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Those We Lost

     The Part of Racing History Nobody Ever Wanted to Write

Racing has given us remarkable people, remarkable machines, and some of the best stories in the automotive world.

It has also taken people from us.

This page remembers the racers, builders, mechanics, and competitors of real historical significance who died as a result of competition or serious racing test activity. It also records racing accidents in which spectators were killed.

This is not intended to be a database of every fatal racing accident ever recorded. A fellow losing his life at a Saturday-night track is tragic, but tragedy by itself does not make an event nationally or historically significant. The people listed here were major champions, national competitors, record holders, important innovators, prominent figures of their era, or participants in accidents that became part of racing history.

The list begins in 1911, the year of the first Indianapolis 500, and continues through the present. Deaths from highway accidents, aircraft crashes, illness, and other causes unrelated to racing are not included.

Spectators are not named individually. Where spectators were lost, the event itself receives a separate entry. If a racer died in the same accident, the spectator entry immediately follows his. Otherwise it appears at the end of that year.

No gruesome details are needed here. What happened matters. So does what these people accomplished before it happened.

1912

David Bruce-Brown

1887–1912 — Age 25

Automobile Club of America — American Grand Prize practice — Milwaukee, Wisconsin — October 1, 1912

What Happened: Bruce-Brown crashed while practicing for the American Grand Prize on the Milwaukee road course. He suffered fatal injuries in the accident.

Career Highlights: One of America’s first genuine racing stars, Bruce-Brown won the 1910 and 1911 American Grand Prize races and competed in the first two Indianapolis 500s. He was already regarded as one of the best American road racers of his generation.

1915

Harry Grant

1877–1915 — Age 38

AAA — Astor Cup practice — Sheepshead Bay Speedway, New York — September 1915; died October 7, 1915

What Happened: Grant’s Maxwell caught fire during practice on the new wooden board track at Sheepshead Bay. He steered the burning car away from others before escaping, but suffered severe burns and died several days later.

Career Highlights: Grant won the Vanderbilt Cup in both 1909 and 1910, making him one of the premier American racing drivers of the pre-Indianapolis era.

1916

Bob Burman

1884–1916 — Age 31

AAA — Corona Grand Prize — Corona, California — April 8, 1916

What Happened: Burman’s Peugeot left the course at high speed on Corona’s public-road circuit and crashed into the spectator area. Burman and his riding mechanic were killed along with people beside the course.

Career Highlights: Burman was one of America’s earliest speed stars, an Indianapolis competitor and record setter whose racing career reached from dirt tracks to speed trials.

What Changed: The crash helped inspire Barney Oldfield and Harry Miller to develop the enclosed, roll-protected Golden Submarine race car.

Spectator Fatalities — Corona Grand Prix

April 8, 1916

AAA — Corona road circuit, California

What Happened: Burman’s car left the course and entered an area occupied by spectators and course personnel.

Those Lost: Three spectators and a course guard were killed in addition to Burman and his riding mechanic.

Lewis Jackson

1884–1916 — Age 32

Automobile Club of America — American Grand Prize — Santa Monica, California — November 18, 1916

What Happened: Jackson lost control of his Marmon during the road race and crashed into people beside the course. He was killed in the accident.

Career Highlights: Jackson was part of the important early American road-racing era when major races were still being contested on closed public streets rather than purpose-built circuits.

Spectator Fatalities — American Grand Prize

November 18, 1916

Automobile Club of America — Santa Monica road course, California

What Happened: Jackson’s car left the racing surface and struck people beside the course.

Those Lost: Three bystanders were killed along with Jackson, including people working around the event rather than sitting in a modern protected grandstand.

↑ Back to the Top — These Old Board Tracks Had Enough Splinters Already

1920

Gaston Chevrolet

1892–1920 — Age 28

AAA — Beverly Hills Speedway — Beverly Hills, California — November 25, 1920

What Happened: Chevrolet was killed in a multi-car accident on the high-speed wooden board track at Beverly Hills.

Career Highlights: The younger brother of Louis Chevrolet won the 1920 Indianapolis 500 and accumulated enough points to be awarded the 1920 AAA national championship posthumously.

1923

Howdy Wilcox

1889–1923 — Age 34

AAA — Altoona Speedway 200-mile race — Altoona, Pennsylvania — September 4, 1923

What Happened: Wilcox was killed in an accident on Altoona’s steeply banked wooden board track.

Career Highlights: Wilcox won the 1919 Indianapolis 500 and competed at Indianapolis eleven times between 1911 and 1923.

Spectator Fatality — Indianapolis 500

May 30, 1923

AAA — Indianapolis Motor Speedway — Indianapolis, Indiana

What Happened: A car being relief-driven by Tom Alley overturned and penetrated a fence during the Indianapolis 500.

Those Lost: A 15-year-old spectator was killed and two other boys were injured. Alley survived.

1924

Joe Boyer

1890–1924 — Age 34

AAA — Altoona Fall Classic — Altoona Speedway, Pennsylvania — September 1, 1924; died September 2

What Happened: Boyer suffered fatal injuries in an accident on the Altoona board track and died the following day.

Career Highlights: Boyer shared victory in the 1924 Indianapolis 500 with L. L. Corum after taking over the car during the race and driving it to the finish.

Jimmy Murphy

1894–1924 — Age 30

AAA — Syracuse 150-mile race — New York State Fairgrounds — September 15, 1924

What Happened: Murphy crashed during the championship race on the Syracuse dirt mile and was killed.

Career Highlights: One of the finest American racers of the 1920s, Murphy won the 1922 Indianapolis 500, the 1921 French Grand Prix, and AAA national championships. He was leading the 1924 points standings when he died.

Dario Resta

1882–1924 — Age 42

Speed-record attempt — Brooklands, England — September 2, 1924

What Happened: Resta was killed while attempting a record run at Brooklands when his race car crashed at speed.

Career Highlights: Resta won the 1916 Indianapolis 500 and the 1916 AAA national championship and was among the leading international drivers of the period.

Louis Zborowski

1895–1924 — Age 29

International Grand Prix racing — Italian Grand Prix — Monza, Italy — October 19, 1924

What Happened: Zborowski crashed his Mercedes during the Italian Grand Prix at Monza and was killed.

Career Highlights: Zborowski was both a racer and an eccentric builder, famous for the enormous aero-engined Chitty Bang Bang cars as well as Grand Prix competition.

1925

Antonio Ascari

1888–1925 — Age 36

International Grand Prix racing — French Grand Prix — Montlhéry, France — July 26, 1925

What Happened: Ascari was leading the French Grand Prix in his Alfa Romeo P2 when he crashed heavily and was killed.

Career Highlights: One of Alfa Romeo’s great early factory drivers, Ascari won major European Grands Prix and was the father of future Formula One World Champion Alberto Ascari.

1928

Frank Lockhart

1903–1928 — Age 25

Land-speed record attempt — Daytona Beach, Florida — April 25, 1928

What Happened: Lockhart’s streamlined Stutz Black Hawk went out of control during a land-speed-record attempt on Daytona Beach and crashed.

Career Highlights: Lockhart won the 1926 Indianapolis 500 as a rookie, became one of America’s most innovative young engineers and drivers, and set numerous speed records before turning his attention to outright land speed.

1929

Lee Bible

1887–1929 — Age 42

Land-speed record attempt — Daytona Beach, Florida — March 13, 1929

What Happened: Bible lost control of the Triplex Special after a high-speed run on Daytona Beach. The car rolled violently and entered an area near the course.

Career Highlights: Bible was attempting to reclaim the world land-speed record for American car owner J. M. White with the enormous three-engine Triplex Special.

Spectator Fatality — Daytona Beach Speed Trials

March 13, 1929

Land-speed record attempt — Daytona Beach, Florida

What Happened: The Triplex Special crashed after Bible’s record attempt and struck a photographer near the course.

Those Lost: One photographer was killed along with Bible.

Ray Keech

1900–1929 — Age 29

AAA — Altoona Speedway — Altoona, Pennsylvania — June 15, 1929

What Happened: Keech was killed in a crash on the Altoona board track only sixteen days after winning at Indianapolis.

Career Highlights: Keech won the 1929 Indianapolis 500 and had previously held the world land-speed record in the Triplex Special.

↑ Back to the Top — No Sense Wearing Out Another Set of Tires

1931

Spectator Fatality — Indianapolis 500

May 30, 1931

AAA — Indianapolis Motor Speedway — Indianapolis, Indiana

What Happened: A wheel came off Billy Arnold’s race car during a crash and cleared the retaining wall.

