Danny Ongais

Ezekiel "Danny" Ongais (May 21, 1942 – February 26, 2022) was an American racing driver.

Ongais was the only Hawaiian born driver to compete in the Indianapolis 500. He competed professionally in motorcycle, sports car, CART, IndyCar, Formula One, and drag racing. A fearless figure on the racing circuit, Ongais was nicknamed "On-the-Gas" and "The Flyin' Hawaiian." He is the only driver to have won the NHRA U.S. Nationals and the 24 Hours of Daytona.

In the 1960s, Ongais won multiple drag racing championships and was named one of the National Hot Rod Association’s Top 50 Drivers for 1951-2000. In the 1970s he moved to competing in sports cars and Indy cars, winning races in both types, including the 24 Hours of Daytona in 1979 and several Indy car races in 1977 and 1978. He also raced in Formula One from 1977–78, in six Grands Prix, recording a best result of seventh.

Ongais was known as a fast and daring driver, but he experienced multiple crashes in his career, some resulting in injury. At the 1981 Indianapolis 500, he was involved in a near-fatal accident that caused him to miss almost a year of racing.

In 1996, at the age of 54, after nine years away from racing, Ongais served as the substitute driver in the Indianapolis 500 for Scott Brayton, who had died in a crash before the race. Starting last, Ongais finished seventh in what was his final 500.

Ongais was inducted into the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America in 2000 and the Hawaii Sports Hall of Fame in 2001.

Early life and career Almost every source references Ongais having been born in Kahului, Hawaii, on May 21, 1942 of Puerto Rican immigrant grandparents, although the documentary "On the Gas" claims that he was born in 1939 citing the 1940 US Census as a reference. When he was aged fourteen, he tested out motorbike racing with some success. In the late 1950s, Ongais enlisted in the United States Army as a paratrooper stationed in Europe. He was later discharged and returned to Hawaii for motor racing. Ongais became the Hawaiian motorcycle champion in 1960 and was in the top three positions in the expert class from 1960 to 1962.

In 1977, Ongais ran his first full season in Indy cars. He had a seventh at Ontario and fifth at Phoenix and then he won his first Indy car race at Michigan International Speedway. He qualified well over the season, earning three poles, and he finished twelfth in the standings. at Ontario, Texas World, Mosport, the Milwaukee, and again at Michigan. He also won eight poles in qualifying. Ongais started in the middle of the front row at the 1978 Indianapolis 500, and dominated the early stages of the race. After leading 71 laps, he dropped out with a blown engine while running in second position on lap 145.

The 1978 victory at Michigan would turn out to be the final Indy car victory of Ongais' career. Although Ongais won more Indy car races than any other driver that season, a combination of mechanical problems and low finishes in other races meant he would only finish eighth in the 1978 USAC Championship. Still, those five wins—three on the large superspeedways at Ontario, Texas, and Michigan, one at the short Milwaukee Mile oval, and one road race at Mosport—demonstrated Ongais' versatility as a driver.

In 1978, Ongais also made one final attempt at F1. He entered the season with the Ensign team, in a year-old N177 chassis, and retired in Argentina and Brazil with brake problems. Interscope then bought a new Shadow chassis for him to race but he was unable to qualify at Long Beach and also in the Netherlands later in the season.

CART career Ongais made his CART debut during the 1979 season driving the No. 25 Panasonic/Interscope Racing Parnelli 6C-Cosworth DFX. He first raced at the Arizona Republic/Jimmy Bryan 150 at Phoenix International Raceway where he qualified fourth and led for several laps only to drop out after 128 laps due to engine problems. He then competed at the Gould Twin Dixie 125 however bad luck hit Ongais in both races. At the Indianapolis 500, Ongais crashed in practice and this put Ongais in jeopardy of not being able to compete. Ongais qualified 27th and finished fourth. As the season progressed the Parnelli 6C (which was already a two-year-old car) started to struggle due to its age. Ongais scored another fourth-place finish at the Kent Oil 150 at Watkins Glen International and finished in sixth place in points.

