IRL: John Pierce to Become Safety Consultant
21 October 1997
IRL RETAINS RETIRED GM EXECUTIVE JOHN PIERCE AS SAFETY CONSULTANT For Immediate Release INDIANAPOLIS, October 21, 1997 -- The Indy Racing League has retained retired GM executive John Pierce as a safety consultant to assist Technical Director Phil Casey, IRL Executive Director Leo Mehl announced today. Pierce will be involved with Casey in current projects such as the redesign of the bell housing, transmission case, and rear end crash attenuator. He will also assist in future projects in a number of safety areas. "We are extremely pleased to have John with us to help coordinate all of the various technical projects underway. Safety is, and always has been, the number one consideration of the Indy Racing League," said Mehl. John Pierce started with General Motors in the cooperative mechanical engineering program at General Motors Institute. After his graduation, John held various assignments with Chevrolet Engineering in the product design department, engineering test laboratory and Milford Proving Grounds. His involvement with professional motorsports began in 1968 as a development engineer in the Chevrolet Product Performance Department. His assignments involving performance development and validation included the SCCA Trans-Am Series, IMSA GT and Corvette GTP Championships, Pikes Peak Hill Climb and Indy Lights Series. Additionally, John has managed Indianapolis 500 Pace Car Programs and numerous performance concept vehicle projects. Before his retirement after 41 years with General Motors on June 27, 1997, John was a group manager with GM Motorsports responsible for domestic drag racing, off road truck racing, electronics support, SAE motorsports liaison, FIA manufacturers commission representation and management of the GM Motorsports safety research program. John and his wife Shirley have two daughters. ..IRL97-67..
