Parnelli Jones in 2012. (AP)
TORRANCE, Calif. – Parnelli Jones, winner of the 1963 Indianapolis 500, died Tuesday at Torrance Memorial Medical Center after a battle with Parkinson’s disease, his son said. Jones is 90 years old.
Jones is the oldest living winner of “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing”.
“Parnelli Jones was the greatest racing driver of his time,” his contemporary Mario Andretti once said. “He has a fierceness and also a finesse that no one else has. And he won everything he put his hands on.”
Rufus Parnell Jones was born in Texarkana, Arkansas, in 1933 but moved to Torrance as a child and never left. There he became “Parnelli” because his name Rufus was so famous that he could compete without the locals knowing his true identity and he was not old enough to race.
A friend came up with “Parnellie,” which was painted on Jones’ door in 1934 Ford jalopy. The final “e” was removed, the name remained the same.
Parnelli Jones in the 1963 Indy 500. (AP)
Jones in 1962 became the first driver at Indianapolis Motor Speedway to qualify at speeds over 150 mph with a four-lap average of 150.370. He was pole-sitter at the Indy 500 in 1962 and 1963 and was co-rookie of the year with Bobby Marshman in 1961.
He made seven starts at Indianapolis between 1961 and 1967 and led five of those races for a total of 492 laps – the eighth-highest total laps led in the race’s history. In the only two starts he did not lead in 1965 and 1966, Jones ran mainly in second place. He finished second in 1965 and retired from it with mechanical problems in 1966.
Considered one of the most versatile racers of his era, Jones turned to other vehicles and won the Baja 1000 twice as well as the Trans-Am championship in the legendary 1970 Boss 302. Mustang Paint it orange to stand out. He also had four Cup Series wins in the NASCAR as well as winning USAC midget and sprint car races.
Jones is survived by his wife of nearly 57 years, Judy, sons PJ and Page and six grandchildren. Both of Jones’ sons went on to professional racing careers. PJ Jones followed in his father’s footsteps by starting the Indianapolis 500 in 2004 and 2006. Page Jones made great strides on short tracks in the Midwest until he was seriously injured in a crash in 1994 , ending his driving career.
Parnelli Jones has been inducted into multiple Halls of Fame, including the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Hall of Fame, the National Motorsports Hall of Fame and both the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame and the Hall of Fame. National Middleweight Hall of Fame.
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