Parnelli Jones, Champion Auto Racer and Record Setter, Is Dead at 90

Parnelli Jones, who as a teenager traded in a horse for a hot rod and went on to become one of the biggest stars in auto racing and a storied figure at the Indianapolis 500, died on Tuesday in Torrance, Calif., where he had lived for many years. He was 90.

His son P.J. confirmed in an interview that Jones died at Torrance Memorial Medical Center surrounded by family and friends. He had been treated for Parkinson’s disease, which was diagnosed about 10 years ago, his son said.

Jones was best known for his exploits at the Indy 500 in the 1960s, when it was still the premier event in auto racing. He was the oldest surviving winner of the race, capturing it in 1963 and leading on 44 percent of the laps he raced in his seven Indy 500s.

He was later a team owner with his business partner Vel Miletich, sponsoring Al Unser Sr. in his 1970 and ’71 Indy 500 victories.

“Parnelli Jones was the greatest driver of his era,” his contemporary Mario Andretti once said. “He had aggressiveness and also a finesse that no one else possessed. And he won on everything he put his hands on.”

Jones captured dozens of races, winning six times in Indy races and four times in NASCAR events and triumphing in off-road, sports car, sprint and midget races as well. His team competed in Formula 1 from 1974 to 1976, but his best finish in that venue was fourth in the 1975 Sweden Grand Prix.