STATEMENT FROM NHRA PRESIDENT TOM COMPTON ON THE PASSING OF CARROLL SHELBY “The automotive industry has lost a pioneer and the motorsports world a legend with the passing of Carroll Shelby. He and our founder Wally Parks were very good friends and Carroll frequently attended events at the Wally Parks NHRA Motorsports Museum presented by the Automobile Club of Southern California. On behalf of everyone at NHRA, our thoughts and prayers go out to his family and friends.” Richard Petty Comments on Passing of Carroll Shelby: “Carroll Shelby was a visionary for performance and speed for the Ford Motor Company. It was his ideas that helped push the Cobra and most recently the Mustang brand to the American people. He was an innovator of his time and helped Ford become a leader in the racing and performance world. The entire Petty family sends their prayers to the Shelby family.” IMS STATEMENT ON PASSING OF CARROLL SHELBY INDIANAPOLIS, Friday, May 11, 2012 - A statement from Indianapolis Motor Speedway Corporation President and Chief Executive Officer Jeff Belskus on the passing of Carroll Shelby. Automotive design and engineering icon Shelby died May 10 in Dallas at age 89. He drove the Indianapolis 500 Pace Car twice, leading the field to the green flag in 1987 in a Chrysler LeBaron and in 1991 in a Dodge Viper V-10: "We're saddened to learn of the passing of Carroll Shelby. He made monumental contributions to automotive design and racing engineering that changed the way the world looked at American performance cars. Carroll was an American original. There never will be another quite like him. We were honored that he drove the Pace Car twice at the Indianapolis 500, as his spirit of ingenuity and innovation was a perfect match for 'The Greatest Spectacle in Racing.' We extend our thoughts, prayers and sympathies to his family and friends."
