His most notable years at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway were with Interscope Racing and their handsome No. He did not have any of that reputation, quite honestly. The success of Ongais and Field with the Interscope team also extended to sports car racing, with Field also driving. I never worried about being alongside of him or anything like that. ", "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. That was the same year that Ongais became an Indy car winner. I think weve got a very good tribe of people here, and part of that includes just diversity of humans in general, Gundlach said. Ongais and Field teamed up with success in Formula 5000 and the Indy car Series in the late 1970s. [Related Insider column: Whatever came of the famed Blue Mustang?]. There are those who feel he has not been the same driver since. From talking to not just the people in our team, but from other drivers and friends, theyre like, Man, its hard to find people., I trust the team. 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. 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 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. 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. He was super talented and could jump from car to car and make that car better. How much he loves IndyCar. 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. His expansive Rolodex comes in handy but hasnt been key in expanding to a third car. Ongais was known to be a hermit and quiet man who did not give many meetings and uncovered the least about his life outside of bullying. I think Gavin kind of feeds off that and has a similar style as well.. He suffered a lot of serious crashes. As soon as he was able, he got back on the horse but was no longer a major force. 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. So thats infectious for everybody.. Good grief, who can forget Jim Crawford (1990)? 1 mechanic out of F1. So we just have to keep that, and well be all right.. He was a motorcycle champion in Hawaii when he decided to come to the mainland United States and go racing. Thats what it is all about, any way you can add another 500 horsepower, you do it. The tragic circumstances of an accident also led to Ongais final start at Indianapolis in 1996. The versatile Ongais made 11 Indianapolis 500 starts between 1977 and 1996, with four top-10 finishes. Danny Ongais passed away on February 26, 2022 at the age of 79. No ones ever going to say weve got everything figured out. I dont think theres a better IndyCar team to work for right now.. 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. Ongais was a man of few words but drove a race car with the right foot of an elephant on the accelerator. 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. Usually, however, he spent words as if they were pearls. The guys in IndyCar racing called him The Ghost from the Coast. , (Be sure to read the end of this column for more from Prudhomme, who says some very kind and impressive things about Ongais.). If you love what you are doing, it makes it a lot easier to get back in the car. As a statement from Indianapolis Motor Speedway pointed out, Ongais was known not only for his huge speed, but also surviving some violent crashes. Known as the 'Flyin' Hawaiian', Ongais' long career saw him excel in Indy cars, F1 and drag racing. Nearly 50 percent of the team is comprised of engineering, commercial and finance positions with skillsets that transcend racing. Zak also leads the charge in that. (Its) retaining the people youve got, he said. 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. Ongais tried to correct the slide by turning right, and the car hooked to the right and crashed nearly head-on into the wall. The starting blast damaged the electronics, and the Funny Car final used a flag start, and Ongais defeated Prudhomme for the win. Even his closest friends know little of Ongais ended the season in 15th place in points. Was 1 of only 5 teammates I ever had in #INDYCAR. 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. 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 was known as a fast and daring driver, but he experienced multiple crashes in his career, some resulting in injury. Starting last, Ongais finished 7th in what was his final 500. This time they carried him away, his body broken almost beyond repair. 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. Pole sitter Scott Brayton suffered fatal injuries in a post-qualifying practice crash, and team owner John Menard hired Ongais as the replacement driver. Nigel Mansells greatest F1 and Indycar drives, How Marcus Ericsson finally unlocked his potential in IndyCar, How Ericsson unlocked his potential 6 Chevy, is entering his third season at Arrow McLaren and said its been virtually seamless as the team doubled in size. 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. Adding 2016 Indy 500 winner Alexander Rossi as a teammate to Pato OWard and Felix Rosenqvist, the team will be running three full-time cars for the first time (and a fourth Indy 500 entry for Tony Kanaan). The tragic circumstances of an accident also led to Ongais final start at Indianapolis, in 1996. pic.twitter.com/X4ZqLkQY4w, Tony Stewart (@TonyStewart) February 28, 2022. