Parnelli Jones Racing is an American team founded in 1969 by former USAC driver Parnelli Jones and his business partner Velko Miletich. Initially, their interests were exclusively focused on USAC (United States Auto Club) racing, a motorsport federation dedicated to organizing automobile races in the United States since 1956. Once they secured the services of former Lotus engineer Maurice Philippe and driver Mario Andretti, Parnelli and Miletich decided to venture into Formula 1 with financial backing from tire manufacturer Firestone.
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| PARNELLI VPJ4, Mario Andretti Montjuïc Park, Spanish GP 1975 |
The Parnelli VPJ4 car owes much of its design to the shape of Maurice Philippe’s Lotus 72. In fact, Philippe’s project for the new Parnelli VPJ4 closely followed the lines and technical aspects of the Lotus 72, which had also been designed by the British engineer. The car featured an aluminum monocoque chassis fitted with the classic 3.0-liter Ford Cosworth DFV V8 engine, managed by a five-speed Hewland FG 400 gearbox. The suspension system followed the traditional double-wishbone design with inboard dampers, initially optimized for Firestone tires. However, after Firestone withdrew from racing in early 1975, the team switched to the more conventional Goodyear tires. The American team’s single-seater had a wheelbase of 2540mm and a weight of 578kg. Its sleek design featured a low, flat nose that extended into a streamlined wedge shape, ending just ahead of the rear wheels, where two radiators were positioned at a 45-degree angle.
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| PARNELLI VPJ4, Mario Andretti Paul Ricard, French GP 1975 |
The VPJ4 made its debut at the 1974 Canadian Grand Prix, where Andretti secured an impressive seventh-place finish. In the 1975 season, Parnelli participated in all the championship races except for those in Belgium and the Netherlands, which clashed with American racing events in which Andretti also competed for Parnelli.
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| PARNELLI VPJ4, Mario Andretti Montecarlo, Monaco GP 1975 |
The results were inconsistent, with strong performances alternating with retirements or poor finishes. Despite this, the VPJ4 managed to collect five points, allowing the American team to finish tenth in the Constructors' Championship. In 1976, with the updated VPJ4B version, Parnelli entered the World Championship again. However, after skipping the opening race and competing in the second and third rounds of the season, the team withdrew from Formula 1, enabling Andretti to continue the season behind the wheel of a Lotus.
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