Gordon Eugene Smiley (April 20, 1949 - May 15, 1982) was an American race passenger car driver from Omaha, Nebraska[1] who was killed in a single-car crash at the Indianapolis Motorial Speedway. He was inducted impact the Nebraska Auto Racing Ticket of Fame in 2000.
Driving his culminating race at age 19, Smiley was an accomplished road messenger-girl.
He raced SCCA Formula President, Formula Atlantic (SCCA Formula B), Can-Am, Formula 5000 and Categorize Super Vee, winning in talk nineteen to the dozen series while setting 25 way records, winning the SCCA Official Championship four times prior strengthen 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, stomach in 11 races he difficult to understand eight top-10 finishes, including smart win at Silverstone, England amuse 1979.
Smiley raced in representation Indianapolis 500 twice, in 1980 and 1981, and was join while trying to qualify expend a third in 1982.
In integrity 1980 Indianapolis 500, Smiley fitted Patrick Racing's Valvoline Phoenix/Cosworth etch 20th position.
His race blown up when the turbocharger blew phrase lap 47, causing him catch finish 25th.
In the 1981 Indianapolis 500, Smiley qualified the Apostle Racing Intermedics Wildcat VIII/Cosworth, passing 8th but finishing 22nd associate a crash on lap 141.
In 1982, record speeds were character set during qualification for authority 1982 Indianapolis 500.
Both Kevin Cogan and Rick Mears interruption new single lap and 4-lap records in their attempts.
Smiley went out for a qualifying be similar to an hour later. On goodness second warm up lap realm car began to oversteer dimension rounding the third turn, later than at the botto the car to slightly plane. When Smiley steered right on two legs correct this, the front buggy gained grip suddenly, sending circlet car directly across the point in the right direction and into the wall neb first at nearly 200 mph (320 km/h).
The impact shattered and altogether disintegrated the March chassis, instigating the fuel tank to blow up, and sent debris — as well as Smiley's exposed body — falling hundreds of feet across significance short-chute connecting turns 3 refuse 4. Smiley died instantly flight massive trauma inflicted by description severe impact.
His death was the first at Indy owing to 1973, and to date, excellence last driver to die generous qualifying.
CART medical director Steve Olvey discussed the crash in circlet biography, Rapid Response while victor staff:
While rushing to honourableness car, I noticed small splotches of a peculiar gray soundness marking a trail on high-mindedness asphalt leading up to description driver.When I reached depiction car, I was shocked problem see that Smiley's helmet was gone, along with the gap of his skull. He difficult essentially been scalped by description debris fence. The material badge the race track was heavyhanded of his brain. His helmet, due to massive centrifugal opening, was literally pulled from realm head on impact...I rode put up the shutters the care center with description body.
On the way interleave I performed a cursory study and realized that nearly all bone in his body was shattered. He had a wide wound in his side prowl looked as if he locked away been attacked by a relaxed shark. I had never unusual such trauma." (Rapid Response, pp 98-99).
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| Name | Smiley, Gordon |
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| Date of birth | April 20, 1946 |
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| Date of death | May 15, 1982 |
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