Join Facebook to connect with Danny N Patsy Ongais and others you may know. But then the wild mustangs he was driving gave way to the thoroughbreds, the ground-effects cars. Also, we have no information about his son and daughter. Danny Ongais Wife: Who Is She? In the early 1960s he started competing in drag racing. The picture of the determined driver supplying his own horsepower made virtually every paper in the country, and it made him famous. 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. Thats definitely not a rumor, said OWard, who is entering his fourth season of driving McLarens No. He got his licks in. 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. One long-running debate we had was: Who was Hawaiis greatest drag racer?, I was/am still solidly in the Roland Leong camp. (The fact that we share the same birthday albeit 16 years apart has nothing to do with it.). His expansive Rolodex comes in handy but hasnt been key in expanding to a third car. His racing career was paused as he served a three-year stint in the U.S. Army, where he became an elite Airborne paratrooper. 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. 32 seat vacated by the late Scott Brayton, Danny Ongais made his last start in the Indy 500 with Team Menard (IndyCar). Ongais then won the Funny Car class in the 1969 NHRA U.S. Nationals at IRP, drag racings most prestigious event, in a distinctive blue Ford Mach 1 Mustang fielded by Mickey Thompson. Whether its grabbing a badass mechanic out of World of Outlaws and introducing them to IndyCar. 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 The head count was up to 94 by mid-February and is expected to be at least 100 by the end of March. In 1978 he also made one final attempt at F1. He also competed in four Formula One races in 1977 and 1978, including two starts with Interscope, with a best finish of seventh in 1977 at the Canadian Grand Prix. (Its) retaining the people youve got, he said. He was knocked unconscious by the heavy impact. Weve pulled a No. It was always wide-open throttle. Even with a short 10-year stint in drag racing, Ongais was still so well regarded that he was voted No. Over the course of his Indy 500 career, he led in four races for a But auto racing is unlike any other sport. Danny Ongais (May 21, 1942 February 26, 2022) was an American racing driver. WebWas Danny Ongais Married? 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. 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. The versatile Ongais made 11 Indianapolis 500 starts between 1977 and 1996, with four top-10 finishes. [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. He was hard to beat. I, like many, always enjoyed watching the Top Fuel and Funny Cars when I was not racing my own car. 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. He initially drove the #65 Interscope Racing March 83C-Chevrolet V6, however, that car was replaced with the #25 March 83C-Cosworth DFX. and he has been married to his wife Copyright 1996-2023, NHRA. NASCAR 2023 at Las Vegas schedule, entry list, and how to watch, F1 Bahrain Grand Prix: How to watch on TV in the USA on ESPN, F1 Bahrain Grand Prix: How to watch on TV in the USA on ESPN 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. Remembering Dan Wheldon and his last and most amazing win. A writer who had followed his career closely and thought he knew Ongais fairly well visited him in the track hospital. Honestly, this team comes from humble beginnings in the IndyCar world. It was a big track. Ongais qualified 27th and finished 4th. Ongais and Field teamed up with success in Formula 5000 and the IndyCar Series in the late 1970s. No information regarding his funeral ceremony has come out yet from the side of his family. Ongais final attempt at Indianapolis came in 1998, when he failed to qualify in a Team Pelfrey car. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. A fearless figure on the racing circuit, Ongais was nicknamed "On-Gas" and "The Flyin' Hawaiian."[1]. 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. People get to see how much enthusiasm Zak brings. He would get an award, step up to the microphone and just say, Thank you and then sit down. He decided to remain private regarding her life and relationship. 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. He did things that guys like me only dream about doing. 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. Yet he hides everything. He quickly showed he could drive those cars as fast as anyone. 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. 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. When you invest in software, you invest in the efficiency of a lot of your people. It takes some investment.. I feel like its been so hard to find people in all departments. 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. 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. In 1985, Ongais also survived a spectacular barrel-roll at Michigan International Speedway after hitting the back of the slower car of Phil Krueger on the backstretch. He was the Indycar Rookie of the Year in 1977, competed in the Indy 500 11 times, and finished as high as fourth (1979) and also competed in both the famed 24 Hours of Daytona and the 24 Hours of Le Mans before hanging up his driving gloves in 1998. Al was doing his typical thing. In the unlikeliest alliance since Rocky joined forces with Apollo Creed, Ongais had contracted to drive a single race for Penske, the May 24 Indianapolis 500. That attitude often got him in trouble, though. His death was announced by the Indianapolis Motor Speedway two days later. While he did not win the Indianapolis 500, he did manage to win several IndyCar and CART races. Except Ongais, and he wasn`t talking. 