He qualified well over the season, earning three poles, and he finished 12th in the standings. For reasons of his own, Ongais has done it his way, and it has all but destroyed his career. The caution wasnt that long, but we started side-by-side to finish the race. In 1996, at the age of 54, after nine years away from racing, he served as the substitute driver in the Indianapolis 500 for Scott Brayton, who had died in a crash before the race. 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. Why Grosjean's oval commitment shows he's serious about IndyCar. But auto racing is unlike any other sport. ", "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. backstretch. To him, the hardest part of the project came in deciding on a name for the car. 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. 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. I feel like its been so hard to find people in all departments. The team also has been aggressive outside racing. The time he spent with me was invaluable. F1 Bahrain Grand Prix: How to watch on TV in the USA on ESPN, How Liberty is "playing long game" to help F1 teams make money, How Liberty is "playing long game" to help F1 teams make money There are those who feel he has not been the same driver since. Every so often, a guy comes along, somebody that really catches your attention, that impresses you, and, for me, he was that guy, Prudhomme said. 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. Just the camaraderie. Danny Ongais has We needed to fill the car communicator role, and Alex was pretty happy with (Barnhart) previously, Ward said. Weve got to take care of our people through those hard stretches, but for the most part, its a little less time away, the travels not quite so far. 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 took stints in cars owned by the great Mickey Thompson and the Beaver brothers, accumulating more driving and tuning knowledge as he went. Rossis signing was followed by the arrival of Brian Barnhart, the former IndyCar VP of competition who called strategy in Rossis final season at Andretti (when he ended a three-year winless drought). Danny Ongais had a net wort estimated at $5 million dollars. No ones ever going to say weve got everything figured out. RIP Danny Ongais, who passed away Feb.26, 2022, in California of congestive heart failure at age 79. Ongais Indy 500 career ended with him leading in four races for 79 total laps. Daniel "Doc" Ongais | 2019 Daniel "Doc" Ongais October 11, 2019 Daniel "Doc" Ongais, 81, of Keaau, passed away on Friday, October 11, 2019 at Hilo Medical Center, born on June 10, 1938, in Olaa; he was a retired Motor Vehicle Operator for the United States Army as a Civilian worker (Federal Government) and worked for the Former Puna Sugar Company. He was there to do a job. He was a racer, and he loved what he was doing, so it was easier for him to get back in the car.. Its more about were happy and want people to know, and word spreads that this is a place thats trying to be good to its people and gunning for the very top. 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). It doesnt happen overnight. Danny let his racing do his talking for him, thats for sure., Follow Bruce Martin on Twitter at @BruceMartin_500. He was 79. In the late 1950s, Ongais enlisted in the United States Army as a paratrooper stationed in Europe. 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. He refuses to talk about his parents or his boyhood in Hawaii. Rosenqvist, driver of the No. I think everyone in the team feels that we should perform and win instead of like, its a luxury to win. The success of Ongais and Field with the Interscope team also extended to sports car racing, with Field also driving. After starting last season with 61 employees, the Arrow McLaren payroll mushroomed in the offseason. Jim Nelson once said that what he could tell about Ongais was that "all he wanted to do was race. He could cut a light and get down any track.. He won the American Hot Rod Association AA Gas Dragster Championship in 1963 and 1964. It is a fun group. Getting Zak more plugged into the team has been a fantastic side effect of this change, Ward said. Two years later he qualified on the front row and led for four laps before crashing again. At his first race of the season, the Indianapolis 500 Ongais started 16th and finished 7th. Latest: Mystery of Microsoft CEO Young Son Zain Nadellas Cause of Death Famous Voice Actor Kirk Baily Unfortunately Passed Away Danny Ongais Cause of Parents: The undercover bloggers Parents are not While Ongais was known for his blazing speed at Indianapolis and elsewhere, he also attracted attention for surviving some of the most violent crashes of his era. ''He just doesn`t want to let anyone into his life,'' says the friend. Danny Ongais passed away on February 26, 2022 at the age of 79. I work really well in it, and Im excited to bring her in and experience that. 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. 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. He might show up and talk to you for a while and then youd look around and hed be gone. He also raced in Formula One, in 1977-78, in six Grands Prix, recording a best result of seventh. ", Pomona 1962: That's Ongais, second from left,standing next to Leong. 