Rufus "Parnelli" Jones
Born	(1933-08-12) August 12, 1933 (age 78) Texarkana, Arkansas
Awards	1990 International Motorsports Hall of Fame Inductee 1991 inducted in the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame 1992 inducted in the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America 1961 Indianapolis 500 co-Rookie of the Year 1963 Indianapolis 500 winner 1964 USAC stock car champion 1960, 1961, 1962 USAC Sprint Car Series Champion 1976 inductee in the Off-road Motorsports Hall of Fame 2001 inducted into the West Coast Stock Car Hall of Fame inducted in the National Midget Auto Racing Hall of Fame
NASCAR Sprint Cup Series career
34 race(s) run over 12 year(s)
Best finish	33rd - 1958 (Grand National)
First race	1956 Merced Fairgrounds
Last race	1970 Motor Trend 500 (Riverside)
First win	1957 Kitsap County Airport (Bremerton)
Last win	1967 Motor Trend 500 (Riverside)
Wins Top tens Poles 4 11 3

Rufus Parnell "Parnelli" Jones (born August 12, 1933 in Texarkana, Arkansas), is a retired American racing driver and racecar owner. He is most remembered for his 1963 Indianapolis 500 win, and almost winning the 1967 Indy 500 in a turbine car.^[1] He is also remembered for bringing the stock block engine to USAC Sprint car racing as one of the "Chevy Twins" with Jim Hurtubise.^[1]

In his career, Parnelli Jones won races in many types of vehicles: sports cars, IndyCars, sprint cars, midget cars, off-road vehicles, and stock cars. He is associated with the famous Boss 302 Mustang with his wins using the engine in the 1970s. Jones' son P. J. Jones was also a diverse driver, with IndyCar and NASCAR starts and a championship in IMSA prototype sports cars. His other son Page Jones was an up-and-coming driver before suffering career ending (and life-threatening) injuries in a sprint car at the 4-Crown Nationals, and has been in rehabilitation, working with his father-in-law. Following the death of 1960 Indianapolis 500 winner Jim Rathmann,^[2] Jones is now the oldest living "500" winner.

Driving career[link]

Jones' family moved to Torrance, California, where he grew up (and still lives). He was nicknamed Parnelli by his boyhood friend Billy Calder, who hoped that the Jones family would not discover their son was racing cars as a 17-year-old minor.^[3] Jones participated in his first race in a Jalopy race at Carrell Speedway in Gardena, California.^[3] He developed his racing skills by racing in many different classes in the 1950s, including 15 stock car racing wins in the NASCAR Pacific Coast Late Model Series.^[4]

His first major championship was the Midwest region Sprint car title in 1960. The title caught the attention of promoter J. C. Agajanian, who became his sponsor.^[5] He began racing at Indianapolis in 1961.

Jones was named the 1961 Indianapolis 500 Rookie of the Year, an honor that he shared with Bobby Marshman. Jones led early in the race and ran among the leaders until being hit in the fact with a stone, bloodying his face, blurring his vision and slowing him to a 12th-place finish.

In 1962, he was the first driver to qualify over 150 mph at the Indianapolis 500, winning the pole position at a speed of 150.370 mph (241.997 km/h). Jones dominated the first two-thirds of the race until a brake line failure slowed him, and he settled for a seventh-place finish.

Jones drives his car from the 1962 and 1963 Indianapolis 500s around the Indianapolis Motor Speedway track in 2012.

In the 1963 Indianapolis 500, he started on the pole. This was the year the controversial Lotus-Ford rear-engined cars made their first appearance, and had ruffled the Indianapolis establishment. With Scotsman Jim Clark in a Lotus-Ford closing on Jones in the waning laps, Jones' car developed a horizontal crack in the external oil reservoir. At that moment, driver Eddie Sachs crashed on the oil-slickened racing surface and brought out a yellow caution flag, slowing the field. Agajanian, Jones' car owner, argued with chief steward Harlan Fengler not to issue a black flag, insisting the oil level had dropped below the level of the crack, and that the leak had stopped. As Agajanian pleaded with Fengler, Lotus head man Colin Chapman rushed up to join the conversation and demanded that Fengler follow the rules about disqualifying cars with oil leaks. With the end of the race just minutes away, Fengler took no action, and Jones went on to win. The Lotus-Ford team, while unhappy with the obvious favoritism displayed by race officials toward Jones and Agajanian, also acknowledged Jones' clear superiority in the event. In addition, Ford officials recognized that a victory through disqualification of Clark's biggest competitor would not be well received by the public, so they declined to protest.

