This I think should make the ACO think twice about car safety. Also remember this was Dale Jr's first race running pneumatiques Michelin. Most of his races have been on Goodyear or Hoosier tires depending on the level. Michelin is used on the ASA and USAR Hooters ProCup.
ACO is probably covering up because they don't investigate many crashes of a fiery nature. NASCAR safety on fuel pumps might be better than ACO.
If I am the ACO, I'd mandate fire extinguishers near the fuel cell and key mounting points to prevent such a crash again. To the ACO, DEJR at Infineon is the equivalent of MSchumacher or Montoya running an LMES or the 24 Heures.
DEJr has to hit the "fire bottle." did not really notice him hitting the fire extinguisher knob. But bear in mind the fire bottle in a race car will really only put out a small fire (oil for instance) and simply cannot compete with a gasoline fire where the metal next to the vapors is above ignition temperature and there's more fuel 'pouring out' every second. The fire system is there to give you ( as driver) time to stop your vehicle and get away from the now useless equipment and let the firemen protect the racing surface from your burning junk.
ACO has nothing to cover up. Fires happen in road racing. When the wreck is bad enough, even in NASCAR, enough fuel can leak to feed a bad fire. The corner crews and the in-car extinguisher are there to enable a living driver to get out of the car. the firemen protect the race track surface, and oh, yeah, your junk.
A real driver won't blame the tires, not in his heart. If everyone is on Michelins, and the Michelins were at fault, why did anyone finish the race? IT aint the equipment.
Original message rfranklin
Mon Jul-19-04 02:51 PM
Original message
Earnhardt Jr. Burned in Crash...Bushistas involved?
After his defection, suddenly a nasty crash!!!???
These people are sick!!!