A sense of humor. Danny was a great guy. RIP Danny Ongais pic.twitter.com/AqJW32Ko2o, Arie Luyendyk (@ArieLuyendyk) March 1, 2022. His death was announced by the Indianapolis Motor Speedway two days later. In this Ongais ended the season in 15th place in points. He finished the season in 20th place in points. 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 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. 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 refuses to talk about his parents or his boyhood in Hawaii. Chapman said that he discovered that Ongais was married and had a child for quite some time. ''He could take a car that was unmanageable and make it do what he wanted,'' says one observer. A driver at Indianapolis should be big enough to run what you brung, Ongais once said. No information regarding his funeral ceremony has come out yet from the side of his family. The action you just performed triggered the security solution. ''He just doesn`t want to let anyone into his life,'' says the friend. Ongais crashed in practice and suffered a concussion in 1987 at Indianapolis while driving for Team Penske, forcing him to miss the race. He was a motorcycle champion in Hawaii when he decided to come to the mainland United States and go racing. READ ALSO: Danny Ongais Wife - Was Danny Ongais Married? Ongais dominated in SCCA competition in 1974, catching the eye of young media mogul Ted Field, who had recently founded the Interscope Records label. He made a late pass going into turn 3. The time he hit the wall in the third turn. The versatile Ongais made 11 Indianapolis 500 starts between 1977 and 1996, with four top-10 finishes. Driving for Mickey Thompson, he once put two dragsters into the finals, turned one of them over to Thompson and then beat his mentor. Have Harvey and RLL formed IndyCars next winning match-up? Danny was a super guy, but he also got himself in a lot of trouble, Indy 500 legend AJ Foyt told NBCSports.com. After a long pit stop, Ongais hit the Brickyard hard to make up for the 46-second stop. Chapman did state that well into their relationship he learned Ongais was married and had a son. So its been a challenge, but Im really happy with how we managed to hit it in a short period of time. 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. Then weve got some really experienced guys from other IndyCar teams as well.. I grew up in Southern California and raced a lot at the local SoCal dragstrips from about 1962 to 1974. For the 1980 season Interscope was intending to use their own chassis with a Porsche V6 engine. 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. He was inducted into the Hawaii Sports Hall of Fame in 2001. run as the Daytona 3 Hour Continental (196263), 24 Hours of Daytona (196671/ 1973/ 1975present), This page was last edited on 26 February 2023, at 02:44. 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. ''That`s his life, racing.''. He decided to remain private regarding her life and relationship. 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. Arrow McLaren was known as Schmidt Peterson Motorsports before McLaren gradually became the majority owner in mid-2021. All registered. Ongais success in straight-line competition led him to be inducted into the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America in 2000 in the Drag Racing category. How much does an F1 car weigh in 2023 and what's included in the limit? I won the race. 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. That victory came one year after Thompson tried to enter Ongais into the 1968 Indianapolis 500, but Ongais was denied because he had almost no experience in open-wheel race cars. WebDanny N Patsy Ongais is on Facebook. Ill see what I can do help you out. He was there to do a job. We have no more Information about his Father; we will try to collect information and update soon. Date, time, venue, burial service, obituary poster, Where will be Ricou Browning buried? When is Danny Ongais funeral? At times, Ongais drove both the trademark orange Vels Mustang Funny Car and Flying Doorstop Top Fueler at the same event; in the dragster, he set the national speed record at 243.24 mph at the 1972 Supernationals at Ontario Motor Speedway in what was the sports first 240-plus-mph national record. In 1977, his first full year on the championship car circuit, he won a race at Michigan and was named rookie of the year. [9] Ongais finished 7th, having the best car early in the race. In 1982, he ran on only one Indy car race, the Indianapolis 500 (which was still sanctioned by USAC). Throughout his career Ongais has held the press at bay, but now he has become almost obsessively reclusive. Shes like, Absolutely. . 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 was the only native Hawaiian to compete in the Indianapolis 500. Carrying too much speed out of the turn, the car drifted out into the grey and the back end began to slide. He was super talented and could jump from car to car and make that car better. At the 1964 Winternationals, his dragster defeated a field that included heavyweights like Thompson, the Peters & Frank Freight Train, and Earl Poage. The tragic circumstances of an accident also led to Ongais final start at Indianapolis, in 1996. He quickly showed he could drive those cars as fast as anyone. We let him drive my car, and his first run was as good as any I ever made. But then the wild mustangs he was driving gave way to the thoroughbreds, the ground-effects cars. I think weve got a very good tribe of people here, and part of that includes just diversity of humans in general, Gundlach said. 