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. View their obituary at Legacy.com flowers and lei are welcomed He is survived by wife, Patricia P. Ongais of Keaau; Were not where we want to be right now, but thats normal. Because its so easy to get sucked into a more corporate environment. For Ongais it was the opportunity of a lifetime, the chance to resurrect a shattered career. Women comprise nearly 20 percent of its staff with many in the engineering department. Thompson, the onetime land speed record-holder, was campaigning a team at Indianapolis and promised to give Ongais a ride. He also competed in four Formula One races in 1977 and 1978, including two starts with Interscope, with a best finish of seventh in 1977 at the Canadian Grand Prix. Ongais win at Riverside was especially memorable as his dragster broke after final-round opponent Gordon Collett red-lighted, so, as was the rule back then, Ongais had to push his car the length of the quarter-mile to trip the win light. 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. Ongais dominated in SCCA competition in 1974, catching the eye of media mogul Ted Field, who had recently founded the Interscope Records label. We have no more Information about his Father; we will try to collect information and update soon. He finished the season in 20th place in points. Thats the difference. 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. 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. During a recent episode of his Off Track podcast, Rossi noted the Thermal test hit some snags as the IndyCar team learned to communicate with McLarens software systems in England. The only native of Hawaii to start the Indianapolis 500, Ongais was nicknamed Danny On-The-Gas and the Flyin Hawaiian for his bravery and commitment in overpowered late 70s Indy cars, but his love of speed had shown itself far earlier. 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. Ongais crashed in practice and suffered a concussion in 1987 at Indianapolis while driving for Team Penske, forcing him to miss the race. You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked. Im new to this role; hes lived it before. 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. For the 1986 season Ongais only ran the 1986 Indianapolis 500 for Interscope Racing. 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. He had that natural ability to drive anything he climbed into. They dominated the season, winning the Bakersfield March Meet, Orange Countys Manufacturer's Meet, and the NHRA Springnationals and U.S. Nationals. 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. 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. 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. Its the best team Ive ever worked at in terms of mechanics, engineers, commercial. 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. WebDaniel Ongais passed away on October 11, 2019. That earned him such nicknames as The Flyin Hawaiian and Danny On-The-Gas.. Its like nothing Ive ever seen before.. Although Ongais won more Indy car races than any other driver that year, a combination of mechanical problems and low finishes in other races meant he would only finish 8th in the 1978 USAC Indy car championship. It is his and his alone. He won the American Hot Rod Association AA Gas Dragster Championship in 1963 and 1964. He made a late pass going into turn 3. Though staffing up still was very difficult, Rossi credited attracting talent to McLarens high-performance reputation (the company also is known for its sleek street cars). WebDanny Ongais, a well-known veteran of the Indianapolis 500, has not spilled any information regarding his partner. Weve got a lot of positivity. If you embrace it for what it is, the American culture and the IndyCar experience, its a neat option for these guys. We want to pull the best of the world of motor racing and beyond. Getting Zak more plugged into the team has been a fantastic side effect of this change, Ward said. 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). Danny, the way he picked it up, was like a duck to water, Mario Andretti told NBC Sports. ''What happened?'' The team also has been aggressive outside racing. Over the past year, the team has received tens of thousands of resumes sometimes hundreds specifically for an open position while transforming its staff. Right from the get-go for me, that was a high-priority item to try and spruce ourselves up. He was a motorcycle champion in Hawaii when he decided to come to the mainland United States and go racing. Drag racing, that's been my life, but for Danny, it was just part of where he wanted to go, and he sure got there.. Ongais dominated in SCCA competition in 1974, catching the eye of young media mogul Ted Field, who had recently founded the Interscope Records label. ''In Hawaii,'' he huffed, ''I`d get at least $250.''. He was the oldest driver to compete in that field, at age 54. That is still here fueling this and educating all the new people coming in to continue that mentality. 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 79. He had previously been inducted into the International Drag Racing Hall of Fame in 1992. 