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5 unusual facts about Parnelli Jones


Checkered Flag or Crash

Checkered Flag or Crash is a 1977 film about off-road racing through the Philippines jungle, starring Joe Don Baker and Susan Sarandon and featuring Larry Hagman, Alan Vint and Parnelli Jones.

Parnelli Jones

He is most remembered for his accomplishments at the Indianapolis 500.

In 1968, Jones headed a super-roster of seven drivers signed by Andy Granatelli to drive STP Lotus 56 turbine cars in an unprecedented single-team assault on the Indianapolis 500.

In 1962, he became the first driver to qualify over 150 mph.

Jones was named the 1961 Indianapolis 500 Rookie of the Year, an honor that he shared with Bobby Marshman.


1963 Tony Bettenhausen 200

Jim Clark and Team Lotus had finished second at the 1963 Indianapolis 500 after a controversy surrounding the lack of a black flag for winner Parnelli Jones, whose car was leaking oil.


see also

Joe Leonard

In 1973 Leonard would return to Vel's Parnelli Jones, driving the #1 Samsonite Parnelli VPJ-2-Offenhauser.

Of their three cars in 1973 only Andretti in 5th place would make the top 10, they alost their Samsonite sponsorship at the end of the year and Firestone (Vel's Parnelli Jones tire supplier since in the USAC National Championship since their debut in 1967) was cutting back their racing funding before pulling out completely at the end of the year.