The IndyCar team since has been integrated with McLaren Racings F1 operations, which naturally led to some growing pains. 4. 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. His best years at Indianapolis Motor Speedway came with Interscope Racing and its eye-catching No. Since arriving in the fall of 2019 at the former Schmidt Peterson Motorsports, she said she has watched Arrow McLaren grow while maintaining its gritty origins. 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. 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. WebI was with the first crew to reach Danny Ongais (1981) when he had his horrifying wreck. A good guy to have a conversation with. WebDanny 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 He then competed at the Gould Twin Dixie 125 however bad luck hit Ongais in both races. I work really well in it, and Im excited to bring her in and experience that. 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. Ongais crashed in practice and suffered a concussion in 1987 at Indianapolis while driving for Team Penske, forcing him to miss the race. He moved up to the National Hot Rod Association AA Dragster championship and defeated the legendary Don Prudhomme in the 1966 NHRA Nationals in the Top Fuel semifinals. 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. Known as the 'Flyin' Hawaiian', Ongais' long career saw him excel in Indy cars, F1 and drag racing. At the 1964 Winternationals, his dragster defeated a field that included heavyweights like Thompson, the Peters & Frank Freight Train, and Earl Poage. 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. How much does an F1 car weigh in 2023 and what's included in the limit? 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. Ongais ability to drive these cars near their performance limits unfortunately resulted in a couple of spectacular crashes in Indy. Weve really tried to stretch ourselves to find the best and the brightest no matter where they live, Scott said. So its been a challenge, but Im really happy with how we managed to hit it in a short period of time. 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. Tommy Ivo and the five-second Top Fuel run that ignited a controversy, Wheelie neat! ''But he broke her heart,'' says a friend. Under qualifying rules he had to start 33rd. ''He just doesn`t want to let anyone into his life,'' says the friend. 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. 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. 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. 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. In Sundays Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg, Gundlach and Hackenberg (a damper specialist who also works on pit stops) will begin their third year together in the engineering department of Arrow McLaren as the team enters its most critical season yet in trying to become a perennial powerhouse championship contender. At the 1981 Indianapolis 500, he was involved in a near-fatal accident that caused him to miss almost a year of racing. Thompson, the onetime land speed record-holder, was campaigning a team at Indianapolis and promised to give Ongais a ride. 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. He won the American Hot Rod Association AA Gas Dragster Championship in 1963 and 1964. We have no more Information about his Father; we will try to collect information and update soon. Jim Chapman, race boss for Interscope Racing, said no one was very familiar with him. WebVersatile American racing driver Danny Ongais died on February 26 of congestive heart complications at age 79, it was announced Monday. Thats definitely not a rumor, said OWard, who is entering his fourth season of driving McLarens No. He would retire at Michigan and Miami and fail to qualify at Nazareth. Ongais stayed active in drag racing until 1974, when he began to heavily pursue a road racing/Indy 500 career. His race director at Interscope Racing Jim Chapman stated Nobody really knew much about him where he lived, his family, stuff like that. ''He studies everything he says,'' says one friend, ''but why? 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. That earned him such nicknames as The Flyin Hawaiian and Danny On-The-Gas.. It is a fun group. I had probably the best race other than the one I had with AJ Foyt in 1974, but Danny and I were racing at Michigan in 1978, Rutherford told NBC Sports. RIP Danny Ongais pic.twitter.com/AqJW32Ko2o, Arie Luyendyk (@ArieLuyendyk) March 1, 2022. That is still here fueling this and educating all the new people coming in to continue that mentality. So we just have to keep that, and well be all right.. He refuses to talk about his parents or his boyhood in Hawaii. 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 Ongais finished in 3rd place at the Detroit News Grand Prix at Michigan International Speedway. 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. Danny Ongais passed away on February 26, 2022 at the age of 79. His racing career was paused as he served a three-year stint in the U.S. Army, where he became an elite Airborne paratrooper. Thats what we like to avoid doing because you lose a little of the human touch that way. READ ALSO: Danny Ongais Wife - Was Danny Ongais Married? I dont think theres a better IndyCar team to work for right now.. I dont know how hes in so many places at once, seemingly. 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. In 1978 he also made one final attempt at F1. Though casting a wide recruitment net dovetails with McLarens progressive outlook, Ward said its also by necessity because for sure, the whole paddock has been in a fight to get the best people.. This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks. The sad news of the death of the veteran racing driver was announced by the Indianapolis Motor Speedway two days later after his death. You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked. Danny Ongais, a Hawaii native, died Saturday of heart complications in Anaheim Hills, California, according to a news release from the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. 