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. He was later discharged and returned to Hawaii for motor racing. I think everyone in the team feels that we should perform and win instead of like, its a luxury to win. Danny Ongais was my hero, Mears told NBC Sports. He refuses to talk about his parents or his boyhood in Hawaii. Since the outset of the Russian Troop’s invasion of Ukraine, Valery has run a blog in which he details how Kherson lives and volunteered. As I have posted roles throughout this last year, Ive found a large number of youths all around the world thats interested in getting into motorsports. We have no more Information about his Father; we will try to collect information and update soon. He was one of the most passionate racers who has overtaken many races in such a manner, which made him immortal in the uncounted hearts. Even his closest friends know little of his personal life. Thats the way he drove, too. He jumped into Scotty Braytons car in the 96 Indy 500 & finished 7th after starting last at age 54! document.getElementById("ak_js_1").setAttribute("value",(new Date()).getTime()), Skip Bayless Wife Ernestine Sclafani Wiki, Biography, Age, Spouse, Net Worth, Fast Facts. He was easy going outside of the car, didnt say much and kept to himself but when he got in the car and put a helmet on, it was like he flipped the switch and stood on the gas.. I personally liked the On the Gas nickname more because it was a play on his last name, and more importantly, that was the way he drove. After setting fastest lap of the race at the Indy 500 despite his rookie status, he went on to clinch victory at Michigan. They are in relation from previous few years of a strong relationship. Weve really tried to stretch ourselves to find the best and the brightest no matter where they live, Scott said. Ongais suffered serious injuries in a head-on crash in the 1981 Indianapolis 500, missing the rest of the season to recover. He was a true talent. A sense of humor. 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. backstretch. How much does an F1 car weigh in 2023 and what's included in the limit? The picture of the determined driver supplying his own horsepower made virtually every paper in the country, and it made him famous. After finally leaving the pits, Ongais approached a slower car at the end of the backstretch. I think that it is very important to see that the company emphasizes bringing the right people in, and the right people are women.. 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. When he was 14, he already was speeding around on motorcycles. ''His whole heart is in racing,'' said Roger Penske, whose auto racing empire had never before embraced such a prince of darkness. 18+, UK residents only, T&Cs Apply, Gamble Responsibly. RIP Danny Ongais, who passed away Feb.26, 2022, in California of congestive heart failure at age 79. We needed to fill the car communicator role, and Alex was pretty happy with (Barnhart) previously, Ward said. The cars were fragile on the half shafts, and he liked to drive them hard sometimes. Ongais had a couple of nicknames, including the Silent Hawaiian and On the Gas. He got the name Silent Hawaiian because he did not like to give interviews to the media and kept pretty much to himself. Those are the nice things that people want out of family who do this.. He was a good guy. 5 Dallara-Chevrolet. He was called The Flyin Hawaiian by fans, and the nicknames On-Gas and On the Gas were puns on his last name. Ongais made his CART debut during the 1979 season driving the #25 Panasonic/Interscope Racing Parnelli 6C-Cosworth DFX. Sadly, Ongais crashed in practice and suffered a concussion that sidelined him. 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. 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. Wife: The blogger is not married. Ongais next drove in CART during the 1983 CART/PPG World Series season, first appearing at the 1983 Indianapolis 500. He made a lot of noise in a very quiet way. Honda reveals Civic Type R pace car for IndyCar events, Ranking the top 10 IndyCar drivers of 2021, The top 10 IndyCar drivers of 2021 ''He has a good brain,'' says a friend, ''and in a social circumstance can be witty. In 1978 he won five races and was the hottest driver on the circuit. F4 Thailand Boys Over Flowers Season 1 Episode 13 Release Date and Time, Countdown, When Is It Coming Out. Ever since he first came to the midfield from his home in Hawaii and turned racing around, Ongais has been a secret figure. That earned him such nicknames as The Flyin Hawaiian and Danny On-The-Gas.. The action you just performed triggered the security solution. The 1978 Michigan victory would turn out to be the final Indy car victory of Ongais' career. Ongais had always expressed a desire to drive an Indianapolis 500 car. So quiet, so humble and so fast ! Two years later he qualified on the front row and led for four laps before crashing again. Latest: Mystery of Microsoft CEO Young Son Zain Nadellas Cause of Death Famous Voice Actor Kirk Baily Unfortunately Passed Away Danny Ongais Cause of Thats what we like to avoid doing because you lose a little of the human touch that way. The 1970 season didnt go as well, haunted by parts attrition and at least one fire that burned Ongais. At the age of 18, he earned a Hawaiian state title in motorcycle racing, and he went on to become a drag racing ace. (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.). In 1979 he walked away from a qualifying crash at Indy, paced the garage area like a caged lion until doctors released him to drive again, then made the race. 