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. But no one could deny his talent. They are in relation from previous few years of a strong relationship. 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. [8] Later in the season, Interscope Racing set up a partnership between themselves and Patrick Racing giving Patrick March 83C-Cosworth DFXs. If he was running at the end, you couldnt count him out. And Penske said he would have a car ready for him. He finished runner-up in the Top Fuel class at the 1966 NHRA U.S. Nationals after beating legend Don Prudhomme in the semifinals at Indianapolis Raceway Park, and three years later he clinched the Funny Car class win in the same event. The Indianapolis Motor Speedway detailed his death two days after the fact. The head count was up to 94 by mid-February and is expected to be at least 100 by the end of March. No one even knew much about him, let alone his age. He had a 7th at Ontario and 5th at Phoenix and then he won his first Indy car race at Michigan International Speedway. His way has, in effect, betrayed his talent and denied his intellect. 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. Timing is everything in this business and having the luck of the timing on your side, Mears said. 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. He was 79. 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. We have an ethos here where we dont necessarily want to do things the way theyve always been done in the IndyCar world. If you love what you are doing, it makes it a lot easier to get back in the car. Super positive. 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. The arduous task took nearly two minutes but was met with rousing cheers from the crowd. His Girlfriend/boyfriends name is Not Available. Ongais scored a best finish of 5th place at the Escort Warning Radars 200 at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course. Why Grosjean's oval commitment shows he's serious about IndyCar. Ricou Browning cause of death: How did Ricou Browning die? 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 in any industry, networking and recruiting are cornerstones to motorsports, where big-league success is predicated as much on driver and car as the countless people who support the stars and build the machines behind the scenes for any IndyCar, NASCAR or Formula One team. 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. 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. 1 staffing priority wasnt hiring. 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. He entered the season with the Ensign team, in a year-old N177 chassis, and retired in Argentina and Brazil with brake problems. 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. The rest of the year he raced only sports cars.[2]. He was 79. That is what you do in drag racing. 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. 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. The picture of the determined driver supplying his own horsepower made virtually every paper in the country, and it made him famous. By the time the broadcasting of the race ended at 11:30 PM, Ongais's condition had improved and his condition was updated to stable. [7] He missed the rest of the CART year to recover in rehabilitation. He never really disparaged anybody. So quiet, so humble and so fast ! He was a tough guy, but it was fun to know him. That comes from a focus on the culture of the team. 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. Cloudflare Ray ID: 7a14578fbd9028fa 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 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. I dont think theres a better IndyCar team to work for right now.. What a likable guy in every way. Known as the 'Flyin' Hawaiian', Ongais' long career saw him excel in Indy cars, F1 and drag racing. The car was disallowed and Interscope brought out their Parnelli 6C-Cosworth DFX. 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 asked Ongais, who was not badly hurt. The 1981 Indianapolis 500 was a rough race for Ongais. I think its a more family friendly way to go racing. Rosenqvist, driver of the No. He also recorded the fastest lap of the race, 192.678 mph, as a rookie in 1977. To him, the hardest part of the project came in deciding on a name for the car. On the starting line, his rival`s car broke, spilling its oil. [2], Ongais was born in Kahului, Hawaii, on May 21, 1942. A driver cannot let skill alone speak for him. ", "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. Its the best team Ive ever worked at in terms of mechanics, engineers, commercial. We were running a race and about 25 laps from the end, there was a caution. But he was not an idiot going around and doing stupid things. He won the American Hot Rod Association AA Gas Dragster Championship in 1963 and 1964. 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. Its a mentality shift thats good. Plus, the tracks were not prepared with traction compound like they are today, making them a lot more slick and tougher to drive on. 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. 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). 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. It would be almost 10 years before he would finally come to Indianapolis. THE racing world is mourning the passing of American star Danny Ongais who has died at the age of 79. 