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Reading
The Roadster Years
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Parnelli Jones, at the wheel of the Agajanian-owned Watson roadster, during his 1961 debut race at Indianapolis. Despite being a rookie, Jones led 27 laps of the race, and might have won, were it not for engine problems. Photo: Bob Tronolone
Legends Speak

The Roadster Years

 Parnelli Jones

My first experience with a front-engine roadster was when I first went back east to race. I wound up driving a lay-down roadster that was built by Quin Epperly. Actually, in my rookie year—my first year there was 1960—I almost won the race at Milwaukee. I was leading in the Epperly, with about 13 laps to go, when the torque arm broke.

Parnelli JonesPhoto: Jim Hatfield
Parnelli Jones
Photo: Jim Hatfield

For me, really the only difference between racing a sprint car and a front-engine roadster was that the roadster was a little bigger. At that point in time, I think sprint cars definitely took more talent to drive than the bigger roadsters. However, the big advantage that the roadsters had, obviously, was handling. But I also think the driver had a big part in that. I mean I used to do all my own chassis setups in my sprint cars going back to my jalopy, modified and stock car days. I always did my own setups and, therefore, I think that helped me when I went to the Speedway. It’s not like today, where you have engineers and everything else. Of course, it’s such an aerodynamic thing today but, actually, we had a lot of good drivers who were very mechanical and knowledgeable and did a lot of their own stuff—guys like Foyt. Foyt was big at that—in fact, he still is, in a sense—as well as Hurtubise and some of the other guys.

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Brand (Firestone)Brand (Watson)Decade (1960s)Featured (Legends Speak)Featured (Racecar Feature)People (A.J. Foyt)People (A.J. Watson)People (Jim Hurtubise)People (Parnelli Jones)People (Quin Epperly)People (Rufus "Parnelli" Jones)People (Tony Bettenhausen)Race (Indianapolis 500)Racetrack (IMS (Indianapolis Motor Speedway))Series (Indycar)

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Parnelli Jones
Steve Natale has been playing with cars ever since he was old enough to first hold a matchbox car in his hand. A lifelong enthusiast of anything old with an engine in it or wheels on it, Steve has been active in the hobby for over 35 years. Currently he owns a successful marketing company with his wife Mary, is an automotive photographer, blogger and writer for several automotive magazines and regular contributor to various automotive websites. Steve has attended vintage car events and visited car museums and collections around the world.
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