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Danny Ongais

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Danny Ongais
Ongais at the 1984 Pocono 500
NationalityUnited States American
BornEzekiel Ongais
(1942-05-21)May 21, 1942[a]
Kahului, Hawaii, U.S.
DiedFebruary 26, 2022(2022-02-26) (aged 79)
Anaheim, California, U.S.
Awards
Motorsports Hall of Fame of America (2000)
Champ Car career
86 races run over 14 years
Years active1968, 1971, 1976-1987
Best finish6th – 1979
First race1976 California 500 (Ontario)
Last race1987 Nissan Indy Challenge (Miami)
First win1977 Norton 200 (Michigan)
Last win1978 Gould Grand Prix (Michigan)
Wins Podiums Poles
6 8 11
IndyCar Series career
2 races run over 3 years
Best finish26th – 1996
First race1996 Indianapolis 500 (Indianapolis)
Last race1997 Indy 200 at Walt Disney World (Orlando)
Wins Podiums Poles
0 0 0
Formula One World Championship career
Active years19771978
TeamsEnsign, non-works Penske, Shadow
Entries6 (4 starts)
Championships0
Wins0
Podiums0
Career points0
Pole positions0
Fastest laps0
First entry1977 United States Grand Prix
Last entry1978 Dutch Grand Prix

Danny Ongais (May 21, 1942[a] – February 26, 2022) was an American racing driver.[1]

Ongais was the only Hawaiian born driver to compete in the Indianapolis 500. He competed professionally in motorcycle, sports car, CART, IndyCar, Formula One, and drag racing. A fearless figure on the racing circuit, Ongais was nicknamed "On-the-Gas" and "The Flyin' Hawaiian."[2] He is the only driver to have won the NHRA U.S. Nationals and the 24 Hours of Daytona.

In the 1960s he won multiple drag racing championships and was named one of the National Hot Rod Association’s Top 50 Drivers for 1951-2000. In the 1970s he moved to competing in sports cars and Indy cars, winning races in both types, including the 24 Hours of Daytona in 1979 and several Indy car races in 1977 and 1978. He also raced in Formula One from 1977-78, in six Grands Prix, recording a best result of seventh.

He was known as a fast and daring driver, but he experienced multiple crashes in his career, some resulting in injury. At the 1981 Indianapolis 500, he was involved in a near-fatal accident that caused him to miss almost a year of racing.

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. Starting last, Ongais finished 7th in what was his final 500.

He was inducted into the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America in 2000 and the Hawaii Sports Hall of Fame in 2001.[3]

Early life and career

[edit]

Almost every source references Ongais having been born in Kahului, Hawaii, on May 21, 1942 of Puerto Rican immigrant grandparents although the documentary "On the Gas" claims that he was born in 1939 citing the 1940 US Census as a reference.[4][5] When he was aged 14, he tested out motorbike racing with some success. In the late 1950s, Ongais enlisted in the United States Army as a paratrooper stationed in Europe. He was later discharged and returned to Hawaii for motor racing. Ongais became the Hawaiian motorcycle champion in 1960 and was in the top three positions in the expert class from 1960 to 1962.[3]

In the early 1960s he started competing in drag racing. 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. He defeated Don Prudhomme at the 1966 HHRA Nationals Top Fuel semifinals. 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.

1970s

[edit]

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. 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. His first Indy car race was the 1976 California 500 at Ontario Motor Speedway, where he finished 28th after a crash.[6]

In 1977, Ongais ran his first full season in Indy cars. He had a 7th at Ontario and 5th at Phoenix and then he won his first Indy car race at Michigan International Speedway. He qualified well over the season, earning three poles, and he finished 12th in the standings.[3]

That year he also ventured into Formula One with the Interscope team, entering the U.S. and Canadian Grands Prix at the end of the season in a year-old Penske PC4. 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.[3]

His most successful year in Indy car racing came in 1978. Ongais won five races:[7] at Ontario, Texas World, Mosport, the Milwaukee, and again at Michigan. He also won eight poles in qualifying. Ongais started in the middle of the front row at the 1978 Indianapolis 500, and dominated the early stages of the race. After leading 71 laps, he dropped out with a blown engine while running in second position on lap 145.

