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- Remembering Parnelli Jones (1933-2024) - Auto racing lost a legend, and The Henry Ford lost a friend, when Parnelli Jones passed away on June 4, 2024. Rufus Parnell Jones (an aunt gave him his lifelong nickname, “Parnelli”) was born August 12, 1933, in Texarkana, Texas.
- June 08, 2024
- Collections - Article
Remembering Parnelli Jones (1933-2024)
Auto racing lost a legend, and The Henry Ford lost a friend, when Parnelli Jones passed away on June 4, 2024. Rufus Parnell Jones (an aunt gave him his lifelong nickname, “Parnelli”) was born August 12, 1933, in Texarkana, Texas.
- Parnelli Jones - Parnelli Jones won races just about everywhere: on dirt tracks, in NASCAR, at Pikes Peak, and in off-road Baja events. But Jones is particularly noted for his accomplishments at the Indianapolis 500, where he set a qualifying speed record in 1962, won the race in 1963, and nearly won it again in 1967 with a turbine-engine car. Jones scored two more Indy 500 wins as a team owner in 1970 and 1971. Jones reflects on his long, successful career in this interview.
- October 26, 2017
- Collections - Video
Parnelli Jones
Parnelli Jones won races just about everywhere: on dirt tracks, in NASCAR, at Pikes Peak, and in off-road Baja events. But Jones is particularly noted for his accomplishments at the Indianapolis 500, where he set a qualifying speed record in 1962, won the race in 1963, and nearly won it again in 1967 with a turbine-engine car. Jones scored two more Indy 500 wins as a team owner in 1970 and 1971. Jones reflects on his long, successful career in this interview.
- "Parnelli Jones," Clip from Interview with Mario Andretti, June 20, 2017 - Mario Andretti personified the American dream. Born in war-torn Europe and immigrated to the United States, he pursued a career in motorsport. With hard work and unwavering focus, Andretti conquered everything from NASCAR to Formula One, and he earned a place near the top of any list of racing's all-time greats. Curators at The Henry Ford interviewed this racing legend in 2017.
- June 20, 2017
- Collections - Artifact
"Parnelli Jones," Clip from Interview with Mario Andretti, June 20, 2017
Mario Andretti personified the American dream. Born in war-torn Europe and immigrated to the United States, he pursued a career in motorsport. With hard work and unwavering focus, Andretti conquered everything from NASCAR to Formula One, and he earned a place near the top of any list of racing's all-time greats. Curators at The Henry Ford interviewed this racing legend in 2017.
- "Parnelli Jones," Clip from Interview with Dan Gurney, August 20, 2008 - Dan Gurney built one of the most versatile and successful careers in racing. His 51 wins as a driver included Grand Prix, Indy car, NASCAR, and sports car events. His achievements as a designer, builder, and team owner with his All American Racers continue to influence the sport. The Henry Ford interviewed Gurney at his AAR facility in 2008.
- August 20, 2008
- Collections - Artifact
"Parnelli Jones," Clip from Interview with Dan Gurney, August 20, 2008
Dan Gurney built one of the most versatile and successful careers in racing. His 51 wins as a driver included Grand Prix, Indy car, NASCAR, and sports car events. His achievements as a designer, builder, and team owner with his All American Racers continue to influence the sport. The Henry Ford interviewed Gurney at his AAR facility in 2008.
- "Parnelli Jones," Clip from Interview with Al Unser Sr., January 6, 2009 - Even in a family of racing legends, Al Unser, Sr., stood out. He earned 39 wins in national championship races and three national titles. He earned two overall victories at Pikes Peak and an IROC championship. But his defining achievements were his four wins at the Indianapolis 500. The Henry Ford interviewed Unser at the Unser Racing Museum in 2009.
- January 06, 2009
- Collections - Artifact
"Parnelli Jones," Clip from Interview with Al Unser Sr., January 6, 2009
Even in a family of racing legends, Al Unser, Sr., stood out. He earned 39 wins in national championship races and three national titles. He earned two overall victories at Pikes Peak and an IROC championship. But his defining achievements were his four wins at the Indianapolis 500. The Henry Ford interviewed Unser at the Unser Racing Museum in 2009.
