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Dick Simon

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This article is about the race car driver. For other people named Dick Simon, see Richard Simon.
Dick Simon
NationalityUnited States American
BornRichard Raymond Simon
(1933-09-21) September 21, 1933 (age 91)
Seattle, Washington, U.S.
Champ Car career
183 races run over 20 years
Years active1969–1988
Best finish8th – 1979
First race1970 Jimmy Bryan 150 (Phoenix)
Last race1988 Bosch Spark Plug Grand Prix (Nazareth)
Wins Podiums Poles
0 1 0

Richard Raymond Simon[1] (born September 21, 1933) is retired American auto racing driver and racing team owner. Simon drove Indy cars in USAC and CART, and made 17 starts at the Indianapolis 500. At the 1988 Indianapolis 500, Simon set a record as the oldest driver in Indy 500 history (54 years, 251 days), a record that was later broken by A. J. Foyt.

Simon was a longtime car owner, founding Dick Simon Racing, helping to begin the Indy car careers of Stéphan Grégoire, Arie Luyendyk, Raul Boesel, Lyn St. James, and many others. Simon had a notable record at the Indy 500. Of the many rookies he entered at Indy over the years, not a single one failed to qualify for the race. Simon never won a race as a driver or as an owner. His best finish as a driver was 3rd at Ontario, and as an owner he had six second-place finishes. Simon had a best finish at the Indianapolis 500 of 6th in 1987 (as a driver), and 4th in 1993 as an owner with Boesel.

Simon sold his race team to Andy Evans who formed Team Scandia in 1997. He returned to Indy car racing in the late 1990s and entered cars in 2000 and 2001.

Early life

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Simon was born in Seattle, Washington.[2] His mother developed multiple sclerosis, and died at a relatively young age, while Simon's father later left the family. This forced Simon to take over the upbringing of his younger siblings.[3]

After completing his primary education in Seattle, Simon received a skiing scholarship that enabled him to attend the University of Utah.[2][3] During his collegiate career he was highly decorated, twice winning the Intermountain Ski Jumping championship, and for three consecutive years winning the Landes Memorial Ski Jump, held in Alta, Utah.[2]

Simon began his racing career in 1962, racing super modifieds. Between 1962 and 1967, he won more than 30 races in the western United States, and in 1965 won the South Lake Valley Racing Association championship.[2]

Championship car career

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Simon made his first USAC Championship car appearance at Seattle International Raceway in 1969, failing to qualify for that as well as two other races that season.[1] Simon made his first start in 1970, driving a second-hand Vollstedt chassis at Phoenix International Raceway, where he sidelined by magneto failure after only 4 laps. He made his Indianapolis 500 debut that season and finished 14th position. At Ontario Motor Speedway that September, Simon captured his career-best finish of 3rd place, and he finished 10th in the 1970 USAC National Championship.[1][2] Simon would continue to be marginally competitive throughout the 1970s, never matching his finishes of the 1970 season.

Simon's IndyCar at Pocono in 1984

In 1979, Simon sided with USAC during its split with CART. In being one of the few drivers to complete the USAC schedule, Simon finished 8th in the Championship. In 1980 Simon moved to CART and continued to have little success throughout the 1980s while remaining marginally competitive. In 1982, Simon captured national attention after walking away from a spectacular rollover accident at Riverside, an incident that was later showed on ABC's That's Incredible!.[4] He logged his best CART season in 1987 when he made 11 starts and logged two top-tens including a 6th place at the Indy 500, good enough for 20th in the CART championship. A partial season in 1988 where Simon logged a solid 9th-place finish in the Indy 500 was his last as a driver.

Dick Simon's March 84C at Laguna Seca in 1984.

Simon's driving career includes 183 starts (115 in USAC, 78 in CART) over 19 seasons spanning from 1970 to 1988. Among those starts are 17 Indianapolis 500 appearances. He completed 1,954 laps in the Indianapolis 500 without leading any, the second highest such total ever.

Team ownership

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Main article: Dick Simon Racing

Dick Simon fielded his own race team beginning in 1983 and shortly thereafter began fielding cars for pay drivers, Dick Simon Racing being one of the most competitive teams offering race seats to such drivers almost always fielded current-year March and Lola chassis and had a competitive engine package. Simon himself retired from driving in 1988, one of the motivations being his difficulty in finding sponsors for himself as opposed to younger, up and coming drivers, saying in later that sponsors did not "want to sponsor somebody’s hobby, and that’s what they consider when an owner’s out there racing.”[5] In 1989 the team fielded two fully funded drivers in Scott Brayton and Arie Luyendyk as the team moved towards the front of the pack. Simon fielded a car in the 1992 Indianapolis 500 for Lyn St. James who became the second woman to drive in the race. Raul Boesel finished 5th in points with three runner-up finishes in 1993, the team's best season result.