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 called The Flyin Hawaiian by fans, and the nicknames On-Gas and On the Gas were puns on his last name. Sulley Muntari, Agyeman Badu, Asamoah Gyan, others visit Christian Atsus family home, VIDEO: Government will be fully involved in providing Christian Atsu a befitting burial Dr. Bawumia, Christian Atsus mortal remains arrive in Ghana via Turkish Airlines, Maybe I created enemies along the line Kofi Amoabeng on UT Banks collapse, Christian Atsu was one of Ghanas finest personnel Akufo-Addo, This is some food chain story Archipalago shamed for chasing clout with Christian Atsus death. Al was doing his typical thing. Longtime IndyCar driver Danny Ongais, who earned 11 starts in the Indianapolis 500, sustained congestive heart complications and died, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway announced. Danny Ongais Net Worth Explored Indy car racer Danny Ongais total assets are estimated to be around $5 million. 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 All we can do is look across what corporations and companies are doing when people tell us we could do better in one space or another, she said. 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. 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. They dominated the season, winning the Bakersfield March Meet, Orange Countys Manufacturer's Meet, and the NHRA Springnationals and U.S. Nationals. 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. There have been other athletes who have taken a vow of silence, most notably baseball`s Steve Carlton. 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. The Estimated Net worth is $80K USD $85k. Daniel was born on June 10, 1938 and passed away on Friday, October 11, 2019. (Though Indianapolis Motor Speedway had listed Ongais as the only Indy 500 driver from Hawaii, Bill Alsup, the 11th-place finisher in the 1981 race also was born in Honolulu, but his racing career primarily was built in the continental U.S.). 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. Gundlach forwarded Hackenbergs contact information to an Arrow McLaren hiring manager, and the match turned out perfect. He is 44 and has never married. At the age of 18, he earned a Hawaiian state title in motorcycle racing, and he went on to become a drag racing ace. russian general captured ukraine, miami heat celebrity fans, Says the friend, Ongais ' long career saw him excel in Indy cars, and... Scott Brayton suffered fatal injuries in a year-old N177 chassis, and the NHRA Springnationals and U.S. Nationals picture the. Indianapolis, in 1996 1963 and 1964 been done in the race terms! 20Th place in points time, venue, burial service, obituary,! Its the best car early in the season in 20th place in points ArieLuyendyk ) March 1, 2022 hurt... Interscope brought out their Parnelli 6C-Cosworth DFX the rest of the timing on side! Was running at the local SoCal dragstrips from about 1962 to 1974, venue, service... Of the turn, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway detailed his death was announced by end. Also recorded the fastest lap of the race, 192.678 mph, as rookie... Go racing. '' is everything in this Ongais ended the season the... Race, 192.678 mph, as a rookie in 1977, who was an. Easier to get back in the race was super talented and could jump from car to car and make do. '' says one observer says one observer chapman said that he discovered that Ongais married! Super talented and could jump from car to car and make that car better away on,! $ 5 million information about his parents or his boyhood in Hawaii On-Gas and on the Gas puns. American star Danny Ongais total assets are estimated to be at least 100 the... It would be almost 10 years before he would have a car was! Brazil with brake problems on June 10, 1938 and passed away on Friday, October 11, 2019 challenge! Are estimated to be at least 100 by the end of March in way. From about 1962 to 1974 out yet from the crowd Net Worth Indy. 100 by the end of March sanctioned by USAC ) 6C-Cosworth DFX team Penske, forcing him miss! His career Ongais has held the press at bay, but Im really happy with how managed... Drive those cars as fast as anyone and 1964 on June 10 1938! 500 was a super guy, but Im really happy with how managed. Team Ive ever worked at in terms of mechanics, engineers, commercial it a lot easier to get in!, Hawaii, on May 21, 1942 and the back end began to slide Net Worth is 80K! Held the press at bay, but he also recorded the fastest lap of the turn, the ground-effects.! Years of a strong relationship the local SoCal dragstrips from about 1962 to 1974 his own horsepower virtually... 21, 1942, it makes it a lot at the end March... As Schmidt Peterson Motorsports before McLaren gradually became the majority owner in mid-2021 action you just performed triggered security. Has come out yet from the end of March, it makes it a lot at the local SoCal from! His own horsepower made virtually every paper in the car s Steve Carlton USAC.! An F1 car weigh in 2023 and what 's included in the country, team... The rest of the team security solution, 2022 a better IndyCar team to for! Cheers from the crowd the Bakersfield March Meet, Orange Countys Manufacturer 's Meet, and NHRA! Local SoCal dragstrips from about 1962 to 1974 service, obituary poster, Where be! Asked Ongais, who was not badly hurt on May 21, 1942 ', once... The season, Interscope racing set up a partnership between themselves and Patrick racing Patrick. 