RIP Dan Wheldon (sprint car, fuel, Escape, accidents)
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ABC's coverage made me furious. I am a retired auto racing Chaplain and have been at the track when a driver dies. I understand that a driver never dies at the track. It was obvious to me by observing the reaction of the other drivers, crews and the change in the comments from the announcers that he did not survive. I think ABC & IRL delayed the announcement so they could fill TV time for their sponsors.
It's always a sad day when a racer loses his life doing what he does best.
This tragic loss is one reason I don't watch Indy car racing. It is too dangerous to be driving open wheel cars on high speed ovals designed for Stock cars.
When I saw the deaths of drivers at Indy over the years I stopped watching as I am not interested in watching drivers maimed or killed.
I know racing is all about going as fast as you can but sometimes common sense has to take over and in the name of safety cars have to be slowed down or like NASCAR made to be more survivable in a crash.
It took the death of Dale Earnhardt to make stock cars safer.
Perhaps the death of Dan Whelan will do the same for Indy Car
It's always a sad day when a racer loses his life doing what he does best.
This tragic loss is one reason I don't watch Indy car racing. It is too dangerous to be driving open wheel cars on high speed ovals designed for Stock cars.
When I saw the deaths of drivers at Indy over the years I stopped watching as I am not interested in watching drivers maimed or killed.
I know racing is all about going as fast as you can but sometimes common sense has to take over and in the name of safety cars have to be slowed down or like NASCAR made to be more survivable in a crash.
It took the death of Dale Earnhardt to make stock cars safer.
Perhaps the death of Dan Whelan will do the same for Indy Car
Agreed!
This is exactly how I feel it! I love racing but Indy has just become unsafe in my opinion and I don't agree with Indy cars on stock car oval tracks. When I think Indy racing, I think traditional Grand Prix style tracks. It's a blast watching them race those type of tracks.
Quote:
Originally Posted by trishguard
That's not what they need.
You're right but restricter plates could help if they continue racing Indy cars on short oval tracks.
I was waiting to see how long it would take to hear 'ban open wheel indy cars from oval tracks because they are too fast'.
Just heard it on the radio news. Does this mean no more indy 500? or air intake restrictors like NASCAR? Rev limiters?
Remember the overkill in drag racing, shortening a quarter mile to 1000 ft?
I was waiting to see how long it would take to hear 'ban open wheel indy cars from oval tracks because they are too fast'.
Just heard it on the radio news. Does this mean no more indy 500? or air intake restrictors like NASCAR? Rev limiters?
Remember the overkill in drag racing, shortening a quarter mile to 1000 ft?
Indy does not have banking in the turns that many other oval tracks do, hence the reason stock cars run so slow at Indy.
It's always a sad day when a racer loses his life doing what he does best.
This tragic loss is one reason I don't watch Indy car racing. It is too dangerous to be driving open wheel cars on high speed ovals designed for Stock cars.
When I saw the deaths of drivers at Indy over the years I stopped watching as I am not interested in watching drivers maimed or killed.
I know racing is all about going as fast as you can but sometimes common sense has to take over and in the name of safety cars have to be slowed down or like NASCAR made to be more survivable in a crash.
It took the death of Dale Earnhardt to make stock cars safer.
Perhaps the death of Dan Whelan will do the same for Indy Car
Unlikely, as there have been other deaths and other drivers maimed for life and not only have changes not been made but they have denied that there was anything wrong. These (IRL) "cars" still fly and they should not.
You're right but restricter plates could help if they continue racing Indy cars on short oval tracks.
Horsepower limiting devices like restrictor plates wouldn't have saved Wheldon's life. His roll loop failed and he hit his head on either the wall or the catch fence. It doesn't matter if you're going 220 or 120, if your head hits the wall your chances of survival are extremely low.
Those who do survive (Butch Lindley & Rick Baldwin) live out their days in a persistent vegitative state.
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