Jeff Simmons (racing driver)
Jeff Simmons | |
|---|---|
| Born | August 5, 1976 Hartford, Connecticut, U.S. |
| Occupation | Race car driver (retired) |
| Years active | 1998–2008 |
| Known for | Competing in the Indy Racing League, Indianapolis 500 appearances |
Jeff Simmons (born August 5, 1976) is a retired American race car driver who participated in the Indy Racing League.
Early career
Originally from Hartford and raised in East Granby, Simmons launched his professional racing journey in 1998 within the Barber Dodge Pro Series. That year, he earned both the rookie of the year title and the overall series championship, becoming just the second newcomer to secure the championship. Although he was awarded a $250,000 "Career Enhancement Award," financial limitations prevented him from advancing to Indy Lights, prompting a return to Barber Dodge in 1999. There, he successfully defended his title, marking himself as the only driver to win the championship twice. Accumulating $500,000 in awards enabled him to join Indy Lights with Team Green in 2000, where he concluded the season in seventh place. Following Michael Andretti’s establishment of Andretti Green Racing, the Indy Lights program was discontinued. Simmons tested for PacWest Racing but was unable to secure funding for the 2001 and 2002 seasons.
In 2003, Simmons reentered competition through the Infiniti Pro Series, finishing runner-up in the championship with two victories. The following year, despite lacking full-time sponsorship, AJ Foyt placed him in an Infiniti Pro Series vehicle at Indianapolis, where Simmons finished second. This performance led Mo Nunn Racing to offer him an opportunity to qualify for the Indianapolis 500, which he accomplished despite limited IndyCar experience, ultimately finishing 16th. Later that year, he made another start with Patrick Racing at Kansas Speedway, running competitively until being taken out by other drivers. Unable to obtain an IndyCar seat for 2005, Simmons returned once more to the Pro Series, securing second place overall with four wins driving for Team ISI/Kenn Hardley Racing.
IndyCar Series
The trajectory of Simmons’ 2006 Pro Series season shifted dramatically following the tragic death of Paul Dana during practice before the first IndyCar race at Homestead-Miami Speedway, coinciding with Simmons’ IPS victory that weekend.
On April 4, 2006, Simmons was signed by Rahal Letterman Racing to pilot the No. 17 Ethanol-sponsored Panoz–Honda, beginning at Twin Ring Motegi on April 22. While eligible for Rookie of the Year honors, he was not considered an Indy 500 rookie due to his previous start in 2004. Throughout the 2006 IRL IndyCar Series season, Simmons finished 16th in points despite missing two events. His top finishes included two seventh places at Nashville Superspeedway and Infineon Raceway.
During the 2007 campaign, Simmons and fellow IRL veteran Scott Sharp competed for Rahal Letterman Racing amid engineering and mechanical difficulties that eventually led Sharp to file a lawsuit against team management. Simmons led a significant portion of the Indianapolis 500 before rain prematurely ended the race; he ultimately placed 11th. After participating in eleven races that year, Simmons was replaced by American driver Ryan Hunter-Reay.
In early 2007, Simmons became engaged to WTHR reporter Stephanie Soviar; they married in September but divorced by April 2010.
Simmons returned to Indy Lights with Team Moore Racing in 2008 and briefly reentered IndyCar competition with A. J. Foyt Enterprises during the 2008 Indianapolis 500. Starting from 24th on the grid, he advanced quickly until a pit lane incident caused damage to his car, followed by a mechanical failure leading to a crash under caution, resulting in a 28th-place finish.
American Open-Wheel Racing Performance
(key) (Races highlighted in bold represent pole positions)
Full USF2000 National Championship Results
| Year | Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | Standing | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 | Falcon Racing Services | WDW | STP | PIR | DSC1 | DSC2 | SAV | PPI | CHA1 | CHA2 | MID 45 |
WGI 5 |
WGI 6 |
N.C. | N.C. |
Barber Dodge Pro Series Results
| Year | Race 1 | Race 2 | Race 3 | Race 4 | Race 5 | Race 6 | Race 7 | Race 8 | Race 9 | Race 10 | Race 11 | Race 12 | Final Position | Total Points | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 | STP |
SEB |
SAV 27 |
LRP |
MOH |
WGI 10 |
MIN |
MOH |
ROA |
LS 7 |
REN |
LS |
??? | ??? |
- |
1998 | SEB |
'LRP' 10 |
'DET' 1 |
'WGI' 1 |
'CLE' 3 |
'GRA' 2 |
'MOH' 26 |
'ROA' 5 |
'LS1' 2 |
'ATL' 1 |
'HMS' 2 |
'LS2' 2 |
' 1st | ' 158 |
- |
1999 | 'SEB' 5 |
'NAZ' 2 |
'LRP' 20 |
'POR' 1 |
'CLE' 3 |
'ROA' 1 |
'DET' 24 |
'MOH' 2 |
'GRA' 7 |
' LS 1 |
'HMS ' 4 |
'WGI ' 5 |
' 1st | ' 152 |
Indy Lights / Indy Pro Series
| | CHI2nd| FON
10th| TXS
6th|