At 61 years old, Simon stepped behind the wheel of Davy Jones' car for shakedowns ahead of the 1995 Indianapolis 500, as Jones was in California for a NASCAR event.[5] Overall, team had a difficult 1995 and Simon sold the team to Andy Evans who turned it into Team Scandia. Simon returned to ownership in the Indy Racing League IndyCar Series in 1999 but saw little success. The team was shut down after the team's driver Stéphan Grégoire failed to qualify for the 2001 Indianapolis 500.

Personal life

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Simon was an adventurist and enthusiast. He was an experienced skier, scuba diver, registered pilot, sky diver, and parachutist. He was a national champion parachute jumper, and made over 1,600 jumps during the 1960s. In 1970, he left a desk job at an insurance company to pursue a career in auto racing. Simon is married to Dianne.[3] Simon was once questioned by the FBI under the suspicion of being the airplane hijacker D. B. Cooper. He proved that he was discussing sponsorship with the president of General Foods in Upstate New York on the date of the hijack.[6][7][8]

Dick Simon at the 2016 Brickyard SVRA Pro-Am race at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

Motorsports career results

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SCCA National Championship Runoffs

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Year Track Car Engine Class Finish Start Status
1968 Riverside Raceway Chevrolet Corvette Chevrolet B Production 3 Running

American open-wheel racing

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(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position)

USAC Championship Car

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USAC Championship Car results
Year Team Chassis Engine 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 Pos. Pts
1969 Vollstedt Enterprises Vollstedt 67 Ford 159ci V8t PHX HAN INDY MIL LAN PPR CDR NAZ TRE IRP IRP MIL ISF DOV DSF INF BRN BRN TRE SAC SIR
DNS 		SIR RSD
DNS 		NA -
Chevrolet 320 ci V8 PHX
DNQ
1970 Racing International Vollstedt 67 Ford 159ci V8t PHX
24 		TRE
9 		INDY
14 		MIL
11 		LAN
9 		MCH
19 		IRP
13 		ISF MIL ONT
3 		DSF INF SED TRE
DNQ 		PHX
9 		10th 1080
John Gregg Vollstedt 65 Chevrolet 320 ci V8 SON
6
Dayton-Walther Morris 70 Ford 159ci V8t CDR
11
Ron Burke Moore 65 D Offy 252 ci SAC
DNQ
1971 Dick Simon Racing Lola T152 Ford 159ci V8t RAF
13 		RAF
6 		PHX
12 		POC
17 		MCH
15 		MIL TRE
25 		PHX
7 		20th 405
Vollstedt 67 TRE
7 		INDY
14 		MIL
9
Peat-Lola ONT
22
1972 Dick Simon Racing Peat-Lola Ford 159ci V8t PHX
18 		TRE
14 		INDY
13 		MIL
9 		MCH
7 		POC
16 		TRE
16 		23rd 200
Lola T152 Foyt 159ci V8t MIL
12 		ONT
Eagle 72 PHX
14
1973 Dick Simon Racing Eagle 72 Foyt 159ci V8t TWS
6 		TRE
10 		TRE
7 		INDY
14 		MIL
17 		POC
12 		MIL
22 		ONT ONT
11 		ONT
22 		MCH MCH TRE
23 		20th 440
Eisenhour-Brayton Racing Team Coyote 72 MCH
17
Patrick Racing Eagle 73 Ford 159ci V8t TWS
21 		PHX
8
1974 Dick Simon Racing Eagle 72 Foyt 159ci V8t ONT
8 		ONT ONT
28 		PHX
13 		TRE INDY
33 		MIL
4 		POC
29 		MCH
21 		PHX
15 		21st 270
Vollstedt Enterprises Vollstedt 73 Offy 159 ci t MIL
11 		MCH TRE TRE
1975 Dick Simon Racing Eagle 72 Foyt 159ci V8t ONT ONT
13 		ONT
24 		PHX
14 		TRE
8 		INDY
21 		MIL
13 		POC
23 		MCH
9 		MIL
17 		MCH
15 		TRE
11 		PHX
13 		22nd 220
1976 Vollstedt Enterprises Vollstedt 72/75 Offy 159 ci t PHX
7 		21st 330
Dick Simon Racing Eagle 72 Foyt 159ci V8t TRE
16 		MIL
14
Vollstedt Enterprises Vollstedt 73/76 Offy 159 ci t INDY
32 		POC
10 		MCH
19 		TWS TRE
13 		MIL
16 		ONT
30 		MCH
21 		TWS PHX
7
1977 Vollstedt Enterprises Vollstedt 73/76 Offy 159 ci t ONT
6 		PHX
7 		TWS TRE MIL
13 		MIL
9 		24th 360
Vollstedt 77 INDY
31 		POC
16 		MOS MCH
19 		TWS
14 		ONT
33 		MCH
Lightning Mk1/76 PHX
11
1978 Vollstedt Enterprises Vollstedt 77 Offy 159 ci t PHX
4 		ONT
6 		TWS TRE INDY
19 		MOS POC
30 		MCH
13 		ATL
18 		TWS
6 		MIL
21 		ONT
14 		MCH SIL
12 		BRH
7 		PHX
22 		18th 670
Vollstedt 73/76 MIL
18 		TRE
DNQ
1979 Vollstedt Enterprises Vollstedt 77 Offy 159 ci t ONT
7 		TWS INDY
26 		MIL
13 		POC
5 		TWS
7 		MIL
17 		8th 766
1980 Vollstedt Enterprises Vollstedt 77 Offy 159 ci t ONT INDY
22 		MIL
13 		POC
21 		MDO
DNQ 		38th 38
1981-82 Leader Card Racers Watson PC7 Cosworth DFX V8t INDY
DNQ 		POC
20 		ISF DSF INF INDY
DNQ 		40th 20
1982-83 Dick Simon Racing March 83C Cosworth DFX V8t ISF DSF NAZ INDY
15 		23rd 25
1983-84 Dick Simon Racing March 84C Cosworth DFX V8t DSF INDY
23 		26th 15

