Gordon Smiley

Gordon Eugene Smiley ( born April 20, 1949 in Omaha, † May 15, 1982 in Indianapolis ) was an American race car driver.

Career

Already at the age of 19 went Smiley his first race and went in different racing series in the SCCA, where he was four times champion. In 1974, he was a professional racing driver and drove into the racing series "Formula Atlantic ", CanAm, Formula 5000 and Formula Super Vee. There he was able to win several races and provided a total of 25 track records.

In 1979 he moved to the Aurora AFX F1 series to Europe, where he played eleven races for the Surtees team and on the Silverstone Circuit won the race for the Bradford & Bingley Trophy. In 1980, he joined the team Patrick Racing, for which he was driving in the IndyCar Series and 1980 and 1981 at the traditional Indy took part in 500 lap races.

Accidental Death

On May 15, 1982 Gordon Smiley had an accident in the context of pre-qualification for the starting grid of the Indianapolis 500 died in a serious accident.

In curve 3 of the way he lost because of a drive failure at a speed of 320 km / h, the control of his vehicle and struck unrestrained ahead with the front nose of the car into the wall box. His race car was regularly meet " pulverized " on impact and it only remained three remaining parts which trundled among other things with his body on the line. Gordon Smiley died on impact immediately.

The accident is still regarded as one of the most horrific and brutal accidents of American racing.

Honors

In 2000 Gordon Smiley was included in the " Nebraska Auto Racing Hall of Fame".