| Year | Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | Position | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | Team KOOL Green | LBH 4th |
MIL 7th |
DET 9th |
POR 3rd |
MIS 15th |
CHI 7th |
MOH 6th |
VAN 3rd |
LS 3rd |
STL 14th |
HOU 11th |
FON 6th |
7th | 88 | ||||
| 2003 | Keith Duesenberg Racing | HMS 14th |
PHX 5th |
INDY 4th |
PPIR 2nd |
KAN 14th |
NSH 4th |
MIS 2nd |
STL 1st |
KTY 1st |
CHI 3rd |
FON 8th |
TXS 2nd |
2nd | 407 | ||||
| 2004 | A. J. Foyt Enterprises |
<style="background:#DFDFDF;">INDY 2nd | |||||||||||||||||
rowspan=2 style="background:#CFCFFF;" | 12th rowspan=2 style="background:#CFCFFF;" | 150 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Kenn Hardley Racing |
<style="background:#CFEAFF;">PPIR 9th | ||||||||||||||||||
| Year | Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | Position | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kenn Hardley Racing
<style='text-align:center; background-color: #CFEAFF;'> HMS < br > < small >9th < / small >< / span >< / td > <style='text-align:center; background-color: #EFCFFF;'> PHX < br > < small >12th < / small >< / span >< / td > <style='text-align:center; background-color: #EFCFFF;'> STP < br > < small >12th < / small >< / span >< / td > <style='text-align:center; background-color: #CFEAFF;'> INDY < br > < small >7th < / small >< / span >< / td > <style='text-align:center; background-color: #CFEAFF;'> TXS < br > < small >8th < / small >< / span >< / td > <style='text-align:center; background-color: #EFCFFF;'> IMS < br > < small >13th < / small >< / span >< / td > <style='text-align:center; background-color: #DFDFDF;'> NSH < br > < small >2nd < / small >< / span >< / td > <style='text-align:center; background-color: #FFFFBF;'> MIL < br > < small >1st < / small >< / span >< / td > <style='text-align:center; background-color: #DFFFDF;'> KTY < br > < small >5th < / small >< / span >< / td > <style='text-align:center; background-color: #FFFFBF;'> PPIR < br > < small >1st < / small >< / span >< / td > <style='text-align:center; background-color: #FFDF9F;'> SNM < br > < small >3rd < / small >< / span >< / td > <style='text-align:center; background-color: #FFFFBF;'> CHI < br > < small >1st < / small >< / span >< / td > <style='text-align:center; background-color: #FFFFBF;'> WGL < br > < small >1st | |||||||||||||
| ' ' '474' ' ' |
|
Year | |
Team | |
1 | |
2 | |
3 | |
4 | |
5 | |
6 | |
7 | |
8 | |
9 | |
10 | |
11 | |
12 | |
Position | |
Points |- |- | 2006 |
<style= "background:#FFFFBF;"> HMS | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
<style= "background:#CFCFFF;"> 12th |
|
Year | |
Team | |
1 | |
2 | |
3 | |
4 | |
5 | |
6 | |
7 | |
8 | |
9 | |
10 | |
11 | |
Position | |
Points |- |- | 2008 |
<style= "background:#DFFFDF;"> STP1 | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
(style= "background:#CFCFFF;"> 13th ) (style= "background:#CFCFFF;"> 285 ) |
|
Year | |
Team | |
1 | |
2 | |
3 | |
4 | |
5 | |
6 | |
7 | |
8 | |
9 | |
10 | |
11 | |
Position | |
Points |- |- | 2010 |
<style= "background:#EFCFFF;"> INDY | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
(style= "background:#CFCFFF;"> 34th ) (style= "background:#CFCFFF;"> 15 ) |
IndyCar Series
| Year | Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | Position | Points | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | Mo Nunn Racing | HMS | PHX | MOT | INDY 16 |
TXS | RIR | 29th | 26 | ||||||||||||||
| Patrick Racing | KAN 19 |
NSH | MIL | MIS | KTY | PPIR | NZR | CHI | FON | TX2 | |||||||||||||
| 2006 | Rahal Letterman Racing | HMS | STP | MOT 18 |
INDY 23 |
WGL 19 |
TXS 15 |
RIR 19 |
KAN 10 |
NSH 7 |
MIL 9 |
MIS 10 |
KTY 14 |
SNM 7 |
CHI 8 |
style="background:#CFCFFF;" | 16th |
style="background:#CFCFFF;" | 217 | ||||||
| 2007 | Rahal Letterman Racing | HMS 17 |
STP 14 |
MOT 8 |
KAN 10 |
INDY 11 |
MIL 10 |
TXS 6 |
IOW 17 |
RIR 18 |
WGL 10 |
NSH 14 |
MOH | MIS | KTY | SNM | DET | CHI | 18th | 201 | |||
| 2008 | A. J. Foyt Enterprises | HMS | STP | MOT1 | LBH1 | KAN | INDY 28 |
MIL | TXS | IOW | RIR | WGL | NSH | MOH | EDM | KTY | SNM | DET | CHI | [[2008 Nikon Indy 300 | SRF]]2 |
'39th' | '10' |
- 1 Contested on the same day.
- 2 Exhibition event, no points awarded.
| Years | Teams | Starts | Pole Positions | Victories | Podium Finishes (excluding wins) |
Top Ten Finishes (excluding podiums) |
Indianapolis 500 Victories |
Titles Won |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| '4' | '4' | '26' | '0' | '0' | '0' | '11' | '0' | '0' |
Indianapolis 500
| Year | Chassis | Engine | Starting Position | Final Position | Team |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | Dallara | Toyota | 29 | 16 | Mo Nunn Racing |
| 2006 | Panoz | Honda | 26 | 23 | Rahal Letterman Racing |
| 2007 | Dallara | Honda | 13 | 11 | Rahal Letterman Racing |
| 2008 | Dallara | Honda | 24 | 28 | A. J. Foyt Enterprises |