For the 1980 season, Interscope was intending to use their own chassis with a Porsche V6 engine. The car was disallowed and Interscope brought out their Parnelli 6C-Cosworth DFX. At his first race of the season, the Indianapolis 500, Ongais started sixteenth and finished seventh. Ongais endured a tough season highlighted by a third place finish at Watkins Glen. Ongais also made a single start for AMI Racing driving the No. 43 Armstrong Mould Orbiter 80C-Cosworth DFX at the Michigan 400 at Michigan International Speedway, finishing 11th. Ongais ended the season in 15th place in points.

In 1981 at the Indianapolis 500, Ongais was involved in a very serious accident on lap 63. Ongais came into the pits on lap 63 as the leader of the race, but problems during the stop caused it to drag on for a disastrous 46 seconds. After finally leaving the pits, Ongais approached a slower car at the end of the backstretch. He made a late pass going into the third turn. Carrying too much speed out of the turn, the car drifted out into the grey and the back end began to slide. Ongais tried to correct the slide by turning right, and the car hooked to the right and crashed nearly head-on into the wall. He was knocked unconscious by the heavy impact. Officials had to cut open the car to help Ongais out. He was transported by an ambulance to a nearby hospital in a critical condition. By the time the broadcasting of the race ended at 11:30 PM, Ongais's condition had improved and his condition was updated to stable. He suffered a concussion, compound fractures in both legs, a broken arm and a six-inch tear in his diaphragm. He missed the rest of the CART year to recover in rehabilitation.

In 1982, Ongais ran on only one Indy car race, the Indianapolis 500 (which was still sanctioned by USAC). He piloted a new Interscope IP-1 chassis, qualifying ninth and leading several laps before crashing out on lap 62 when running fifth. The rest of the year he raced only sports cars. Later in the season, Interscope Racing set up a partnership between themselves and Patrick Racing giving Patrick March 83C-Cosworth DFXs. Ongais scored a best finish of 5th place at the Escort Warning Radars 200 at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course. He finished the season in twentieth place in points.

For the 1984 season, Ongais took over as owner of Interscope Racing fielding the No. 25 Interscope Racing March 84C-Cosworth DFX. Ongais finished in third place at the Detroit News Grand Prix at Michigan International Speedway. He also finished in tenth place in points.

For the 1985 season, Ongais scored a best finish of sixth at the Beatrice Indy Challenge at Tamiami Park and finished in 24th place in points. Ongais also survived a spectacular barrel roll at the Michigan 500 at Michigan International Speedway when he ran into the slower car of Phil Krueger on the backstretch.

For the 1986 season, Ongais only ran the 1986 Indianapolis 500 for Interscope Racing. Fielding the No. 25 GM Goodwrench/Panavision March 86C-Buick V6, Ongais dropped out with a mechanical failure.

For the 1987 season, Interscope Racing teamed up with Team Penske getting Ongais in the No. 25 Panavision Penske PC-16-Ilmor-Chevrolet Indy V8 for the Indianapolis 500, however Ongais crashed in practice and suffered a concussion. The car went to Al Unser Sr who went on to win a record-tying fourth Indianapolis 500. Ongais later attempted to race at the Marlboro 500 at Michigan International Speedway, the Nissan Indy Challenge at Tamiami Park, and the Bosch Spark Plug Grand Prix at Nazareth Speedway. He would retire at Michigan and Miami and fail to qualify at Nazareth.

IndyCar After a nine-year hiatus from racing, Ongais was asked by John Menard to fill in for Scott Brayton who was killed during Friday Practice for the 1996 Indianapolis 500. Under qualifying rules he had to start 33rd. He was the oldest driver to compete in that field, at age 54. Ongais finished seventh, having the best car early in the race. He ran his last Indy Car race the next year, in the Indy 200 at Walt Disney World, with Chitwood Motorsports, where he finished thirteenth. In 1998, he attempted to qualify for the Indianapolis 500 with Team Pelfrey but was unable to do so when he suffered a concussion after a crash.