The 1978 victory at Michigan would turn out to be the final Indy car victory of Ongais' career. Although Ongais won more Indy car races than any other driver that season, a combination of mechanical problems and low finishes in other races meant he would only finish 8th in the 1978 USAC Championship. Still, those five wins—three on the large superspeedways at Ontario, Texas, and Michigan, one at the short Milwaukee Mile oval, and one road race at Mosport—demonstrated Ongais' versatility as a driver.

In 1978 he also made one final attempt at F1. He entered the season with the Ensign team, in a year-old N177 chassis, and retired in Argentina and Brazil with brake problems. 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.[3]

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. The highlight of their sports car endeavours during this time was a victory in the 1979 24 Hours of Daytona, with Ongais and Field sharing their Interscope Porsche 935 with Hurley Haywood.[8]

CART career

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Ongais made his CART debut during the 1979 season driving the #25 Panasonic/Interscope Racing Parnelli 6C-Cosworth DFX. 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. He then competed at the Gould Twin Dixie 125 however bad luck hit Ongais in both races. At the Indianapolis 500 Ongais crashed in practice and this put Ongais in jeopardy of not being able to compete. Ongais qualified 27th and finished 4th. As the season progressed the Parnelli 6C (which was already a two-year-old car) started to struggle due to its age. Ongais scored another 4th-place finish at the Kent Oil 150 at Watkins Glen International and finished in 6th place in points.

For the 1980 season Interscope was intending to use their own chassis with a Porsche V6 engine. The car was disallowed and Interscope brought out their Parnelli 6C-Cosworth DFX. At his first race of the season, the Indianapolis 500 Ongais started 16th and finished 7th. Ongais endured a tough season highlighted by a 3rd-place finish at Watkins Glen. 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. Ongais ended the season in 15th place in points.

In 1981 at the Indianapolis 500 Ongais was involved in a very serious accident on lap 63. Ongais came into the pits on lap 63 as the leader of the race, but problems during the stop caused it to drag on for a disastrous 46 seconds. After finally leaving the pits, Ongais approached a slower car at the end of the backstretch. He made a late pass going into turn 3. Carrying too much speed out of the turn, the car drifted out into the grey and the back end began to slide. Ongais tried to correct the slide by turning right, and the car hooked to the right and crashed nearly head-on into the wall. He was knocked unconscious by the heavy impact. Officials had to cut open the car to help Ongais out. He was transported by an ambulance to a nearby hospital in a critical condition. 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. He suffered a concussion, compound fractures in both legs, a broken arm and a 6-inch tear in his diaphragm.[9] He missed the rest of the CART year to recover in rehabilitation.

In 1982, he ran on only one Indy car race, the Indianapolis 500 (which was still sanctioned by USAC). He piloted a new Interscope IP-1 chassis, qualifying 9th and leading several laps before crashing out on lap 62 when running 5th. The rest of the year he raced only sports cars.[3]

Ongais next drove in CART during the 1983 CART/PPG World Series season, first appearing at the 1983 Indianapolis 500. He initially drove the #65 Interscope Racing March 83C-Chevrolet V6, however, that car was replaced with the #25 March 83C-Cosworth DFX. Ongais started in 21st place and retired with mechanical problems. For the next seven races, Ongais replaced an injured Johnny Rutherford at Patrick Racing, who had been driving the #40 Sea Ray Boats Wildcat Mk 9-Cosworth DFX.[10] Later in the season, Interscope Racing set up a partnership between themselves and Patrick Racing giving Patrick March 83C-Cosworth DFXs. Ongais scored a best finish of 5th place at the Escort Warning Radars 200 at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course. He finished the season in 20th place in points.

