Parnelli Jones, a hard-bitten, hard-charging race driver who came out of Torrance and won the controversial Indianapolis 500 in 1963, then was the hard-luck
loser four years later, died Tuesday at Torrance Memorial Medical Center after a battle with Parkinson's disease. He was 90. At the time of his death, Jones was the oldest living winner of the Indy 500. And although he won the race at Indy — then unquestionably the biggest motor sports event in the world — only once and ran in it only seven times, he stands as one of the dominant figures of his driving era, an era that also produced A.J. Foyt, Jim Clark, Dan Gurney and Richard Petty.
Even so, many considered Clark the rightful winner, arguing that the decision was simply the Indianapolis Establishment taking care of one of its own. Sachs, in fact, said on national TV that he'd spun in Jones' oil and that Jones' victory was “tainted.” The next day, at a gathering in a nearby motel, Jones asked Sachs to repeat what he'd said on TV. Sachs did, an argument ensued and Jones punched Sachs in the mouth, drawing blood. By 1967, things had again changed at Indy.
United Kingdom Latest News, United Kingdom Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Racing legend Parnelli Jones has diedProsecutors charged Julious Johnican with neglect of a dependent for failing to stop a fight that happened between students in his classroom.
Read more »
Racing legend Parnelli Jones dies at 90Jacqueline is a graduate of Indiana University where she studied Journalism with a concentration in digital journalism.
Read more »
Parnelli Jones, who was the oldest living Indy 500 winner, dies at 90Parnelli Jones, the 1963 Indianapolis 500 winner, died Tuesday at Torrance Memorial Medical Center after a battle with Parkinson's disease, his son said. Jones was 90. Jones was the oldest living winner of “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing.”
Read more »
On this day in 1963On this day in 1963, Cleve McDowell became the first Black American to attend the University of Mississippi School of Law.
Read more »
On this day in 1963On this day in 1963, a mob attacked Black and white activists at a Woolworth’s lunch counter in Jackson, Mississippi.
Read more »
Indianapolis 500 delayed as strong storm forces fans to evacuate Indianapolis Motor SpeedwayThe start of the Indianapolis 500 was delayed as a strong storm pushed through the area Sunday, forcing Indianapolis Motor Speedway officials to evacuate about 125,000 fans who had already arrived …
Read more »