelli-Cosworths unreliability prevented further triumphs. Thats exciting. He was a tough guy, but it was fun to know him. [15] His former Indy car competitors remembered him well after his passing, with Mario Andretti calling him that quiet lion.[16], (key) (Races in bold indicate pole position). I think thatll grow into a bigger, better version of a big team than there is. He got his licks in. They teamed up with the legendary Hurley Haywood to win the Rolex 24 At Daytona in 1979 in the Interscope Porsche 935 prototype. and he has been married to his wife On the starting line, his rival`s car broke, spilling its oil. And well-deserved. What it has done to his life no one could say. 25 Parnelli and Penske cars powered by Cosworth engines, with a best finish of fourth in 1979 and an excellent start of second near assistant Tom Snow in 1978. 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. 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. He ran his last Indy Car race the next year, in the Indy 200 at Walt Disney World, with Chitwood Motorsports, where he finished 13th. He was a force to be reckoned with when he was out there. RIP, my friend. She tried so hard for him, but he wouldn`t cooperate.''. He never left anything on the table, I can tell you that. 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. Danny faced a ton of heart problems in his old age. Under qualifying rules he had to start 33rd. Was 1 of only 5 teammates I ever had in #INDYCAR. In 1977, his first full year on the championship car circuit, he won a race at Michigan and was named rookie of the year. 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. When you want to build a high-powered racing team, software is really, really important, Ward said. Jim Chapman, race boss for Interscope Racing, said no one was very familiar with him. Remembering Dan Wheldon and his last and most amazing win. 18+, UK residents only, T&Cs Apply, Gamble Responsibly. Even his closest friends know little of His best years at Indianapolis Motor Speedway came with Interscope Racing and its eye-catching No. The tragic circumstances of an accident also led to Ongais final start at Indianapolis in 1996. 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. Just the camaraderie. WebDanny Ongais, a race-winner and ace qualifier in Indy car racing whose career spanned three decades died last weekend congestive heart complications By: David Malsher-Lopez 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. First, Penske has said many times, he wants a team player. He would get an award, step up to the microphone and just say, Thank you and then sit down. 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. The car went to Al Unser Sr who went on to win a record-tying 4th Indianapolis 500. WebChapman did state that well into their relationship he learned Ongais was married and had a son. They did score a memorable AHRA win at Lions Dragstrip on the fateful March 8 day that Don Garlits exploded the transmission in Swamp Rat 13, severing half of his right foot. In his heyday he was the Larry Mahan of racing. That stems more from drag racing. We have no more information about his spouse. That 1978 season also included Ongais starting in the middle of the first all-200-mph front row at Indianapolis, between pole sitter Sneva and rookie Rick Mears. The rides with major teams that could have been his went to less talented but more malleable men. On May 15, 1982, Danny Ongais qualified 9th for the Indy 500. He was 79. After a long pit stop, Ongais hit the Brickyard hard to make up for the 46-second stop. 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. Last year, we did five races in four weekends. We may earn money from the links on this page. Ongais became the Hawaiian motorcycle champion in 1960 and was in the top three positions in the expert class from 1960 to 1962.[2]. Gracie is a rock star and can do anything, Gundlach said. Virtually all that is known of Ongais is a matter of public record. He must please a sponsor, and sponsors are not pleased when they read stories about their surly driver. He was the oldest driver to compete in that field, at age 54. Im new to this role; hes lived it before. Except Ongais, and he wasn`t talking. ''But he broke her heart,'' says a friend. Danny Ongais, a Hawaii native, died Saturday of heart complications in Anaheim Hills, California, according to a news release from the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. 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.). 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. Arrow McLaren uses applicant tracking software to determine the best matches on background, education and experience. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Thats definitely not a rumor, said OWard, who is entering his fourth season of driving McLarens No. 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. 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]. ''He just doesn`t want to let anyone into his life,'' says the friend. For the 1986 season Ongais only ran the 1986 Indianapolis 500 for Interscope Racing. He was 79. He and renowned innovator Mickey Thompson set nearly 300 national and international speed records on the Bonneville Salt Flats in a Mach 1 Mustang during the 1960s. The 'Flyin Hawaiian' was inducted into the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America for drag racing in 2000. This is certainly an exciting company to work for because the brand is quite well known globally, and that certainly helps from a recruitment perspective. Ongais endured a tough season highlighted by a 3rd-place finish at Watkins Glen. Weve got all these new people, all this new equipment, Ward said. Also, we have no idea about his brother and sister, and we dont know their names either. I never want to say anyone is better than me, but I'll tell you, if anybody was better than me, it was him. Why Kyle Kirkwood is America's new IndyCar ace-in-waiting, Why Kirkwood is USA's ace-in-waiting 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 everyone in the team feels that we should perform and win instead of like, its a luxury to win. Thats just his makeup, the way he was. 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. We needed to fill the car communicator role, and Alex was pretty happy with (Barnhart) previously, Ward said. Thats what we like to avoid doing because you lose a little of the human touch that way. His expansive Rolodex comes in handy but hasnt been key in expanding to a third car. He did his own thing. Danny completed 10th place in his last race in 1996. 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. Sleek, swift and deadly, they could suddenly turn around and bite a man. After finally leaving the pits, Ongais approached a slower car at the end of the backstretch. Ongais and Field teamed up with success in Formula 5000 and the IndyCar Series in the late 1970s. Pole sitter Scott Brayton suffered fatal injuries in a post-qualifying practice crash, and team owner John Menard hired Ongais as the replacement driver. Sadly, Ongais crashed in practice and suffered a concussion that sidelined him. RIP Danny Ongais, who passed away Feb.26, 2022, in California of congestive heart failure at age 79. 