On June 11, 1955, during the 24 Hours of Le Mans endurance race in France, a horrific crash killed 81 people and injured more than 120 others. The tragedy began when Pierre Levegh, driving a Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR, collided with the back of another car that had suddenly moved into his path to enter the pits. Levegh’s car launched into the air, disintegrated, and its burning debris — including the engine block and hood — flew into the packed grandstands. Levegh was killed instantly, and the crowd