Amit Saraswat 
He held the distinction of being the oldest living Indianapolis 500 winner, having triumphed in the prestigious race in 1963. Born in Texarkana, Arkansas in 1933, Jones’ racing passion ignited at a young age. By 17, he was already competing in jalopy races in California, adopting the nickname “Parnellie” to conceal his underage status.
The 1950s saw Jones hone his skills across various racing disciplines. He notched up 15 victories in NASCAR’s West Coast late model series, and in 1960, he captured a major championship in the Midwest’s Sprint Car category. This success caught the eye of J.C. Agajanian, paving the way for Jones’ Indy 500 debut in 1961.
His rookie year at the “Greatest Spectacle in Racing” was impressive. He shared Rookie of the Year honors with Bobby Marshman, leading 27 laps and finishing a respectable 12th after qualifying fifth. The following year, Jones became the first driver to qualify for the Indy 500 exceeding 150 mph, earning him pole position. However, a brake issue dashed his hopes for victory, relegating him to seventh place.
Finally, in 1963, Jones conquered the Indy 500. He secured pole position once again and dominated the race, leading for 167 laps to claim the coveted win. That same year, he etched his name further in racing history by conquering the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb in a record-setting drive.
Jones continued to excel at Indy, qualifying in the top two rows for the next four years. His closest shot at another win came in 1967, leading for 171 laps in the famed STP-Paxton Turbo before a mechanical failure forced him to retire just three laps from the finish line, settling for sixth place. Beyond IndyCar, Jones ventured into off-road racing in 1967, conquering the grueling Baja 1000 twice in a row (1971 & 1972). He also enjoyed a successful career in NASCAR, participating in 34 Cup Series races and securing four wins, with his last victory coming at Riverside in 1967.
Jones’ influence extended beyond driving. In 1969, he joined forces with Vel Miletich to establish Vel’s Parnelli Jones Racing, a team that went on to achieve significant success. The team’s dominance was evident in the 1970 and 1971 Indy 500 victories with driver Al Unser Sr. and consecutive USAC titles for Unser and Joe Leonard (1971-1972).
A serious accident in the 1974 Baja 1000 forced Jones to step away from full-time racing. However, his competitive spirit remained strong as a team owner. He recruited Mario Andretti and even dabbled in Formula 1 testing in 1974. The team participated in Formula 1 in 1975 with Andretti at the wheel, achieving a best finish of fourth place in the Swedish Grand Prix.
Jones’ legacy extends beyond his own driving prowess. He was a visionary team owner, fostering the careers of racing legends like Unser and Andretti. His contributions to motorsports have been widely recognised, with inductions into prestigious Halls of Fame, including the International Motorsports Hall of Fame, National Sprint Car Hall of Fame, and Indianapolis Motor Speedway Hall of Fame. Parnelli Jones leaves behind a remarkable legacy, remembered as a champion driver, a visionary team owner, and a true American racing icon.
