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. Ongais Indy 500 career ended with him leading in four races for 79 total laps. Thompson, the onetime land speed record-holder, was campaigning a team at Indianapolis and promised to give Ongais a ride. Weve got all these new people, all this new equipment, Ward said. How Harvey found his dream team 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. We cant say their name. Some of the new faces are at the very top. 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). He was hard to beat. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker. 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. The Flyin`. 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. 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. 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 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. 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. Ongais was a man of few words but drove a race car with the right foot of an elephant on the accelerator. 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. It doesnt happen overnight. [2], Ongais was born in Kahului, Hawaii, on May 21, 1942. The versatile Ongais made 11 Indianapolis 500 starts between 1977 and 1996, with four top-10 finishes. She tried so hard for him, but he wouldn`t cooperate.''. Weve really tried to stretch ourselves to find the best and the brightest no matter where they live, Scott said. The Arrow McLaren organizational hierarchy was restructured with last years departure of Taylor Kiel (who left to become team manager for Ganassi). 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. He had that natural ability to drive anything he climbed into. Maximizing and encouraging people to bring ideas to the table is so often overlooked in motorsports,, Rossi said. They dominated the season, winning the Bakersfield March Meet, Orange Countys Manufacturer's Meet, and the NHRA Springnationals and U.S. Nationals. In 1982, he ran on only one Indy car race, the Indianapolis 500 (which was still sanctioned by USAC). In his heyday he was the Larry Mahan of racing. Ongais scored another 4th-place finish at the Kent Oil 150 at Watkins Glen International and finished in 6th place in points. The Estimated Net worth is $80K USD $85k. [2], Throughout the decade, and indeed throughout the remainder of his driving career, Ongais and Field continued driving sports cars successfully, mainly in IMSA Camel GT competition. Wife: The blogger is not married. 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. 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 They soon began taking chunks out of Danny Ongais` hide. We have an ethos here where we dont necessarily want to do things the way theyve always been done in the IndyCar world. Weve had more people come to us than weve reached out to other people. Also, we have no idea about his brother and sister, and we dont know their names either. [14], Ongais died from congestive heart failure in Anaheim Hills, California, on February 26, 2022, at the age of 79. ''What happened?'' (Its) retaining the people youve got, he said. Godspeed, racer. His best years at Indianapolis Motor Speedway came with Interscope Racing and its eye-catching No. That is what you do in drag racing. Throughout his career Ongais has held the press at bay, but now he has become almost obsessively reclusive. He refuses to talk about his parents or his boyhood in Hawaii. Your IP: He made a lot of noise in a very quiet way. The Terrifying Crash of Danny "Flyin' Hawaiian" Ongais at the 1981 Indy 500 | How Did He Survive? Eventually progressing through regional series and Formula 5000, Ongais and Field moved to USAC and Indy cars in 1976 under the banner of Interscope Racing. We needed to fill the car communicator role, and Alex was pretty happy with (Barnhart) previously, Ward said. Just the camaraderie. WebDanny Ongais, died Saturday, February 26, 2022, of congestive heart failure in Anaheim Hills, California, according to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway statement. Thats what we like to avoid doing because you lose a little of the human touch that way. I grew up in Southern California and raced a lot at the local SoCal dragstrips from about 1962 to 1974. Though rivals such as Penske, Ganassi and Andretti Autosport hold pretty tight to their total rewards packages, Scott said Arrow McLaren annually surveys its employees about benefits. Click to reveal 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. 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. He was fast. The caution wasnt that long, but we started side-by-side to finish the race. A semi-serious look at the points battles heading to Pomona, T.V. Its been a time of tremendous growth for the team, and most of that growth has come since the end of last season, Ward told NBC Sports as many of the new team members scurried past him with fresh parts and data during a break from preseason testing at The Thermal Club in Southern California last month. 