Parnelli Jones, a legendary figure in the world of racing, passed away at the age of 90. Throughout his illustrious career, Jones achieved success in various racing series and became known as a versatile driver.
In 1963, Jones won the Indianapolis 500 as a driver, making history by becoming the first to record a qualifying lap of over 150 mph. Despite facing challenges during the race, including an oil leak in his car during the final laps, Jones persevered and emerged victorious.
Jones’ success at the Indy 500 did not stop there. He later transitioned into ownership and won the race twice more – in 1968 and 1972. In addition to his achievements at Indy, Jones also had success in NASCAR Cup Series races, winning four times and achieving 11 top-10 finishes. His final NASCAR victory came in 1967 at Riverside, where he led 126 of the 185 laps.
As his career progressed, Jones shifted his focus to off-road racing and won two Baja 1000 races – in 1971 and 1972. He was the first driver to win both the Indy 500 and Baja 1000 races and completed the latter in less than 15 hours.
Jones’ impact on racing extended beyond just his own accomplishments. He mentored Al Unser Sr., who went on to become a two-time Indianapolis