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. Shes a complete unicorn and super hard worker. WebDanny N Patsy Ongais is on Facebook. Arrow McLaren uses applicant tracking software to determine the best matches on background, education and experience. The recruitment pitch to join the Arrow McLaren IndyCar team started with the 21st century social media version of a corporate headhunters cold call. And its especially true during a season with the kind of expansion that Arrow McLaren has undertaken for the 2023 season. That stems more from drag racing. How Liberty is "playing long game" to help F1 teams make money, Nigel Mansells greatest F1 and Indycar drives, Nigel Mansells greatest drives 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. Ongais was the only native Hawaiian to compete in the Indianapolis 500. ), Danny Ongais stepped up when @INDYCAR & I needed him most. He was 79. 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. But then the wild mustangs he was driving gave way to the thoroughbreds, the ground-effects cars. 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. There also is an appeal to being a professional sports team. Process always comes painfully slow, but then when you look back over a larger period of time, youre like, Oh hey, weve done a hell of a lot. . 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. 2023 Ghanafuo.com & DM Network. He must please a sponsor, and sponsors are not pleased when they read stories about their surly driver. Faster than he could whip a motorcycle through a turn, Ongais became a drag racer and an instant winner. The 'Flyin Hawaiian' was inducted into the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America for drag racing in 2000. I think that it is very important to see that the company emphasizes bringing the right people in, and the right people are women.. There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase, a SQL command or malformed data. The 1970 season didnt go as well, haunted by parts attrition and at least one fire that burned Ongais. Ongais next drove in CART during the 1983 CART/PPG World Series season, first appearing at the 1983 Indianapolis 500. WebFormer Indy car, drag racing star Danny Ongais dies aged 79 Danny Ongais, a race-winner and ace qualifier in Indy car racing whose career spanned three decades died last Usually its me calling him for comment on someone whos passed, but this time he called me (he was, in fact, the first person to tell me of Ongais passing). [7] He missed the rest of the CART year to recover in rehabilitation. The IndyCar team since has been integrated with McLaren Racings F1 operations, which naturally led to some growing pains. He did things that guys like me only dream about doing. We cant say their name. Ongais had virtually lived with the Thompson family, and Campbell considered him a brother. For those of us who saw Ongais race, he was a man who thrived on sheer, raw speed. Hes happy to be here; were happy to have him.. 2021 IndyCar title is just the start for Ganassi's newest star, Why Grosjean's oval commitment shows he's serious about IndyCar, Why Grosjean's title bid is serious 18+, UK residents only, T&Cs Apply, Gamble Responsibly. But Ward said it wasnt necessarily a driver-executive package deal. So far as anyone knows, he has nothing to hide.''. WebOngais made a comeback in 1996, finishing seventh in the Indy 500 driving for John Menard in the car that young Scott Brayton had been tragically killed in during qualifying. Ongais scored a best finish of 5th place at the Escort Warning Radars 200 at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course. 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. Nigel Mansells greatest F1 and Indycar drives, How Marcus Ericsson finally unlocked his potential in IndyCar, How Ericsson unlocked his potential The rides with major teams that could have been his went to less talented but more malleable men. He really was. He had previously been inducted into the International Drag Racing Hall of Fame in 1992. He dominated six races in USAC-sanctioned single-seater racing and finished eighth in the title. He enlisted in the U.S. Army as a paratrooper stationed in Europe. We obviously have the resources to tap into and the shared knowledge of the greater McLaren Racing group. Its collegiate students wanting to grow a career. Facebook gives people the power to share and I always wanted to be like him. Ricou Browning cause of death: How did Ricou Browning die? Autoweek participates in various affiliate marketing programs, which means we may get paid commissions on editorially chosen products purchased through our links to retailer sites. 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. 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. Children: He is having no children as of now. All the world was a colorful Circus when Bob Gerdes painted race cars, Top Fuel dynasties: Torrence, Schumacher, Dixon, Garlits, Amato, Shirley, Beck, Some top-shelf books that every drag racing history fan should check out, Yeah, but what if? 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 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. Weve had more people come to us than weve reached out to other people. So thats infectious for everybody.. Im excited to see how it goes., Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Flipboard (Opens in new window), Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window), Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window), Though Indianapolis Motor Speedway had listed, suffered fatal injuries in a post-qualifying practice crash, Schedules, start times and how to watch the 2023 IndyCar season opener, Its crowded at the top with Ganassi and Penske drivers, organizational hierarchy was restructured, Rossis signing was followed by the arrival, was announced as a finalist for Indys Best and Brightest,. The arduous task took nearly two minutes but was met with rousing cheers from the crowd. Its the best team Ive ever worked at in terms of mechanics, engineers, commercial. 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. RIP, my friend. 