Quite a long run before the wall became a problem...
Definitely not a Safer Barrier...
The Blue Deuce sure took it hard...
The following pics are of Brad's leg injuries... He was airlifted by helicopter to Atlanta Medical Center where no broken bones were found. Released this evening from the hospital, Brad's expected to be behind the wheel this weekend at Pocono...
Not a pretty sight...
No, the doctors didn't insert a grapefruit in Brad's ankle.
A question came up concerning NASCAR not allowing teams to practice on the tracks where they will actually be racing. The NASCAR tracks have been forced to become much safer. So here is an up and coming young driver who needs to practice and is out on an unsafe track. Brad Keselowski was very lucky today...
The Luck of the Polish?
Beat me to it Dwindy! Scary horrible wreck indeed. The Blue Deuce is toast. I cannot figure out why the roof looks caved in.
ReplyDeleteI dunno how he drives NW race on Sat and Pocono on Sun with that "cankle" as he calls it...
He got lots of love from fellow drivers there - JJ, Papis, lots of them showed lots of support and concern which was cool to read.
Nascar has enough clout to make every track in the USA use safer barriers - no driver should be put at risk at any level on any track at this point in the era of safety measures.
I have yet to see the reasoning on so called tires and wooden beams as safer barriers. Only in lesser tracks is this still an issue. I would think that NASCAR would impliment any track that host NASCAR drivers on their tracks to privide up to date safety measures. Not something from the ancient 60's.
ReplyDeleteYou are aware of how much a SAFER barrier costs, right? It's around 1500 bucks a yard.
ReplyDeleteAnd I'm sorry, but I've got to be honest here; I don't see the problem.
Firstly, the car did its job in protecting the driver (a rolled ankle and some scratches...I could do worse if I fell in the shower), and secondly, the gravel trap wiped off 50mph from when the car first left the road. The real issue isn't the track layout or the barriers, it's why the brakes failed in the first place.
It seems to me the problem isn't a question of which are safe tracks to practice on so much as NASCAR's refusal to allow practice on the Cup / NW tracks. Be and large they've already met NASCAR's current safety standards. Allowing practice on those tracks will significantly drop the likelihood of serious accidents in the first place. Seems like a simple solution...
ReplyDeleteI agree with Tez. In fact, I have to wonder if a SAFER barrier in that location would have been worse for a head on impact. The concrete barrier (not a reinforced wall system) that was there broke away allowing the energy to continue forward. A SAFER barrier would have absorbed, and recoiled, the energy while bringing the car to a sudden stop.
ReplyDeleteI agree the new car has proven itself, witness Sadler at Pocono and that barrier (earth berm) didn't give an inch. But what is the problem with practicing on the tracks they race on? Seems if everyone has an equal chance to practice it shouldn't give anyone a particular advantage plus you might see the Cup drivers stay out of the truck and NW races. Let's face it, the drivers in those other series are getting great track knowledge and isn't that an unfair advantage? Or, on the other hand, do you guys think NASCAR keeps it the way it is to encourage the Cup drivers to run in the lower series to appease those track owners and sponsors?
ReplyDeleteI thought the testing thing was purely a cost saving effort...like in F1 where they don't do testing at all once the season starts whereas before they could do whatever they wanted :S
ReplyDeleteUpon further review it was determined that Brad's ankle is broken... He passed on the NW race but will be in the Blue Deuce at Pocono today while wearing one of those wrap around boots (Frankenstein shoe...). I think Brad's chances of gathering enough points to be in the Chase as a wild card just took a major hit.
ReplyDelete