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 The team has drawn from a large pool of international candidates through its connection to parent company McLaren Racing, the United Kingdom-based Formula One team that also posts Arrow McLaren IndyCar openings on its site. The tragic circumstances of an accident also led to Ongais final start at Indianapolis, in 1996. In 1964 at the first Hot Rod Magazine drag championships, Ongais reached the final in the top gas-dragster division. One long-running debate we had was: Who was Hawaiis greatest drag racer?, I was/am still solidly in the Roland Leong camp. In September 1968, Thompson asked Ongais to help drive a trio of '69 Mustangs one with a 302, the other two NASCAR-style 427s on the Bonneville Salt Flats and in all set 295 national and international endurance records. 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. document.getElementById("ak_js_1").setAttribute("value",(new Date()).getTime()), Skip Bayless Wife Ernestine Sclafani Wiki, Biography, Age, Spouse, Net Worth, Fast Facts. The success of Ongais and Field with the Interscope team also extended to sports car racing, with Field also driving. Sometimes its easy to forget that, but I think were doing a good job here. Ongais was the only native Hawaiian to compete in the Indianapolis 500. I got down off the stand and went down to meet him. At the age of 18, he earned a Hawaiian state title in motorcycle racing, and he went on to become a drag racing ace. Press Esc to cancel. He dominated six races in USAC-sanctioned single-seater racing and finished eighth in the title. pic.twitter.com/X4ZqLkQY4w, Tony Stewart (@TonyStewart) February 28, 2022. 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. This time they carried him away, his body broken almost beyond repair. They are in relation from previous few years of a strong relationship. He competed professionally in motorcycle, sports car, CART, IndyCar, Formula One, and drag racing. 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. Ongais scored another 4th-place finish at the Kent Oil 150 at Watkins Glen International and finished in 6th place in points. Ongais started in 21st place and retired with mechanical problems. They dominated the season, winning the Bakersfield March Meet, Orange Countys Manufacturer's Meet, and the NHRA Springnationals and U.S. Nationals. 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. We want to pull the best of the world of motor racing and beyond. Ongais has been a man of mystery since he first arrived on the mainland from his native Hawaii and set the world of drag racing on its ear. Editor at Ghanafuo.com David Kofi Tei, is a passionate Public Relations Lead/Journalist who mostly specializes in providing a high level of research, reporting, interviewing and broadcasting skills. Its collegiate students wanting to grow a career. Ongais qualified 27th and finished 4th. His Girlfriend/boyfriends name is Not Available. For a few years Ongais had an uneasy truce with the press, but even that evaporated when Colleen Campbell left him. 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). Ongais also began drag racing in the early 60s and became one of the top straight-line competitors in America into the early 1970s. Weve really tried to stretch ourselves to find the best and the brightest no matter where they live, Scott said. 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. Went to victory lane and did all the smiling and pictures. 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. The IndyCar team since has been integrated with McLaren Racings F1 operations, which naturally led to some growing pains. Ongais final attempt at Indianapolis came in 1998, when he failed to qualify in a Team Pelfrey car. ''I`m amazed.''. As soon as he was able, he got back on the horse but was no longer a major force. (The fact that we share the same birthday albeit 16 years apart has nothing to do with it.). He had that natural ability to drive anything he climbed into. 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. That is the reason why he got into the wall so often.. Fielding the #25 GM Goodwrench/Panavision March 86C-Buick V6, Ongais dropped out with a mechanical failure. The car was disallowed and Interscope brought out their Parnelli 6C-Cosworth DFX. Starting last, Ongais finished 7th in what was his final 500. Around the same time, pole keeper Scott Brayton was killed in a training accident shortly after qualifying, and Ongais drove Braytons car, starting 33rd. How much does an F1 car weigh in 2023 and what's included in the limit? Performance & security by Cloudflare. Switching to the top-fuel category, he racked up an eight-month winning streak, toured Europe and became the first driver ever to hit 200 miles an hour on a British dragstrip. They teamed up with the legendary Hurley Haywood to win the Rolex 24 At Daytona in 1979 in the Interscope Porsche 935 prototype. He decided to remain private regarding her life and relationship. 162.144.88.63 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. Our paths didnt cross a lot away from the track, but when they did, he was a quiet, easygoing guy totally different and opposite outside of the car. He also won the National Hot Rod Association AA Dragster Championship in 1965. 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. WebLong before Danny Ongais became a household name as a revered IndyCar driver, he belonged to the world of drag racing, where he first sated his need for speed. Ongais hadnt raced since the 1986 Indy 500. Getting out of the car, Ongais pushed it the length of the quarter-mile dragstrip to claim the championship. Two years later he qualified on the front row and led for four laps before crashing again. Weve got intense bits of the season. 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. The versatile Ongais made 11 Indianapolis 500 starts between 1977 and 1996, with four top-10 finishes. He also recorded the fastest lap of the race, 192.678 mph, as a rookie in 1977. Ongais dominated in SCCA competition in 1974, catching the eye of young media mogul Ted Field, who had recently founded the Interscope Records label. Facebook gives people the power to share and 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. I never worried about being alongside of him or anything like that. He was that quiet lion, the only way to describe him, Mario Andretti told NBC Sports. 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. 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). 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 [4], In 1977, Ongais ran his first full season in Indy cars.
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