Highcroft Acura destroyed at Petit
09-24-2009, 06:53 PM
#1
Melting Slicks
Thread Starter
Highcroft Acura destroyed at Petit
Scott Sharp had what some observers are calling the worst crash in ALMS memory. He's OK but the car is completely trashed
http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/78837
some pics at endurance-info:
http://www.endurance-info.com/versio...?page=244&np=0
http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/78837
some pics at endurance-info:
http://www.endurance-info.com/versio...?page=244&np=0
09-24-2009, 06:58 PM
#2
Le Mans Master
It is amazing he just unstrapped himself and stood up and got out of that. Thank goodness he is alright.
Any chance we will see a video of this? Did he go end over end or just up into the fence?
Reminds me of the Saleen that when up and into a fence in Portland a few years ago. Disintegrated CF all over the place.
Any chance we will see a video of this? Did he go end over end or just up into the fence?
Reminds me of the Saleen that when up and into a fence in Portland a few years ago. Disintegrated CF all over the place.
09-24-2009, 07:05 PM
#3
Melting Slicks
Thread Starter
It is amazing he just unstrapped himself and stood up and got out of that. Thank goodness he is alright.
Any chance we will see a video of this? Did he go end over end or just up into the fence?
Reminds me of the Saleen that when up and into a fence in Portland a few years ago. Disintegrated CF all over the place.
Any chance we will see a video of this? Did he go end over end or just up into the fence?
Reminds me of the Saleen that when up and into a fence in Portland a few years ago. Disintegrated CF all over the place.
09-24-2009, 07:38 PM
#4
Vetteless
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St. Jude Donor '09
Wow, must've been a helluva hit. Great to see him walking away and a true testament to the amount of engineering in those cars.
I do not think your "unrepairable" assessment is premature, I can't imagine after an impact that severe that they could feel comfortable reusing that tub.
I do not think your "unrepairable" assessment is premature, I can't imagine after an impact that severe that they could feel comfortable reusing that tub.
09-24-2009, 08:30 PM
#8
Le Mans Master
http://auto-racing.speedtv.com/artic...sday-notebook/
Looks like they will be running though:
"With no spare tub on-site, prospects for the LMP1 championship leaders to make the grid looked to be grim. However, Highcroft was in luck, as a spare Acura ARX-02a monocoque from HPD’s headquarters in Santa Clarita, Calif. will be flown in tonight. Team owner Duncan Dayton has hired a private air charter to transport the tub so that it arrives by 7 a.m. at Hartfield-Jackson Airport in Atlanta tomorrow morning.
The team will then transport the tub to their Road Atlanta paddock area for construction of a new car beginning at 9 a.m., with the goal of making warmup on Saturday morning. "
http://auto-racing.speedtv.com/artic...sday-notebook/
And we thought rebuilding a GT2 car in 35 days was impressive...
Nobody will be sleeping on that team.
09-24-2009, 09:47 PM
#10
Le Mans Master
Originally Posted by autoweekdotcom
Sharp crashed in the second free practice session when he clipped the Farnbacher Loles Porsche 911 GT2-class car, which was exiting the pits, as he cut across the track to take the racing line for turn two. The Acura flipped several times before slamming into the wall bottom first.
Nick Wirth, whose Wirth Research organization developed and built the ARX-02a, said: "That Scott was able to walk way from the crash without injury is a testament to my team. The car was a total write-off. There is not one part that is salvageable."
Nick Wirth, whose Wirth Research organization developed and built the ARX-02a, said: "That Scott was able to walk way from the crash without injury is a testament to my team. The car was a total write-off. There is not one part that is salvageable."
The article also says he was doing 170mph through T1.
09-24-2009, 10:59 PM
#11
Race Director
"The car was a total write-off. There is not one part that is salvageable."
Such exaggeration... it looks to me like the upper engine brace (I think that's what it is) on the left side is re-usable. Sheesh.
Such exaggeration... it looks to me like the upper engine brace (I think that's what it is) on the left side is re-usable. Sheesh.
09-24-2009, 11:09 PM
#12
Melting Slicks
geez...and x2 to I can't believe he just got up and walked away. I was looking at the photos thinking where are the corner workers or a safety crew to stop him from getting up/out so fast
Glad to hear he's okay (didn't S. Sharp crash at last years PLM?). Holy $$ Batman @ Duncan getting his ducks in a row to get a whole new car going for the race! I hope they make it in time
Glad to hear he's okay (didn't S. Sharp crash at last years PLM?). Holy $$ Batman @ Duncan getting his ducks in a row to get a whole new car going for the race! I hope they make it in time
09-24-2009, 11:17 PM
#13
Melting Slicks
problem is that it's CF.....you don't want to re-use CF that has been through a crash like that. You can't see stress fractures or other imperfections that may have came about from the crash. You can count on all new CF pieces going on.
Same reason that F1 changes suspension components after each race (I think used to be each day or session?) weekend and amateur racers who run retired F1 cars or the like replace the CF suspension
09-25-2009, 11:53 AM
#15
Race Director
this may have been posted, but they are shipping a new tub in from California, should be rebuilding this afternoon.
I'd LOVE to know what it costs to overnight a chassis from California to Braselton.......hope they charge via weight, not size........
I'd LOVE to know what it costs to overnight a chassis from California to Braselton.......hope they charge via weight, not size........
09-25-2009, 12:01 PM
#16
Racer
he must have left the e-brake on 
IIRC last year there was a write up piece about the P2 cars (lighter/less hp) ...the acura ones were running T1 flat, they had marco andretti at the apex at like 141 clicks or something just otherworldly absurd.
IIRC last year there was a write up piece about the P2 cars (lighter/less hp) ...the acura ones were running T1 flat, they had marco andretti at the apex at like 141 clicks or something just otherworldly absurd.
09-25-2009, 12:28 PM
#17
Race Director
problem is that it's CF.....you don't want to re-use CF that has been through a crash like that. You can't see stress fractures or other imperfections that may have came about from the crash. You can count on all new CF pieces going on.
Same reason that F1 changes suspension components after each race (I think used to be each day or session?) weekend and amateur racers who run retired F1 cars or the like replace the CF suspension
Same reason that F1 changes suspension components after each race (I think used to be each day or session?) weekend and amateur racers who run retired F1 cars or the like replace the CF suspension
