20 replies to this topic

[sstiel]

The Motorsports Hall of Fame of America has sadly reported that Danny Ongais died on 26 February.  Diverse career starting on motorcycles, dragsters etc. Condolences to all family, friends and colleagues.

[cpbell]

Oh dear - R.I.P.

[ensign14]

RIP Danny On-the-gas.  One of the weirdest career progressions. 

[Tim Murray]

RIP Danny. I wonder what he might have achieved had he turned to circuit racing at a younger age.

[FLB]

Or not had the accident he had at Indy in 1981.

 

RIP, Danny-On-The-Gas...

Edited by FLB, 28 February 2022 - 22:31.

[Izzyeviel]

sad to hear. He certainly had an eventful career.

[JacnGille]

NNNNNNNNNNOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO  

[d j fox]

RIP Saw him way back (1965?) at Blackbushe Airport at the “Dragfest” piloting a front engined dragster nicknamed “ The Mangler” ! Spectacular and LOUD

[10kDA]

RIP Danny Ongais the Flyin' Hawaiian. I had run across a really nice pic of him with Ted Field a few days ago and wondered how he was doing these days. Now this sad news. I followed him in F5000, then later in IMSA in the Interscope 935 and Lola T600s. In the paddock you were lucky if you got the slightest glimpse of him between whatever hiding place he had been in and then getting into the car. He seemed to approach racing strictly on his own very personal terms and probably found a kindred spirit in Ted Field. One of my all-time favorite drivers.

[eibyyz]

:-(  R.I.P.

[absinthedude]

RIP....

 

I remember being aware of his USAC career by the time I started following Indycar. This would have been after his dreadful 1981 crash and what enthused me was how the commentators always seemed to talk him up despite never seeing or hearing an interview with him. Then reading about motorsport history I learned he'd done some grands prix and about the drag and motorcycle racing....a true all-rounder who probably had a lot more potential than we ever saw. 

[Red Socks]

Brands 1978, those so quiet cars.

RIP Danny

[Jahn1234567890]

Sad to hear this. RIP Danny Ongais. An Incredibly versatile racing driver. I always loved the black Interscope liveries, which I feel fitted his private and perhaps somewhat "mysterious" persona.

 

Here's Danny in his Interscope after qualifying for the 1981 500. Image from IMS.

 

Edited by Jahn1234567890, 01 March 2022 - 15:49.

[DN5]

Brands 1978, those so quiet cars.

RIP Danny

I saw him there as well.

 

I had never seen as quick an acceleration up the hill to Druids as Danny's - simply jaw dropping

 

RIP Danny

Edited by DN5, 01 March 2022 - 16:55.

[chr1s]

And of course for many years the Brands Indy circuit lap record holder. RIP Danny.

[GMiranda]

RIP

[MCS]

And of course for many years the Brands Indy circuit lap record holder. RIP Danny.

Unlucky not to win that afternoon.  Didn't he achieve something over 170mph passing the pits?

 

He was also an occasional Grand Prix driver of course.  As stated previously, a very private man.  Sad he's gone and equally sad we knew so little.

 

I had forgotten the Interscope Indycar.  What a lovely machine - is it something that's been discussed on here?

[Odseybod]

Impressive at Silverstone, too.

 

 

R.I.P.

 

[ReWind]

From another thread:

Latest updates for http://www.oldracing...m/drivers/watn/
 
Changed Info:
 
D Ongais – date of birth change

Born in 1939 instead of 1942!
 
That is surprising (at least to me).

Motorsport Memorial isn't aware, either.

[WINO]

But what do Floyd Clymer's Indy 500 yearbooks say? They always included detailed accounts on each driver, from birthdate, height, weight, marital status, name of wife, to number of children [including their names and ages].

 

I can't look it up since my last copy is the 1966 one.

 

Added: I just found the answer. Clymer's last one was the 1968 edition, before Danny arrived at the brickyard.

Edited by WINO, 10 April 2025 - 16:34.

[Richard Jenkins]

5 second search of US census confirms 1939:

Ezekial Ongais
United States, Census, 1940 aged 1. Son of Daniel Ongais.