| Racing career | | | | to the 1967 Indianapolis 500 where it was worn by 30 |
| Simpson started in drag racing and SCCA Formula | | | | of 33 drivers. Simpson had developed over 200 racing |
| racing, eventually moving up to the USAC | | | | safety products, including three generations of fire suits. |
| Championship Car series. He raced in the 1968-1974 | | | | Simpson demonstrated the suit's effectiveness in 1987, |
| and 1976-1977 seasons, with 52 career starts. He | | | | when he was set on fire while wearing a suit. |
| qualified twentieth for the 1974 Indianapolis 500, and | | | | Earnhardt controversy |
| finished thirteenth. He finished in the top ten 11 times, | | | | Main article: Death of Dale Earnhardt |
| with his best finish in 6th position in 1970 at Milwaukee. | | | | Simpson Performance Products was involved in a |
| He decided to end his racing career in 1977, because | | | | great deal of controversy in the February 2001 death |
| he started to think about a telephone call that he | | | | of Dale Earnhardt. There was a great deal of |
| needed to make while he was practicing at Indianapolis | | | | controversy regarding whether or not a seat belt |
| Motor Speedway. | | | | manufactured by the company had malfunctioned. |
| Race safety advocate | | | | NASCAR's investigation into the crash in part blamed |
| In 1958, the 18 year old Simpson broke both arms in a | | | | seat belt failure. Simpson received death threats and |
| drag racing crash. Simpson later said, "Until then, I was | | | | bullets into his house, which led to his resignation in July |
| like most drivers. The only time I thought about safety | | | | 2001. Simpson sued NASCAR for $8.5 million |
| was after I'd been hurt. This time, I was hurt bad | | | | defamation of character suit. Simpson withdrew his |
| enough to do a lot of thinking." | | | | lawsuit with an undisclosed settlement. |
| Simpson's uncle owned a military surplus store, and | | | | Simpson now heads Impact! Racing, which began |
| suggested that he use a cross-form parachute to | | | | competing with his old firm after a one year |
| slow down the drag car. Simpson rented a sewing | | | | no-competition clause. He has designed a new helmet, |
| machine to create a prototype. Simpson got together | | | | and a head and neck restraint system. |
| with his friend dragster driver Mike Sorokin to test the | | | | Career award |
| prototype. They tested it by attaching it to a tow hitch, | | | | In 2003, he was inducted into the Motorsports Hall of |
| and dumping it from the back of the Chevy wagon | | | | Fame of America in the "at large" category. |
| while Sorokin drove down a street at 100 mph. The | | | | Author |
| chute was too big for the car, and the car went | | | | He is the author of the book "Racing Safely, Living |
| airborne and crashed into a tree nursery. Both racers | | | | Dangerously". |
| were jailed for the incident, but Simpson Drag Chutes | | | | References |
| was founded. | | | | ^ a b c d Biography at the Motorsports Hall of Fame |
| The first person to inquire about and use his parachute | | | | of America, Retrieved January 8, 2007 |
| was "Big Daddy" Don Garlits. He evolved his business | | | | ^ Jim Donnelly, Muscle Machines 1203 Hot Rod Hero: |
| into a number of other safety items, such as gloves, | | | | Bill Simpson |
| helmets, restraints and shoes. Simpson designed | | | | ^ a b c d Lori Lovely, "Nuvo Safety Spelled |
| NASA's first umbilical cords, where he met Pete | | | | S-i-m-p-s-o-n" |
| Conrad. Conrad introduced Simpson to DuPont product | | | | ^ a b c d e Joanne Korth; "Bill Simpson is glad to be |
| Nomex in 1967. Simpson used the product to create | | | | back"; August 21, 2002 St. |
| the first fire suit to be used in racing. He took the suit | | | | |