NASCAR and the overall motorsports world are mourning the loss of one of its most accomplished drivers, Parnelli Jones, who passed away on Tuesday at 90. Jones is celebrated for his victory in the 1963 Indianapolis 500 and as an Indy 500-winning team owner.

His son, P.J. Jones, confirmed that his father died at Torrance Memorial Medical Center at 5 p.m. Tuesday, surrounded by family. P.J. shared that his father had been battling Parkinson’s disease for several years.

Though many would remember Parnelli for his iconic Indy 500 and Baja 1000 victories, it was actually stock car racing that set Parnelli Jones on the path to becoming a legend. Not just this, the motorsports legend lived a passionate life as he frequently returned to his stock car racing roots, including NASCAR, even amidst his successful years in open-wheel and off-road racing.

Parnelli Jones was the most versatile driver of all time, and he admired versatility like that of Kyle Larson

“I’m the kind of guy who likes to see what’s on the other side of the hill. So I’ve enjoyed them all. Certainly, I enjoyed doing the Baja races as much as far as just having fun. Of course, winning Indianapolis is the most outstanding in my career. That was also fun because I adapted to Indy really well. And I had very much success as a rookie there and so on,” Jones once shared. What a legend, right?

But it wasn’t just the 90-year-old’s skills on various racetracks that made him stand out; even his name has a quirky story behind it. Jones once told Hot Rod magazine that his mother named him after a successful judge named Rufus Parnell. Starting his racing career at just 17, he needed a phony ID since the minimum age was 21. One of the school girls had nicknamed him Parnellie, which he used for his ID because he thought going by Rufus would have been a giveaway that he wasn’t old enough. He even tweaked ‘Parnellie‘ to ‘Parnelli‘ to make it sound more Italian. It looks like he was always on the path to doing something big!

During the 1950s, Jones raced just about anything with wheels, but he really made his mark in sprint cars. By 1958, the legend had joined the California Racing Association (CRA) series, and by the next year, he was juggling his schedule between CRA races in the West, the International Motor Contest Association (IMCA) sprinters in the Midwest, and the United States Auto Club (USAC) events in the East. He clinched the USAC 1960 Midwest sprint car title, and in 1961, he grabbed the USAC’s first national sprint car championship. This string of successes landed him his first stint in the then-USAC-sanctioned 1961 Indianapolis 500.

Jones’s formidable reputation as a tough competitor made him the most popular choice for teams across various motorsport disciplines. What a talented man! He drove stock cars, sprint cars, Indy cars, and sports cars, basically for any team that would have him, and also found victory across almost all these formats—winning four times in 34 NASCAR starts and even clinching the stock-car division at the 1964 Pikes Peak International Hill Climb—yet he never fully committed to chasing a driver’s championship, though the idea tempted him.

This willingness to embrace new challenges could be a reason why he admired anyone who stepped outside the norm to try something new. In fact, interestingly, Kyle Larson’s recent entry into the NTT INDYCAR Series at the 108th running of the Indianapolis 500 was inspired by Jones’s 1963 win at “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing.”

To everyone’s surprise, Larson’s dad, Mike, grew up inspired by Parnelli Jones, never imagining his son would follow a path similar to his, who, at 90, was the oldest living winner of the Indy 500. However, like Jones, Larson seems to be on the path of becoming known for his skill in handling any type of race car and securing victories across diverse racing disciplines.

The late legend was thrilled to watch Kyle Larson excel in qualifying, all from his home in Rolling Hills, California. Life could be so uncertain at times. It was just a couple of days ago that he was heard saying, “I’m proud of Kyle! He did a great job this weekend at Indianapolis. He looked like he was having fun, and that helps you when you’re on the track – if it’s fun and not stressful.”

“We knew he could drive any car and succeed and his performance so far in qualifying backs that up. Kyle’s a smart driver and has strong skills and awareness, whether in a sprint car on the dirt or on the pavement in an Indy car. […] I wish him the very best on Race Day. I can’t wait to see how Kyle does. So far, he’s nailed it; he’s right there. He’s a good guy. Oh, yeah, I almost forgot – good luck in Charlotte, too. The double!“ Jones had remarked.

While he could not see Kyle Larson managing the double duty, his encouragement was sure to spur Larson on to keep doing what he does best—mastering any ride he would take on. And while Larson’s exploits provide plenty of inspiration, Jones’ presence is irreplaceable in the racing world.

NASCAR fans have been pouring out their hearts to honor the legendary driver

When Racer.com announced the sad news of Parnelli Jones’s passing, the comments section quickly filled with heartfelt tributes. From simple messages like, “RIP 🪦 🏎️“ to heartfelt praises like, “RIP Parnelli Jones, one of the all-time icons of auto racing. The 1963 Indy 500 winner won 4 NASCAR Cup races among his many accomplishments.“ Fans shared their sorrow and admiration openly.

Some expressed their personal condolences, posting comments like, “Very sad news, he was a great racer and a lovely man. Thoughts with Judy, Page, PJ and the rest of the family. X,” and “Wow. Such a great driver of everything he sat in. Rip.“ Others added, “RIP to one of the greatest to ever race” and “RIP Parnelli Jones, one of the all-time icons of auto racing. The 1963 Indy 500 winner won 4 NASCAR Cup races among his many accomplishments.”

Many messages also prayed for strength to his family: “Parnelli Jones was a true racing legend. Thoughts are with his friends and family. #RIP,” “God speed to one of the great ones… Parnelli Jones. He will forever be a champion and gentleman. Thoughts are with his close friends and family,” and “Condolences to the family of 1963 Indianapolis 500 champion Parnelli Jones who has passed.”

EssentiallySports also joins in paying homage to the legendary figure in racing history. May God give strength to Parnelli Jones’ family, friends, and fans!