Bill Simpson

Elwood Jesse "Bill" Simpson (March 14, 1940 – December 16, 2019) was an American racing driver, best known as a pioneer in the racing safety business with his company Simpson Performance Products. Later during his business career, he branched into developing equipment for football safety.

Racing career Simpson started in drag racing and SCCA Formula racing, eventually moving up to the USAC Championship Car series. He raced in the 1968–1974 and 1976–1977 seasons, with 52 career starts. He qualified twentieth for the 1974 Indianapolis 500, and finished thirteenth. He finished in the top-ten 11 times, with his best finish in sixth position in 1970 at Milwaukee. He decided to end his racing career in 1977, because he started to think about a telephone call that he needed to make while he was practicing at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

Race safety advocate In 1958, the 18-year-old Simpson broke both arms in a drag racing crash. Simpson later 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." alt=Bill Simpson in a white racing suit, helmet, and a mask. The suit is on fire. The first person to inquire about and use his parachute was "Big Daddy" Don Garlits. He evolved his business into a number of other safety items, such as gloves, helmets, restraints, and shoes. Simpson designed NASA's first umbilical cords, where he met Pete Conrad.

Earnhardt controversy

Simpson Performance Products was involved in a controversy after the February 2001 death of Dale Earnhardt over whether the seat belt manufactured by the company had malfunctioned.

Simpson received death threats and bullets into his house, which led to his resignation in July 2001. While their safety-related products and efforts to enhance safety-related procedures were welcomed by teams at local levels, they were resisted by the NFL.

Death Simpson died of complications from a stroke, in Indianapolis, on December 16, 2019.

Awards and honors Motorsports Hall of Fame of America (2003) Auto Racing Hall of Fame (2014)

Racing results USAC Championship Car series (key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) Year Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 Rank Points 1968 Bill Simpson HAN LVG PHX TRE INDY MIL MOS MOS LAN PIP CDR NAZ IRP IRP LAN LAN MTR MTR SPR MIL DUQ ISF TRE SAC MCH HAN PHX RIV NC 0 1969 Bill Simpson PHX HAN INDY MIL LAN PIP CDR NAZ TRE IRP IRP MIL SPR DOV DUQ ISF BRN BRN TRE SAC KEN KEN PHX RIV 30th 320 1970 Bill Simpson PHX SON TRE INDY MIL LAN CDR MCH IRP SPR MIL ONT DUQ ISF SED TRE SAC PHX 33rd 295 1971 Bill Simpson RAF RAF PHX TRE INDY MIL POC MCH MIL ONT TRE PHX 42nd 15 1972 Bill Simpson PHX TRE INDY MIL MCH POC MIL ONT TRE PHX 27th 200 1973 Joe Hunt TWS TRE TRE INDY MIL POC MCH MIL ONT ONT ONT MCH MCH TRE TWS PHX NC 0 1974 Bill Simpson ONT ONT ONT PHX TRE 32nd 105 American Kids Racers INDY MIL POC MCH MIL MCH TRE TRE Rolla Vollstedt PHX 1975 Bill Simpson ONT ONT ONT PHX TRE INDY MIL POC MCH MIL MCH TRE PHX – – 1976 Bill Simpson PHX TRE INDY MIL POC MCH TWS TRE MIL ONT MCH TWS PHX 28th 190 1977 Theodore Racing ONT PHX TWS TRE INDY MIL POC MOS MCH TWS MIL ONT MCH TRE PHX 34th 80