Those Lost: An 11-year-old boy outside the speedway property was struck and killed.

1933

Baconin Borzacchini

1898–1933 — Age 35

International Grand Prix racing — Monza Grand Prix — Monza, Italy — September 10, 1933

What Happened: Borzacchini was fatally injured during the notorious Monza Grand Prix meeting in a crash that also involved Giuseppe Campari.

Career Highlights: Borzacchini was a leading Italian Grand Prix and sports-car driver, a Mille Miglia winner and former land-speed record holder.

Giuseppe Campari

1892–1933 — Age 41

International Grand Prix racing — Monza Grand Prix — Monza, Italy — September 10, 1933

What Happened: Campari was killed in the same rain-affected Monza race that claimed Borzacchini. Another fatal crash occurred later during the same meeting.

Career Highlights: Campari was one of Alfa Romeo’s great prewar drivers, a multiple Grand Prix winner and two-time Mille Miglia winner.

1938

Bernd Rosemeyer

1909–1938 — Age 28

Auto Union factory land-speed program — Frankfurt-Darmstadt Autobahn, Germany — January 28, 1938

What Happened: Rosemeyer’s streamlined Auto Union lost control during an attempt to raise the flying-kilometer record on a closed section of autobahn. The car left the road at well over 250 mph.

Career Highlights: Rosemeyer won the 1936 European Drivers’ Championship, became the great star of Auto Union’s difficult rear-engine Grand Prix cars, and was among the fastest drivers of the prewar era.

Spectator Fatality — Indianapolis 500

May 30, 1938

AAA — Indianapolis Motor Speedway — Indianapolis, Indiana

What Happened: A tire and rim separated from Emil Andres’ car and flew into the infield.

Those Lost: One spectator was struck and killed.

1939

Floyd Roberts

1900–1939 — Age 39

AAA — Indianapolis 500 — Indianapolis Motor Speedway — May 30, 1939

What Happened: Roberts was caught in a multi-car crash during the Indianapolis 500 and was killed.

Career Highlights: Roberts was the defending 1938 Indianapolis 500 winner and had established himself as one of America’s leading championship drivers.

↑ Back to the Top — Shift Up and Get Moving Before Something Else Breaks

1946

George Robson

1909–1946 — Age 37

AAA — Championship race — Lakewood Speedway, Atlanta, Georgia — September 2, 1946

What Happened: Robson was killed in a multi-car accident during the championship race at Lakewood Speedway.

Career Highlights: Only months earlier, Robson had won the 1946 Indianapolis 500, the first running of the race after World War II.

1948

Ralph Hepburn

1896–1948 — Age 52

AAA — Indianapolis 500 practice — Indianapolis Motor Speedway — May 16, 1948

What Happened: Hepburn crashed during practice for the Indianapolis 500 and was killed.

Career Highlights: Hepburn had competed at Indianapolis before World War I, returned after a lengthy retirement, and finished second in the 1937 Indianapolis 500. He was one of the most enduring stars of early American championship racing.

Ted Horn

1910–1948 — Age 38

AAA — Championship race — DuQuoin State Fairgrounds, Illinois — October 10, 1948

What Happened: Horn crashed during the dirt-track championship race at DuQuoin and suffered fatal injuries.

Career Highlights: Horn won three consecutive AAA national championships from 1946 through 1948 and finished in the top four at Indianapolis nine straight times.

Achille Varzi

1904–1948 — Age 43

International Grand Prix racing — Swiss Grand Prix practice — Bremgarten, Switzerland — July 1, 1948

What Happened: Varzi crashed on the wet Bremgarten circuit during practice and was killed.

Career Highlights: Varzi was one of the great European drivers of the 1930s and 1940s, winning major events for Alfa Romeo, Bugatti and Auto Union.

1949

Rex Mays

1913–1949 — Age 36

AAA — Championship race — Del Mar, California — November 6, 1949

What Happened: Mays was thrown from his car after a crash and was struck during the ensuing accident.

Career Highlights: Mays was a two-time AAA national champion, four-time Indianapolis 500 pole sitter and one of the most respected American drivers of his generation.

Jean-Pierre Wimille

1908–1949 — Age 40

International Grand Prix racing — Buenos Aires, Argentina — January 28, 1949

What Happened: Wimille crashed during practice for a Grand Prix race in Buenos Aires and was killed.

Career Highlights: Wimille was one of France’s finest prewar and immediate postwar racers and twice won the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

↑ Back to the Top — We’ve Burned Enough Gas in This Decade

1950

Raymond Sommer

1906–1950 — Age 44

European road racing — Cadours, France — September 10, 1950

What Happened: Sommer lost control during a Formula race at Cadours and was killed.

Career Highlights: Sommer was a two-time 24 Hours of Le Mans winner and an exceptionally versatile driver who competed successfully in Grand Prix and sports-car racing.

Spectator Fatality — California State Fair Championship Race

October 15, 1950

AAA — California State Fairgrounds, Sacramento

What Happened: Tony Bettenhausen’s car climbed over Walt Faulkner’s machine and went through a fence during the 100-mile championship race.

Those Lost: Four spectators were injured; one died the following day. Both drivers survived.

1952

Larry Mann

1922–1952 — Age 29

NASCAR Grand National — Langhorne Speedway, Pennsylvania — September 14, 1952

What Happened: Mann crashed during the NASCAR Grand National race at the notoriously fast one-mile dirt track and was killed.

Career Highlights: Mann became the first driver to lose his life as a result of an accident in NASCAR’s top Grand National division.

Spectator Fatality — Watkins Glen Grand Prix

September 20, 1952

SCCA — Watkins Glen public-road course, New York

What Happened: Fred Wacker’s car left the original public-road circuit and entered a spectator area.

Those Lost: A 7-year-old boy was killed and several other spectators were injured.

What Changed: The accident ended racing on Watkins Glen’s original street course and pushed the event toward a closed circuit away from public roads.

1953

Spectator Fatality — Syracuse Championship Race

September 12, 1953

AAA — New York State Fairgrounds

What Happened: Chuck Stevenson tried to avoid Jimmy Bryan’s spinning car and went over the outside wall.

Those Lost: One spectator was killed and fourteen others were injured.

1954

Onofre Marimón

1923–1954 — Age 30

FIA Formula One — German Grand Prix practice — Nürburgring, Germany — July 31, 1954

What Happened: Marimón crashed his Maserati during practice on the Nürburgring and was killed.

Career Highlights: The Argentine was a rising Formula One driver and protégé of Juan Manuel Fangio who had already scored World Championship podium finishes.

1955

Alberto Ascari

1918–1955 — Age 36

Ferrari sports-car test — Autodromo Nazionale Monza, Italy — May 26, 1955

What Happened: Ascari unexpectedly took several laps in a Ferrari sports car during a private test at Monza, lost control and was killed.

Career Highlights: Ascari won the 1952 and 1953 Formula One World Championships and remains one of Ferrari’s defining early champions.

Pierre Levegh

1905–1955 — Age 49

Automobile Club de l’Ouest — 24 Hours of Le Mans — Circuit de la Sarthe, France — June 11, 1955

What Happened: Levegh’s Mercedes struck another car, became airborne and broke apart beside the main spectator area. Levegh was killed immediately.

Career Highlights: Levegh was an experienced French sports-car and Grand Prix racer best remembered before 1955 for nearly driving the entire 1952 Le Mans race single-handedly.

Spectator Fatalities — 24 Hours of Le Mans

June 11, 1955

Automobile Club de l’Ouest — Circuit de la Sarthe, France

What Happened: Major pieces of Levegh’s Mercedes were launched into the densely packed crowd along the main straight after the initial collision.

Those Lost: More than 80 spectators were killed, making the 1955 Le Mans disaster the deadliest spectator accident in motorsport history.

What Changed: The disaster triggered sweeping reviews of circuit and spectator safety across international motorsport, and racing was temporarily suspended or prohibited in several countries.

Bill Vukovich

1918–1955 — Age 36

AAA — Indianapolis 500 — Indianapolis Motor Speedway — May 30, 1955

What Happened: Vukovich was caught in a chain-reaction accident while leading the Indianapolis 500. His car went over the barrier and overturned outside the racing surface.

Career Highlights: Vukovich won the 1953 and 1954 Indianapolis 500s and was leading the 1955 race while trying for an extraordinary third consecutive victory.

