As what better way to celebrate some symbolic
Holiday with a bevy ‘O racing drivers, Eh?
Thus like many ‘O No Fenders yarns. My list of
veritable Fathers, and their Sons who were or still are racing drivers
continues growing. (below) So let’s get this Countdown Ah-Rollin’
‘Ol Rufas Parnelli Jones is a legend whom I
don’t think needs explaining. Especially since I believe He was part of the
late Robin Miller’s “Mount Rushmore” of IndyCar racing drivers!
As we All know, Parnelli was the first driver
to exceed 150mph at Indianapolis Motor speedway in 1962. Won the 1963
Indianapolis 500, along with coming Oh, so close aboard “Silent Sam” or the
Whoosh-mobile. When four years later, Parnelli’s revolutionary STP Turbine
broke down with four laps remaining while handidly leading the race…
Parnelli went onto become a Formula 1 and
IndyCar team owner, with “Big Al” (Unser) winning His first brace of Indy 500’s
aboard Jones entries. Won the 1970 SCCA Trans Am title for bud Moore Racing. Plus
the grueling Baja 1000 twice in a ford Bronco…
Rufas’s sons P.J & Page Jones were racing
drivers, albeit I don’t know anything about Page. But P.J. raced in two
Indianapolis 500’s during the 2000’s, along with contesting NASCAR, Sports Cars
and Stadium Trucks.
Yet P.J’s greatest success came when driving
for Dan gurney’s All American Racers (AAR) All conquering IMSA GTP Toyota Eagle
MkIII. With Jones, Rocky Moran and Mark Dismore winning the 1993 24 Hours of
Daytona.
Having tested Toyota’s (CART) IndyCar engine,
Jones drove for Gurney’s IndyCar effort between 1996-98. Then switched to Pat
patrick’s IndyCar team for His final CART season in 1999.
Whilst Jagger Jones, who contested the 2023 Indy
NXT Championship, is the son of P.J. Jones
Naturally having scribbled this story prior to
Rufas Parnel Jones Death upon June 4th at age 90. Which I believe now makes ‘ol
SuperTex’ the Oldest living Indianapolis 500 winner…
What can I say about the legendous’ Anthony
Joseph Foyt Jr that hasn’t already been said? Having scribbled briefly about
‘Ol SuperTex’ (Age 89) in a previous No Fenders Sports Car tome…
http://www.nofenders.net/2023/10/le-mans-triple-crown-winners-part-3.html
While Larry foyt is the adopted son of A.J. Foyt,
and His biological Grandson. As I tend to forget that Larry, now longtime Team
Principal of A.J. Foyt Enterprises IndyCar team, contested the 2004-06
Indianapolis 500 as a driver for the same team. Along with competing in
NASCAR’s top three divisions, i.e.; Cup, Grand National and Trucks…
SuperMario’, aka Mario Andretti’s another
IndyCar legend whom I don’t need to expound about! With His son Michael gifting
Mario an IndyCar victory at Portland International Raceway on Father’s Day
1986!
For many years, Michael Andretti was the third
most successful IndyCar winner with 42 wins behind Mario’s 52 and A.J. Foyt’s
67. Before Scott Dixon became the second winningest IndyCar driver, currently
with 58 wins.
As Michael’s gone on to becoming a successful
racing team owner, now under the banner of Andretti Global. With Mikey A’s
squad having won the Indianapolis 500 five times.
Michael’s son Marco Andretti has just completed
His 19th Indianapolis 500 this year. And just wants to be His own Man and not
live under the shadow of Dad and Gramps…
Aldo Andretti was Mario’s identical twin
Brother, who passed away on December 30, 2020. Aldo did race, primarily in
Sprint cars, but had two nasty crashes. The second seeing Him fracture 14
facial bones and shatter an eye socket! For which He retired from racing
afterwards, at Mario’s insistence. As Aldo’s best remember for filling in for
Mario in an Indy 500 Drivers photo when Mario was recovering from injuries…
The late “Gentleman John” Andretti was one of
Aldo’s two sons, the other being Adam Andretti. With John being a very
accomplished racer. A true “all-rounder”, since how many IndyCar winners do you
know who were also NHRA Top Fuel Drag Racers!
