NASCAR and IndyCar veteran Paul Goldsmith passes away at 98

The oldest starter in the Indianapolis 500, Paul Goldsmith, passed away this past Friday at the age of 98 in Munster. Goldsmith was primarily known for making six appearances in the Indy 500 from 1953 to 1963. Also, he was the last NASCAR Grand National winner on the old beach course in Daytona Beach, Florida in 1958, while the Daytona International Speedway was under construction.

Following World War II, Goldsmith began his racing career on motorcycles during his teenage years, quickly advancing to expert status with the Motorcyclist Association on Harley-Davidson bikes. He secured his first major victory in 1952, and the following year, he won in the Daytona 200 motorcycle race on the old beach road course.

While still engaged in motorcycle racing, Paul Goldsmith ventured into stock car racing, with a win in 1953 at the Detroit Fairgrounds. He made his last motorcycle start in 1956, subsequently dedicating himself to stock car racing. He achieved his first NASCAR victory the same year in a 300-mile race at Langhorne for the legendary engine builder Smokey Yunick’s team.

Over his career, Goldsmith won nine races and secured 59 top-10 finishes in 127 NASCAR starts. His final NASCAR victory was in 1966 at Bristol Motor Speedway. Beyond NASCAR, Goldsmith also competed in Formula 1, making three starts and achieving a podium finish at Indianapolis in 1960.

He was also successful in USAC Stock Car racing, winning 26 races out of 85 starts, including 44 top-three finishes. 19 of his wins happened across 39 starts during his championship seasons in 1961 and 1962, and he finished second in the standings in 1960 and 1965.

Paul Goldsmith retired from racing in 1969 to pursue a career in aviation. He trained pilots for China East Airlines, flew to races, and managed an aviation engine repair business and an airport in Griffith, Indiana.

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Paul Goldsmith was a pioneer in introducing astronaut-inspired technical innovations to NASCAR

The driver of car #99 developed a cooling suit system that circulated ice water to help drivers manage the extreme heat inside their cars. Explaining the system during a post-race interview, Goldsmith remarked:

"Well, it keeps us from sweating here, Chris. Just like we're sweating standing here, you'll be hotter than I will when I get this turned on inside the race car be ice water flowing through these little veins. and it will keep us real cool."

Additionally, he introduced a caution notification system inside his car, a concept inspired by astronauts. Before the advent of digital boards, yellow flags, caution lights around the track, and communications from spotters and crew chiefs, having an in-car light to indicate caution was revolutionary. Paul Goldsmith described it by saying:

"Well, the space people have come up with a safety light, we'll call it link on the caution amber light. When there's an accident or anything happen anywhere on the racetrack, this light will light up inside my automobile."

Paul Goldsmith's legacy extends beyond the racetrack. He was preceded in death by his wife Helen and son Greg and survived by his daughter Linda Goldsmith-Slifer.