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Sunday, July 21, 1996

Accident claims two lives at pro racing circuit SundayBy Patrick Marantal

Summer Bruin Staff

What began as a day at the races ended abruptly when rookie driver Jeff Krosnoff, 31, was killed last Sunday after his car spun out of control and flew over a concrete wall into a catch fence.

Krosnoff, a UCLA alumnus, was driving at speeds over 180 mph during the Toronto Molson-Indy when he ran over the tire of another car.

Medical personnel attempted to resuscitate Krosnoff at the scene but he was already experiencing full traumatic cardiac arrest because of the crash, according to a press release.

Krosnoff was later pronounced dead at the Toronto Western Hospital due to head injuries and multiple fractures.

Track marshal Gary Arvin was also killed during the accident. He had been standing behind the concrete wall to monitor track conditions when Krosnoff lost control of his vehicle.

"My heart goes out to the friends and families of Gary Arvin and Jeff Krosnoff," said Barry Green, an Indy-car team owner. "I never met Gary, but I did get to know Jeff a little bit. He genuinely loved what he did."

At age 19, Krosnoff took part in his first race through the Jim Russell Racing School for Formula Fords and won. He continued his career and eventually moved on to the Formula Mazda Pro Series.

For three years, he raced in the series while attending classes at UCLA. Krosnoff graduated from the university in 1987 with a bachelor's degree in psychology.

"Jeff was someone who in a short period of time you couldn't help but grow very close to," said Cal Wells, co-owner of Arciero-Wells Racing. "He was an individual that had a multitude of attributes that went beyond the fact that he was a tremendous athlete."

"(But) his intelligence, his humor and his education transcended his profession," Wells added. "Collectively, it provided a tremendous human being. He will be greatly missed."

A year after graduation, Krosnoff was regarded as a rising talent by Sportscar Magazine after he received various awards from the 1988 Race Truck Rookie of the Year to the Star of Tomorrow from the Mazda Pro Series.

Krosnoff then competed for five years in the Japanese Formula 3000 and took part in the 24 Hours of LeMans three times during his career.

After his term in Japan, Krosnoff decided to return to the United States. He then joined Arciero-Wells Racing for his Indy-car debut and participated in 11 events during his first season.

Friends emphasized Krosnoff's proficiency in driving and his rising prominence in the racing profession.

"He was much more than a driver to me, he was a good friend. He was a very dedicated person. The sad part is that things were going pretty well for him," said fellow race car driver David Kudrave. "His goal was achieved but it was just starting to take off. We've just got to remember him for the good times."

In the wake of the accident, a team of coroner and police officials are still investigating the circumstances surrounding Krosnoff's death.

Krosnoff is survived by his wife Tracy and his parents, Jack and Jeanne. An outdoor memorial service will be held at Descanso Gardens in the Los Angeles area on Monday, July 22. The service will be open to family, friends and members of the racing family.

The family has set up the Jeff Krosnoff Memorial Fund which will be donated to a charity at a later date.

With reports from Bruin wire services