Bill Simpson, former IndyCar driver turned safety pioneer, has died at the age of 79 following a stroke.
Simpson began his interest in safety after breaking both of his arms following a heavy crash during a drag race in 1958.
During his induction in the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America in 2003, he said: “Until then, I was like most drivers, the only time I thought about safety was after I’d been hurt. This time, I was hurt bad enough to do a lot of thinking.”
It was after his crash that he began his venture into safety research, designing a ‘chute’ for drag racing cars and eventually went on to found Simpson Drag Chutes.
One of the first people to take an interest and eventually endorse the idea was Top-Fuel drag-racing legend “Big Daddy” Don Garlits.
Simpson continued to develop his business, going on to develop further safety items such as gloves, helmets, firesuits and shoes. While working for NASA, he met astronaut Pete Conrad and was introduced to the material known as Nomex.
Simpson would utilise this material in his products and at the 1967 Indianapolis 500, 30 out of the 33 runners would wear firesuits bearing his name.
He would even set himself on fire on many occasions just to prove the effectiveness of his own products. Simpson Performance Products came under fire in 2001 after the death of NASCAR’s Dale Earnheart during the Daytona 500.
After an investigation into the crash, the governing body found Simpson’s belts to be one of the contributing factors. Simpson argued it was not a failure of his product, but an incorrect installation and went on to sue NASCAR for defamation of character for $8.5million, however, would eventually settle out of court and resign from his company.
Subsequent medical investigations into Earnheart’s death revealed he suffered a Basilar Skull Fracture which was due to an inadequate head and neck restraint following his failure to wear the now notable HANS device which is mandatory in every racing series.
After leaving his company, he went on to form a new company called ‘Impact!’ and further continued on his quest for safety. He even worked with legendary team-owner Chip Ganassi in helping improve the helmets of NFL players following the rise of concussions in the sport.
In a statement released by Hulman and Company president and IndyCar CEO, Mark Miles, said “Bill Simpson became synonymous with motorsports safety equipment through his tireless work of more than 50 years. His innovations and products protected so many drivers and saved countless lives, and will continue to do so moving forward.
“We’re eternally grateful for Bill’s dedication to safety at every level of the sport, from the grassroots oval and road racer all the way to the biggest events and stages such as the Indianapolis 500 and the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
“Bill was a great friend to IMS and IndyCar, and a passionate supporter of the Indianapolis 500 and IMS Museum, never missing a chance to return and sign autographs for the fans. He will be missed but always remembered by everyone in our racing world.”
Motorsport Week offers its heartfelt condolences to Bill's family and friends during this difficult time.
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