FILE - In this May 30, 1963, file photo, Parnelli Jones, center, celebrates his victory in the 47th running of the Indianapolis 500 auto race.INDIANAPOLIS — One of the greatest natural racers of all-time is gone as 1963 Indianapolis 500 winner Parnelli Jones passed away peacefully of natural causes Tuesday, June 4.The news of his passing was confirmed by his son, PJ Jones, at 5 p.m. Eastern Time. Jones passed away at Torrance Memorial Medical Center with family members at his side.
“You want people to be around with us forever. I love that man in so many ways. As a driver, I learned so much from him. He was spectacular as a driver. There was a natural flow with him. He drove JC Agajanian’s Roadster to victory in the 1963 Indianapolis 500 and four years later, came within 3-1/2 laps of driving Andy Granatelli’s revolutionary STP Turbine to victory before a $6 ball bearing broke, leaving his car to break in the north end of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway after dominating the race and leading 171 laps of the 200-lap race.
He was born during the height of the Great Depression, Jones’ mother named him after a local judge – Rufus Parnell – whom she respected, christening her new son Rufus Parnell Jones. Billy knew Jones’ middle name was Parnell, and he would joke around with him, calling him “Parnellie.” Billy painted the name “Parnellie” on the jalopy door and the rest is racing history. The “e” was dropped somewhere along the way, and he’s been known as “Parnelli” ever since.
He made seven Indianapolis 500 starts from 1961-67 and led five of seven IndyCar 500 races for a total of 492 laps.In the 1967 Indianapolis 500, raced Andy Granatelli’s innovative and controversial STP Turbine car, dropping out while leading on lap 197 of 200 when a $6 ball bearing failed, leaving him in sixth place.First USAC Indy car start was June 5, 1960, Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He started 13th and finished 16th, completing 97 of 100 laps in a race won by Rodger Ward.
He was the NASCAR Motor Trend 500 winner in 1967, the SCCA Trans-Am Champion in 1970, had two Baja 500 Off-Road wins in 1970 & 1973, two Baja 1000 Off-Road wins in 1971 and 1972.His racing career began in the early 1950s when he began racing Jalopies in Southern California.