Jones, who passed away at the age of 90, held the title of the oldest living winner of the prestigious Indy 500, also known as “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing.”
Born in Texarkana, Arkansas, in 1933, Rufus Parnell Jones moved to Torrance as a child and remained there for the rest of his life. To compete without locals recognizing his true identity and age, he adopted the nickname “Parnelli,” derived from his name Rufus. The name was initially painted on the door of his 1934 Ford jalopy as “Parnellie,” but the final “e” was eventually removed.
In 1962, Jones achieved a significant milestone at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway by becoming the first driver to qualify at a speed over 150 mph, with an average of four laps at 150.370 mph. He secured the pole position for the Indy 500 in 1962 and 1963 and was recognized as co-rookie of the year alongside Bobby Marshman in 1961.
Throughout his racing career, Jones competed in seven Indianapolis races from 1961 to 1967, leading in five of them for a total of 492 laps. This puts him in eighth place in race history in terms of laps led. In the two races where he did not lead, in 1965 and 1966, Jones consistently held the second position. He finished as runner-up in 1965 and faced mechanical issues that forced him to retire in 1966.
Considered one of the most versatile drivers of his era, Jones ventured into various forms of racing and achieved notable success. He triumphed in the Baja 1000 twice and won a Trans-Am championship. Additionally, Jones secured four victories in the NASCAR Cup Series and obtained wins in USAC sprint and midget cars.
Jones leaves behind his wife of almost 57 years, Judy, as well as his two children PJ and Page, and six grandchildren. Both children pursued professional careers in racing, with PJ Jones following in his father’s footsteps by competing in the Indianapolis 500 in 2004 and 2006. Page Jones showed promising talent on Midwestern short tracks until a serious accident in 1994 ended his career as a driver.
Recognized for his remarkable achievements, Jones was inducted into several prestigious Halls of Fame, including the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Hall of Fame, the National Motorsports Hall of Fame, and the National Sprint Car and Midget Auto Racing Halls of Fame.
Although he never competed in Formula 1, Jones’s impact extended beyond the borders of the United States, establishing him as an international icon of racing in his era.
