| 250px | |
| Nationality |  Italian
|
| Born | 21 August 1957 |
| Florence, Italy | |
| World Stock Car Championship | |
|---|---|
| races run over 4 season(s). | |
| Rookie Season | 1985 |
| Team(s) | Scuderia Benedetti |
| Championships | |
| Pole Positions | |
| Wins | |
| WSCC Canon Driver | |
Dr. Rodolfo Giacomo Benedetti (born 21 August 1957), also known as Jocko, is a retired Italian race car driver who competed in the World Stock Car Championship for Scuderia Benedetti alongside his brother, Iacopo, from 1985 until 1988. He is most notable for his role in a practice crash with Charlie Stafford at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in 1988 that effectively ended both of their careers.
Early Life[edit | edit source]
Racing Career[edit | edit source]
Eurocup (1981 - 1984)[edit | edit source]
World Stock Car Championship (1985 - 1988)[edit | edit source]
Indianapolis Accident and Retirement[edit | edit source]
Benedetti was taking part in the first practice session for the Round of Indianapolis on August 20, 1988 (one day before his 31st birthday) when he was unable to avoid the spinning car of Charlie Stafford, which had struck the wall at the exit of Turn 1 head-on and slid into his path. Benedetti T-boned Stafford, the impact nearly killing both drivers as Benedetti suffered severe head and chest injuries. Benedetti recovered to return to the track weeks later, but chose to retire at the end of the season. He stated in his autobiography that the actual motivation for his retirement was PTSD, not his injuries. "The idea that I had nearly killed Charlie and completely ended his career ate at me; I couldn't in good conscience continue to race knowing my role in his accident."
Post-Racing Career[edit | edit source]
Benedetti remained in the United States after his retirement, studying psychology and eventually getting his doctorate from St. John's University. Benedetti has dedicated his career to helping motorsports people deal with issues such as tramua, PTSD, anxiety, and panic disorders derived from their experiences.
Personal Life[edit | edit source]
Benedetti married American actress Tasha Greenfield in a private ceremony in 1996. The couple have three children: Zaira (born 12 September 1999), Gian (born 1 May 2002), and Elisa (born 17 July 2005). The couple currently live in Seattle, Washington.