1956

Bob Sweikert

1926–1956 — Age 30

USAC — Sprint-car race — Salem Speedway, Indiana — June 17, 1956

What Happened: Sweikert was killed in a sprint-car crash at Salem Speedway.

Career Highlights: Sweikert won the 1955 Indianapolis 500 and the 1955 AAA national championship.

1957

Alfonso de Portago

1928–1957 — Age 28

Mille Miglia — public-road endurance race — Guidizzolo, Italy — May 12, 1957

What Happened: A tire failure sent de Portago’s Ferrari off the road near Guidizzolo during the Mille Miglia. De Portago and his co-driver were killed.

Career Highlights: The Spanish aristocrat had raced Formula One, sports cars and bobsleds and was a Ferrari factory driver at the time of his death.

Spectator Fatalities — Mille Miglia

May 12, 1957

Italian public-road race — Guidizzolo, Italy

What Happened: De Portago’s Ferrari left the road at very high speed and entered a roadside spectator area.

Those Lost: Nine spectators were killed, including several children, in addition to de Portago and his co-driver.

What Changed: The crash effectively ended the Mille Miglia as a full-speed competitive race over public roads.

Spectator Fatality — North Wilkesboro NASCAR Race

October 20, 1957

NASCAR Grand National — North Wilkesboro Speedway, North Carolina

What Happened: A wheel broke loose from a race car and entered the spectator area.

Those Lost: One 28-year-old spectator was killed and another was injured.

1958

Peter Collins

1931–1958 — Age 26

FIA Formula One — German Grand Prix — Nürburgring, Germany — August 3, 1958

What Happened: Collins lost control of his Ferrari on the Nürburgring and was thrown from the car.

Career Highlights: Collins won three Formula One World Championship Grands Prix and had famously surrendered his own car to teammate Juan Manuel Fangio during Ferrari’s 1956 championship fight.

Stuart Lewis-Evans

1930–1958 — Age 28

FIA Formula One — Moroccan Grand Prix — Casablanca, Morocco — October 19, 1958; died October 25

What Happened: Lewis-Evans suffered severe burns after his Vanwall crashed and caught fire during the Moroccan Grand Prix. He died six days later.

Career Highlights: Lewis-Evans was part of the Vanwall team that won the inaugural Formula One Constructors’ Championship in 1958.

Luigi Musso

1924–1958 — Age 33

FIA Formula One — French Grand Prix — Reims, France — July 6, 1958

What Happened: Musso crashed his Ferrari while pursuing teammate Mike Hawthorn during the French Grand Prix.

Career Highlights: Musso was a Grand Prix winner and member of Ferrari’s formidable 1950s Formula One team.

Pat O’Connor

1928–1958 — Age 29

USAC — Indianapolis 500 — Indianapolis Motor Speedway — May 30, 1958

What Happened: O’Connor was caught in a massive opening-lap accident involving more than a dozen cars.

Career Highlights: O’Connor was one of America’s leading USAC championship drivers and had started the 1957 Indianapolis 500 from the pole position.

1959

Jean Behra

1921–1959 — Age 38

International sports-car race — AVUS, Berlin, Germany — August 1, 1959

What Happened: Behra crashed a Porsche sports car on the extremely fast AVUS circuit and was killed.

Career Highlights: Behra was a leading Formula One and sports-car driver for Gordini, Maserati, BRM and Ferrari and had won numerous non-championship Grands Prix.

Marshall Teague

1921–1959 — Age 37

USAC speed test — Daytona International Speedway, Florida — February 11, 1959

What Happened: Teague crashed a specially prepared Indy-style car during a high-speed test on the newly opened Daytona International Speedway.

Career Highlights: Teague was one of NASCAR’s earliest stars and was closely identified with the Hudson Hornet during the beginning of the stock-car manufacturer’s wars.

Jerry Unser

1932–1959 — Age 26

USAC — Indianapolis 500 practice — Indianapolis Motor Speedway — May 2, 1959; died May 17

What Happened: Unser crashed during practice and suffered severe burns. He died from his injuries more than two weeks later.

Career Highlights: Jerry was the first member of the Unser racing family to compete in the Indianapolis 500.

What Changed: His death became one of the important catalysts behind stronger requirements for fire-resistant clothing at Indianapolis.

↑ Back to the Top — The Sixties Are Coming, So Hang On to Something Solid

1960

Chris Bristow

1937–1960 — Age 22

FIA Formula One — Belgian Grand Prix — Spa-Francorchamps, Belgium — June 19, 1960

What Happened: Bristow crashed during the Belgian Grand Prix at the old high-speed Spa circuit and was killed.

Career Highlights: Bristow was a highly regarded young British driver in his first full Formula One season.

Jimmy Bryan

1926–1960 — Age 34

USAC — Championship race — Langhorne Speedway, Pennsylvania — June 19, 1960

What Happened: Bryan crashed during the USAC championship race on Langhorne’s one-mile dirt oval.

Career Highlights: Bryan won the 1958 Indianapolis 500 and three national championship titles and was one of America’s dominant championship-car drivers of the 1950s.

Athol Graham

1924–1960 — Age 36

Land-speed record attempt — Bonneville Salt Flats, Utah — August 1, 1960

What Happened: Graham’s home-built City of Salt Lake streamliner crashed during an attempt to raise his speed at Bonneville.

Career Highlights: Graham had already driven the largely home-built machine to more than 340 mph while chasing the absolute land-speed record.

Alan Stacey

1933–1960 — Age 26

FIA Formula One — Belgian Grand Prix — Spa-Francorchamps, Belgium — June 19, 1960

What Happened: Stacey crashed his Lotus during the same Belgian Grand Prix weekend that claimed Chris Bristow.

Career Highlights: Stacey was a Lotus Formula One driver who had advanced through British sports-car and single-seat racing despite racing with a prosthetic lower leg.

Johnny Thomson

1922–1960 — Age 38

USAC — Sprint-car race — Allentown Fairgrounds, Pennsylvania — September 24, 1960

What Happened: Thomson was killed in a sprint-car accident at Allentown.

Career Highlights: Thomson was a major American open-wheel star, a multiple Indianapolis starter and one of the leading sprint and championship-car drivers of the 1950s.

Spectator Fatalities — Indianapolis 500

May 30, 1960

USAC — Indianapolis Motor Speedway

What Happened: Before the race, a privately erected 30-foot spectator scaffold mounted on a truck toppled during the parade lap.

Those Lost: Two spectators were killed and 82 were injured.

1961

Tony Bettenhausen

1916–1961 — Age 44

USAC — Indianapolis 500 practice — Indianapolis Motor Speedway — May 12, 1961

What Happened: Bettenhausen was testing another driver’s car when a mechanical problem sent it into the wall.

Career Highlights: Bettenhausen was the 1951 and 1958 USAC/AAA national champion and one of America’s greatest dirt-track championship drivers.

Wolfgang von Trips

1928–1961 — Age 33

FIA Formula One — Italian Grand Prix — Monza, Italy — September 10, 1961

What Happened: Von Trips’ Ferrari made contact with Jim Clark’s Lotus approaching Parabolica, climbed an embankment and entered the spectator area.

Career Highlights: Von Trips had won two Grands Prix in 1961 and entered Monza leading the Formula One World Championship.

Spectator Fatalities — Italian Grand Prix

September 10, 1961

FIA Formula One — Autodromo Nazionale Monza, Italy

What Happened: Von Trips’ Ferrari was launched into spectators standing behind the roadside barrier.

Those Lost: Fifteen spectators were killed along with von Trips, making it one of Formula One’s worst spectator disasters.

1962

Ricardo Rodríguez

1942–1962 — Age 20

Formula One — Mexican Grand Prix practice — Magdalena Mixhuca, Mexico City — November 1, 1962

What Happened: Rodríguez crashed a Lotus during practice for the non-championship Mexican Grand Prix.

Career Highlights: Rodríguez had become Ferrari’s youngest Formula One driver and was already regarded as one of the brightest young talents in international racing.

1964

Dave MacDonald

1936–1964 — Age 27

USAC — Indianapolis 500 — Indianapolis Motor Speedway — May 30, 1964

What Happened: MacDonald’s unstable Mickey Thompson-built car spun into the inside wall on the second lap, rebounded across the track and triggered a massive, fuel-fed multi-car fire.

