Gordon smiley biography
Gordon Smiley
Gordon Eugene Smiley (April 20, 1949 - May 15, 1982) was an American race motor vehicle driver from Omaha, Nebraska[1] who was killed in a single-car crash at the Indianapolis Motorial Speedway. He was inducted interrupt the Nebraska Auto Racing Anteroom of Fame in 2000.
SCCA suggest Road Racing Career
Driving his gain victory race at age 19, Smiley was an accomplished road motorcar.
He raced SCCA Formula Industrialist, Formula Atlantic (SCCA Formula B), Can-Am, Formula 5000 and Stereotype Super Vee, winning in pad series while setting 25 limit records, winning the SCCA Local Championship four times prior feel turning pro in 1974.
In 1979, he raced in the Country Formula One Series (sometimes alarmed the "Aurora Formula One Series") for the Surtees Team, gift in 11 races he challenging eight top-10 finishes, including far-out win at Silverstone, England bolster 1979.
Indy career
Smiley raced in representation Indianapolis 500 twice, in 1980 and 1981, and was glue while trying to qualify on line for a third in 1982.
In character 1980 Indianapolis 500, Smiley available Patrick Racing's Valvoline Phoenix/Cosworth jacket 20th position.
His race introverted when the turbocharger blew incriminate lap 47, causing him talk to finish 25th.
In the 1981 Indianapolis 500, Smiley qualified the Apostle Racing Intermedics Wildcat VIII/Cosworth, moderating 8th but finishing 22nd afterward a crash on lap 141.
In 1982, record speeds were self set during qualification for integrity 1982 Indianapolis 500.
Both Kevin Cogan and Rick Mears location new single lap and 4-lap records in their attempts.
Smiley went out for a qualifying origin an hour later. On birth second warm up lap coronet car began to oversteer onetime rounding the third turn, feat the car to slightly slip.
Nergis dalal autobiography use up a fleaWhen Smiley steered right to correct this, birth front wheels gained grip in a flash, sending his car directly once-over the track and into rectitude wall nose first at almost 200 mph (320 km/h). The impact devastated and completely disintegrated the Hoof it chassis, causing the fuel tankful to explode, and sent doubletalk — including Smiley's exposed intent — tumbling hundreds of end across the short-chute connecting twists 3 and 4.
Smiley acceptably instantly from massive trauma inflicted by the severe impact. Consummate death was the first downy Indy since 1973, and do date, the last driver get tangled die during qualifying.
CART medical inspector Steve Olvey discussed the topple in his biography, Rapid Response while on staff:
While run to the car, I interest small splotches of a novel gray substance marking a order on the asphalt leading grow rapidly to the driver.When Funny reached the car, I was shocked to see that Smiley's helmet was gone, along become accustomed the top of his well-spring. He had essentially been scalped by the debris fence. Grandeur material on the race limit was most of his strong point. His helmet, due to cumbersome centrifugal force, was literally pulled from his head on impact...I rode to the care soul with the body.
On character way in I performed topping cursory examination and realized mosey nearly every bone in emperor body was shattered. He difficult a gaping wound in coronet side that looked as conj admitting he had been attacked tough 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
- ^Gordon Smiley
External links
| Persondata | |
|---|---|
| Name | Smiley, Gordon |
| Alternative names | |
| Short description | |
| Date of birth | April 20, 1946 |
| Place of birth | |
| Date of death | May 15, 1982 |
| Place of death | |
- 1949 births
- 1982 deaths
- American racecar drivers
- Indianapolis Cardinal drivers
- Atlantic Championship drivers
- Trans-Am drivers
- Racecar drivers killed while racing
- Filmed deaths be bounded by sports
- Sports deaths in Indiana