Jeff Simmons (driver)

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Jeff Simmons (born May 8, 1976 in Hartford, Connecticut) is an American race car driver in the Indy Racing League and Infiniti Pro Series. After proving himself in IPS Futaba Freedom 100 qualifying at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Mo Nunn gave him a chance to qualify his second car for the 2004 Indianapolis 500, which he did and finished 16th in the race. He made one additional start that year for Patrick Racing after the retirement of Al Unser, Jr.. Unable to find a ride in the IRL for 2005, he returned to the Pro Series, finishing second in the series championship with 4 victories, a series high.

Expecting another season in the Pro Series in 2006, those plans were turned upside down when Paul Dana was killed in a practice crash before the first IndyCar series race at Homestead-Miami Speedway on a weekend where Simmons won the IPS race.

Simmons was rewarded for his resilience when Rahal Letterman Racing announced April 4, 2006 he would drive the No. 17 Ethanol-sponsored Panoz Honda effective April 22 in Motegi, Japan and was eligible as an Indy Racing League IndyCar Series Bombardier Rookie, although he was no longer an Indy 500 rookie due to his start in 2004. (Simmons has only two 2004 starts, and rules state a Bombardier Rookie of the Year contender for the IRL season can have up to three previous IRL starts, thus he is eligible for the season-long rookie title.) He contested the remainder of the 2006 IRL IndyCar Series season and finished 16th in series points despite missing the first two races. His best finish in 2006 was 7th place at Nashville Superspeedway and Infineon Raceway.

Simmons was quoted in regards to the Ethanol ride, "Certainly, I'd be honored to continue with what Paul started with Ethanol. Paul and I both came up through the (open-wheel) ranks together."

For 2007, Simmons will team with IRL veteran Scott Sharp.