Career Highlights: MacDonald was a highly successful sports-car and road racer whose speed had attracted the attention of Carroll Shelby and other major racing operations.

What Changed: The disaster helped drive USAC toward smaller fuel loads, less volatile racing fuel and improved fuel-cell technology for Indianapolis.

Bobby Marshman

1936–1964 — Age 28

USAC — Firestone tire test — Phoenix International Raceway, Arizona — November 27, 1964; died December 3

What Happened: Marshman crashed heavily during a tire test at Phoenix and suffered severe burns. He died several days later.

Career Highlights: Marshman was a leading young Indy-car driver who had finished seventh as a rookie at Indianapolis and earned the 1962 Indy 500 Rookie of the Year award.

Jimmy Pardue

1930–1964 — Age 33

NASCAR — Goodyear tire test — Charlotte Motor Speedway, North Carolina — September 22, 1964

What Happened: Pardue crashed during a private tire test at Charlotte and was killed.

Career Highlights: Pardue was an established NASCAR Grand National driver with multiple poles and a reputation as one of the strongest independent competitors of the early 1960s.

Fireball Roberts

1929–1964 — Age 35

NASCAR Grand National — World 600 — Charlotte Motor Speedway — crash May 24, 1964; died July 2

What Happened: Roberts crashed while trying to avoid an accident ahead of him. His car struck the wall, overturned and caught fire. He survived for more than a month before complications from his burns claimed his life.

Career Highlights: Roberts was one of NASCAR’s first true national superstars, winner of the 1962 Daytona 500, the 1963 Southern 500 and dozens of Grand National races.

What Changed: Roberts’ crash accelerated the adoption of fire-resistant driving suits and safer fuel cells in NASCAR.

Eddie Sachs

1927–1964 — Age 37

USAC — Indianapolis 500 — Indianapolis Motor Speedway — May 30, 1964

What Happened: Sachs struck MacDonald’s crashed car during the second-lap Indianapolis disaster and was killed in the resulting fire.

Career Highlights: Known as the “Clown Prince of Racing,” Sachs was a two-time Indianapolis pole winner and one of the most popular championship-car drivers of his era.

Joe Weatherly

1922–1964 — Age 41

NASCAR Grand National — Motor Trend 500 — Riverside International Raceway, California — January 19, 1964

What Happened: Weatherly’s Mercury struck the wall during the Riverside road race. His open-face helmet and the car’s seating arrangement left him vulnerable to the impact.

Career Highlights: Weatherly was the defending two-time NASCAR Grand National champion, winning the title in 1962 and 1963 after an earlier championship career on motorcycles.

1965

Billy Wade

1930–1965 — Age 34

NASCAR — Goodyear tire test — Daytona International Speedway, Florida — January 5, 1965

What Happened: Wade crashed during a tire test at Daytona and was killed.

Career Highlights: Wade won four consecutive NASCAR Grand National races in 1964 and had established himself as one of Ford’s rising stock-car stars.

Spectator Fatality — Motor Trend 500

January 17, 1965

NASCAR Grand National — Riverside International Raceway, California

What Happened: The Riverside race was marked by several serious accidents, including one that reached an area occupied by spectators.

Those Lost: One spectator was killed during the NASCAR Grand National event.

1966

Don Branson

1920–1966 — Age 46

USAC — Sprint-car race — Ascot Park, California — November 12, 1966

What Happened: Branson was killed in a sprint-car crash at Ascot Park.

Career Highlights: Branson was one of USAC’s veteran dirt-track specialists and competed in eight Indianapolis 500s.

Walt Hansgen

1919–1966 — Age 46

Ford — Le Mans test — Circuit de la Sarthe, France — April 3, 1966; died April 7

What Happened: Hansgen crashed a Ford GT40 during testing for the 24 Hours of Le Mans and died several days later from his injuries.

Career Highlights: Hansgen was one of America’s finest road racers, winning multiple SCCA championships and driving for major factory teams including Jaguar and Ford.

Jud Larson

1923–1966 — Age 43

USAC — Sprint-car race — Ascot Park, California — November 12, 1966

What Happened: Larson was killed in the same Ascot accident that claimed Don Branson.

Career Highlights: Larson was one of America’s best-known sprint-car racers and competed in multiple Indianapolis 500s.

Ken Miles

1918–1966 — Age 47

Ford Motor Company — J-car test — Riverside International Raceway, California — August 17, 1966

What Happened: Miles crashed Ford’s experimental J-car during high-speed testing at Riverside.

Career Highlights: Miles was central to development of the Shelby Cobra and Ford GT40 and won the 1966 Daytona 24 Hours and Sebring 12 Hours. He narrowly missed victory at Le Mans that same year after Ford staged its famous formation finish.

What Changed: Ford extensively revised the J-car concept, strengthening the structure and developing it into the safer GT40 Mk IV.

1967

Lorenzo Bandini

1935–1967 — Age 31

FIA Formula One — Monaco Grand Prix — Monte Carlo — crash May 7, 1967; died May 10

What Happened: Bandini crashed late in the Monaco Grand Prix and his Ferrari overturned and burned. He died three days later.

Career Highlights: Bandini was a Ferrari Formula One and sports-car factory driver, Grand Prix winner and member of the team that won major endurance races.

Billy Foster

1937–1967 — Age 29

NASCAR Grand National — Motor Trend 500 practice — Riverside International Raceway, California — January 20, 1967

What Happened: Foster crashed during practice at Riverside and was killed.

Career Highlights: Foster was one of Canada’s leading racers, the first Canadian to compete in the Indianapolis 500 and a rising stock-car driver.

1968

Jim Clark

1936–1968 — Age 32

Formula 2 — Hockenheimring, Germany — April 7, 1968

What Happened: Clark’s Lotus left the circuit at high speed during a Formula 2 race at Hockenheim and struck trees beyond the course.

Career Highlights: Clark won the 1963 and 1965 Formula One World Championships, the 1965 Indianapolis 500, and races in nearly every kind of car he drove. He remains one of motor racing’s benchmark talents.

Ludovico Scarfiotti

1933–1968 — Age 34

European Hill Climb Championship — Rossfeld, Germany — June 8, 1968

What Happened: Scarfiotti crashed during practice for the Rossfeld hill climb and was killed.

Career Highlights: A Ferrari factory driver, Scarfiotti won the 1963 24 Hours of Le Mans and the 1966 Italian Grand Prix.

Jo Schlesser

1928–1968 — Age 40

FIA Formula One — French Grand Prix — Rouen, France — July 7, 1968

What Happened: Schlesser’s experimental Honda RA302 left the road and burned during the French Grand Prix.

Career Highlights: Schlesser was an experienced French sports-car and touring-car racer making his World Championship Formula One debut.

What Changed: Honda abandoned the air-cooled RA302 project after the accident.

Mike Spence

1936–1968 — Age 31

USAC — Indianapolis 500 practice — Indianapolis Motor Speedway — May 7, 1968

What Happened: Spence crashed one of the turbine-powered Lotus 56 cars during practice and suffered fatal head injuries.

Career Highlights: Spence was an experienced Formula One and sports-car driver and had been called into the Lotus Indianapolis program after Jim Clark’s death.

1969

Lucien Bianchi

1934–1969 — Age 34

Alfa Romeo — Le Mans test — Circuit de la Sarthe, France — March 30, 1969

What Happened: Bianchi crashed an Alfa Romeo prototype during testing for Le Mans.

Career Highlights: Bianchi won the 1968 24 Hours of Le Mans and was a successful rally, sports-car and Formula One driver.

Don MacTavish

1940–1969 — Age 28

NASCAR Late Model Sportsman — Daytona International Speedway, Florida — February 22, 1969

What Happened: MacTavish’s car struck the wall during the Permatex 300, was hit by another car and was torn apart in the collision.

Career Highlights: MacTavish was the 1966 NASCAR National Sportsman champion and a rising New England stock-car star.

John “The Zookeeper” Mulligan

1943–1969 — Age 26

NHRA Top Fuel — U.S. Nationals — Indianapolis Raceway Park, Indiana — crash September 1, 1969; died September 17

What Happened: Mulligan’s Top Fuel dragster suffered a violent failure near the finish line during the U.S. Nationals. He survived the initial crash but died from his injuries more than two weeks later.

Career Highlights: Mulligan and tuner Tim Beebe fielded one of the quickest Top Fuel cars of the late 1960s, and Mulligan had become a nationally known drag-racing personality.

