Posted on 10/16/2011 3:11:34 PM PDT by TaraP
Breaking on CNN
Open wheeled cars are highly questionable, especially on a race course with others.
The current Indy car is actually extremely robust, as anyone who has witnessed many of the crashes will agree.
However there is one vulnerability, which is the open cockpit.
It appears to me looking at the replay that the topside of the car went into the catch fence and likely his helmet hit one of the fence uprights. You can see the impact if you watch in slow motion.
Here is a post crash picture showing the damage.
http://www.openwheelworld.net/photos/original/vQ6hoyzL19639.jpg
Which wouldn’t be so bad if we didn’t have the worst search engine on the internet. The sidebars Breaking News and Front Page News here have definitions that are not related to the same phrases in the real world. Just have to get used to it.
Thanks, nascarnation. BTW, nice screenname you got there.
Yep, search engine needs it’s own search engine. Maybe the mods don’t like racing. It’s a sad, sad day for racing fans but that’s no comparison to what his wife and children, the families and close friends are going through. Damn sad.
RIP.
I understand your point where some people haven’t seen it but then again, when I’m home and watch sports it seems that any accident is shown over and over and over again.
Good eye.
I watched the YT clips over and over and lose track of who is who in the smoke, sparks,debris and fire.
Because they always have new viewers that haven’t seen it yet.
When the towers went down, they showed it over and over and I watched it over and over. I just couldn’t believe it. I didn’t consider the media morbid for showing it and I didn’t consider myself morbid for watching it.
I feel very badly for his friends and family and the drivers who tried so hard to be strong, like Canaan who was a close friend and former team mate. when I saw him shaking, I knew it was bad.
Well I hope that people don’t get too numb to his death too fast. He was a beautiful person, much loved.
My god, what a thread huh? You’d think nobody ever got killed in sporting events until today.
I can’t believe they canceled the race. Why would they do that?
This is why these guys make millions and millions of dollars.
Seems like some of them want all reward and no risk.
Too bad for Wheldon and condolences to his family but as a guy who’s seen more than my share of family friends die racing, it is what it is.
What an egg shell walking, risk adverse world we live in.
Stop the race? Did they stop the race when Vuky got killed? Muncie? Pollard? Savage? Grant?
Huh?
HANS probably will never become a feature of street driving, but things like the “soft wall” or SAFER (yes, it’s an acronym) barrier is working its way onto the street - several fifteen state highway departments are considering deploying that instead of or on top of the ubiquitous Jersey barriers. The outfit that designed the SAFER barrier also has designed a new metal guard rail type (using the SAFER system’s experience and design software) that is cost competitive with the old monster metal slab types but provides some of the same benefits of a SAFER system.
Racing pays benefits on the street, that’s for sure.
Rubbin’ is dangerous.
Let me complete it if my memory serves.
There are only three sports: bullfighting, motor racing, and mountaineering; all the rest are merely chidrens’ games, played by adults.
And he was a Reagan man.
October 16, 2011 22:26 ET
Statement on Behalf of the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation on the Passing of Dan Wheldon
SIMI VALLEY, CA—(Marketwire - Oct 16, 2011) - The Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation expresses sincere sympathy to the family of Dan Wheldon, whose injuries at the IndyCar race today in Las Vegas resulted in his tragic death. Dan, a Reagan Foundation supporter, drove the Bryan Herta Autosport and Curb/Agajanian 98 car that won the Indianapolis 500 in May bearing the Reagan Centennial Seal. A wreath has been placed in his honor by his 98 Show Car, which is currently on display at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library.
Please realize I was horrorified by the video of the accident after learning of his death. I had no desire to anger those who follow racing.
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