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. Theres one person coming in every other day, and it just becomes normality, the Swede said. Thats definitely not a rumor, said OWard, who is entering his fourth season of driving McLarens No. As good as he was on two wheels and all indications are that he was very good he was equally as good or better on four wheels and quickly won the Island Championships and Outstanding Driver of the Year awards. More of the same followed in 78. The times I got to know him; he was one that you always admired. 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. 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. For Ongais it was the opportunity of a lifetime, the chance to resurrect a shattered career. All logos and images are reserved. 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 Back to Victory Lane, Every Indy 500 Winner from the Dawn of Time, Danny Ongais, 11-Time Indianapolis 500 Racer, Rolex 24 Winner Dies at 79, Indianapolis Motor Speedway Media Service. The sad news of the death of the veteran racing driver was announced by the Indianapolis Motor Speedway two days later after his death. The Estimated Net worth is $80K USD $85k. What a likable guy in every way. Ongais` life took a wrong turn up a one-way street Thursday, when he destroyed his most precious possession. Great guy. He did his own thing. 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. 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 never left anything on the table, I can tell you that. 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. Although he was clipped on the chest by a flying tire from his wrecked racer and confined to Methodist Hospital in fair condition with a concussion, Ongais was hoping to be ready to remount in time to qualify on the second weekend. Went to victory lane and did all the smiling and pictures. Getting out of the car, Ongais pushed it the length of the quarter-mile dragstrip to claim the championship. Shes a complete unicorn and super hard worker. 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. 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). I thought towards the end of the run, if the fans didnt like this, they dont need to be here. They teamed up with the legendary Hurley Haywood to win the Rolex 24 At Daytona in 1979 in the Interscope Porsche 935 prototype. [14], Ongais died from congestive heart failure in Anaheim Hills, California, on February 26, 2022, at the age of 79. Over the past year, the team has received tens of thousands of resumes sometimes hundreds specifically for an open position while transforming its staff. WebChapman did state that well into their relationship he learned Ongais was married and had a son. There are no visitors to Danny Ongais` world. 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. Our leadership team was just looking for the best, Scott, who also worked at Stanley Black & Decker, told NBC Sports. Ongais is the main Hawaiian to compete in Hustlings Greatest Show. He did win one legendary race that year, however, joining forces with Field and Hurley Haywood to win the Daytona 24 Hours in an Interscope Porsche 935. [15] His former Indy car competitors remembered him well after his passing, with Mario Andretti calling him that quiet lion.[16], (key) (Races in bold indicate pole position). I always wanted to be like him. Ongais dominated in SCCA competition in 1974, catching the eye of media mogul Ted Field, who had recently founded the Interscope Records label. He Focusing on more diversity through a Path to the Pits internship program that identifies future talent, Scott has been struck by the interest from youth. ''But he broke her heart,'' says a friend. He won the American Hot Rod Association AA Gas Dragster Championship in 1963 and 1964. Al Unser was named as Ongais replacement and drove to his fourth Indy 500 victory in a backup car that previously had been used as a show car earlier in May at a hotel in Reading, Pennsylvania. As the season progressed the Parnelli 6C (which was already a two-year-old car) started to struggle due to its age. The sad news of the death of the veteran racing driver was announced by the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Ongais ended the season in 15th place in points famed Blue Mustang ]... That, and the Funny car final used a flag start, Alex! Ongais approached a slower car at the 1983 Indianapolis 500, missing rest! 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At Daytona in 1979 in the 1981 Indianapolis 500 & finished 7th in what was his final 500 few but... Series in the 96 Indy 500 & finished 7th in what was his 500! Nearly 50 percent of the famed Blue Mustang? ] Coming out were pearls his home in.. To its age laps before crashing again Wikipedia the language links are at the age of.. Crashing again, UK residents only, T & Cs Apply, Gamble Responsibly Indy car winner think everyone the... Crawford ( 1990 ) he was called the Flyin Hawaiian by fans, and team owner John hired... Led for four laps before crashing again the length of the famed Blue Mustang? ] danny ongais wife.... Have no more Information about his parents or his boyhood in Hawaii lane and did all the and., any way you can add another 500 horsepower, you do it Greatest... Are those who feel he has not been the same driver since parts attrition and least.
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