↑ Back to the Top — Enough Horsepower for One Decade; Point This Thing Uphill

1970

Piers Courage

1942–1970 — Age 28

FIA Formula One — Dutch Grand Prix — Zandvoort, Netherlands — June 21, 1970

What Happened: Courage’s De Tomaso crashed and burned during the Dutch Grand Prix.

Career Highlights: Courage was a highly regarded British Grand Prix racer who had produced several outstanding performances for Frank Williams’ young team.

Bruce McLaren

1937–1970 — Age 32

McLaren Racing — Can-Am test — Goodwood Circuit, England — June 2, 1970

What Happened: Rear bodywork came loose from McLaren’s Can-Am car during testing, causing a loss of downforce and control. The car struck a marshal’s post.

Career Highlights: McLaren was a Formula One Grand Prix winner, 1966 Le Mans winner, Can-Am champion and founder of the racing organization that still carries his name.

Jochen Rindt

1942–1970 — Age 28

FIA Formula One — Italian Grand Prix qualifying — Monza, Italy — September 5, 1970

What Happened: Rindt’s Lotus crashed heavily under braking during qualifying at Monza.

Career Highlights: Rindt had won five Grands Prix during the 1970 season and became Formula One’s only posthumous World Champion.

1971

Ignazio Giunti

1941–1971 — Age 29

International sports-car racing — Buenos Aires 1000 km — Argentina — January 10, 1971

What Happened: Giunti’s Ferrari struck a disabled car that was being pushed across the racing line during the endurance race.

Career Highlights: Giunti was a Ferrari factory sports-car and Formula One driver and winner of major endurance races including Sebring and the Targa Florio.

Pete Robinson

1933–1971 — Age 37

NHRA Top Fuel — Winternationals qualifying — Pomona Raceway, California — February 6, 1971

What Happened: Robinson’s dragster crashed during qualifying at Pomona after becoming unstable at speed.

Career Highlights: “Sneaky Pete” was both a driver and inventive engineer, an NHRA national-event winner and one of Top Fuel’s most respected technical thinkers.

Pedro Rodríguez

1940–1971 — Age 31

Interserie sports-car race — Norisring, Germany — July 11, 1971

What Happened: Rodríguez crashed a Ferrari sports car during the Norisring race and the car caught fire.

Career Highlights: Rodríguez won Formula One Grands Prix, the 1968 24 Hours of Le Mans, and became one of the greatest Porsche endurance drivers of the era.

Jo Siffert

1936–1971 — Age 35

Formula One — World Championship Victory Race — Brands Hatch, England — October 24, 1971

What Happened: Siffert crashed during the non-championship Formula One race at Brands Hatch and the car caught fire.

Career Highlights: Siffert was a two-time Formula One Grand Prix winner and one of Porsche’s most important factory sports-car racers.

1972

Jo Bonnier

1930–1972 — Age 42

Automobile Club de l’Ouest — 24 Hours of Le Mans — France — June 11, 1972

What Happened: Bonnier’s Lola collided with a slower car, was launched over the barriers and crashed among trees outside the circuit.

Career Highlights: Bonnier was Sweden’s first Formula One Grand Prix winner, a veteran sports-car racer and an important advocate for driver organization and safety.

1973

François Cevert

1944–1973 — Age 29

FIA Formula One — United States Grand Prix qualifying — Watkins Glen, New York — October 6, 1973

What Happened: Cevert crashed his Tyrrell at high speed through the Watkins Glen Esses during qualifying.

Career Highlights: Cevert won the 1971 United States Grand Prix and had become Jackie Stewart’s teammate and expected successor at Tyrrell.

Art Pollard

1927–1973 — Age 46

USAC — Indianapolis 500 practice — Indianapolis Motor Speedway — May 12, 1973

What Happened: Pollard crashed during Indianapolis practice and his car caught fire.

Career Highlights: Pollard was a veteran USAC championship driver, multiple Indy 500 starter and winner on the championship trail.

Swede Savage

1946–1973 — Age 26

USAC — Indianapolis 500 — crash May 30, 1973; died July 2

What Happened: Savage lost control exiting Turn Four, struck the inside wall and his car exploded in a major fuel fire. He survived the initial crash but died several weeks later.

Career Highlights: Savage was a promising American road racer and USAC driver who had competed successfully for Dan Gurney before moving into championship cars.

What Changed: The disastrous 1973 Indianapolis month helped prompt USAC to reduce fuel capacity, restrict turbocharger boost and revise aerodynamic rules for 1974.

Roger Williamson

1948–1973 — Age 25

FIA Formula One — Dutch Grand Prix — Zandvoort, Netherlands — July 29, 1973

What Happened: Williamson’s March overturned and caught fire. Fellow driver David Purley stopped and tried desperately to rescue him, but adequate fire and rescue help did not reach the car in time.

Career Highlights: Williamson was a two-time British Formula 3 champion making only his second Formula One World Championship start.

1974

Helmuth Koinigg

1948–1974 — Age 25

FIA Formula One — United States Grand Prix — Watkins Glen, New York — October 6, 1974

What Happened: Koinigg’s Surtees went off the circuit and struck a guardrail that failed to remain properly secured during the impact.

Career Highlights: The Austrian was a highly regarded young sports-car and single-seat racer in only his second Formula One World Championship start.

Peter Revson

1939–1974 — Age 35

FIA Formula One — South African Grand Prix test session — Kyalami, South Africa — March 22, 1974

What Happened: Revson’s Shadow crashed after a suspension failure during testing at Kyalami.

Career Highlights: Revson won two Formula One Grands Prix, the 1971 Can-Am championship, and was a two-time Indianapolis 500 front-row starter.

1975

Mark Donohue

1937–1975 — Age 38

FIA Formula One — Austrian Grand Prix practice — Österreichring, Austria — crash August 17, 1975; died August 19

What Happened: Donohue crashed after a tire failure during practice. He initially appeared relatively stable but later suffered complications from a head injury and died.

Career Highlights: Donohue won the 1972 Indianapolis 500, the 1973 Can-Am championship, Trans-Am titles, sports-car races and became the driver most closely associated with Roger Penske’s rise to racing prominence.

Tiny Lund

1929–1975 — Age 45

NASCAR Grand National — Talladega 500 — Talladega Superspeedway, Alabama — August 17, 1975

What Happened: Lund was caught in a multi-car accident on Talladega’s backstretch and suffered fatal injuries.

Career Highlights: Lund famously won the 1963 Daytona 500 while substituting for Marvin Panch after helping rescue Panch from a burning sports car shortly before the race.

Spectator and Trackside Fatalities — Spanish Grand Prix

April 27, 1975

FIA Formula One — Montjuïc Park, Barcelona, Spain

What Happened: Rolf Stommelen’s car suffered a rear-wing failure, left the circuit and entered a trackside area. Stommelen survived with serious injuries.

Those Lost: Four people beyond the barrier were killed, including a spectator, photographers and a race marshal.

What Changed: Formula One never returned to the Montjuïc Park street circuit.

1977

Tom Pryce

1949–1977 — Age 27

FIA Formula One — South African Grand Prix — Kyalami — March 5, 1977

What Happened: Pryce struck a young fire marshal who was crossing the track carrying an extinguisher to another car. The impact killed both men and Pryce’s unmanned car continued down the circuit before coming to a stop.

Career Highlights: Pryce was a Formula One race leader, pole sitter and one of the most highly regarded British drivers of the mid-1970s.

1978

Ronnie Peterson

1944–1978 — Age 34

FIA Formula One — Italian Grand Prix — Monza, Italy — crash September 10, 1978; died September 11

What Happened: Peterson suffered serious leg injuries in a multi-car first-lap crash. He died the following day after medical complications.

Career Highlights: Known as the “SuperSwede,” Peterson won ten Formula One Grands Prix and twice finished second in the World Championship.

↑ Back to the Top — Disco Was Bad Enough; No Need to Relive the Whole Decade

1980

Patrick Depailler

1944–1980 — Age 35

Alfa Romeo Formula One test — Hockenheimring, Germany — August 1, 1980

What Happened: Depailler crashed during private Formula One testing at Hockenheim.

Career Highlights: Depailler won two Formula One Grands Prix and was a central member of the Tyrrell team during the six-wheel P34 era.

1982

Riccardo Paletti

1958–1982 — Age 23

FIA Formula One — Canadian Grand Prix — Montreal, Quebec — June 13, 1982

What Happened: Paletti struck Didier Pironi’s stalled Ferrari at the start of the Canadian Grand Prix. His car subsequently caught fire during the rescue effort.