PPG Indy Car World Series

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PPG Indy Car World Series results
Year Team Chassis Engine 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 Pos. Pts Ref
1979 Vollstedt Enterprises Vollstedt 77 Offy 159 ci t PHX ATL ATL INDY
26 		TRE TRE MCH MCH WGL TRE ONT MCH ATL PHX NC 0 [9]
1980 Vollstedt Enterprises Vollstedt 77 Offy 159 ci t ONT INDY
22 		MIL
13 		POC
21 		MDO
DNS 		MCH
18 		WGL
17 		MIL
7 		ONT
37 		MCH MEX
23 		PHX
25 		31st 185 [10]
1981 Leader Card Racers Watson PC7 Cosworth DFX V8t PHX
10 		MIL
7 		ATL ATL MCH
31 		RIV
6 		WGL
11 		MEX
25 		PHX
20 		16th 38 [11]
Watson 78 Offy 159 ci t MIL
22 		MCH
25
1982 Leader Card Racers Watson PC7 Cosworth DFX V8t PHX
DNQ 		ATL
DNS 		MIL
19 		CLE
17 		MCH
21 		MIL
15 		POC
22 		RIV
7 		ROA 25th 26 [12]
Watson 82C MCH
13 		PHX
19
1983 Dick Simon Racing March 83C Cosworth DFX V8t ATL
DNQ 		INDY
15 		MIL
11 		CLE MCH
14 		MCH
19 		CPL
14 		LAG PHX
23 		29th 2 [13]
Eagle 83 ROA
13 		POC RIV
25 		MDO
15
1984 Dick Simon Racing March 84C Cosworth DFX V8t LBH
19 		PHX
4 		INDY
23 		MIL
13 		POR
20 		MEA
24 		CLE
DNQ 		MCH
12 		ROA
15 		POC
12 		MDO
24 		SAN
12 		MCH
15 		PHX
21 		LAG
14 		CPL
DNQ 		26th 15 [14]
1985 Dick Simon Racing March 85C Cosworth DFX V8t LBH INDY
26 		MIL
13 		POR MEA
17 		CLE MCH
25 		ROA POC
10 		MDO SAN
17 		MCH
19 		LAG PHX
DNQ 		MIA 37th 3 [15]
1986 Dick Simon Racing Lola T86/00 Cosworth DFX V8t PHX LBH INDY
14 		MIL POR MEA CLE
22 		TOR MCH POC
23 		MDO SAN
20 		MCH ROA LAG PHX MIA NC 0 [16]
1987 Dick Simon Racing Lola T87/00 Cosworth DFX V8t LBH
20 		PHX
10 		INDY
6 		MIL
20 		POR
18 		MEA
14 		CLE
23 		TOR
23 		MCH
9 		POC
21 		ROA MDO NAZ
18 		LAG MIA 21st 15 [17]
1988 Dick Simon Racing Lola T87/00 Cosworth DFX V8t PHX
19 		LBH POC
19 		MDO ROA 24th 11 [18]
Lola T88/00 INDY
9 		MIL
12 		POR CLE TOR MEA MCH
7 		NAZ
20 		LAG MIA
Indianapolis 500
[edit]
Year Chassis Engine Start Finish Team
1970 Vollstedt Ford 31 14 Racing International
1971 Vollstedt Ford 33 14 Dick Simon Racing
1972 Peat-Lola Ford 23 13 Dick Simon Racing
1973 Eagle Foyt 27 14 Dick Simon Racing
1974 Eagle Foyt 10 33 Dick Simon Racing
1975 Eagle Foyt 30 21 Dick Simon Racing
1976 Vollstedt Offenhauser 16 32 Vollstedt Enterprises
1977 Vollstedt Offenhauser 30 31 Vollstedt Enterprises
1978 Vollstedt Offenhauser 10 19 Vollstedt Enterprises
1979 Vollstedt Offenhauser 20 26 Vollstedt Enterprises
1980 Vollstedt Offenhauser 29 22 Vollstedt Enterprises
1981 Watson Cosworth DNQ Leader Card Racers
1982 Watson Cosworth DNQ Leader Card Racers
1983 March Cosworth 20 15 Dick Simon Racing
1984 March Cosworth 20 23 Dick Simon Racing
1985 March Cosworth 14 26 Dick Simon Racing
1986 Lola Cosworth 33 14 Dick Simon Racing
1987 Lola Cosworth 6 6 Dick Simon Racing
1988 Lola Cosworth 16 9 Dick Simon Racing