1984 Champ Car

For the 1984 season Ongais took over as owner of Interscope Racing fielding the #25 Interscope Racing March 84C-Cosworth DFX. Ongais finished in 3rd place at the Detroit News Grand Prix at Michigan International Speedway. He also finished in 10th place in points.

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. 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.

For the 1986 season Ongais only ran the 1986 Indianapolis 500 for Interscope Racing. Fielding the #25 GM Goodwrench/Panavision March 86C-Buick V6, Ongais dropped out with a mechanical failure.

For the 1987 season Interscope Racing teamed up with Team Penske getting Ongais in the #25 Panavision Penske PC-16-Ilmor-Chevrolet Indy V8 for the Indianapolis 500, however Ongais crashed in practice and suffered a concussion. The car went to Al Unser Sr who went on to win a record-tying 4th Indianapolis 500. 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. He would retire at Michigan and Miami and fail to qualify at Nazareth.

IndyCar

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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. Under qualifying rules he had to start 33rd. He was the oldest driver to compete in that field, at age 54.[11] Ongais finished 7th, having the best car early in the race. 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. 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.[12]

Awards

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Personal life

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Ongais was notoriously reclusive and a private man, rarely giving interviews and revealing little or no details of his life outside of racing. Roger Penske, while employing Ongais for the 1987 Indy 500, was unable to get the racer to speak to the press, and said of him - "His whole heart is in racing, that's his life"[15] Jim Chapman, race director at Interscope Racing stated "Nobody really knew much about him — where he lived, his family, stuff like that". Chapman did state that well into their relationship he learned Ongais was married and had a son.[16]

Ongais died from congestive heart failure in Anaheim Hills, California, on February 26, 2022, at the age of 79. His death was announced by the Indianapolis Motor Speedway two days later.[17] He was survived by his long time partner Patricia Soldano, as well as his three children and five grandchildren.[18] His former Indy car competitors remembered him well after his passing, with Mario Andretti calling him “that quiet lion.”[19]

Disputed birth year

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Throughout his career, Ongais information listed his birth in 1942. However, his birth was likely in either 1938 or 1939. In a May 1978 interview with the Honolulu Star-Bulletin, Dan Ongais Sr. said that his son was preparing to turn 39 instead of 36.[20] The 1940 United States census, taken in April 1940, list the younger Ongais as being one year-old by that point in 1940.[21] The 1950 census lists him as 11 years-old in April 1950.[22]

A 1979 profile in Sport Magazine referenced the age discrepancy, stating "If he began racing motorcycles after his hitch in the Army, as his father states, then Ongais would have been inducted into the Army at 14. But taking liberties with one's age is common among race drivers."[23]

Racing record

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Complete Formula One results

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(key)

Year Entrant Chassis Engine 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 WDC Points
1977 Interscope Racing Penske PC4 Cosworth V8 ARG BRA RSA USW ESP MON BEL SWE FRA GBR GER AUT NED ITA USA
Ret
CAN
7
JPN NC 0
1978 Team Tissot Ensign Ensign N177 Cosworth V8 ARG
Ret
BRA
Ret
RSA NC 0
Interscope Racing Shadow DN9 USW
DNPQ
MON BEL ESP SWE FRA GBR GER AUT NED
DNPQ
ITA USA CAN
Source:[24]

American Open-Wheel racing results

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(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position)

USAC

[edit]
Year Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 Rank Points
1976 Interscope Racing PHX TRE INDY MIL POC MCH TWS TRE MIL ONT
28
MCH TWS PHX NC -
1977 Interscope Racing ONT
7
PHX
5
TWS
13
TRE INDY
20
MIL
17
POC
23
MOS
15
MCH
1
TWS
13
MIL
21
ONT
8
MCH
17
PHX
12
12th 935
1978 Interscope Racing PHX
12
ONT
1
TWS
1
TRE
4
INDY
18
MOS
1
MIL
16
POC
19
MCH
6
ATL
21
TWS
DNS
MIL
1
ONT
12
MCH
1
TRE
15
SIL
15
BRH
9
PHX
4
8th 2662
1979 Interscope Racing ONT TWS INDY
4
MIL POC
12
TWS MIL NC -
1981-82 Interscope Racing INDY
27
POC ILL DUQ ISF INDY
22
NC -