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. Ongais moved into circuit racing in the 1970s, working his way up the ranks in American racing through SCCA road racing with the help of Ted Field. Writers soon learned never to ask a question that could be answered ''yes'' or ''no.'' Danny Ongais Wife: Who Is She? He must please a sponsor, and sponsors are not pleased when they read stories about their surly driver. ''He has a good brain,'' says a friend, ''and in a social circumstance can be witty. 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. 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. After losing Saturdays AA/Dragster class final to Thompson, he beat Thompson in the final of the eliminator on Sunday, 8.39 to 8.53, to claim the big prize, then a few months later, he won the Hot Rod Magazine Championships at Riverside Raceway. 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. 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. When he was 14, he already was speeding around on motorcycles. That attitude often got him in trouble, though. 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. People are hungry and people feel like were out here to do damage.. 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 was 79. He decided to remain private regarding her life and relationship. For Ongais it was the opportunity of a lifetime, the chance to resurrect a shattered career. 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. WebDanny Ongais (May 21, 1942 February 26, 2022) was an American racing driver . He was fearless, Mears said. We obviously have the resources to tap into and the shared knowledge of the greater McLaren Racing group. 18+, UK residents only, T&Cs Apply, Gamble Responsibly. Ongais made 11 Indy 500 starts between 1977 and 1996 and placed in the top 10 a total of four times. Performance & security by Cloudflare. 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, 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. Danny Ongais was my hero, Mears told NBC Sports. It was a big track. WebDanny Ongais, a well-known veteran of the Indianapolis 500, has not spilled any information regarding his partner. The action you just performed triggered the security solution. 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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. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker. View their obituary at Legacy.com flowers and lei are welcomed He is survived by wife, Patricia P. Ongais of Keaau; Some of the new faces are at the very top. Over the course of his Indy 500 career, he led in four races for a Ongais and Fields success with the Interscope team also extended to sports car racing, with Field also driving. He really wanted to be here. 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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 smiling and said, Hell of a race. That was Danny Ongais. 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. The car was disallowed and Interscope brought out their Parnelli 6C-Cosworth DFX. Weve got a lot of positivity. Ranking the top 10 IndyCar drivers of 2021. 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. Ongais and Field teamed up with success in Formula 5000 and the IndyCar Series in the late 1970s. 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. No ones ever going to say weve got everything figured out. He might show up and talk to you for a while and then youd look around and hed be gone. But then Brian is a great resource for me, for the team. He enlisted in the U.S. Army as a paratrooper stationed in Europe. But auto racing is unlike any other sport. 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. [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. Maximizing and encouraging people to bring ideas to the table is so often overlooked in motorsports,, Rossi said. pic.twitter.com/X4ZqLkQY4w, Tony Stewart (@TonyStewart) February 28, 2022. and he has been married to his wife We have no more Information about his Father; we will try to collect information and update soon. Super positive. Im really happy to be working with (Todd) because its a different culture for her. ''In Hawaii,'' he huffed, ''I`d get at least $250.''. Danny completed 10th place in his last race in 1996. The Indianapolis Motor Speedway detailed his death two days after the fact. 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. Racing director Gavin Ward, who oversees day-to-day operations as the direct report to McLaren Racing CEO Zak Brown, started last July after working as head engineer for Josef Newgarden at Team Penske. Our leadership team was just looking for the best, Scott, who also worked at Stanley Black & Decker, told NBC Sports. They soon began taking chunks out of Danny Ongais` hide. On the starting line, his rival`s car broke, spilling its oil. He was fast. 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. With sponsorship dollars generally on the rise in IndyCar, and manufacturer money pouring into rival series such as IMSA and F1, it likely never has been harder for hiring across U.S. motorsports. Facebook gives people the power to share and Born in 1942 in the wake of the devastating attack on Pearl Harbor, Ongais grew up in Kahului on the island of Maui, and he raced BSA motorcycles as a teenager before he was introduced to the dragstrip by some friends. Virtually all that is known of Ongais is a matter of public record. 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. Copyright 1996-2023, NHRA. 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. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. 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