Career Highlights: Paletti was a promising young Italian driver in his rookie Formula One season.

Gordon Smiley

1946–1982 — Age 36

USAC/CART — Indianapolis 500 qualifying — Indianapolis Motor Speedway — May 15, 1982

What Happened: Smiley lost control entering Turn Three during a qualifying attempt and struck the concrete wall nearly head-on at very high speed.

Career Highlights: Smiley had raced Formula 5000, Formula Atlantic, sports cars and Indy cars and was attempting to qualify for his fourth Indianapolis 500.

Gilles Villeneuve

1950–1982 — Age 32

FIA Formula One — Belgian Grand Prix qualifying — Zolder, Belgium — May 8, 1982

What Happened: Villeneuve’s Ferrari struck another car while approaching at qualifying speed, became airborne and broke apart.

Career Highlights: Villeneuve won six Formula One Grands Prix for Ferrari and became one of the most admired and spectacular drivers in the team’s history.

1983

John Hagen

1937–1983 — Age 46

NHRA Top Fuel — Northstar Nationals qualifying — Brainerd International Raceway, Minnesota — August 19, 1983

What Happened: Hagen’s Top Fuel dragster crashed during qualifying at Brainerd.

Career Highlights: Hagen was a veteran Top Fuel competitor and respected chassis builder who had raced nationally for many years.

1985

Stefan Bellof

1957–1985 — Age 27

FIA World Sportscar Championship — 1000 km of Spa — Spa-Francorchamps, Belgium — September 1, 1985

What Happened: Bellof’s Porsche collided with Jacky Ickx’s car while fighting for position through Eau Rouge and struck the barrier.

Career Highlights: Bellof won the 1984 World Sportscar Championship and set the Nürburgring Nordschleife lap record that stood for decades.

Richie Evans

1941–1985 — Age 44

NASCAR Modified — practice — Martinsville Speedway, Virginia — October 24, 1985

What Happened: Evans crashed heavily during practice for the modified race at Martinsville and was killed.

Career Highlights: Evans won nine NASCAR Modified championships, including eight straight, and more than 400 feature races. He later became the first primarily modified racer inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame.

Lee Shepherd

1944–1985 — Age 40

NHRA Pro Stock — private test — Ardmore, Oklahoma — March 11, 1985

What Happened: Shepherd crashed during a Pro Stock test after a full pass. The car became unstable during the shutdown portion of the run.

Career Highlights: Shepherd and Reher-Morrison won four consecutive NHRA Pro Stock championships from 1981 through 1984 and 26 national events. He was ranked among NHRA’s greatest drivers.

Manfred Winkelhock

1951–1985 — Age 33

World Sportscar Championship — Mosport Park, Ontario — crash August 11, 1985; died August 12

What Happened: Winkelhock crashed a Porsche prototype at high speed during the Mosport endurance race and died from his injuries the next day.

Career Highlights: Winkelhock competed in Formula One for several seasons and was an accomplished factory sports-car racer.

1986

Elio de Angelis

1958–1986 — Age 28

Brabham Formula One test — Circuit Paul Ricard, France — crash May 14, 1986; died May 15

What Happened: De Angelis crashed during private Formula One testing. The car caught fire and the limited emergency response available at the test delayed rescue.

Career Highlights: De Angelis won two Formula One Grands Prix and spent six seasons as one of Team Lotus’s leading drivers.

Jo Gartner

1954–1986 — Age 32

Automobile Club de l’Ouest — 24 Hours of Le Mans — France — June 1, 1986

What Happened: Gartner’s Porsche crashed at very high speed on the Mulsanne Straight during the night.

Career Highlights: Gartner had competed in Formula One and was establishing himself in international endurance racing.

Henri Toivonen

1956–1986 — Age 29

FIA World Rally Championship — Tour de Corse — Corsica, France — May 2, 1986

What Happened: Toivonen’s Lancia Delta S4 left the mountain road, went down a ravine and burned. His co-driver was also killed.

Career Highlights: Toivonen was one of rallying’s brightest young stars and had won the RAC Rally and Monte Carlo Rally.

What Changed: Within days, the FIA announced the end of the extreme Group B category after the 1986 season.

1987

Spectator Fatality — Indianapolis 500

May 24, 1987

USAC/CART — Indianapolis Motor Speedway

What Happened: A wheel separated during an accident involving Tony Bettenhausen Jr. and Roberto Guerrero and was launched into the grandstand.

Those Lost: One spectator was struck and killed.

1989

Grant Adcox

1950–1989 — Age 39

NASCAR Winston Cup — Atlanta Journal 500 — Atlanta International Raceway, Georgia — November 19, 1989

What Happened: Adcox’s car struck the wall during the race and he suffered fatal injuries in the impact.

Career Highlights: Adcox was a longtime independent NASCAR competitor and an ARCA superspeedway winner.

↑ Back to the Top — Before Somebody Adds Another Computer to the Car

1990

Rich Vogler

1950–1990 — Age 39

USAC — Midget race — Salem Speedway, Indiana — July 21, 1990

What Happened: Vogler crashed while leading the final lap of a nationally televised midget race at Salem.

Career Highlights: Vogler was one of the most successful USAC short-track racers ever, with championships in both midgets and sprint cars and multiple Indianapolis 500 starts.

1991

J. D. McDuffie

1938–1991 — Age 52

NASCAR Winston Cup — Budweiser at the Glen — Watkins Glen International, New York — August 11, 1991

What Happened: McDuffie’s car made contact with another car approaching the high-speed Loop area and struck an inadequately protected barrier.

Career Highlights: McDuffie became one of NASCAR’s most enduring independent owner-drivers, making more than 650 Winston Cup starts without the factory backing enjoyed by the leading teams.

What Changed: Watkins Glen substantially revised the corner and added the Inner Loop chicane before NASCAR returned.

1992

Jovy Marcelo

1965–1992 — Age 27

USAC/CART — Indianapolis 500 practice — Indianapolis Motor Speedway — May 15, 1992

What Happened: Marcelo crashed in Turn One during practice for his first Indianapolis 500.

Career Highlights: Marcelo was the defending 1991 Atlantic Championship champion and a highly regarded Indy-car rookie.

1994

Neil Bonnett

1946–1994 — Age 47

NASCAR Winston Cup — Daytona 500 practice — Daytona International Speedway, Florida — February 11, 1994

What Happened: Bonnett lost control during practice and struck the outside wall.

Career Highlights: Bonnett won 18 NASCAR Winston Cup races and was a central member of the famous Alabama Gang before becoming a popular television commentator.

Rodney Orr

1962–1994 — Age 31

NASCAR Winston Cup — Daytona 500 practice — Daytona International Speedway, Florida — February 14, 1994

What Happened: Orr crashed during practice only three days after Neil Bonnett’s fatal accident at the same track.

Career Highlights: Orr had won the 1993 NASCAR Goody’s Dash championship and was preparing for his move into Winston Cup racing.

Roland Ratzenberger

1960–1994 — Age 33

FIA Formula One — San Marino Grand Prix qualifying — Imola, Italy — April 30, 1994

What Happened: Ratzenberger’s front wing failed at very high speed during qualifying, sending his Simtek into the barrier.

Career Highlights: The Austrian had raced internationally in touring cars, sports cars and Japanese Formula racing and was in his rookie Formula One season.

Ayrton Senna

1960–1994 — Age 34

FIA Formula One — San Marino Grand Prix — Imola, Italy — May 1, 1994

What Happened: Senna’s Williams left the circuit at Tamburello during the race and struck the concrete wall at high speed, one day after Ratzenberger had been killed in qualifying.

Career Highlights: Senna won three Formula One World Championships, 41 Grands Prix and 65 pole positions and became one of the defining drivers in the history of the sport.

What Changed: The Imola weekend triggered an extensive FIA safety campaign involving circuit changes, improved barriers, reduced car performance, stronger cockpit protection, revised medical procedures and other reforms that continued for decades.

1996

Scott Brayton

1959–1996 — Age 37

IRL — Indianapolis 500 practice — Indianapolis Motor Speedway — May 17, 1996

What Happened: Brayton crashed during practice after qualifying on the pole for the Indianapolis 500.

Career Highlights: Brayton was a veteran of fourteen Indianapolis 500s and had won the pole in both 1995 and 1996.