PPG Indycar Series

[edit]

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position)

Year Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 Rank Points
1979 Interscope Racing PHX
15
ATL
14
ATL
6
INDY
4
TRE
7
TRE
6
MCH
18
MCH
12
WGL
4
TRE
13
ONT
6
MCH
DNS
ATL
15
PHX
17
6th 1473
1980 Interscope Racing ONT INDY
7
MIL
24
POC
18
MDO
21
MCH
21
WGL
3
MIL ONT
19
MCH
11
MEX
24
PHX 15th 601
1983 Interscope Racing ATL INDY
21
20th 14
Patrick Racing MIL
12
CLE
28
MCH
23
ROA
18
POC
24
RIV
10
MDO
5
MCH CPL LAG PHX
1984 Interscope Racing LBH
DNQ
PHX
5
INDY
9
MIL
10
POR
11
MEA
18
CLE
28
MCH
24
ROA POC
5
MDO SAN
23
MCH
3
PHX
5
LAG
21
CPL
17
10th 53
1985 Interscope Racing LBH
DNQ
INDY
17
MIL POR MEA CLE MCH
20
ROA POC
22
MDO SAN MCH
7
LAG PHX
14
MIA
6
24th 14
1986 March Engineering PHX LBH INDY
23
MIL POR MEA CLE TOR MCH POC MDO SAN MCH ROA LAG PHX MIA NC 0
1987 Penske Racing LBH PHX INDY
Wth1
MIL POR MEA CLE TOR 42nd 0
Interscope Racing MCH
17
POC ROA MDO NAZ
DNQ
LAG MIA
27
1 Injured, replaced by Al Unser

Indy Racing League

[edit]
Year Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Rank Points Ref
1996 Team Menard WDW PHX INDY
7
29th 28 [25]
1996-1997 Chitwood Motorsports NHM LVS WDW
13
PHX INDY TXS PPI CLT NHM LVS 42nd 22 [26]
1998 Team Pelfrey WDW PHX INDY
Wth
TXS NHM DOV CLT PPIR ATL TXS LVS NC [27]

Indianapolis 500

[edit]
Year Chassis Engine Start Finish Entrant
1977 Parnelli VPJ6B Cosworth 7 20 Interscope Racing
1978 Parnelli VPJ6B Cosworth 2 18 Interscope Racing
1979 Parnelli VPJ6C Cosworth 27 4 Interscope Racing
1980 Parnelli VPJ6C Cosworth 16 7 Interscope Racing
1981 Interscope 81 Cosworth 21 27 Interscope Racing
1982 Interscope 03 Cosworth 9 22 Interscope Racing
1983 March 83C Cosworth 21 21 Interscope Racing
1984 March 84C Cosworth 11 9 Interscope Racing
1985 March 85C Cosworth 17 17 Interscope Racing
1986 March 86C Buick 16 23 March Engineering
1987 Penske PC-16 Chevrolet Practice Crash1 Team Penske
1996 Lola T95/00 Menard-Buick 332 7 Team Menard
1998 Dallara Oldsmobile Practice Crash3 Team Pelfrey
1 Al Unser succeeded Ongais as driver in the car; Unser won the Indianapolis 500 with a March-Cosworth that had been a show car.
2 After Scott Brayton was killed in a practice crash with a backup car, Ongais drove the car Brayton qualified on the pole; under USAC rules, the car had to start last.
3 John Paul Jr. succeeded Ongais as driver in the car; Paul finished 7th in the Indianapolis 500 after leading 39 laps.