John’s son Jarett is an accomplished Sprint,
Midgets and Sports Car racer. Currently driving for Andretti Motorsports this
year in IMSA’s GTD (Daytona) category. Appropriately driving a famous number
His Dad utilized. Beginning the season at the Rolex 24 aboard the No. 43
Porsche 911 GT3 R with co-drivers Gabby Chaves, Scott Hargrove and Thomas
Preining.
Oops, Y’all are probably saying what about the
forgotten Jeff Andretti, Eh? “Pops” (Mario( son and younger brother of Michael?
As Jeff was the 1991 CART/PPG IndyCar World Series and Indianapolis 500 rookie
Of the Year. (ROY) But after a nasty crash in the ’92 Indy 500 where He
suffered leg injuries from a Head-on crash, Jeff was never the same driver…
Meanwhile, how could I forget the legendary
Unser’s? Although do I have enough space remaining to recite All of their
accomplishments, Eh? Being the winningest Family at Indianapolis with a record
nine victories…
Jeremy Michael Unser Jr was the oldest of the
three Unser brothers and the first to compete at Indianapolis. As Jerry raced
in the 1958 Indianapolis 500, but was caught up in a 13-car accident on lap-1,
flying over the Turn-3 wall!
Jerry subsequently died from injuries suffered
during practice for the 1959 Indy 500 – suffering burns to over one-third of
His body along with a broken neck! As Jerry was 26 years old upon His May 17,
1959 death.
Jerry’s son Johnny Unser contested five Indy
500’s and is part of the answer to a Indy 500 trivia question regarding 35
Starters in ’97.
Whilst I tend to believe I “spoke” to Him once
briefly following a Legends Day outing. When He told us that Uncle bobby was
still telling Him how to wind-up the garden hose correctly!
Being a super friendly Unser, who I believe is
now a race steward for the USF Juniors series. Whom I always forget raced at Le
Mans in a Callaway Corvette…
What can I scribble adequately about Robert
William Unser, better known simply as “Uncle Bobby”. Other than He’s the only
Indy 500 winning Unser I’ve ever met, briefly at Mother Speedway. As Bobby’s
antics are simply legendous! Including reportedly once setting a Rolls Royce on
fire at a Demolition Derby! Along with His three Indianapolis 500 victories.
As Y’all can learn
about the “real” Uncle bobby from His Hilarious Roast held a few years ago in
the following link…
http://www.nofenders.net/2023/05/night-before-indy-500-tradition.html
Bobby’s son Robby Unser contested two
Indianapolis 500 races, both being Top-10 finishes; a fifth and eighth place
result. Along with winning what arguably was the Unser’s “Playground”, the
Pikes Peak Hillclimb nine times.
And then Thars big Al, the quiet one of this
bunch. Who did His talking on track by winning the Indianapolis 500 Four times!
Oh yeah, Al Unser Sr. who beat His son to
capture the 1985 CART Championship has done something that brother Bobby never
did. Winning the 1984 24 Hours of Daytona.
Al Unser, Jr, better known as ‘lil Al will be
infamously noted for saying “You just don’t know what Indy means!” Not to
mention winning the race twice in 1992 and 1994. Along with winning the Rolex
24 in those iconic Lowenbrau Porsche 962’s twice. Although ‘lil Al’s seemingly
known best for His personal struggles…
Alferd Richard Unser, known as either Al III or Just Al, is the son of Al Unser Jr, who ultimately had a mediocre racing career. Competing in the Toyota Atlantics, Infinity Pro Series and Indy Lights, scored multiple Top-5 finishes. But ultimately lost His ride (twice) due to lack of funding and is now a Realtor in Albuquerque…