NASCAR

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(key) (Bold - Pole position awarded by qualifying time. Italics - Pole position earned by points standings or practice time. * – Most laps led.)

Winston Cup Series

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NASCAR Winston Cup Series results
Year Team No. Make 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 NWCC Pts Ref
1973 Faustina Racing 5 Dodge RSD DAY RCH CAR BRI ATL NWS DAR MAR TAL
7 		NSV CLT DOV TWS RSD MCH DAY
35 		BRI ATL TAL NSV DAR RCH DOV NWS MAR CLT CAR NA 0 [19]
1974 RSD DAY
31 		RCH CAR BRI ATL DAR NWS MAR TAL NSV DOV CLT RSD MCH DAY BRI NSV ATL POC TAL MCH DAR RCH DOV NWS MAR CLT CAR ONT NA 0 [20]
Daytona 500
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Year Team Manufacturer Start Finish
1974 Faustina Racing Dodge 37 31

References

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  1. ^ a b c "Dick Simon". www.champcarstats.com. Retrieved 2023-05-18.
  2. ^ a b c d e Hungness, Carl, ed. (1973). "Driver Biographies". Indianapolis 500 Yearbook. 1. Speedway, IN: Carl Hungness & Associates: 139.
  3. ^ a b c CART 1989 - MID SEASON REVIEW, December 2021, retrieved 2023-05-18
  4. ^ "AUTO RACING DICK SIMON IS A SURVIVOR". The Morning Call. 1984-05-26. Retrieved 2023-09-14.
  5. ^ a b "Indy Vet Simon, 61, Turns First Practice Lap | The Spokesman-Review". www.spokesman.com. Retrieved 2023-05-18.
  6. ^ The Talk of Gasoline Alley. May 19, 2006. 1070 WIBC-AM.
  7. ^ Schmitz, Brian (May 27, 1994). "Simon's Stress". Sun Sentinel. Archived from the original on March 3, 2016. Retrieved May 6, 2015.
  8. ^ Simon's Stress - Nrian Schmitz, The Orlando Sentinel, 24 May 1994
  9. ^ "Dick Simon – 1979 CART Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved August 16, 2023.
  10. ^ "Dick Simon – 1980 CART Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved August 16, 2023.
  11. ^ "Dick Simon – 1981 CART Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved August 16, 2023.
  12. ^ "Dick Simon – 1982 CART Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved August 16, 2023.
  13. ^ "Dick Simon – 1983 CART Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved August 16, 2023.
  14. ^ "Dick Simon – 1984 CART Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved August 16, 2023.
  15. ^ "Dick Simon – 1985 CART Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved August 16, 2023.
  16. ^ "Dick Simon – 1986 CART Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved August 16, 2023.
  17. ^ "Dick Simon – 1987 CART Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved August 16, 2023.
  18. ^ "Dick Simon – 1988 CART Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved August 16, 2023.
  19. ^ "Dick Simon – 1973 NASCAR Winston Cup Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved August 16, 2023.
  20. ^ "Dick Simon – 1974 NASCAR Winston Cup Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved August 16, 2023.
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