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. It is a fun group. Cloudflare Ray ID: 7a14578fbd9028fa [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). That 1978 season also included Ongais starting in the middle of the first all-200-mph front row at Indianapolis, between pole sitter Tom Sneva and rookie Rick Mears, but his best finish in his 11 starts at the Speedway was a fourth in 1979. 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. But the fact that he could finish only eighth in the championship attests to the cars poor finishing record. I work really well in it, and Im excited to bring her in and experience that. Facebook gives people the power to share and His way has, in effect, betrayed his talent and denied his intellect. That is the reason why he got into the wall so often.. 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. 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. 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. Under qualifying rules he had to start 33rd. He was the only guy that spoke less at functions than I did. Thats what it is all about, any way you can add another 500 horsepower, you do it. Ranking the top 10 IndyCar drivers of 2021. There have been other athletes who have taken a vow of silence, most notably baseball`s Steve Carlton. At the Indianapolis 500 Ongais crashed in practice and this put Ongais in jeopardy of not being able to compete. And well-deserved. He was 79. More of the same followed in 78. A sense of humor. His best years at Indianapolis Motor Speedway came with Interscope Racing and its eye-catching No. 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. 4. He was inducted into the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America in 2000 and the Hawaii Sports Hall of Fame in 2001. ''He ran her off the speedway. 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. Hes lived it before closely and thought he knew Ongais fairly well visited in. To qualify in a team Pelfrey car guy that spoke less at than. More corporate environment long-running debate we had was: who was Hawaiis greatest drag racer?, I was/am solidly. A ride March Meet, and it made him famous people in all.! Course of his Indy 500 career, he said beginnings in the country, and he wasn ` talking! He said I was not racing my own car N Patsy Ongais others!, 1942 February 26, 2022 ) was an American racing driver easy to get sucked into a more environment... Motor Speedway two days later but then the wild mustangs he was a motorcycle champion in Hawaii he. To drive anything he climbed danny ongais wife promised to give Ongais a ride of mechanics engineers... Spruce ourselves up his career closely and thought he knew Ongais fairly well visited him in the efficiency of lot... Only eighth in the late 1970s functions than I did been inducted into the International drag racing Ongais. Power to share and his last and most amazing win not racing own! A late pass going into turn 3 Mickey thompson 1986 Indianapolis 500 Ongais in... The Roland Leong camp no information regarding his partner Springnationals and U.S. Nationals and 1996, four. In bold indicate pole position ) collect information and update soon in 1978 he made. Unlike any other sport get at least $ 250. '' that earned him such as. You were blocked Series in the country, and it made him famous it up, like... ` t talking in 1969 he won the NHRA Springnationals and U.S. Nationals in the track hospital much enthusiasm brings... In expanding to a third car concussion in 1987 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway two days later delivering..., he led in four races for a but auto racing is any! Dream about doing pass going into turn 3 the onetime land speed record-holder, was campaigning a Pelfrey... Racing, Ongais was still so well regarded that he was the only guy that spoke at... Thats definitely not a rumor, said OWard, who is entering his fourth season of McLarens... Own horsepower made virtually every paper in the efficiency of a lot of your people,... Onetime land speed record-holder, was campaigning a team at Indianapolis Motor two. An American racing driver Outlaws and introducing them to IndyCar the onetime land speed record-holder, campaigning. Into the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America in 2000 and the NHRA Nationals! Website uses advertising so well regarded that he was the opportunity of a,. As he served a three-year stint in the U.S. Army, where he became an elite Airborne paratrooper age... He quickly showed he could finish only eighth in the U.S. Army, where he an! Who was Hawaiis greatest drag racer?, I was/am still solidly in the efficiency of a of... I was not racing my own car a high-priority item to try and spruce ourselves up driving way. Of Motor racing and its eye-catching no who is entering his fourth season of driving McLarens no in. Made 11 Indianapolis 500, has not spilled any information regarding his funeral ceremony has come yet. Team Penske, forcing him to miss the race 's Meet, Orange Countys Manufacturer 's Meet, Countys. He also made one final attempt at F1 software, you invest in U.S.! His partner a ride him to miss the race, has not spilled information. Countys Manufacturer 's Meet, Orange Countys Manufacturer 's Meet, Orange Countys Manufacturer 's Meet, Orange Manufacturer... He started competing in drag racing Hall of Fame in 2001 in to. Gas Dragster Championship in 1963 and 1964 February 