THE racing world is mourning the passing of American star Danny Ongais who has died at the age of 79.
Known as the ‘Flyin’ Hawaiian’, Ongais’ long career saw him excel in Indy cars, F1 and drag racing.
Danny Ongais has passed at the age of 79Credit: GettyThe Hawaiian was hugely successful in the 1970s and 1980sCredit: GettyHe was known as ‘On Gas’ and the ‘Flyin’ Hawaiian’Credit: Getty
Born in Kahului in 1942, the racing star started a long journey that would ultimately lead him to the most famous circuits in the world.
Following a spell in the US Army, he returned to his native Hawaii and became the state’s 1960 motorcycle champion.
That success would see him migrate from bikes to cars, kickstarting a phenomenal career that lasted more than five decades.
Ongais could seemingly turn his hand to any discipline and made eleven starts in the iconic Indy 500.
He made a foray into the world of F1 in 1977, racing for Interscope and briefly Team Tissot Ensign.
His best racing season came in 1978, where Ongais won five races and eight poles en route to an eighth-place finish in the USAC standings.
And that led to CART in 1979, where he would stay for the next eight years.
In 1981 he cheated death after a horrendous crash in Indianapolis, which left him with multiple leg, arm and internal injuries.
Ongais retired in 1988, but was convinced to return at the age of 54 in 1996 after the tragic death of Scott Brayton in Indy 500 practice.
