One of the heartier voices in any paddock, Joe Stimola influenced and aided a vast number of young drivers during his many decades in the sport. He will be sorely missed. (F2000 Series)
Veteran open-wheel crew chief and engineer Joe Stimola died over the weekend in Florida from complications following open heart surgery.
What was to be a relatively simple valve replacement last Monday was postponed until Wednesday when it had become a quadruple bypass and a double heart valve replacement. It was further postponed until Friday, February 12, and a triple bypass and double valve replacement operation was completed successfully.
The surgery went as planned but he developed severe complications that ultimately led to his passing.
Stimola's impact in the many North American OWR feeder series, especially Formula Ford and FF2000 was immeasurable, with the likes of Chip Ganassi, Bobby Rahal, Price Cobb, and Danny Sullivan all got their start with Stimola – fielding their formula fords while they lived at his house. He ran Indy Lights programs in the 80s, and is revered as a legend in the formula car community.
Stimola survived Hodgkin ’s disease in the 1980's and has been known to show off the tattoo radiation targets on this chest.
Joe's wife Nancy was very much his partner and very involved with the business as was their son Jamie [James], who worked with his father for the last several years.