- "Parnelli Jones," Clip from Interview with Leonard Wood, October 24, 2010 - Wood Brothers Racing is the oldest active team in NASCAR. While other early teams treated pit stops like leisurely breaks for the driver, the Woods serviced their cars in a fast, choreographed procedure that helped win races and soon became standard. The Henry Ford interviewed members of the Wood family in 2010 at the team's museum in Stuart, Virginia.
- October 24, 2010
- Collections - Artifact
"Parnelli Jones," Clip from Interview with Leonard Wood, October 24, 2010
Wood Brothers Racing is the oldest active team in NASCAR. While other early teams treated pit stops like leisurely breaks for the driver, the Woods serviced their cars in a fast, choreographed procedure that helped win races and soon became standard. The Henry Ford interviewed members of the Wood family in 2010 at the team's museum in Stuart, Virginia.
- Jim Dilamarter - Jim Dilamarter started working with Parnelli Jones in 1969 and never stopped. Over the years, the master mechanic saw auto racing evolve from a hobby for the well-to-do into a multi-billion dollar industry ranked alongside traditional giants, like Major League Baseball and the National Football League, in audience reach and economic impact. Dilamarter reflects on this change in his interview, as well as the role of innovation in racing and the career path he followed into the sport he loves.
- October 16, 2017
- Collections - Video
Jim Dilamarter
Jim Dilamarter started working with Parnelli Jones in 1969 and never stopped. Over the years, the master mechanic saw auto racing evolve from a hobby for the well-to-do into a multi-billion dollar industry ranked alongside traditional giants, like Major League Baseball and the National Football League, in audience reach and economic impact. Dilamarter reflects on this change in his interview, as well as the role of innovation in racing and the career path he followed into the sport he loves.
- Parnelli Jones Signing Autographs at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, May 1967 - Parnelli Jones was photographed at Indianapolis Motor Speedway during practice and qualifying for the 1967 Indianapolis 500. He drove the #40 car for Andy Granatelli's STP team. It was powered by a turbine engine with a distinctive sound that earned it the nickname "Wooshmobile." Jones dominated the race until a gearbox bearing failed only four laps from the finish.
- May 01, 1967
- Collections - Artifact
Parnelli Jones Signing Autographs at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, May 1967
Parnelli Jones was photographed at Indianapolis Motor Speedway during practice and qualifying for the 1967 Indianapolis 500. He drove the #40 car for Andy Granatelli's STP team. It was powered by a turbine engine with a distinctive sound that earned it the nickname "Wooshmobile." Jones dominated the race until a gearbox bearing failed only four laps from the finish.
- A.J. Foyt and Parnelli Jones in Hoosier Hundred Race, September 16, 1961 - Parnelli Jones (left) and A.J. Foyt charged around the dirt track at the Indiana State Fairgrounds during the 1961 Hoosier Hundred in Indianapolis. Foyt won the 100-mile/100-lap event with an average race speed of 92.369 miles per hour. Jones bowed out on lap 78 due to problems with his car's rear end.
- September 16, 1961
- Collections - Artifact
A.J. Foyt and Parnelli Jones in Hoosier Hundred Race, September 16, 1961
Parnelli Jones (left) and A.J. Foyt charged around the dirt track at the Indiana State Fairgrounds during the 1961 Hoosier Hundred in Indianapolis. Foyt won the 100-mile/100-lap event with an average race speed of 92.369 miles per hour. Jones bowed out on lap 78 due to problems with his car's rear end.
- Parnelli Jones Celebrating Victory at Laguna Seca Trans-Am Race, April 1970 - Parnelli Jones raced and won everywhere in the 1960s and 1970s -- on dirt tracks, at Pikes Peak, in NASCAR, and in off-road events. He won the Indianapolis 500 as a driver in 1963 and as a team owner, with driver Al Unser, in 1970 and 1971. Off track, Jones sold tires and automotive parts through his retail businesses.
- April 19, 1970
- Collections - Artifact
Parnelli Jones Celebrating Victory at Laguna Seca Trans-Am Race, April 1970
Parnelli Jones raced and won everywhere in the 1960s and 1970s -- on dirt tracks, at Pikes Peak, in NASCAR, and in off-road events. He won the Indianapolis 500 as a driver in 1963 and as a team owner, with driver Al Unser, in 1970 and 1971. Off track, Jones sold tires and automotive parts through his retail businesses.