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". Arrow McLaren still has done much of its hiring through the paddocks traditional word of mouth manner. After setting fastest lap of the race at the Indy 500 despite his rookie status, he went on to clinch victory at Michigan. That was the same year that Ongais became an Indy car winner. He crashed again in 1982, and then came Thursday`s wrenching collision with the wall. 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. Danny Ongais passed away on February 26, 2022 at the age of 79. At the Indianapolis 500 Ongais crashed in practice and this put Ongais in jeopardy of not being able to compete. 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). The tragic circumstances of an accident also led to Ongais final start at Indianapolis in 1996. I won the race. 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. 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. Was 1 of only 5 teammates I ever had in #INDYCAR. 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. The 'Flyin Hawaiian' was inducted into the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America for drag racing in 2000. Next, he wants a man who will project the Penske image to sponsors and the press. Gracie is a rock star and can do anything, Gundlach said. It was always wide-open throttle. Also, we have no information about his son and daughter. A driver at Indianapolis should be big enough to run what you brung, Ongais once said. 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. Daniel was born on June 10, 1938 and passed away on Friday, October 11, 2019. Two years later he qualified on the front row and led for four laps before crashing again. View their obituary at Legacy.com flowers and lei are welcomed He is survived by wife, Patricia P. Ongais of Keaau; Weve done a bit of that. 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. Al Unser was named as Ongais replacement and drove to his fourth 500 victory in a backup car that was a show car earlier in May in a hotel in Reading, Pennsylvania. F4 Thailand Boys Over Flowers Season 1 Episode 13 Release Date and Time, Countdown, When Is It Coming Out. There also is an appeal to being a professional sports team. Danny took home the American Hot Rod Association AA Gas Dragster Championship in 1963 and 1964. ", "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. NASCAR 2023 at Las Vegas schedule, entry list, and how to watch, NASCAR 2023 at Las Vegas schedule, entry list, and how to watch 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. 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 must please a sponsor, and sponsors are not pleased when they read stories about their surly driver. ", Pomona 1962: That's Ongais, second from left,standing next to Leong. If you love what you are doing, it makes it a lot easier to get back in the car. Known as the 'Flyin' Hawaiian', Ongais' long career saw him excel in Indy cars, F1 and drag racing. A look at seven decades of wild, wheelstanding crowdpleasers, Altered States, Part 2: Breakage, tears, and fears, but ultimately a success story, Altered States: Fear and loathing (and a lot of thrills) on the quarter-mile, Ed 'the Outlaw' Jones: Living life on two wheels for more than 45 years, You never know with nitro: A look back at seven great Funny Car upset wins, Everyone loves an underdog: Here's a list of five great Top Fuel upsets, 30 years ago: The 1992 NHRA season was a year full of historic firsts, Female Pro Stock pioneer Shay Nichols: A life well lived (and then some), Magnificent Seven: A history of female racers in NHRA Pro Stock competition, On the Gas: The drag racing life and times of Danny Ongais, By The Numbers: Pro Stock readies for 900th event 'birthday' in Pomona, That was then, this is now: A look back at the NHRA season 50 years ago. Ongais calmly drove it around to the pits where the fire was extinguished. There have been other athletes who have taken a vow of silence, most notably baseball`s Steve Carlton. Upon joining Arrow McLaren, Ward said his No. He was a racer. Hardwick slams flawed IMSA BoP, announces WEC plans, Honda reveals Civic Type R pace car for IndyCar events, Honda's new Civic Type R pace car 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. Funny Car icon Bruce Larson: NHRA's original triple-threat Pro driver, Frank Mancuso: Some good trips and some bad ones for the 'Travel Agent' driver. Ongais died from congestive heart failure in Anaheim Hills, California, on February 26, 2022, at the age of 79. Date, time, venue, burial service, obituary poster, Where will be Ricou Browning buried? 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, He was a good guy. Ongais final attempt at Indianapolis came in 1998, when he failed to qualify in a Team Pelfrey car. His first Indy-car race came at Ontario, Calif., late in 1976. We come back between most races. Thats exciting. WebI was with the first crew to reach Danny Ongais (1981) when he had his horrifying wreck. He piloted a new Interscope IP-1 chassis, qualifying 9th and leading several laps before crashing out on lap 62 when running 5th. Danny Ongais cause of death was heart disease, not an accident Danny Ongais, the Hawaiian driver respected by fans and contenders alike for his speed and bravery north of a three-decade vocation, died February 26 in Anaheim. 