24 Hours of Le Mans results

[edit]
Year Team Co-Drivers Car Class Laps Pos. Class
Pos.
1980 Germany Kremer Racing
Germany Team Malardeau
United States Ted Field
France Jean-Louis Lafosse
Porsche 935-K3/80 Gr.5
SP 2.0+
89 DNF DNF
1982 Germany Kremer Racing
United States Interscope Racing
United States Ted Field
United States Bill Whittington
Porsche C-K5 Gr.C 25 DNF DNF
1988 Japan Italiya Sport
Japan Team Le Mans Co.
Japan Toshio Suzuki
France Michel Trollé
March 88S-Nissan C1 74 DNF DNF

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Danny Ongais". www.champcarstats.com. Retrieved 2023-05-19.
  2. ^ "Ongais, Danny - Drag Racing - 2000 | Inductees | Hall of Fame".
  3. ^ a b c d e f g "Danny Ongais Biography". F1 Rejects. Archived from the original on 2013-03-21.
  4. ^ "The Maui Wowie". Honolulu Star-Bulletin. (Hawaii). May 12, 1978. p. 39.
  5. ^ Jenkins, Richard. "The World Championship drivers - Where are they now?". OldRacingCars.com. Retrieved 2007-07-29.
  6. ^ "Race Results - Racing-Reference".
  7. ^ "Danny Ongais | Racing career profile | Driver Database".
  8. ^ "Daytona 24 Hours 1979 - Race Results - Racing Sports Cars".
  9. ^ "Remembering One Of The Most Terrifying Crashes In Indy 500 History". Archived from the original on 2016-05-25.
  10. ^ "Career Summary: Danny Ongais". www.snaplap.net. SnapLap. 18 April 2015. Retrieved April 3, 2022.
  11. ^ Herman, Steve (May 20, 1996). "Indy 500 lineup set; Ongais to take over Brayton's car". Point Pleasant Register. p. 5.
  12. ^ Harris, Mike (May 15, 1998). "Paul appreciates Indy opportunity". The Tuscaloosa News. The Associated Press. p. 3C. Retrieved 2 April 2022.
  13. ^ Danny Ongais at the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America
  14. ^ "No. 39: Danny Ongais". NHRA. 2001. Archived from the original on July 6, 2008. Retrieved 2008-11-30.
  15. ^ Markus, Robert (May 08, 1987) Danny Ongais: Indy`s Mystery Man Chicago Tribune. Retrieved May 25, 2016.
  16. ^ Lerner, Preston (June, 2004) The drag star who turned a corner Motorsport Magazine. Retrieved May 25, 2016.
  17. ^ Kelly, Paul (28 February 2022). "Popular Indianapolis 500 Veteran Ongais Dies at 79". Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Retrieved 28 February 2022.
  18. ^ "Danny Ongais Obituary (2022) - Anaheim Hills, CA - Orange County Register". Legacy.com. Retrieved 2023-05-19.
  19. ^ Martin, Bruce (May 20, 2022). "IndyCar legends remember Danny Ongais: 'The Flyin' Hawaiian' at the Indy 500". NBCSports.com. Retrieved August 27, 2022.
  20. ^ "The Maui Wowie". Honolulu Star-Bulletin. (Hawaii). May 12, 1978. p. 39.
  21. ^ "US Census", United States census, 1940; page 4B, line 90. Retrieved on 2024-05-21.
  22. ^ "US Census", United States census, 1950; page 6, line 27. Retrieved on 2024-05-21.
  23. ^ Gilligan, Vin (June 1979). "Danny Ongais Waits For No One". Sports Magazine. p. 98.
  24. ^ Small, Steve (1994). The Guinness Complete Grand Prix Who's Who. Guinness. p. 272. ISBN 0851127029.
  25. ^ "Danny Ongais – 1996 Indy Racing League Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved August 7, 2023.
  26. ^ "Danny Ongais – 1997 Indy Racing League Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved August 7, 2023.
  27. ^ "Danny Ongais – 1998 Indy Racing League Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved August 7, 2023.

Notes

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  1. ^ a b Ongais' year of birth is disputed. Refer to the "Disputed birth year" section
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