Also that year, legendary vehicle fabricator Bill Stroppe built a Mercury Marauder USAC Stock car for Jones. Jones won the 1963 Pikes Peak International Hill Climb in the car, and broke the stock car speed record.^[3]

In 1964, he won 7 races (and tied for a win) on his way to the USAC Stock car crown. He won the Turkey Night Grand Prix midget car event. Mercury decided to pull out of stock car racing after the season.

He won five of the nine midget car events that he entered in 1966, including the Turkey Night Grand Prix. He finished fourteenth in the final points despite competing in only nine of 65 events.^[1]

Jones's STP-Paxton Turbocar from the 1967 Indianapolis 500.

In 1967, he drove in the Indianapolis 500 for owner Andy Granatelli in the revolutionary STP-Paxton Turbocar. Jones dominated the race but dropped out with three laps to go when a small, inexpensive transmission bearing broke. After 1968, turbine-powered cars were legislated out of competitiveness.

Also in 1967, as part of his stock car contract with the Lincoln-Mercury division of the Ford Motor Company, Jones drove a Mercury Cougar for Bud Moore in the second-year Trans Am series. In April, Jones dueled with teammate, friend and rival Dan Gurney in a brutal 300-mile (480 km), 4-hour event at Green Valley, Texas in 113-degree heat, losing by inches to Gurney.

Stroppe suggested that Jones try his hand at off-road racing in front of a large crowd at a Christmas party in 1967. Jones at first said no, since he had enough of dirt. Stroppe suggested that maybe off-road racing was too hard for Jones, and the challenge started Jones' off-road career.^[3] Jones and Stroppe teamed up for the 711-mile (1,144 km) Star Dust 7/11 race across the Nevada desert in early 1968. Jones had never driven or pre-run the Ford Bronco. Jones hit a dry wash at full speed, which broke the wheels and blew out the front tires. Jones would later have a guest appearance in the original film Gone in 60 Seconds featuring him and his Bronco which was stolen in the plot. Jones had become hooked on off-road racing.^[3]

In 1968, Jones headed a super-roster of seven drivers signed by Andy Granatelli to drive STP Lotus 56 turbine cars in an unprecedented single-team assault on the Indianapolis 500. The deaths of Jim Clark and Mike Spence, plus a serious injury to Jackie Stewart, whittled the entry to four. Jones, testing his reworked 1967 car in practice, was dissatisfied with the car's performance compared to the newer "wedge"-shaped Lotus 56 turbines, and had concluded the car was unsafe. He stepped out of the car, which was subsequently assigned to Joe Leonard, who promptly wrecked the car in practice. Jones retired from driving IndyCars, but later admitted, "If I hadn't already won Indy, they could never have kept me out of that car."

Jones entered the 1968 NORRA Mexican 1000 (now Baja 1000). Jones led until the 150-mile (240 km) marker. The Off-road Motorsports Hall of Fame describes Jones' racing style: "Jones and Stroppe had to find a way to keep their vehicles in one piece. During races Jones would push the vehicles at maximum speeds until they gave way, with Stroppe telling him at top volume the entire time to take it easier on the vehicle."

Jones had a special car fabricated that looked like a Bronco, but had racing parts that could withstand rigorous jarring that off-road vehicles endure. Jones named the vehicle "Big Oly" after his sponsor Olympia Beer.^[3] Jones used the vehicle to lead the Mexican 1000 from start to finish in a new record time of 14 hours and 59 minutes.

Jones had major wins in the 1973 season. He won his second Mexican 1000 in 16 hours and 42 minutes. He also won the 1973 Baja 500 and Mint 400 off-road events. Jones had a major accident at SCORE International's 1974 Baja 500, and stepped away from full-time off-road racing to become a race car owner.

