The impact shattered the March chassis, which completely disintegrated, causing the fuel tank to explode, and sent debris, including Smiley's exposed body, into the catch fence and then back onto the track, tumbling hundreds of feet across the short-chute connecting turns 3 and 4. Smiley died instantly from massive trauma inflicted by the severe impact. His death was the first at Indy since 1973 when Art Pollard and Swede Savage were killed and, to date, the last driver to die during qualifying.
The March chassis shattered upon impact, completely disintegrating and causing the fuel tank to explode. Debris, including Smiley's exposed body, was sent into the catch fence and back onto the track, tumbling hundreds of feet across the short-chute connecting turns 3 and 4. Smiley died instantly from severe trauma caused by the collision. His death marked the first at Indy since 1973 when Art Pollard and Swede Savage were killed, and it remains the last driver to die during qualifying.