ST. CHARLES, Illinois – One of the greatest natural racers of all-time, 1963 Indianapolis 500 winner Parnelli Jones, died peacefully of natural causes Tuesday.
He was 90 years old.
The news of his passing was confirmed by his son, P.J. Jones, Tuesday evening. Parnelli Jones died at Torrance Memorial Medical Center with family members at his side.
“Yes, a sad day,” four-time Indianapolis 500 winner Rick Mears, who raced against Jones in USAC Indy car and off-road racing, told NBCSports.com.
Mario Andretti was both a foe on the race track, and later Jones’ good friend.
“I just spoke with his family about an hour ago,” Andretti told NBCSports.com. “You can never prepare for this kind of thing. He lived to be 90, but that’s no consolation.
“You want people to be around with us forever. I love that man in so many ways. As a driver, I learned so much from him. He was spectacular as a driver. There was a natural flow with him.
“Special man. We had a special friendship we developed over the years and did special things together as a family. I always kept in touch with him and kids.
The Torrance, California, resident had battled Parkinson’s for the past several years.
DAYTONA BEACH, FL — February 1963: Driving a Mercury for car owner Bill Stroppe, Parnelli Jones of Torrance, CA, finished 15th in the Daytona 500 NASCAR Cup race at Daytona International Speedway. (Photo by ISC Images & Archives via Getty Images)
Parnelli Jones at the 1963 Daytona 500 — ISC Archives/CQ-Roll Call Group
Jones was known as a driver who could race anything and drive it to victory. He was as proficient in NASCAR stock cars as he was United States Auto Club (USAC) midgets and sprint cars.
He drove J.C. Agajanian’s Calhoun to victory in the 1963 Indianapolis 500 and four years later, came within 3 1/2 laps of driving Andy Granatelli’s revolutionary STP turbine to victory before a $6 ball bearing broke, leaving his car to break in the north end of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway after dominating the race and leading 171 laps of the 200-lap race.
In that race, it was Andretti who started on pole with Jones lining up in sixth place. But it took Jones just two turns on the opening lap for the turbine-powered machine to blow pass Andretti’s car as if it were standing still.
“I remember 1967 and I gave him a one-fingered salute on the back straightaway when he went by me,” Andretti recalled. “The turbine car only needed 35 gallons while we needed 70 for a stint. He went by me on the back straightaway like I missed a gear.
“There was no way we could compete with that. I slipped him the bird when he drove by me.”
UNITED STATES - JUNE 01: 1967 51st Indianapolis 500 . Parnelli Jones drives the Studebaker STP Special down pit lane. the Granatelli uses a Pratt & Whitney turbine power plant. (Photo by Bob D’Olivo/The Enthusiast Network via Getty Images/Getty Images)
Parnelli Jones and the STP Turbine in 1967 — The Enthusiast Network via Getty
Jones was born in Texarkana, Arkansas, in 1933. He moved with his family to Fallbrook, California, at age 2, and then to Torrance at age 7. His mother named him after a local judge – Rufus Parnell – whom she respected, christening her new son Rufus Parnell Jones.
At 17, while racing jalopies (old cars) in Gardena, California, the town next to Torrance, Jones was in need of an alias to prevent race officials from learning that he was not yet 18, the legal age needed to compete.
Lying about his age was easy but racing as “Rufus Jones” would have gotten him thrown out because attending race fans from Torrance would have recognized his name.
Jones’ school friend, Billy Calder, came up with an idea to solve the problem. There had been a girl in their school named Nellie, and Billy used to tease Jones about her liking him.
Billy knew Jones’ middle name was Parnell, and he would joke around with him, calling him “Parnellie.” Billy painted the name “Parnellie” on the jalopy door and the rest is racing history. The “e” was dropped somewhere along the way, and he was known as “Parnelli” ever since.
He was married to his wife, Judy, in 1967. The couple had two sons, P.J. and Page Jones. Grandchildren include Jagger, Jace, Jimmy, Joie, Jet and Moxie.
His record at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway was brief but spectacular. He was the first driver to qualify at over 150-miles-per-hour at Indianapolis in 1962. His four laps were 150.729 miles-per-hour, 150.150, 150.276 and 150.326, a four-lap average of 150.370 mph.
He also won the Indianapolis 500 pole in 1963. He was the 1961 Indianapolis 500 Co-Rookie of the Year with Bobby Marshman.
He made seven Indianapolis 500 starts, from 1961-67, and led in five of those races for a total of 492 laps.
In the 1965 Indianapolis 500, Jones finished second to Scotsman Jim Clark.
His resume — which estimated at over 100 wins — included six Indy car wins, four NASCAR Cup victories, 25 midget car feature victories and 25 sprint car wins.
He also won several stock car races and had two Baja 500 off-road wins (1970, ’73) and two Baja 1000 off-road wins (1971, ’72).
He drove the Indianapolis 500 pace car in 1994 (Ford Mustang Cobra) and 1998 (Chevrolet Corvette).
Jones appeared on numerous late-night TV shows, including “The Ed Sullivan Show,” “The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson,” and “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno.”
“The racing world has lost a great competitor and a true champion,” Indianapolis Motor Speedway and Team Penske owner Roger Penske said.
“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. 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.”
After his driving career, he became one of the most successful team owners in his era as co-owner of Vel’s Parnelli Jones Racing with California businessman Vel Miletich.
His cars won the 1970 and ’71 Indianapolis 500s with driver Al Unser. They also totaled 53 Indy car wins, three USAC National Driving Championships and two USGA National Dirt Car Championships.
“In over 115 years of racing at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, there have been many iconic moments and a handful of iconic drivers,” IMS President Doug Boles said. “Parnelli Jones was a total icon, both for his driving skill and the magical moments he created in the Indianapolis 500. He will always be known for his speed, talent and fearless approach, and for his personal demeanor and character.
“The first to officially break 150 mph at Indy, he also will be remembered for driving the famed STP turbine to near-victory in 1967 and as the winning Indy 500 owner in 1970 and 1971. His fingerprints on our sport go well beyond the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. A winner in virtually everything on wheels including USAC, NASCAR and off-road racing, he is truly one of the most versatile competitors the sport has ever seen. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends.”
Jones also fielded a Formula One car with Andretti in the mid-70s, something Andretti fondly recalls.
“The experience I had with him in Formula One, the guy was a force to be reckoned with even when he came out of the cockpit,” Andretti said. “The guy always had a great competitive team, and he created some great champions.
“He always did things right. Parnelli was a very intelligent man.
“You can never prepare for this.”
Jones was universally revered by some of the greatest names in auto racing, including modern day greats such as Scott Dixon.
Jones was a “racer’s racer.”
There is no greater compliment than that.
Follow Bruce Martin on Twitter at @BruceMartin_500