Bill Simpson, a pioneer in motorsports safety credited with creating equipment that saved too many drivers to count from death or serious injury, died Monday from complications of a stroke suffered three days earlier. He was 79.
The Motorsports Hall of Fame, which inducted Simpson in 2003 for his long career in racing, announced his death.
Simpson suffered the stroke Friday; he also had a stroke earlier this year from which he recovered and returned to many IndyCar events, where he routinely socialized and shared stories with some of the the greatest racers of all time.
"Bill Simpson was a racer and innovator who made drivers and crew members safer," three-time NASCAR champion Tony Stewart said.