Jones raced SCCA Trans Am sedans owned by Bud Moore: Mercury Cougar (1967) and Ford Mustang (1969—1971). Parnelli's dominance of the extremely competitive 1970 season brought Ford the manufacturer's championship.

Driving career summary[link]

Jones retired with six IndyCar wins and twelve pole positions, four wins in 34 NASCAR starts, including the 1967 Motor Trend 500 at Riverside,^[6] 25 midget car feature wins in occasional races between 1960 and 1967,^[1] and 25 career sprint car wins.^[1] His fifteen wins is eighth on the all-time in NASCAR Pacific Coast Late Model history.^[4]

Car owner[link]

Jones started Vel’s Parnelli Jones Racing, which won the Indianapolis 500 again as an owner in 1970 and 1971 with driver Al Unser driving the Johnny Lightning special. The team also won the 1970, 1971, and 1972 USAC National Championships.

Jones owned the Parnelli Formula One race team from late 1974 to early 1976, although it achieved little success.

Jones returned to off-road racing as owner of Walker Evans' 1976 SCORE truck, and Evans won the championship. They teamed up for the 1977 CORE Class 2 championship.

Jones owned vehicles that took class wins at the Baja 500 and Baja 1000. His USAC Dirt Car won two championships and the Triple Crown three times.^[3]

Career awards[link]

Jones is inducted in over 20 Halls of Fame ^[3] including:

• the Off-road Motorsports Hall of Fame (1976) ^[3]
• the International Motorsports Hall of Fame (1990)
• the National Midget Auto Racing Hall of Fame (1990) ^[1]
• the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame (1991)
• the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America (1992)
• the West Coast Stock Car Hall of Fame (2002)^[4]

Businessman[link]

Jones owned and operated several successful businesses. He owned Parnelli Jones Inc., which operated 47 retail Parnelli Jones Tire Centers in four states. Parnelli Jones Enterprises was a chain of Firestone Racing Tires in 14 Western United States. Parnelli Jones Wholesale was a reseller which sold and distributed shock absorbers, passenger car tires, and other automotive products to retail tire dealers.^[3]

2007 Ford Mustang Limited Edition[link]

Saleen, Incorporated, in Irvine, California, produced a limited edition (500 unit) 2007 Saleen S302 PJ commemorating Parnelli's 1970 SCCA Ford Mustang Boss 302 racer. This limited-production mustang comes with a stroked out version of the stock Mustang GT 281 c.i. engine. With the new displacement reaching 302 c.i. the new engine power rating is 400 hp (300 kW) and 390 lb/ft of torque. Other special performance enhancements to this car include a special Watts-Link suspension unique to the 1970 Boss Mustang used by Parnelli Jones.

Indy 500 results[link]

References[link]

1. ^ ^{a b c d e f} Biography at the National Midget Auto Racing Hall of Fame
2. ^ "Robin Miller's Farewell to Jim Rathmann". SPEED. 23 November 2011. http://auto-racing.speedtv.com/article/indycar-robin-millers-farewell-to-jim-rathmann/. Retrieved 20 December 2011. 
3. ^ ^{a b c d e f g h i j} Biography at the Off-road Motorsports Hall of Fame
4. ^ ^{a b c} Biography at the West Coast Stock Car Hall of Fame, Retrieved November 8, 2007
5. ^ Biography at the International Motorsports Hall of Fame
6. ^ NASCAR stats at racing-reference.com
7. ^ Parnelli Jones Indy 500 Race Stats

External links[link]

• VPJ Racing Collection Website
• Biography
• The Greatest 33

Bobby Unser

Born	(1934-02-20) February 20, 1934 (age 78)
Formula One World Championship career
Nationality	American
Active years	1968
Teams	BRM
Races	3 (1 start)
Championships	0
Wins	0
Podiums	0
Career points	0
Pole positions	0
Fastest laps	0
First race	1968 Italian Grand Prix
Last race	1968 United States Grand Prix

Bobby Unser's 1979 Penske Cosworth Champ Car

Robert William "Bobby" Unser (born February 20, 1934 in Colorado Springs, Colorado) is a retired U.S. automobile racer. He is the brother of Al Unser, Jerry Unser and Louie Unser, the father of Robby Unser, and the uncle of Al Unser, Jr. and Johnny Unser. He is one of seven drivers to win the Indianapolis 500 three times, and one of only two to have won the 500 in three different decades (1968, 75, 81). Bobby has also been a spokesman and advocate of many commercial products.