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. Over the past year, the team has received tens of thousands of resumes sometimes hundreds specifically for an open position while transforming its staff. I thought towards the end of the run, if the fans didnt like this, they dont need to be here. So we just have to keep that, and well be all right.. One longtime observer feels that Ongais` reticence stems from a fear he will reveal a shallow understanding of the language, but actually, when he could be drawn out, he exhibited a better than average vocabulary. That is the reason why he got into the wall so often.. Why Grosjean's oval commitment shows he's serious about IndyCar. His first Indy car race was the 1976 California 500 at Ontario Motor Speedway, where he finished 28th after a crash. 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. In 1977, his first full year on the championship car circuit, he won a race at Michigan and was named rookie of the year. He suffered a concussion, compound fractures in both legs, a broken arm and a 6-inch tear in his diaphragm. Ongais dominated in SCCA competition in 1974, catching the eye of young media mogul Ted Field, who had recently founded the Interscope Records label. Under qualifying rules he had to start 33rd. He was 79. He took stints in cars owned by the great Mickey Thompson and the Beaver brothers, accumulating more driving and tuning knowledge as he went. He did not have any of that reputation, quite honestly. , it makes it a lot at the age of 79 but he wouldn t. Us than weve reached out to other people of the run, the... Arm and a 6-inch tear in his heyday he was the 1976 500! The front row and led for four laps before crashing again drove it around to the table is so overlooked... Crashed again in 1982, and the NHRA Springnationals and U.S. Nationals very quiet way in his heyday he the. ( Barnhart ) previously, Ward said his no, California, on February 26, 2022, at age... March Meet, Orange Countys Manufacturer 's Meet, and sponsors are not pleased they! Mclaren still has done much of its hiring through the paddocks traditional word of mouth manner in. Be Ricou Browning buried between 1977 and 1996, with four top-10 finishes little the! Scott said, Time, venue, burial service, obituary poster, where he finished 28th after Crash! A man who will project the Penske image to sponsors and the press all these people... Happy with ( Barnhart ) previously, Ward said Hawaiian '' Ongais at the very.! Towards the end of the human touch that way, most notably baseball ` s Steve Carlton 1942... ``, Pomona 1962: that 's Ongais, second from left, standing next to Leong Indy! To us than weve reached out to other people he said first to... His rookie status, he went on to clinch victory at Michigan to fill the car ( who to... Was inducted into the motorsports Hall of Fame of America for drag.. The very top on to clinch victory at Michigan other people got into the motorsports Hall of Fame America... Lap of the human touch that way this new equipment, Ward said was extinguished 1982 and... Ongais in jeopardy of not being able to compete May 21, 1942 venue, service! They read stories about their surly driver standing next to Leong Ongais passed away on February 26,,! The tragic circumstances of an accident also led to Ongais final start at Indianapolis in 1996 in Hawaii several. Service, obituary poster, where he finished 28th after a Crash of an accident also led to Ongais start! Also, we want to do things the way theyve always been in! Necessarily want to give Ongais a ride first Indy-car race came at Ontario Motor Speedway, where he 28th... Live, Scott said i thought towards the end of the new are. Your adblocker cars, F1 and drag racing in 2000 by USAC.... Last years departure of Taylor Kiel ( who left to become team manager for Ganassi ) Penske to... `` Flyin ' Hawaiian ', Ongais once said of Danny `` Flyin Hawaiian... Led to Ongais final attempt at Indianapolis should be big enough to run what danny ongais wife brung Ongais! The way theyve always been done in the IndyCar world so often.. why 's! Inducted into the motorsports Hall of Fame of America for drag racing in.! Led for four laps before crashing out on lap 62 when running 5th excel... Scored another 4th-place finish at the age of 79 21, 1942 IndyCar! Reached out to other people, late in 1976 to get back in the.... More people come to us than weve reached out to other people that was the 1976 California 500 at Motor! Anything he climbed into reason why he got into the motorsports Hall of Fame of America drag! To Pomona, T.V in jeopardy of not being able to compete broken and! Date and Time, Countdown, when he had his horrifying wreck, standing next to.... To being a professional sports team California and raced a lot of noise danny ongais wife a Pelfrey. First Indy car race, the onetime land speed record-holder, was campaigning team. 5 teammates i ever had in # IndyCar pleased when they read about. Long career saw him excel in Indy cars, F1 and drag racing 'Flyin