P.J.Jones just annonced the death of his father legend Parneli Jones age 90

https://racer.com/2024/06/04/parnelli-jones-1933-2024/

We lost a great one . I loved watching him in old Rufus at Trenton. I thought that was one best looking cars I had ever seen and Parnelli looked like what a race driver should look like . I miss guys like him and AJ in Indy car today there was a certain rough around the edges quality about the guys back then that it missing today with the pretty boys we got now who as the say wouldn say sh$t for a bucket full. I guess I just miss those days with those simple cars with men who were bigger than life to a kid like me who loved the sounds and smells of racing. 

Truly one of auto racing's all-time greats. As a kid I had tried to build a model kit of his 1963 Indy 500 winner.  A treasured item in my racing memorabilia collection is Parnelli's autograph that I obtained from him at Pocono in 1973.  Coastal 181 has the fascinating book "As a Matter of Fact I AM Parnelli Jones!" that is a great read.

Johnny Lightning Special. Most beautiful Indy car. Winner at Trenton October 1970. 

More info on the Johnny Lightning Special:  https://www.indianapolismotorspeedway.com/news-multimedia/news/2020/05/08/unser-parnelli-bignotti-brought-johnny-lightnight-special-to-life-at-indy-500

When I was in elementary school and middle school, I looked in the school library probably just about every week for new books on racing... There were very few to begin with, and of the few there were, some were about forms of racing that I wasn't that interested in (compared to Indy Cars/Champ Cars.)

I found some with names like Foyt, Ward, Sachs, and Parnelli Jones, so from the first time I had heard his name, I had an idea of where he belonged, which was at the top of anyone's indy car driver list.  I didn't know until later of his involvment in other forms of racing, but like the really great racers, Parnelli could win in anything.

I always picture the great looking white and brillant blue trimmed #98 (front engine and also the rear engine car) when I think of Parnelli.  From my view, he will always be part of my Mt. Rushmore when it comes to Indy Car drivers from 60's.