Blaine Johnson

1962–1996 — Age 34

NHRA Top Fuel — U.S. Nationals qualifying — Indianapolis Raceway Park, Indiana — August 31, 1996

What Happened: Johnson’s dragster suffered a major failure near the finish line and crashed during qualifying.

Career Highlights: Johnson won four consecutive NHRA Top Alcohol Dragster championships before moving to Top Fuel, where he was leading the 1996 championship and held the national elapsed-time record.

Jeff Krosnoff

1964–1996 — Age 31

CART — Molson Indy Toronto — Exhibition Place, Ontario — July 14, 1996

What Happened: Krosnoff’s car became airborne after contact late in the race and struck fencing and trackside structures. A race marshal was also killed.

Career Highlights: Krosnoff had built a successful career in Japanese sports-car and Formula racing before earning his CART opportunity in 1996.

Elmer Trett

1943–1996 — Age 53

NHRA — Top Fuel Motorcycle exhibition — U.S. Nationals, Indianapolis Raceway Park — September 1, 1996

What Happened: Trett crashed during an exhibition run at the U.S. Nationals, one day after Blaine Johnson’s fatal Top Fuel accident.

Career Highlights: Trett was the dominant American motorcycle drag racer of his era and became the first motorcycle drag racer to exceed 200 mph.

1997

John Nemechek

1970–1997 — Age 27

NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series — Florida Dodge Dealers 400 — Homestead-Miami Speedway — crash March 16, 1997; died March 21

What Happened: Nemechek crashed hard into the wall during the Truck Series race and suffered severe head injuries. He died five days later.

Career Highlights: Nemechek was building his own NASCAR career while racing alongside his older brother, future Cup winner Joe Nemechek.

1998

Spectator Fatalities — U.S. 500

July 26, 1998

CART — Michigan Speedway, Brooklyn, Michigan

What Happened: A wheel and suspension assembly from Adrián Fernández’s crashed car cleared the retaining fence and entered the grandstand.

Those Lost: Three spectators were killed and six others were injured.

What Changed: CART strengthened requirements intended to keep wheels attached to cars during major accidents.

1999

Greg Moore

1975–1999 — Age 24

CART — Marlboro 500 — California Speedway, Fontana — October 31, 1999

What Happened: Moore lost control on the high-speed oval, crossed the infield grass and struck an inside barrier.

Career Highlights: Moore won five CART races before his 25th birthday and was considered one of open-wheel racing’s brightest young stars.

Gonzalo Rodríguez

1971–1999 — Age 28

CART — Monterey Grand Prix practice — Laguna Seca, California — September 11, 1999

What Happened: Rodríguez suffered a braking problem approaching the Corkscrew, went through the runoff area and over the barrier.

Career Highlights: The Uruguayan had won races in International Formula 3000 and was making only his second CART appearance for Team Penske.

Spectator Fatalities — VisionAire 500K

May 1, 1999

Indy Racing League — Lowe’s Motor Speedway, Charlotte, North Carolina

What Happened: A wheel assembly from a multi-car accident was launched over the catch fence and into the grandstand.

Those Lost: Three spectators were killed and several more were injured. The race was stopped and not restarted.

↑ Back to the Top — Y2K Didn’t Kill the Car, So Neither Will This Button

2000

Kenny Irwin Jr.

1969–2000 — Age 30

NASCAR Winston Cup — practice — New Hampshire International Speedway — July 7, 2000

What Happened: Irwin’s throttle apparently stuck during practice, sending the car hard into the wall in nearly the same location where Adam Petty had crashed weeks earlier.

Career Highlights: Irwin was the 1998 NASCAR Winston Cup Rookie of the Year and a former USAC open-wheel standout.

Adam Petty

1980–2000 — Age 19

NASCAR Busch Series — practice — New Hampshire International Speedway — May 12, 2000

What Happened: Petty’s throttle stuck entering the corner and his car struck the wall nearly head-on.

Career Highlights: The great-grandson of Lee Petty and grandson of Richard Petty represented the fourth generation of NASCAR’s most famous racing family.

What Changed: NASCAR required additional throttle-kill provisions after the New Hampshire accidents.

Tony Roper

1964–2000 — Age 35

NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series — O’Reilly 400 — Texas Motor Speedway — crash October 13, 2000; died October 14

What Happened: Roper’s truck was struck during the race and hit the wall hard. He died the following day from his injuries.

Career Highlights: Roper was a veteran Midwestern racer who had advanced into NASCAR’s Busch and Craftsman Truck national series.

2001

Michele Alboreto

1956–2001 — Age 44

Audi — Le Mans prototype test — Lausitzring, Germany — April 25, 2001

What Happened: Alboreto’s Audi R8 suffered a tire failure during high-speed testing and crashed.

Career Highlights: Alboreto won five Formula One Grands Prix, finished second in the 1985 Formula One World Championship, and won the 1997 24 Hours of Le Mans.

Dale Earnhardt

1951–2001 — Age 49

NASCAR Winston Cup — Daytona 500 — Daytona International Speedway — February 18, 2001

What Happened: Earnhardt’s Chevrolet struck the outside wall on the final lap after contact while cars fought for position behind the leaders. He suffered a fatal basilar skull fracture.

Career Highlights: Earnhardt won seven NASCAR Winston Cup championships, 76 Cup races and the 1998 Daytona 500. “The Intimidator” was one of the most important drivers in NASCAR history.

What Changed: NASCAR’s safety effort accelerated dramatically. Head-and-neck restraints became mandatory later in 2001, energy-absorbing SAFER barriers spread through the sport, and NASCAR created a dedicated Research and Development Center.

2003

Tony Renna

1976–2003 — Age 26

IRL IndyCar — private test — Indianapolis Motor Speedway — October 22, 2003

What Happened: Renna crashed at extremely high speed during a private test for Chip Ganassi Racing at Indianapolis.

Career Highlights: Renna had just earned a full-time Ganassi IndyCar seat after several promising starts and development roles.

2004

Darrell Russell

1968–2004 — Age 35

NHRA Top Fuel — Sears Craftsman Nationals — Gateway International Raceway, Illinois — June 27, 2004

What Happened: A rear tire failed at very high speed during eliminations. The failure severely damaged Russell’s dragster before it crashed in the shutdown area.

Career Highlights: Russell won his first Top Fuel race in his first professional start, earned 2001 NHRA Rookie of the Year honors and won six national events.

What Changed: NHRA and its suppliers increased attention to Top Fuel tire specifications, cockpit protection and containment following the accident.

2006

Paul Dana

1975–2006 — Age 30

Indy Racing League — practice — Homestead-Miami Speedway, Florida — March 26, 2006

What Happened: Dana approached the scene of another driver’s crash at high speed and struck the disabled car during the morning warm-up.

Career Highlights: Dana was beginning his first full IndyCar season with Rahal Letterman Racing after earlier starts with Hemelgarn Racing.

2007

Eric Medlen

1973–2007 — Age 33

NHRA Funny Car — testing — Gainesville Raceway, Florida — crash March 19, 2007; died March 23

What Happened: A tire failure during testing caused severe vibration and loss of control. Medlen suffered major head injuries and died four days later.

Career Highlights: Medlen won six NHRA Funny Car national events while driving for John Force Racing.

What Changed: John Force Racing and the broader Funny Car community intensified work on chassis, padding, restraint and cockpit-energy management following the accident.

2008

Scott Kalitta

1962–2008 — Age 46

NHRA Funny Car — SuperNationals qualifying — Old Bridge Township Raceway Park, Englishtown, New Jersey — June 21, 2008

What Happened: Kalitta’s engine exploded near the finish line, damaging the car and preventing it from stopping before it reached the end of the shutdown area.

Career Highlights: Kalitta won the 1994 and 1995 NHRA Top Fuel championships and 18 national events in Top Fuel and Funny Car.

What Changed: Beginning only weeks later, NHRA shortened Top Fuel and Funny Car competition from the traditional quarter-mile to 1,000 feet.

2009

Carlos Pardo

1975–2009 — Age 33

NASCAR Mexico Series — Puebla, Mexico — June 14, 2009

What Happened: Pardo’s car struck the end of a concrete barrier during the closing laps of the race.

Career Highlights: Pardo was the 2004 NASCAR Mexico Series champion and one of the country’s most successful stock-car racers.

Henry Surtees

1991–2009 — Age 18

FIA Formula Two Championship — Brands Hatch, England — July 19, 2009

What Happened: A wheel detached from another crashed car and struck Surtees’ helmet as he approached the accident scene.

