Here the most complete description I can give you, having watched it several times:
Junior was about in the middle of a line of cars that were practicing. They never showed why he spun, but all of a sudden the back end of his car shot sideways to the driver's right, and spun backwards into a barrier. Junior seemed to be sitting still for a few moments, either stunned or waiting for the other cars to pass like we see NASCAR drivers do on the road courses. Either way, it didn't seem like he was immediately aware that something in the fuel equipment broke. The under car camera showed fuel pouring out all over the underside of the car. It wasn't possible to tell if the motor was still running. However, the fuel suddenly ignited and flames shot up literally all over and inside the car.
The TV camera caught a clear shot of him through the windshield not reacting immediately, even when the flames were literally surrounding him. Then, thank God, he seemed to suddenly get moving and managed to get out of the car. He collapsed right outside the car and ONLY THEN did the safety workers reach him.
The TV crew interviewed the owner and another person with the American LeMans team Junior was driving for. Apparently just last night they changed the fuel cell because the one that was in the car had been delaminating. Something to do with the mixture of gas and ethanol they use, if I caught it right. The team officials seemed in a hurry to say that because they had changed to a different kind of fuel cell, that could not be the cause of the huge fire.
After watching that horrible scene, even knowing Junior is going to be OK, what crossed my mind a lot is that I'm grateful NASCAR is as tough on safety issues as they have been the last few years. I also hope Junior never agrees to drive in one of those Mickey Mouse series again. It sure didn't seem to me like their safety crew, safety procedures, and safety equipment in the cars is anywhere near up to NASCAR standards.
But don't worry everyone. Assuming we're being told the truth in the media, Junor's very lucky to have gotten out of that with minor injuries that shouldn't affect his chase for the Cup championship.
I also think if he hadn't gotten himself out of that car Junior might have been much more seriously injured, or worse (shudder). Those safety workers were not quick at all in getting to him. Whatever the reason Junior was not reactive in the first several seconds after the crash, he was surrounded by flames inside the driver's side of the car before anyone got to him. Who knows, but maybe Dale Sr's spirit gave his son a quick boot in the butt to kick him out of that car. Smile, folks, maybe the old man is still with us — just in a way we can't see him.