IndyCar Legend Parnelli Jones Passes Away at 90, Leaving Behind a Legacy of Racing Excellence
On Tuesday, it was announced that IndyCar icon Parnelli Jones has sadly passed away at the age of 90, after a courageous battle with Parkinson’s disease over the past few years. His son, P.J. Jones, shared the news, leaving the entire racing community in mourning.
Jones is perhaps best remembered for his historic victory at the 1963 Indianapolis 500, one of seven Indy 500 attempts between 1961 and 1967. During the 1960s, he was a dominant force in USAC open-wheel racing, balancing his schedule with select starts in the NASCAR Grand National Series (now Cup Series), where he claimed four wins, and the Pacific Coast Late Model Series, now known as the ARCA Menards Series West.
“The racing world has lost a great competitor and a true champion. Parnelli Jones was one of the most accomplished racers in history, and his determination and will to win made him one of the toughest competitors I have ever seen.”
– Roger Penske, IndyCar Series boss
Jones’s racing endeavors extended beyond pavement, as he ventured into off-road racing with Bill Stroppe, who designed his Mercury that won the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb in 1963. Stroppe later built a Ford Bronco, nicknamed “Big Oly,” which Jones piloted to numerous victories, including the Mexican 1000 in 1970, the Baja 500 in 1970 and 1973, and back-to-back Baja 1000s in 1971 and 1972. Additionally, Jones and Stroppe took the top spot at the 1973 Mint 400.
After hanging up his driving helmet, Jones remained heavily involved in the sport as a team owner. Vel’s Parnelli Jones Racing achieved remarkable success, winning the Indy 500 with Al Unser in 1970 and 1971, and securing three consecutive USAC titles with Unser and Joe Leonard from 1970 to 1972. The team also enjoyed Formula One success with Mario Andretti from 1974 to 1976, while their Class 8 Chevrolet truck claimed the 1976 SCORE International truck championship and class wins at the Baja 500 and 1000.
Jones’s storied career has earned him inductions into over twenty halls of fame, including the International Motorsports Hall of Fame, National Motorsports Hall of Fame, and Off-Road Motorsports Hall of Fame.
Penske continued, “From racing against him on track to competing against him as a fellow team owner, I always respected Parnelli’s passion and commitment to the sport he loved. I was proud to call Parnelli a good friend for many years, and our thoughts are with his family as we remember one of the true legends of motorsports.”
Jones’s incredible legacy will continue to inspire generations of IndyCar, indycar 2023, indycar schedule, indycar news, and indycar results enthusiasts, ensuring his memory lives on long after his passing.
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