Rufus Parnell Jones, who has died aged 90, was one of the fastest, most versatile and best-loved racing drivers to grace US motorsport.
Immortalised with AJ Foyt, Mario Andretti and Dan Gurney as a pillar of American racing’s version of the ‘Million-Dollar Quartet’, Parnelli – as he was universally known – was a winner in everything he drove, from Sprint Cars and Midgets to IndyCars and NASCAR, sports cars and Trans-Am, and even off-road at Pikes Peak and Baja.
Born in Akansas, Parnelli spent the vast majority of his life in Torrance, California, from where he established himself in the 1950s as a fast-rising star.
He made his NASCAR Cup debut with team owner Vel Miletich in 1958 and broke through into Sprint Cars, winning the USAC Mid-west title in 1960, then a pair of National crowns in the following years.
On his first appearance at the Indianapolis 500 in 1961, Parnelli qualified fifth and led 27 laps before JC Agajanian’s Watson-Offy roadster dropped a cylinder and a shard of metal cut him above his left eye. He finished 12th with blood-filled goggles.
Parnelli Jones (98) en route to his 1963 Indianapolis 500 victory, leading Jim Hurtubise (56), Bobby Marshman (5), Jim McElreath (8) and Rodger Ward (1) © Getty Images
