Ongais, Danny (1984).jpg | |
Danny Ongais | |
---|---|
Born | 21 1942 {{{birth_place}}} |
Died | {{{death_date}}} {{{death_place}}} |
Formula One career | |
Nationality | American |
Years | 1977-1978 |
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.
Early life and career[]
Ongais was born in Kahului, Hawaii. 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.[2]
CART career[]
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 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.
Ongais next drove in CART during the 1983 CART/PPG World Series season, first driving at the 1983 Indianapolis 500 driving the #65 Interscope Racing March 83C-Chevrolet V6 however, the car was replaced with the #25 March 83C-Cosworth DFX and he started in 21st place and retired with mechanical problems. Ongais replaced an injured Johnny Rutherford in the #40 Sea Ray Boats Wildcat Mk 9-Cosworth DFX. Later in the season Interscope Racing set up a partnership between themselves and Patrick Racing giving Patrick Racing March 83C-Cosworth DFXs. Ongais scored a best finish of 5th place at the Escort Warning Radars 200 at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course. Ongais finished in 20th place in points.
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[]
Ongais was asked by John Menard to fill in for Scott Brayton who was killed during Friday Practice for the 1996 Indianapolis 500. By starting 33rd, Ongais was the oldest driver to have competed in the field.[3]
Awards[]
- 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.[4]
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 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 |
American Open-Wheel racing results[]
(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position)
USAC[]
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 |
INDY 22 |
NC | - |
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 Ret |
6th | 1473 | |||
1980 | Interscope Racing | ONT1 | INDY 7 |
MIL1 Ret |
POC Ret |
MDO Ret |
MIS1 Ret |
WGL 3 |
MIL2 | ONT2 Ret |
MEX Ret |
PHX | 15th | 601 | ||||||
Armstrong Mould Interscope Racing |
MIS2 11 |
|||||||||||||||||||
1983 | Interscope Racing | ATL | INDY Ret |
20th | 14 | |||||||||||||||
Patrick Racing | MIL 12 |
CLE Ret |
MIS1 Ret |
ROA Ret |
POC Ret |
RIV Ret |
MDO 5 |
MIS2 | LVG | LS | PHX | |||||||||
1984 | 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 Ret |
10th | 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 6 |
24th | 14 | ||
1986 | March Engineering | PHX1 | LBH | INDY Ret |
MIL | POR | MEA | CLE | TOR | MIS1 | POC | MDO | SAN | MIS2 | ROA | LS | PHX2 | MIA | NC | 0 |
1987 | Team Penske | LBH | PHX | INDY Inj |
MIL | POR | MEA | CLE | TOR | MIS Ret |
POC | ROA | MDO | NAZ DNQ |
LS | MIA Ret |
42nd | 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 7 |
29th | 28 | ||||||||
1996-1997 | Chitwood Motorsports | NHM | LVS | WDW 13 |
PHX Rpl |
INDY | TXS | PPI | CLT | NH2 | LV2 | 42nd | 22 | |
1998 | Team Pelfrey | WDW | PHX | INDY DNQ |
TXS | NHM | DOV | CLT | PPI | ATL | TX2 | LVS | NC | – |
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.
- ↑ "Danny Ongais Biography". F1 Rejects. http://www.f1rejects.com/drivers/ongais/biography.html. Retrieved 2012-08-26.
- ↑ Herman, Steve (May 20, 1996). "Indy 500 lineup set; Ongais to take over Brayton's car". Point Pleasant Register: p. 5. http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=1T5DAAAAIBAJ&sjid=Xq0MAAAAIBAJ&pg=4372,2695834&dq=danny+ongais&hl=en.
- ↑ "No. 39: Danny Ongais". NHRA. 2001. http://www.nhra.com/50th/top50/d_ongais39.html. Retrieved 2008-11-30.