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 collision shattered the March chassis, which completely disintegrated, causing the fuel tank to explode, and sending debris, including Smiley's exposed body, into the catch fence and then back onto the track. Smiley died instantly from severe trauma inflicted by the impact. His death was the first at Indy since 1973 when Art Pollard and Swede Savage were killed, and it remains the last driver to die during qualifying.