BrianCunningham

Saw Sat's race, missed this one.

So Carl Edwards did a backflip again... but this time it was at 200 mph.



Now the knee jerks want to make things safer? He didn't blame Keselowski for it, which was nice, but then he basically pointed the finger at Nascar instead.

So all this is over a guy who got greedy and wrecked himself. Maybe drivers will stop using the yellow line to block now, that'd be nice.

I guess he has a point though, if its not him, its somebody else. Fan safety shouldn't be dependent on the drivers. If there's any circumstance where that car could have gone over the catch fence, then I agree, something big should be done.

But it looks to me like almost everything worked as intended. The catch fence wasn't designed to keep small debris out, and it didn't. If anything, maybe the roof flaps could use a little work, and the catch fence itself could be built differently so it doesn't turn to confetti when it's used.


One of the problems on car's with splitters, once the air gets under it, your going for a ride.

I like the roof flaps, perhaps another 'active aero' solution is needed.

More on the fan injuries

http://www.autoweek.com/article/2009...SCAR/904269993

AU N EGL

I saw the replays of the last lap.

Brain K did a great job by NOT going down below the yellow line.

Carl Edwards opened the door, then attempted to close it on Briand, which he did not budge.

racerbob4

Brad did exactly what NASCAR indicated he should do and he didnt want to finish 18th like the guy who went below the line last year. It looks like they need more cables strung through the chainlink fence.

Everett Ogilvie

Carl was very professional afterward, saying that Keselowski did not do anything wrong. Obviously, the yellow line rule at the restrictor plate tracks is pretty controversial.

If you watch the vid of the wreck as soon as the car is close to going backwards the roof flaps open and the car immediately starts to come back towards the ground, only to then hit Newman, which of course launched it. I for one am impressed how well the roof flaps work.

shifter77

BLOCKING.

AU N EGL

Yes he did. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c9FsYDEIZWk

JRD77VET

If you watch the video again, you see the 99 car is starting to come down when 39 car drives under it, pushing it back up.

Slightly different timing and the 99 car crashes into the outside wall or the 99 and 39 crash in the wall together.

The fence worked as designed. It stopped the car from entering the stands. Perhaps NASCAR needs to leave certain seats empty.

~~~~~~~~

Hopefully there will not be a lawyer "shark fest" with this incident.

Jeff

Everett Ogilvie

Pretty sure that is exactly what I said:

"...the car immediately starts to come back towards the ground, only to then hit Newman, which of course launched it."

sperkins

Though not as spectacular, Newmans hit was much worse.

JRD77VET

I was agreeing with you but forgot to post the smilie. :o

I will edit my post and add that.

sperkins

View from the stands. Can you imagine how many dead people there would have been had the fence failed?

jmartynuska

I remember watching the Allison crash live. Much more frightening to me.

Found the vid on youtube. Looks like he blew a right rear tire. The catch fences are much improved - look at the fence after Allison's crash!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DUnvd7-hZRE

Everett Ogilvie

Sorry I misinterpreted and replied in haste! All is good!

drivinhard

I remember seeing that, that started the whole plate thing.

what's even more crazy is watching him parked out there and everybody racing back to the line @ 200+ and racing back to the line was around till just a few years ago...

BrianCunningham

But the fans like it.
For them it's more of a crash sport, than a racing sport.

RedLS1GTO

He took a shot right on the driver's side of the windshield. I can't imagine what he thought in the split second when he saw Edwards car coming right at his face. That had to be an absolutely helpless feeling.

Jason

Any road course in the world, fans fill the seats on the corner with the most wrecks first.

rustyguns

any race car, truck, motocycle offroad rallies, baja 500 etc etc crowds go to the most likely wrecking spot

Mikelly

Although we know the risks involved with motorsports, I guarantee you that those injured in that incident will sue. Spectators don't have a clue that they're taking their lives in their hands when they go to "watch" racing of any type...

That fence did a good job, and the fact that the injuries were somewhat minimal tells the story...

Mike

GreyGT-C

Bah... it should be like World Rally... just let the fans stand on the edge of the track. It might actually make nascar some what entertaining then.