Awards Ongais was inducted in the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America in 2000. On the National Hot Rod Association Top 50 Drivers, 1951-2000, Ongais was ranked 39th. Ongais was inducted into the Hawaii Sports Hall of Fame in 2001. Jim Chapman, race director at Interscope Racing stated "Nobody really knew much about him — where he lived, his family, stuff like that". Chapman did state that well into their relationship he learned Ongais was married and had a son.

Ongais died from congestive heart failure in Anaheim Hills, California, on February 26, 2022, at the age of 79. His death was announced by the Indianapolis Motor Speedway two days later. He was survived by his long time partner Patricia Soldano, as well as his three children and five grandchildren. His former Indy car competitors remembered him well after his passing, with Mario Andretti calling him “that quiet lion.”

Disputed birth year Throughout his career, Ongais information listed his birth in 1942. However, his birth was likely in either 1938 or 1939. In a May 1978 interview with the Honolulu Star-Bulletin, Dan Ongais Sr. said that his son was preparing to turn 39 instead of 36. The 1950 census lists him as 11 years-old in April 1950.

A 1979 profile in Sport Magazine referenced the age discrepancy, stating "If he began racing motorcycles after his hitch in the Army, as his father states, then Ongais would have been inducted into the Army at 14. But taking liberties with one's age is common among race drivers."

Racing record

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 CAN JPN NC 0 1978 Team Tissot Ensign Ensign N177 Cosworth V8 ARG BRA RSA NC 0 Interscope Racing Shadow DN9 USW MON BEL ESP SWE FRA GBR GER AUT NED ITA USA CAN

American Open-Wheel racing results (key) (Races in bold indicate pole position)

USAC Year Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 Rank Points 1976 Interscope Racing PHX TRE INDY MIL POC MCH TWS TRE MIL ONT MCH TWS PHX NC - 1977 Interscope Racing ONT PHX TWS TRE INDY MIL POC MOS MCH TWS MIL ONT MCH PHX 12th 935 1978 Interscope Racing PHX ONT TWS TRE INDY MOS MIL POC MCH ATL TWS MIL ONT MCH TRE SIL BRH PHX 8th 2662 1979 Interscope Racing ONT TWS INDY MIL POC TWS MIL NC - 1981-82 Interscope Racing INDY POC ILL DUQ ISF INDY NC -

PPG Indycar Series (key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) Year Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 Rank Points 1979 Interscope Racing PHX ATL ATL INDY TRE TRE MCH MCH WGL TRE ONT MCH ATL PHX 6th 1473 1980 Interscope Racing ONT INDY MIL POC MOH MCH WGL MIL ONT MCH MEX PHX 15th 601 1983 Interscope Racing ATL INDY 20th 14 Patrick Racing MIL CLE MCH ROA POC RIV MOH MCH CPL LAG PHX 1984 Interscope Racing LBH PHX INDY MIL POR MEA CLE MCH ROA POC MOH SAN MCH PHX LAG CPL 10th 53 1985 Interscope Racing LBH INDY MIL POR MEA CLE MCH ROA POC MOH SAN MCH LAG PHX MIA 24th 14 1986 March Engineering PHX LBH INDY MIL POR MEA CLE TOR MCH POC MOH SAN MCH ROA LAG PHX MIA NC 0 1987 Penske Racing LBH PHX INDYWth1 MIL POR MEA CLE TOR 42nd 0 Interscope Racing MCH POC ROA MOH NAZ LAG MIA 1 Injured, replaced by Al Unser

Indy Racing League Year Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Rank Points Ref 1996 Team Menard WDW PHX INDY 29th 28 1996-1997 Chitwood Motorsports NHM LVS WDW PHX INDY TXS PPI CLT NHM LVS 42nd 22 1998 Team Pelfrey WDW PHX INDY TXS NHM DOV CLT PPIR ATL TXS LVS NC –

Indianapolis 500

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. 3 John Paul Jr. succeeded Ongais as driver in the car; Paul finished 7th in the Indianapolis 500 after leading 39 laps.

24 Hours of Le Mans results