This week, we lost Parnelli Jones at the age of 90. A friend, mentor, and giant in the world of racing, Parnelli’s impact on my career was immeasurable. Working with him on the book “The Cars of Val Miletich and Parnelli Jones,” traveling to Indy twice, and making the unforgettable trip to the Goodwood Festival of Speed in 2011 — these moments are etched in my memory.
He was one of a kind, and God doesn’t make ’em like him anymore. In honor of Parnelli, let’s dive into one of his favorite cars, the legendary Johnny Lightning #2, which looked like it was built by Zeus himself. “My partner, Vel, and I won the Indianapolis 500 with that particular car with Al Unser driving in 1970, and we led 190 of the 200 actual laps,” Parnelli reminisced.
Just let that sink in – leading 190 out of 200 laps. That’s like leading the whole Tour de France while riding a unicycle. As Unser’s Johnny Lightning rolls onto the track, the TV announcer’s voice booms: “To win the pole, all he has to do is keep on doing what he’s been doing.
” Parnelli and Vel Miletich had put together a team that was simply unstoppable. They were on the pole with an average speed of 170 mph, dominating the race from start to finish. The checkered flag came down on Unser with a speed of 170.
221. The field was filled with the best drivers of the time, but none could keep up with the Johnny Lightning. Jim Dilamarter, a pivotal figure in this story, chimed in: “That car was a derivative of a .
