Posted on 10/08/2012 7:12:52 AM PDT by rawhide
TALLADEGA, Ala. – If you or I had been involved in a wreck like the one that claimed the cars of Tony Stewart, Jimmie Johnson, Dale Earnhardt Jr. and more than two dozen other NASCAR drivers on Sunday afternoon, we'd curl up in a fetal position at the thought of going near a car ever again. This was the kind of high-speed, full-throttle, nowhere-to-hide carnage that allows real life to edge its way into your sporting Sunday, forcing you to think, just for a second, that something really bad might just have happened
Fortunately for all concerned, the catastrophic wreck on the last lap of the Good Sam 500 destroyed only acres of sheet metal (and the championship hopes of several drivers). The maelstrom that unfolded behind winner Matt Kenseth was terrifying to observe, yes, but ultimately nothing more than one hell of a show.
In short, it was the perfect NASCAR wreck.
(Excerpt) Read more at sports.yahoo.com ...
Since Dale Sr. was killed, there have been several game changing improvements in car/driver safety:
SAFER barrier (resilient crash wall)
HANS device (head support that prevents the brain stem from disconnecting from the spinal nerve bundle - this is what killed Adam Petty, Kenny Irwin, Earnhardt Sr, Tony Roper and several others)
COT chassis - a standardized chassis with crash crumple zones and more robust roll cage and seat system.
They have achieved a fantastic safety record since these were adopted.
Guess what . . . it's dangerous out there!
Thank goodness for the new head restraints.
Based on the headline I was expecting to fear for someone’s life while watching the wreck, like a car nearly flying into the stands (which will happen one day). And while the number of cars involved was truly impressive, I didn’t think for a moment while watching it that anyone was going to be badly injured. That’s Talledaga... my favorite race track.
The author needs to grow a pair. Or quit fondling them, as the case may be.
Wow, that is one big crash. Thanks for posting the video link.
The developments you listed are all well and good. But this restrictor plate racing is just another disaster waiting to happen. And NASCAR won't change it until someone else gets killed.
Brought to you by Casey Mears. He caused a few scrapes throughout the race.
Tony Stewart's acknowledged fault, wild ride.
That's racing boyz! .
Oddly, Smoke owned up and said it was all HIS fault.
After so many left turns you need a good crash to break up the monotony.
Tony accepted responsibility after the race.
Statement delivered with a sly, self-deprecating grin...funniest line of the day. Tony’s a great guy!
I look at it this way: In the old days, after a crash, the car survived for the most part but the driver was killed. Now, the car disintegrates into a pile of rubble from which a dazed driver emerges relatively unhurt.
Generally speaking.
Safer and Hans... Great.
COT stinks on ice...
So does green fuel, restrictor plates, and only having half the season available for those of us without cable tv.
Why does it take NASCAR 500 miles and millions of dollars to do what I was doing with my hotwheels when I was 2?
They were racing 4 wide, what could possibly go wrong?
"It's not safe wrecking like that," he said. "It's ridiculous, man. It's bloodthirsty if that's what people want."
The part in bold type (mine) is out of context. Jr. had paused after saying "It's ridiculous, man." and some reporter off camera (Busbee?) interupted with some question like, "Isn't that what the fans want?" (It was hard to hear exactly what was asked)
I'll see if I can find a clip of the interview.
PS....I am NOT a Jr. fan!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.