(Indianapolis) A true racing legend, probably one of the biggest ever in motorsports, is gone.
IndyCar and the Indianapolis Motor Speedway both confirm the Tuesday death of 90-year-old Parnelli Jones. Rufus Parnell Jones was born in Texarkana back in 1933. He died surrounded by family in Torrance, California, according to officials. Jones had been the oldest living Indianapolis 500 champion, having won the race back in 1963. He was the first driver to qualify for the 500 going faster than 150 miles an hour. He only ran the race 7 times, yet when he did, Jones led at least some portion of the race every time, for a total of 492 laps, the 8th-highest laps led total in the event’s history.
Jones retired from driving at only 34 years of age in 1968, to concentrate on being a team owner. That paid off as Al Unser, Senior won it driving for Jones in 1970 and ’71. Survived by his wife of 56 years, Judy, and their 2 sons PJ and Page, the great Parnelli Jones has passed at age 90.