Fierce rivals

Mario Andretti and Parnelli Jones find another venue to battle upon, like here at Mosport in 1967. The two American drivers, already fierce rivals in the USAC series, cross paths all-around the US and Canada in various machinery. Mario Andretti will further rise and win, amongst many others, the 1969 Indy 500 winner and 1978 Formula One Drivers’ World Championship.

Rufus Parnell “Parnelli” Jones (August 12, 1933 – June 4, 2024) was an American professional racing driver and racing team owner. He is notable for his accomplishments while competing in the Indianapolis 500, the Baja 1000 desert race, and the Trans-Am Championship series.

In 1962, he became the first driver to qualify for the Indy 500 at over 150 mph (240 km/h). He won the race in 1963, then famously broke down while leading the 1967 race with three laps to go in a turbine car. During his career as an owner, he won the Indy 500 in 1970-1971 with driver Al Unser Sr.

Parnelli Jones, just like Mario Andretti, was a tough, fast and respected competitor, and won races in many types of vehicles: Sports Cars, IndyCars, sprint cars, midgets, off-road vehicles, and stock cars. Here-under: Mario Andretti’s Viceroy Vel’s Parnelli Jones 1974 Eagle-Offenhauser.