Danny Ongais

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Danny Ongais
Nationality  American
Formula One World Championship career
Active years	1977-1978
Teams	Ensign; non-works Penske & Shadow
Races	6 (4 starts)
Championships	0
Wins	0
Podium finishes	0
Career points	0
Pole positions	0
Fastest laps	0
First race	1977 United States Grand Prix
Last race	1978 Dutch Grand Prix

Danny Ongais (born May 21, 1942^[1]) is a former racecar driver from the United States.

Born in Kahului, Maui Island, Hawaii, 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. He scored no championship points. 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 horrible accident in Indy 500, which almost cost his life. Several arm and leg breaks as well as internal injuries were the result.

He never won an Indianapolis 500 race, but history will remember him fondly for his stylish driving outfits and workmanlike driving, and he remains the pride of Hawaiian motorsports to this day. Not only is he a motorsports legend, but much like Joey Meyer, a larger than life Hawaiian sports hero.

Contents 1 Award 1.1 Complete Formula One results 1.2 Indy 500 results 2 External links 3 References

[edit] Award

• 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 No.39.

[edit] 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	-	0
1978	Team Tissot Ensign	Ensign N177	Cosworth V8	ARG Ret	BRA Ret	RSA															-	0
	Interscope Racing	Shadow DN9					USW DNPQ	MON	BEL	ESP	SWE	FRA	GBR	GER	AUT	NED DNPQ	ITA	USA	CAN

[edit] Indy 500 results

Year	Chassis	Engine	Start	Finish
1977	Parnelli	Cosworth	7th	20th
1978	Parnelli	Cosworth	2nd	18th
1979	Parnelli	Cosworth	27th	4th
1980	Parnelli	Cosworth	16th	7th
1981	Interscope	Cosworth	21st	27th
1982	Interscope	Cosworth	9th	22nd
1983	March	Cosworth	21st	21st
1984	March	Cosworth	11th	9th
1985	March	Cosworth	17th	17th
1986	March	Buick	16th	23rd
1987	Penske	Chevrolet	Practice Crash (1)
1996	Lola	Menard-Buick	33rd (Was 1st) (2)	7th
1998	Dallara	Oldsmobile	Failed to Qualify

• (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.

[edit] External links

• Danny Ongais accident 1981 in Indianapolis (official photos)

[edit] References