32 seat vacated by the late Scott Brayton, Danny Ongais made his last start in the Indy 500 with Team Menard (IndyCar). Get email updates about Daniel Ongais delivered directly to your inbox. And thats across the board, both commercial and operational. He was that talented. He was inducted into the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America in 2000 and the Hawaii Sports Hall of Fame in 2001. Rest in peace, Danny Ongais.. Staring through him as if he had not heard, Ongais made no reply. We come back between most races. He was smiling and said, Hell of a race. That was Danny Ongais. Great guy. Even his closest friends know little of his personal life. He also won eight poles in qualifying. The sad news of the death of the veteran racing driver was announced by the Indianapolis Motor Speedway two days later after his death. But the fact that he could finish only eighth in the championship attests to the cars poor finishing record. Its like nothing Ive ever seen before.. Ongais dominated in SCCA competition in 1974, catching the eye of young media mogul Ted Field, who had recently founded the Interscope Records label. Wife: The blogger is not married. [9] Ongais finished 7th, having the best car early in the race. When you invest in software, you invest in the efficiency of a lot of your people. He was fast. 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. 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. The group of people that are in charge (of) who joins the team, I think they know exactly what we need, and I trust theyre going to make the right decisions. He was that quiet lion, the only way to describe him, Mario Andretti told NBC Sports. 1 mechanic out of F1. He was a good guy. I think we want people who want to be with the team, so its not so much about trying to headhunt people, he said. Thats what we like to avoid doing because you lose a little of the human touch that way. Interscope then bought a new Shadow chassis for him to race but he was unable to qualify at Long Beach and also in the Netherlands later in the season. 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.. Have Harvey and RLL formed IndyCars next winning match-up? Your IP: That is the reason why he got into the wall so often.. As the season progressed the Parnelli 6C (which was already a two-year-old car) started to struggle due to its age. He was direct. Weve got all these new people, all this new equipment, Ward said. Ongais and Field teamed up with success in Formula 5000 and the IndyCar Series in the late 1970s. Im new to this role; hes lived it before. Ongais hadnt raced since the 1986 Indy 500. In 1969, Thompson hired him to drive his new Pat Foster-built, Ford SOHC-powered Mustang Mach 1 Funny Car the blue one; Foster drove a red one and the car showed immediate promise. I got to spend time with Danny at the [Indy] Speedway, and I just watched him do his thing, and he was magnificent. He quickly showed he could drive those cars as fast as anyone. They teamed up with the legendary Hurley Haywood to win the Rolex 24 At Daytona in 1979 in the Interscope Porsche 935 prototype. Click to reveal Writers soon learned never to ask a question that could be answered ''yes'' or ''no.'' It is in this last area that Ongais has always failed. Danny, the way he picked it up, was like a duck to water, Mario Andretti told NBC Sports. 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. [3] When he was aged 14, he tested out motorbike racing with some success. He was 79. Thats the way he drove, too. The tragic circumstances of an accident also led to Ongais final start at Indianapolis, in 1996. A head-on shunt in the 1981 Indy 500 left him recuperating for the remainder of the season while four years later at Michigan he went into a barrel-roll after launching off the back of another car. Danny was a super guy, but he also got himself in a lot of trouble, Indy 500 legend AJ Foyt told NBCSports.com. 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. After leaving Thompson, Ongais drove for Big John Mazmanian, who subsequently sold the team to the Vel's/Parnelli Jones Racing team in the early 1970s. The Cosworth was hugely powerful, Ongais regularly appearing to dance the car on the rim of disaster on his way to eight pole positions, and when it hung together he tended to win: he racked up five triumphs that year. Its really exciting to be part of a group that still has ties to everyone being very hungry and ambitious and could do all sorts of roles and do whatever needed to be done. His death was announced by the Indianapolis Motor Speedway two days later. In 1969, Ongais won the NHRA Spring Nationals and NHRA U.S. Nationals in the Funny Car class driving a Mickey Thompson Ford Mustang. Good grief, who can forget Jim Crawford (1990)? Honestly, there was already so much talent in the group, and I feel like so much more has been added on which is just going to help us to really get us where we want to be.. In late 1964, Ongais moved into the nitro ranks for good, driving the Broussard-Davis-Ongais "Mangler" dragster in which he won the 1965 Grand Opening meet in his adopted hometown of Carlsbad, Calif., and later moved on to wheel the Honda of Wilmington entry in 1966 and was a dominant force in SoCal Top Fuel action, but due to his unassuming nature in addition to his well-known On the Gas nickname, he also was known as the Silent Hawaiian (and sometimes the Quiet Hawaiian) he sometimes flew under the publicity radar. INDIANAPOLIS Wedged into a corner of the Penske garage one day earlier this week, sat Danny Ongais, eating an orange, wrapped in his own private world. For the 1986 season Ongais only ran the 1986 Indianapolis 500 for Interscope Racing. Fathers name is Not Available. Did Danny Ongais have children? 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