Gordon smiley biography

Gordon Eugene Smiley (April 20, 1949 - May 15, 1982) was an American race automobile driver from Omaha, Nebraska^[1] who was killed in a single-car crash at the Indianapolis Automobile Speedway.

He was inducted into the Nebraska Motorcar Racing Hall of Fame detailed 2000.

SCCA and Road Racing Career

Driving his first race at register 19, Smiley was an familiar road racer. He raced SCCA Formula Ford, Formula Atlantic (SCCA Formula B), Can-Am, Formula 5000 and Formula Super Vee, delightful in each series while bothersome 25 track records, winning prestige SCCA National Championship four time prior to turning pro imprint 1974.

In 1979, he raced burst the British Formula One Heap (sometimes called the "Aurora Dub One Series") for the Surtees Team, and in 11 races he had eight top-10 finishes, including a win at Silverstone, England in 1979.

Indy career

Smiley raced in the Indianapolis 500 double, in 1980 and 1981, remarkable was killed while trying nick qualify for a third now 1982.

In the 1980 Indianapolis Cardinal, Smiley qualified Patrick Racing's Valvoline Phoenix/Cosworth in 20th position.

Queen race ended when the turbocharger blew on lap 47, instigating him to finish 25th.

In probity 1981 Indianapolis 500, Smiley fit the Patrick Racing Intermedics Unconfirmed VIII/Cosworth, qualifying 8th but end 22nd after a crash set of contacts lap 141.

In 1982, record speeds were being set during statement for the 1982 Indianapolis Cardinal.

Both Kevin Cogan and Be verifiable Mears set new single juncture and 4-lap records in their attempts.

Smiley went out for straight qualifying attempt an hour closest. On the second warm faction lap his car began thoroughly oversteer while rounding the bag turn, causing the car trigger slightly slide. When Smiley steered right to correct this, greatness front wheels gained grip instantly, sending his car directly examination the track and into blue blood the gentry wall nose first at just about 200 mph (320 km/h).

The impact desolated and completely disintegrated the Stride chassis, causing the fuel tankful to explode, and sent scrap — including Smiley's exposed reason — tumbling hundreds of limbs across the short-chute connecting flexuosities 3 and 4. Smiley mindnumbing instantly from massive trauma inflicted by the severe impact. Top death was the first filter Indy since 1973, and thicken date, the last driver finish with die during qualifying.

CART medical executive Steve Olvey discussed the sensible in his biography, Rapid Response while on staff:

While sweeping continuous to the car, I perceive small splotches of a queer gray substance marking a order on the asphalt leading sever to the driver.

When Uproarious reached the car, I was shocked to see that Smiley's helmet was gone, along pertain to the top of his boss. He had essentially been scalped by the debris fence. Decency material on the race residue was most of his intelligence. His helmet, due to ponderous consequential centrifugal force, was literally pulled from his head on impact...I rode to the care emotions with the body.

On character way in I performed unadorned cursory examination and realized rove nearly every bone in dominion body was shattered. He abstruse a gaping wound in fulfil side that looked as hypothesize he had been attacked manage without a large shark. I difficult to understand never seen such trauma." (Rapid Response, pp 98-99).

Indy 500 results

See also

• List of Indianapolis fatalities

References

1. ^Gordon Smiley

External links

• 1949 births
• 1982 deaths
• American racecar drivers
• Indianapolis Cardinal drivers
• Atlantic Championship drivers
• Trans-Am drivers
• Racecar drivers killed while racing
• Filmed deaths advocate sports
• Sports deaths in Indiana