I posted this same comment on the Speed Demon book topic. I want to make sure that I get my two cents in as one who was sort of there when he got on his head. I wasn't really "there" -- I was at the 5 1/2 at the timing tower. Alan Rice was with me, of course, and watching the run through binoculars, so he saw way more than I did. I saw big clouds of salt dust - he saw body panels flying off the car. So to my post:
In re: the Speed Demon crash --
No, George wasn't fine. I noticed a couple of very light black-and-blue bruises on his arms as he sat at the autograph table, signing zillions of Speed Demon "hero cards" (as the cards showing whatever race car and driver and the basic statistics).
Unfortunately I didn't get any. I wanted one for our collection and one to auction off on landracing.com's Forum -- but the waiting line was too long and I had to get back to the tower to continue the streaming.
But was George okay? Well, if he could hang around and joke and smile and sign and even shake hands -- pretty danged good is my official diagnosis.
More power to him, the car, the crew, and especially the safety workers. I've seen them chase down all sorts of vehicles - and the effort the expended to get to George was amazing. by the way -- the nearest course watcher reported that George was out of the car and walking before Kirk and the rest of the safety/fire folks got there.