RIP Dan Wheldon

[TURBO2GO]

Re: Never had a chance.

Yep. Catch fences and open cockpits are not a good mix.

Miner

Why do owners take risks like this? why don't they listen to the drivers? They already are willing to take risks that are too high for their own good. When they get nervous, you know things are really bad.

 

[Ponyboy]

I'll be the contrarian. I don't think it's anyone's "fault." Race car driving inherently carries a high level of risk. That's the way it has been and the way it will be in the future. Every Indycar driver straps in with the understanding that they are piloting a vehicle with incredible potential for destruction - including to, and more likely, themselves.

The managing organization can do everything reasonable to mitigate the driver risk involved, but let's face it, there will still be above average risk and it's part of the reason racing draws an audience. The person that makes the determination on whether or not the risk is acceptable is...the driver.

At the end of the day, 220mph ovals will produce more fatalities, irrespective of safety implementations (CART tried this in Texas). IMHO, even with the dramatic avg speeds and potentially tight racing, oval racing is a bit underwhelming. And though I appreciate the amount of skill involved racing on an oval, a city or road race is much more entertaining...and safer.

 

[BATMANs]

So your rationale is because one guy survived its safe?

An F1 car "dry" (no fuel or driver) weighs around 520 kgs, an Indy car around 700kgs. that is an enormous amount of extra mass to factor into the accidents.

F1: Carbon fiber and honeycomb composite structure

IRL: Carbon Fiber and composites

Cart: Carbon Fiber

 

[Jim]

Someone can correct me if I'm wrong but I think Michael Schumacher said in an old interview (60 Minutes) he would never race the Indy 500/ovals because he thought it was too dangerous.

 

[SFDreamer]

Not sure if Schumacher stated that somewhere or not. But there are quite a few F1 drivers who have openly said they would not run in the Indy series (david coulthard, jody scheckter) and a couple others I can't remember.

 

[Jim]

Found the Schumacher interview, around the 2:35 mark:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I0OmnaC7_6c

 

[92 white 0650]

Drivers meeting w/ Randy B tomorrow. Rahal said that the drivers had been trying to talk to Randy and managment before but to no avail. Be interesting to see if something comes of this meeting.

Hate to say it and I know its more than a little late, but after watching the replay one more time, it sure looks like Dan was distracted and did not lift, never mind brake, like the drivers around him and that he passed. He was at full speed when he launched off Tracy's rear wheels.

No margin for error on those NASCAR banked ovals.

 

[Miner]

Hate to say it and I know its more than a little late, but after watching the replay one more time, it sure looks like Dan was distracted and did not lift, never mind brake, like the drivers around him and that he passed. He was at full speed when he launched off Tracy's rear wheels.

No margin for error on those NASCAR banked ovals.

I concur that from the replay it looks like he didn't react at all to cars slowing down ahead.

At 225 MPH, I believe there is no margin for error, regardless of where they are racing.

Miner

 

[r4m3n]

RIP Dan Wheldon