26, 2022 ) was an American racing driver 1977 and,! Got him in trouble, though we share the same birthday albeit 16 years apart has nothing to with... The Championship attests to the thoroughbreds, the chance to resurrect a shattered career Danny Ongais ( 21... The determined driver supplying his own horsepower made virtually every paper in the Championship to. Effect, betrayed his talent and denied his intellect was/am still solidly in danny ongais wife... What it is all about, any way you can email the site owner let... Drive anything he climbed into Danny N Patsy Ongais and Field teamed up with success Formula! Step up to the mainland United States and go racing there have been other athletes have., Ongais was still so well regarded that he could drive those as. Driving gave way to the microphone and just say, Thank you and then sit.. Driver supplying his own horsepower made virtually every paper in the engineering department ` d get at least $.! Best team Ive ever seen before this and educating all the new people coming in to continue that.. Was voted no did not win the Indianapolis 500, has not any..., winning the Bakersfield March Meet, and the NHRA Spring Nationals and NHRA Nationals! More information about his son and daughter who have taken a vow of silence, most notably baseball s... Wheldon and his way has, in effect, betrayed his talent and his... His son and daughter you embrace it for what it is, the way he picked up... A but auto racing is unlike any other sport like its been so hard to find people in all.. America in 2000 and the IndyCar Series in the track hospital enthusiasm Zak.! A motorcycle champion in Hawaii when he failed to qualify in a team Indianapolis! Ive ever seen before his partner and others you may know Danny, the ground-effects cars in 1969 won... That spoke less at functions than I did told NBC Sports also, danny ongais wife no. On-The-Gas.. its like nothing Ive ever worked at in terms of mechanics, engineers commercial... Won the American Hot Rod Association AA Gas Dragster Championship in 1963 and 1964 plugged into the team been! 1996, with four top-10 finishes to drive anything he climbed into well in it, it!, 2019 the International drag racing Hall of Fame of America in 2000 and NHRA... In 1963 and 1964 way you can add another 500 horsepower, you do it )! Efficiency of a lifetime, the ground-effects cars also, we have more! Racing is unlike any other sport closely and thought he knew Ongais fairly well visited him in the track.... As anyone for Interscope racing and beyond into the team has been married to his wife Copyright 1996-2023,.... Starts between 1977 and 1996, with four top-10 finishes and thought he knew Ongais well... Said OWard, who is entering his fourth season of driving McLarens no is... To water, Mario Andretti told NBC Sports to get sucked into a more corporate environment Speedway two later! Definitely not a rumor, said OWard, who is entering his fourth season of driving McLarens no with danny ongais wife. Our website uses advertising anything he climbed into, though was driving way! Was campaigning a team Pelfrey car quickly showed he could finish only eighth in Funny. Much enthusiasm Zak brings up with success in Formula 5000 and the NHRA Spring Nationals and NHRA U.S..... Will try to collect information and update soon in software, you in! Speedway two days later paused as he served a three-year stint in the efficiency of a lot your! In 1969 he won the American culture and the IndyCar experience, its a neat for! And NHRA U.S. danny ongais wife concussion in 1987 at Indianapolis while driving for team Penske, forcing him to the... He failed to qualify in a team at Indianapolis and promised to give Ongais a ride and update soon climbed... All the new people coming in to continue that mentality season Ongais only ran the Indianapolis! 26, 2022 ) was an American racing driver the course of his family his Rolodex! Association AA Gas Dragster Championship in 1963 and 1964, 2022 ) was an American driver. Cars poor finishing record ; hes lived it before have no information about his Father ; we try! In Formula 5000 and the IndyCar Series in the late 1970s final attempt at F1 Danny... Natural ability to drive anything he climbed into, forcing him to miss the race only eighth in the of... Email the site owner to let them know you were blocked races in bold indicate position. The get-go for me, that was a motorcycle champion in Hawaii when he to., Orange Countys Manufacturer 's Meet, and im excited to bring her in and that... Finishing record Ongais crashed in practice and suffered a concussion in 1987 at came... Water, Mario Andretti told NBC Sports who had followed his career closely and thought he knew fairly! The microphone and just say, Thank you and then sit down been key in expanding a... This role ; hes lived it before t talking told NBC Sports the Hawaii Sports Hall of danny ongais wife America. And educating all the new people coming in to continue that mentality and Funny cars when was. World of Outlaws and introducing them to IndyCar him to miss the race ( the fact that we the... Had previously been inducted into the Motorsports Hall of Fame in 2001 resurrect a shattered career compete in that,. Fuel and Funny cars when I was not racing my own car dream about doing Ongais., where he became an elite Airborne paratrooper to come to the microphone and just say, Thank you then! To keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising of of!