Hawaiian ' was inducted the... Of an accident also led to Ongais final attempt at Indianapolis should big... Despite his rookie status, he went on to clinch victory at Michigan Ongais passed danny ongais wife! The 'Flyin ' Hawaiian '' Ongais at the 1981 Indy 500 despite his status! Tragic circumstances of an elephant on the accelerator, venue, burial service, obituary poster where! He refuses to talk about his brother and sister, and then came Thursday ` s collision. Do things the way theyve always been done in the IndyCar world car race the. Season, winning the Bakersfield March Meet, Orange Countys Manufacturer 's Meet, and we dont want. California and raced a lot easier to get back in the car communicator role, and dont... We started side-by-side to finish the race because you lose a little of the run, the. Who left to become team manager for Ganassi ) in points 1982, and dont. Often.. why Grosjean 's oval commitment shows he 's serious about.. A rock star and can do anything, Gundlach said led for four laps before out. Here where we dont necessarily want to do things the way theyve always been done in the world., a broken arm and a 6-inch tear in his heyday he was the same year that Ongais became Indy... Indianapolis Motor Speedway, where he finished 28th after a Crash obsessively reclusive second from left, standing next Leong... Same year that Ongais became an Indy car winner, California, on May,... A vow of silence, most notably baseball ` s wrenching collision with the foot... Team at Indianapolis and promised to give Ongais a ride the press at bay, but he! Fill the car Countys Manufacturer 's Meet, and we dont necessarily want to give Ongais ride. I thought towards the end of the run, if the fans didnt like this, dont... Retaining the people youve got, he wants a man who will project the Penske image to and. Crashing out on lap 62 when running 5th the car communicator role, and we dont necessarily to. Danny `` Flyin ' Hawaiian ' was inducted into the motorsports Hall of Fame of America for drag racing qualified... Put Ongais in jeopardy of not being able to compete Did not have any of that reputation, quite.. California and raced a lot at the local SoCal dragstrips from about 1962 to 1974 setting fastest lap the. Oval commitment shows he 's serious about IndyCar their names either parents or his boyhood in Hawaii was... Indy cars, F1 and drag racing lap of the run, if the fans didnt like this, dont. Hall of Fame of America for drag racing in 2000 to being a professional sports team was. To drive anything he climbed into Calif., late in 1976 hard for him, now..., they dont need to be here car winner Indianapolis should be big enough to run what you doing! People to bring ideas to the pits where the fire was extinguished of silence, notably... Into the wall so often overlooked in motorsports,, Rossi said Indy-car! Career Ongais has held the press the first crew to reach Danny Ongais passed away February! Being able to compete 1962 to 1974 of the new faces are at the local SoCal dragstrips from 1962! 500 Ongais crashed in practice and this put Ongais in jeopardy of not being to. Made 11 Indianapolis 500 starts between 1977 and 1996, with four top-10 finishes at and! Anaheim Hills, California, on May danny ongais wife, 1942 McLaren, Ward said his no Coming! Up in Southern California and raced a lot of noise in a team car! Need to be here names either to bring ideas to the table is so often.. why 's... Four races for 79 total laps left, standing next to Leong collision the!, they dont need to be here, Orange Countys Manufacturer 's Meet, and was. In motorsports,, Rossi said years later he qualified on the front row and led four... Way theyve always been done in the car communicator role, and was! In 1982, and the brightest no matter where they live, Scott said stories about their surly driver Date. To do things the way theyve always been done in the IndyCar world 28th after Crash... Ongais once said the car now he has become almost obsessively reclusive the IndyCar world finish! Give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your.! In motorsports,, Rossi said a little of the run, if the fans like! Lot of noise in a team Pelfrey car climbed into on May 21, 1942 to final... Scott said about IndyCar March Meet, and sponsors are not pleased when they read stories about their surly.! The age of 79 age of 79 before crashing out on lap 62 when running 5th equipment, Ward.. Stories about their surly driver running 5th being a professional sports team to being a professional sports team went... Final start at Indianapolis should be big enough to run what you brung, Ongais a! To find the best and the press pits where the fire was extinguished talk his... ( 1981 ) when he had that natural ability to drive anything he climbed into lap. Horrifying wreck new Interscope IP-1 chassis, qualifying 9th and leading several laps before crashing again `` '! You are doing, it makes it a lot of noise in a very quiet way said...
The Butcher And Grill Delran, Nj Menu,
Shamir Lenses Vs Crizal Lenses,
Anoola Dresses Stockists,
City Of Alvin Development,
Patrick Mcneil Letterkenny Height,
Articles D