1981 Indianapolis 500[link]

Bobby was part of one of the most controversial finishes in Indy 500 history at the 1981 Indianapolis 500. On lap 149, during a caution period, Bobby and Mario Andretti made their pit stop and headed back to the race. Bobby passed eight cars during the caution, while Mario passed two cars. Unser won the race, but was stripped of it the following morning in favor of second place finisher Mario Andretti. Unser was awarded the win in October 1981, but the controversy and financial impact (Unser once estimated that the commercial endorsements he lost because of the delayed result cost him $1 million) caused him to retire from racing at the end of the year.

Other achievements[link]

Was the first driver to average more than 190 MPH at the Indianapolis 500.

Was the 1975 IROC champion.

Won the USAC Indy car championships in 1968 and 1974. He was also entered in the 1968 United States Grand Prix at Watkins Glen International, driving for the BRM team. He withdrew after a massive accident in practice.

Challenged Dan Gurney to improve the performance of his 1971 USAC car, leading to the development of the Gurney flap.

Drove in three NASCAR Grand National races from 1969 to 1973 with a best finish of fourth.

Won the 1993 Fastmasters championship.

Is the undisputed king of the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb with 13 wins.

Broadcaster[link]

He was a color commentator for Indycar races after his retirement.

Awards[link]

• He was inducted into the International Motorsports Hall of Fame in 1990.
• He was inducted in the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame in 1997.
• Unser was inducted in the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America in 1994.

Federal criminal charges[link]

In 20 December 1996 in Colorado, Unser and a friend became lost while snowmobiling near Unser's New Mexico ranch. They abandoned one stuck snowmobile before a storm blinded them both. When the second snowmobile stopped working, they spent two days and nights in subzero weather before finding a barn where they were found. Both men were suffering badly, and Mr Unser had vomited blood during this time.^[1]

Mr Unser was later convicted of a Federal misdemeanor, "unlawful operation of a snowmobile within a National Forest Wilderness Area" (16 U.S.C. 551, 36 C.F.R. 261.16(a)), and was fined $75. Maximum penalties could have been up to six months in jail and up to $5,000.00 in fines. Unser appealed it, claiming to have been lost before the accident, but the court ruled that maps were widely available and it was a public welfare offense, thus intent was not necessary.^[2][3] Mr Unser appealed this decision all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court, but his writ of certiorari was denied.^[4]

Racing record[link]

American Open-Wheel racing results[link]

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position)

USAC[link]

This list is incomplete; you can help by expanding it.

Year	Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	Rank	Points
1975	All American Racers	ONT1	ONT2 10	ONT3 2	PHX	TRE	INDY 1	MIL 2	POC 22	MIS 5	MIL2									3rd	2480
	Jerry O'Connell Racing											MIS2 3	TRE2	PHX2
1976	Fletcher Racing	PHX 1	TRE DNQ	INDY 10	MIL 3	POC 32	MIS	TWS	TRE2	MIL2 4	ONT 1	MIS2 4	TWS2 17	PHX2 21						6th	2080
1977	Fletcher Racing	ONT 15	PHX 17	TWS	TRE WD	INDY 18	MIL 16	POC 19	MOS	MIS 21	TWS2 15	MIL2 17	ONT2 30	MIS2	PHX2 8					35th	75
1978	All American Racers	PHX 18	ONT 16	TWS 13	TRE 20	INDY 6	MOS 19	MIL 17	POC 20	MIS 5	ATL 3	TWS2 8	MIL2 20	ONT2 13	MIS2	TRE2	SIL 8	BRH 13	PHX2 11	12th	1122