Career Highlights: The son of World Champion John Surtees was a promising young single-seat driver who had scored his first Formula Two podium the previous day.

↑ Back to the Top — Ten More Years and the Geezer Still Prefers a Wrench

2010

Mark Niver

1950–2010 — Age 60

NHRA Top Alcohol Dragster — Northwest Nationals — Pacific Raceways, Washington — July 11, 2010

What Happened: Niver’s parachutes failed to slow the dragster adequately after a run and the car crashed at the end of the shutdown area.

Career Highlights: Niver was a longtime Division 7 racer and respected Top Alcohol Dragster competitor.

Neal Parker

1952–2010 — Age 58

NHRA Top Alcohol Funny Car — SuperNationals qualifying — Old Bridge Township Raceway Park, New Jersey — June 11, 2010

What Happened: Parker’s car failed to stop in the shutdown area and went through the containment systems at the end of the track.

Career Highlights: Parker was a veteran Northeast drag racer who had competed for decades in alcohol Funny Cars.

Spectator Fatalities — California 200 Off-Road Race

August 14, 2010

Mojave Desert Racing — Lucerne Valley, California

What Happened: An off-road racing truck went out of control over a jump and entered a group of spectators standing immediately beside the course.

Those Lost: Eight spectators were killed and numerous others were injured. The driver survived.

What Changed: The accident brought major changes to permitting, crowd-control expectations and federal oversight of organized off-road races on public land.

2011

Dan Wheldon

1978–2011 — Age 33

INDYCAR — IZOD IndyCar World Championship — Las Vegas Motor Speedway — October 16, 2011

What Happened: Wheldon was caught in a massive multi-car crash early in the race. His car became airborne and struck the catch fencing.

Career Highlights: Wheldon won the 2005 IndyCar championship and the Indianapolis 500 in 2005 and 2011. His second Indy victory came only months before his death.

What Changed: IndyCar intensified work on cockpit protection, oval-racing procedures and the design of its next-generation car, which Wheldon himself had helped test.

2013

Jason Leffler

1975–2013 — Age 37

410 Sprint Car — Bridgeport Speedway, New Jersey — June 12, 2013

What Happened: Leffler crashed during a heat race and suffered fatal injuries.

Career Highlights: Leffler was a three-time USAC Midget champion who competed in NASCAR Cup, Busch/Nationwide, Trucks and the Indianapolis 500.

Allan Simonsen

1978–2013 — Age 34

Automobile Club de l’Ouest — 24 Hours of Le Mans — France — June 22, 2013

What Happened: Simonsen’s Aston Martin left the circuit at Tertre Rouge early in the race and struck the barrier.

Career Highlights: Simonsen was an accomplished international GT racer and longtime Le Mans competitor with victories in major endurance championships around the world.

2014

Kevin Ward Jr.

1994–2014 — Age 20

Sprint-car race — Canandaigua Motorsports Park, New York — August 9, 2014

What Happened: Ward’s car was spun into the wall during a caution-producing incident. He left his disabled car and walked onto the racing surface, where he was struck by Tony Stewart’s passing sprint car.

Career Highlights: Ward was a young regional sprint-car racer whose death became one of the most widely discussed short-track accidents of the modern era.

What Changed: NASCAR and numerous short-track organizations strengthened rules requiring drivers involved in accidents to remain in their cars unless fire or another immediate danger requires them to exit.

2015

Jules Bianchi

1989–2015 — Age 25

FIA Formula One — Japanese Grand Prix — Suzuka, Japan — crash October 5, 2014; died July 17, 2015

What Happened: Bianchi left the circuit in heavy rain under caution conditions and struck a recovery vehicle that was removing another crashed car. He remained unconscious with severe head injuries until his death nine months later.

Career Highlights: Bianchi was a Ferrari development driver and had scored Marussia’s first Formula One World Championship points.

What Changed: Formula One introduced the Virtual Safety Car, forcing drivers to maintain a controlled reduced speed when dangerous recovery work is taking place.

Justin Wilson

1978–2015 — Age 37

INDYCAR — ABC Supply 500 — Pocono Raceway, Pennsylvania — crash August 23, 2015; died August 24

What Happened: Debris from another car’s accident struck Wilson’s helmet as he approached the crash scene.

Career Highlights: Wilson won seven Indy-car races, competed in Formula One and was part of the winning team in the 2012 Rolex 24 at Daytona.

2016

Bryan Clauson

1989–2016 — Age 27

USAC-sanctioned midget racing — Belleville Midget Nationals, Kansas — crash August 6, 2016; died August 7

What Happened: Clauson’s car flipped during the feature race and was struck by another car.

Career Highlights: Clauson was one of America’s premier short-track open-wheel racers, a multiple USAC national champion and three-time Indianapolis 500 starter.

2017

Dave Steele

1974–2017 — Age 42

Southern Sprint Car Shootout Series — Desoto Speedway, Florida — March 25, 2017

What Happened: Steele crashed during a pavement sprint-car race and suffered fatal injuries.

Career Highlights: Steele was one of the dominant pavement open-wheel racers of his era, a two-time USAC Silver Crown champion and winner of more than sixty USAC national events.

2019

Jessi Combs

1980–2019 — Age 39

Land-speed record attempt — Alvord Desert, Oregon — August 27, 2019

What Happened: Combs’ jet-powered land-speed car crashed during an attempt to improve her four-wheel land-speed record.

Career Highlights: Combs was a fabricator, television personality and serious land-speed racer. Her final two-way run was later recognized as a women’s land-speed record.

Anthoine Hubert

1996–2019 — Age 22

FIA Formula 2 Championship — Spa-Francorchamps, Belgium — August 31, 2019

What Happened: Hubert was caught in a multi-car accident at the high-speed Raidillon section and his car was struck broadside after rebounding onto the circuit.

Career Highlights: Hubert was the 2018 GP3 Series champion and had already won two Formula 2 races during his rookie season.

↑ Back to the Top — Still Faster Than Hunting for the Scroll Bar

2023

Craig Breen

1990–2023 — Age 33

Hyundai Motorsport — World Rally Championship pre-event test — Croatia — April 13, 2023

What Happened: Breen’s Hyundai left the road during a pre-event test and struck a roadside object. His co-driver survived.

Career Highlights: Breen was a multiple World Rally Championship podium finisher and one of Ireland’s most successful international rally drivers.

Dilano van ‘t Hoff

2004–2023 — Age 18

Formula Regional European Championship — Spa-Francorchamps, Belgium — July 1, 2023

What Happened: Van ‘t Hoff was caught in a multi-car accident in extremely poor visibility near the high-speed Raidillon section.

Career Highlights: The young Dutch driver was the 2021 Spanish Formula 4 champion and was climbing the European single-seat ladder.

2024

Spectator and Trackside Fatalities — Fox Hill Supercross

April 21, 2024

Sri Lankan organized motorsport — Diyatalawa, Sri Lanka

What Happened: During a car race, a vehicle left the course and entered an unprotected group of people standing beside the racing surface.

Those Lost: Seven people were killed, including race officials and spectators. An 8-year-old child was among the victims, and more than twenty other people were injured.

2025

Chris Raschke

1965–2025 — Age 60

Southern California Timing Association — Bonneville Speed Week — Bonneville Salt Flats, Utah — August 3, 2025

What Happened: Raschke was driving the Speed Demon III streamliner when the car became airborne and crashed during a high-speed run.

Career Highlights: Raschke had been part of the Speed Demon land-speed program for decades and had earned the 2024 HOT ROD Magazine Trophy after a five-mile speed exceeding 446 mph.

About the Names That Aren’t Here

Racing has lost far more people than appear on this page.

That does not make the others less important to their families, friends, crews, or local racing communities.

This page has a narrower job. It records the deaths that became part of the larger history of the forms of auto racing covered by this Garage—major champions, nationally known competitors, important builders and innovators, significant record attempts, and accidents that changed the sport or became part of its permanent memory.

Some famous racers are deliberately absent because racing did not take them from us. Davey Allison died in a helicopter crash. Alan Kulwicki died in an airplane crash. Many others died from highway accidents, illness, age, or causes entirely unrelated to competition.

They belong in their biographies.

This page is for the people who went racing and didn’t come home.

↑ Back to the Top — The Geezer Remembers the Ones Who Didn’t Get Another Lap