In Memoriam: Parnelli Jones 

One of the original "bad asses" that could drive and win in anything and never took any crap from anybody even Foyt RIP

Awesome tribute to an awesome driver. R. I. P. Parnelli, may you travel faster still, through the heavens.

Saved AJ’s life at Riverside, they had given him up for dead and Parnelli went into the ambulance and pulled a clod of grass and dirt out of his throat AJ started breathing again

My dad worked for Mr. Agaganian. My dad was pit crew and mechanic for Parnelli Jones. My dad set up the car 98 that won the Indy 500. RIP Parnell Jones.

"If you're too precise, you're being too slow."

Those were the days. Parnelli Jones, Dan Gurney, AJ Foyt, the Unser brothers, Mario Andretti, Mark Donohue. Guys who could drive every type of car and be competitive. We won't see this again.

I spoke with Parnelli once and told him about MY memories of his breaking 150 at Indy. I was 3 years and 2 months old and the family was watching from the Paddock Penthouse. I admit I had no idea what was going on but could still understand the excitement as the "New Track Record" was announced! The roar of the car and the crowd amazed me and I struggled to understand what had happened. I knew that the cars were going around and then going to talk to the man on the PA by the tower. When Parnelli did it they said he broke the 'record'. I knew what records were I thought. We played them on the record player and I was warned not to break them! Parnelli broke a record and everyone cheered and he pulled in to talk to the man at the tower and they gave him things. I later learned that this was Phil Headback, an Indianapolis Bryant dealer awarding him 150 silver dollars for qualifying over 150 MPH. So you go and talk to the man by the tower and you get things, this must have something to do with Christmas I thought. In 2002 I met Parnelli Jones and told him of my memories while we watched a sprint car race at Perris, CA and the first words from him were, "You don't hardly look old enough!" A few years later I spoke with another racer, Glen Crossno about something Parnelli had done for the fans as an autograph appearance at Indy. Glen said "I wish I knew when he started to be such a nice guy, because when I was racing against him he was a (expletive deleted)! Parnelli was a gentleman who knew what he had to become to win races and knew that when he was being the racer he was having an effect on the people around him that he cared about. He delayed marriage and family until he was through with his driving career which was more common in his time when the sport was so much more risky for driver than today. I think he valued family and life too much to continue the chances he had to take as a driver. When he quit he gave up the chance to win four Indy 500's but maybe he had his heart in the right place.

His passing is very significant, there's always been Parnelli Jones my entire life ( and well before) , it had to come sometime though. I hate to see the greats of the greatest era leave us.

A true Champion and innovator. You will always be remembered and cherished. So many victories and in so many different classes of cars. RIP and God bless you and your family. Godspeed.

The ONE and the ONLY. At a USAC event in the EARLY days, my family followed the tour. We were near his pit one afternoon, my mother had one of those aluminum tumblers in her hand, she offered him a drink. He accepted, took the tumbler, and KEPT it. After that, when we would see him at the track, Mom would ask him IF he still had it? And yes, that tumbler would be right next to the tool box in the pits. He even allowed us to sit in the cars IF they weren't too crowded. A great thrill for us. Sad news and my condolences to the family.

Mario is correct about him retiring too early. But racing was so so dangerous back then. Many drivers died or were badly hurt. One cannot blame him for stepping away with his health.

He was before my era, but to get compliments like those from AJ, Al Sr., Mario, says everything you need to know about Parnelli Jones. RIP.

RIP Rufus. There will never be another like Parnelli.

Had the great honor of having met this legend. I have never been one to ask anyone for their autograph, but he was gracious and doing this. The same day, same track, Parris CA I also got Kyle Larson to sign right next to Mr. Jones! Great tribute!

Rip Mr Jones

I remember kids saying who do you think you are Parnelli Jones, if you were fast. R I P🏁🏎️🏁🇺🇲

Nice tribute and he could take any car that was under performing and by the end of the day have it to where he would win the race in that car.

Legend.

R.I.P Parnelli

Legend..even in Europe, another star is gone 😔

R.I.P. Champ 🏆

RIP Parnelli. One of the all time greats!

Gentleman racer!!!

Yes, the remarkable Parnelli Jones. Sad he is gone, But it was a long life.

Wonderful, classy tribute to a great man and driver.

BEST All Around Of All Time..sprint cars.... Indy cars... Trans AM cars... F~1 cars.... Grand National boats... Offroad bronco.... Pikes Peek racer... I think he tried drag racing....The only thing he didn't try ? Motercycles..R.I.P...❤

Such a nice tribute ❤

Parnelli was also instrumental with the early development of adapting the Cosworth DFV F1 engine to run in Indy Cars; which entailed downsizing the engine displacement, converting it from running on gasoline to methanol, and accepting turbocharging . . . no small feat of engineering. The resulting Cosworth DFX engine brought in a new era of open-wheel racing to North America; and made the four-cylinder [turbocharged] Offy engines obsolete.

I meet Mr. Jones A Few Times he was driving 18 wheelers for S.T.P Oil and Tires For The Races he didn't act funny when I asked for his Autograph.

Damn ... rest in peace PJ.

One of the greatest for sure!

Checkered flag. 🙏

One of many icons in Indy car who we'll never, ever forget. Brought tears to my eyes. Thanks Parnelli for stopping in Gasoline Alley & autographing my 1967 turbine photo. Condolences to the Jones family.🏎️🏁🙏

To a great man and racer. Now you can meet up with my dad and talk about all your race stories at Ascot. He always told me how he loved racing with you. David will be waiting to hear from you when you meet up again. Rest in peace Champion!!

He was a race car driver. Didn't really matter what kind.

RIP

I remember some years ago talking to a couple of old time Indy journalists about the Indy drivers who would have been great in F1 had they chosen to go that route and we all three agreed on the two guys who would have been best. The first, of course, was AJ Foyt. The other was Parnelli. He was as good a driver in his day as any driver in the world.

I ran the #15 on all my race cars because of Rufus Parnelli Jones and Bud Moore. RIP Warrior. 😢

Godspeed, Parnelli Jones. 🙏♥

RIP Sir

Thanks PJ for giving me a Shot, Drive On!!

Another true Champion lost.

Great tribute.

A REAL RACER! UNLIKE THESE ( DRIVERS ) TODAY!👍

In his " Retirement " , PJ went Off Road racing in his " BIG OLY " Ford Bronco. When once asked to describe "... what is it like to run the Baja 1000 " ( Kilometer ) - Parnelli's response was classic : " It's like being in a plane crash that lasts for TWENTY - FOUR HOURS ." Worth noting that this was before radial tires, huge shocks and lotsa cushioning... PJ also won the 1967 Motor Trend 500 at California's Riverside Raceway. That's 500 miles in a Ford Fairlane with roll - up windows, bias ply tube -type tires, and very little driver comfort. RIP PJ...

Parnelli could have been an F1 Champion if he had pursued it.

Parnelli Jones just might be the greatest race car driver ever.

GOD BLESS RUFUS 🙏 DAM 😥 I HATE BURYING MY HEROES 🤠❤️😺💜 WYOMING 🇺🇸💞 REST IN PEACE 🕊️

After winning the 64 Indy, his nickname was "Parn-oily". The officals refused to black flag his oil leaking roadster so Clark couldn't pass and win in his rear engine Lotus!

One of the greatest legends in Indy 500 history!!! Thanks Parnelli. 🏎🏁🧱