Simplify the following text for a Grade 8 native English-speaking person.
Original: The 1996 event was marred by tragedy when during practice , pace car driver Elmo Langley died of a heart attack in the Chevrolet Corvette Pace Car at the esses during an evaluation run .
Simplified: The 1996 event was marred by tragedy when pace car driver Elmo Langley died of a heart attack during practice .