PIONEER- AUTO RACING

Danny Ongais was an eleven year veteran of the Indianapolis 500. He was the only driver born and raised in Hawai’i and the only driver of Hawaiian ancestry to compete at the famous oval raceway.

Nicknamed the “Flying Hawaiian”, Ongais drove his first Indy in 1977, but his overall auto racing career spanned 25 years and found him behind the wheel of dragsters, sportscars and Formula I Grand Prix racers as well.

In 1963 and 1964 Ongais was the American Hot Rod Association AA Gas Dragster Champion and in 1965 he was the National Hot Rod Association AA Dragster Champion.

In one year, 1969, Ongais set 295 world land speed and endurance records at the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah. He also raced on two wheels as well. He was the Hawai’i State Motorcycle Champion in 1960.

Ongais was inducted into the Motorsports Hall of Fame in June, 2000.

BORN 1942 – DIED 2022