- Danny Ongais
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Danny Ongais
Danny Ongais in 1984Born May 21, 1942 Formula One World Championship career Nationality American Active years 1977-1978 Teams Ensign; non-works Penske & Shadow Races 6 (4 starts) Championships 0 Wins 0 Podiums 0 Career points 0 Pole positions 0 Fastest laps 0 First race 1977 United States Grand Prix Last race 1978 Dutch Grand Prix Danny Ongais (born May 21, 1942 in Kahului, Maui Island, Hawaii[1]) is a former racecar driver from the United States.
He is the only native Hawaiian to compete at the Indianapolis 500. A motorcycle, sports car, Formula One, and drag racing competitor, in 1963 and 1964 Ongais won the American Hot Rod Association AA Gas Dragster Championship and in 1965 he added the National Hot Rod Association AA Dragster championship title.
A flamboyant figure on the racing circuit, Danny's nickname was "On-Gas" for his 'balls to the wall' driving style. He was also known as the "Flyin'-Hawaiian".
He was a Formula One driver who participated in six Grands Prix, debuting on October 2, 1977, and recorded a best result of seventh. In 1996 at the age of 54, Ongais agreed to be the substitute driver for Scott Brayton in the Indy 500 who had died in a practice crash shortly before the race. Starting last, Danny finished 7th in what was his final 500.
In 1981 he had a severe accident in the Indy 500, which almost cost his life. Several arm and leg fractures as well as internal injuries were the result. Then in 1985 at the Michigan 500, he spun on the exit of turn two and barrel-rolled down the back straight, during a race which had several crashes throughout its duration.
Contents
Award
- He was inducted in the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America in 2000 in the drag racing category.
- On the National Hot Rod Association Top 50 Drivers, 1951-2000 he was ranked 39th.[2]
Racing record
Complete Formula One results
(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
RetCAN
7JPN NC 0 1978 Team Tissot Ensign Ensign N177 Cosworth V8 ARG
RetBRA
RetRSA NC 0 Interscope Racing Shadow DN9 USW
DNPQMON BEL ESP SWE FRA GBR GER AUT NED
DNPQITA USA CAN American Open-Wheel racing results
(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position)
CART
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
Ret
ATL1
Ret
ATL2
6
INDY
4
TRE1
7
TRE2
6
MIS1
Ret
MIS2
Ret
WGL
4
TRE3
Ret
ONT
6
MIS3
DNS
ATL3
Ret
PHX2
Ret6th 1473 1980 Interscope Racing
ONT1
INDY
7
MIL1
Ret
POC
Ret
MDO
Ret
MIS1
Ret
WGL
3
MIL2
ONT2
Ret
MEX
Ret
PHX15th 601 Armstrong Mould
Interscope Racing
MIS2
111983 Interscope Racing
ATL
INDY
Ret20th 14 Patrick Racing
MIL
12
CLE
Ret
MIS1
Ret
ROA
Ret
POC
Ret
RIV
Ret
MDO
5
MIS2
LVG
LS
PHX1984 Interscope Racing
LBH
DNQ
PHX1
5
INDY
9
MIL
10
POR
Ret
MEA
Ret
CLE
Ret
MIS1
Ret
ROA
POC
5
MDO
SAN
Ret
MIS2
3
PHX2
5
LS
Ret
LVG
Ret10th 53 1985 Interscope Racing
LBH
DNQ
INDY
Ret
MIL
POR
MEA
CLE
MIS1
Ret
ROA
POC
Ret
MDO
SAN
MIS2
7
LS
PHX
14
MIA
624th 14 1986 March Engineering
PHX1
LBH
INDY
Ret
MIL
POR
MEA
CLE
TOR
MIS1
POC
MDO
SAN
MIS2
ROA
LS
PHX2
MIANC 0 1987 Team Penske
LBH
PHX
INDY
Inj
MIL
POR
MEA
CLE
TOR
MIS
Ret
POC
ROA
MDO
NAZ
DNQ
LS
MIA
Ret42nd 0 Indy Racing League
Year Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Rank Points 1996 Team Menard
WDW
PHX
INDY
729th 28 1996-1997 Chitwood Motorsports
NHM
LVS
WDW
13
PHX
Rpl
INDY
TXS
PPI
CLT
NH2
LV242nd 22 1998 Team Pelfrey
WDW
PHX
INDY
DNQ
TXS
NHM
DOV
CLT
PPI
ATL
TX2
LVSNC – Indianapolis 500
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 DNQ 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.
References
- ^ Jenkins, Richard. "The World Championship drivers - Where are they now?". OldRacingCars.com. http://www.oldracingcars.com/driver/Danny_Ongais. Retrieved 2007-07-29.
- ^ "No. 39: Danny Ongais". NHRA. 2001. http://www.nhra.com/50th/top50/d_ongais39.html. Retrieved 2008-11-30.[dead link]
External links
- Danny Ongais, MyF5000.com
Categories:- 1942 births
- Living people
- American Formula One drivers
- American racecar drivers
- Champ Car drivers
- Dragster drivers
- Indy Racing League drivers
- Indianapolis 500 drivers
- NASCAR drivers
- Trans-Am drivers
- Sportspeople from Hawaii
- People from Maui
- International Motorsports Hall of Fame inductees
- International Race of Champions drivers
- 24 Hours of Le Mans drivers
- 24 Hours of Daytona drivers
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