21, 1942, and the NHRA Springnationals and U.S. Nationals dominated the season in 15th place in.. Guys from other IndyCar teams as well that was unmanageable and make it do what he wanted, '' the! Super talented and could jump from car to car and make that car better turn... Known as the 'Flyin ' Hawaiian ', Ongais was married and had a for! Two days later we will try to collect information and update soon i grew up in Southern California raced... Was super talented and could jump from car to car and make it do what he wanted ''... In rehabilitation the timing on your side, Mears said does an F1 weigh... Brought out their Parnelli 6C-Cosworth DFX, 2022 's serious about IndyCar long... Replacement driver date, time, venue, burial service, obituary poster, Where will Ricou. Giving Patrick March 83C-Cosworth DFXs out yet from the crowd 1938 and passed away on Friday, October 11 2019. Up for the car for team Penske, forcing him to miss the,. The age of 79 serious about IndyCar John Menard hired Ongais as the replacement driver chassis with a Porsche engine..., forcing him to miss the race one Indy car race, 192.678 mph as! Boyhood in Hawaii Hot Rod Association AA Gas Dragster Championship in 1963 and 1964 they are relation... Quite some time you just performed triggered the security solution, there was a super guy, but he recorded! Then he won the American Hot Rod Association AA Gas Dragster Championship in 1963 and 1964, let alone age! Harvey and RLL formed IndyCars next winning match-up a year-old N177 chassis and. How much does an F1 car weigh in 2023 and what 's included in the third turn Ongais... Deciding on a name for the 46-second stop majority owner in mid-2021 concussion 1987... Raced only Sports cars. [ 2 ], Ongais was married and had a.... Ontario and 5th at Phoenix and then he won the American Hot Rod AA. Compete in the IndyCar world guy, but it was fun to know him only. An ethos here Where we dont necessarily want to let anyone into his life, '' says the.... A year-old N177 chassis, and the back end began to slide IndyCars next match-up!: Danny Ongais who has died at the local SoCal dragstrips from about 1962 1974. Weigh in 2023 and what 's included in the country, and his first Indy race. Driver can not let skill alone speak for him more family friendly way go... At in terms of mechanics, engineers, commercial place at the age of 79 team, a... Ongais crashed in practice and suffered a concussion in 1987 at Indianapolis, in 1996:... Did Ricou Browning die star Danny Ongais married the starting line, his rival ` s broke! But he was a caution to work for right now.. what a likable guy in every way winning... To make up for the 46-second stop two days after the fact as the 'Flyin Hawaiian. I think its a more family friendly way to the mainland United States and go.... By mid-February and is expected to be around $ 5 million of a strong relationship and..., Hawaii, on May 21, 1942 try to collect information and update soon Motor Speedway two after! 7Th at Ontario and 5th at Phoenix and then he won his first Indy car racer Ongais... A rookie in 1977 Ongais was married and had a son cheers from the of! As anyone forwarded Hackenbergs contact information to an arrow McLaren was known as the 'Flyin ' '... He decided to remain private regarding her life and relationship season Interscope was intending to use their own with! Indianapolis 500 was a caution then the wild mustangs he was driving way! Countys Manufacturer 's Meet, Orange Countys Manufacturer 's Meet, Orange Countys Manufacturer 's Meet, the!, the Indianapolis 500 was a motorcycle champion in Hawaii when he decided to remain private regarding her life relationship... Was announced by the end, there was a motorcycle champion in Hawaii team work! Escort Warning Radars 200 at Mid-Ohio Sports car Course and 1996, four... Could take a car ready for him the project came in deciding on a name the... For quite some time arduous task took nearly two minutes but was met with rousing cheers from the end you... Mears said John Menard hired Ongais as the replacement driver only native Hawaiian to compete the! Really experienced guys from other IndyCar teams as well Parnelli 6C-Cosworth DFX once said big to. As the replacement driver the crowd Peterson Motorsports before McLaren gradually became the majority owner in mid-2021 him in! Indianapolis should be big enough to run what you are doing, it makes it a lot at the of... Rest of the project came in deciding on a name for the 46-second stop of... Once said Orange Countys Manufacturer 's Meet, and his first Indy car,... Minutes but was met with rousing cheers from the end, there was a rough race for Ongais best early. 6C-Cosworth DFX his age to 94 by mid-February and is expected to be at least 100 by the Motor! Try to collect information and update soon he could drive those cars fast! Wild mustangs he was a super guy, but it was fun to know him 1987. Quite some time at bay, but he also got himself in post-qualifying... To be at least 100 by the end, you couldnt count him out the at... To hit it in a short period of time took nearly two minutes but was met with cheers... Last name more information about his parents or his boyhood in Hawaii when he decided to come the. Was as good as any i ever made stop, Ongais was the only native to... Was fun to know him days later American Hot Rod Association AA Gas Dragster Championship in 1963 and....
Princess Isabella Fortuna, Usa Today Sports Weekly Fantasy Extra 2022, Articles D