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Why the Daytona crash should change auto racing for good

Motoramic -- ......Why the Daytona crash should change auto racing for good
..By Alex Lloyd
.Posts .By Alex Lloyd | Motoramic – 19 hours ago
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Watching Saturday's crash at the NASCAR Nationwide Series race at Daytona that injured at least 24 spectators brought back some frightful memories. In 2011, at the IndyCar race in Las Vegas, I was involved in a 15-car pile-up that took the life of my friend Dan Wheldon. Racing is dangerous, and as a driver, we acknowledge and accept the risks. Despite the legalese on the back of the tickets, the fans should not face the same risks. This shouldn't have happened.
Race car drivers disengage the part of the brain that dictates fear. It’s a unique ability, and impossible to comprehend. In many ways, it’s a product of naivety, believin

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Submitted Feb 25, 2013 By: statick510

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LetemEatCake Champion Author Oklahoma City Posts:5,596 Points:1,206,355 Joined:Mar 2008	Message Posted: Feb 26, 2013 11:19:20 PM Ignore LetemEatCake Report Abuse Very true Blupupher!
blupupher Champion Author Houston Posts:3,555 Points:749,020 Joined:Feb 2011	Message Posted: Feb 26, 2013 9:05:10 AM Ignore blupupher Report Abuse Spectator safety is much better than is used to be, and is safer than many other types of racing for spectators. Seen rally racing in other countries? The fans are just standing on the side of the road and often get hit, all the while the drivers keep on going.
Straitliner Champion Author Illinois Posts:1,505 Points:238,500 Joined:Sep 2012	Message Posted: Feb 26, 2013 6:21:12 AM Ignore Straitliner Report Abuse NASCAR is boring.
52MPG Champion Author Dayton Posts:7,267 Points:1,742,680 Joined:Apr 2006	Message Posted: Feb 26, 2013 4:38:49 AM Ignore 52MPG Report Abuse There will always be something that was not planed for.
mpg611 Champion Author Cleveland Posts:2,339 Points:570,520 Joined:Apr 2011	Message Posted: Feb 25, 2013 10:31:53 PM Ignore mpg611 Report Abuse NASCAR should improve safety without sacrificing the quality and speed of racing. Better yet, get rid of the restrictor plate because that creates 'pack racing' at Daytona and Talladega and that is the recipe for huge, serious accidents.
07skydriver Champion Author Ohio Posts:3,264 Points:984,040 Joined:Feb 2009	Message Posted: Feb 25, 2013 5:22:15 PM Ignore 07skydriver Report Abuse Nascar has outlived it's usefulness.
nsdp Champion Author San Antonio Posts:1,117 Points:47,315 Joined:Jun 2012	Message Posted: Feb 25, 2013 3:40:38 PM Ignore nsdp Report Abuse All they have to do is follow the FIA standards for track safety. Giles Villenue in Montreal and Circuit of the Americas are the only two that do in North America. Improved car designs with better testing and down force control would help also. But then you don't have Darlington stripes either.
mastermariner Champion Author Texas Posts:4,249 Points:494,800 Joined:Jun 2011	Message Posted: Feb 25, 2013 2:32:56 PM Ignore mastermariner Report Abuse Thats what a lot of spectators go for to see a crash, they just dont figure it will affect them.
mitt4prez Champion Author Tacoma Posts:1,752 Points:1,246,425 Joined:Nov 2007	Message Posted: Feb 25, 2013 2:32:53 PM Ignore mitt4prez Report Abuse Never happen.
AJeepLife All-Star Author Ottawa Posts:635 Points:332,915 Joined:Mar 2011	Message Posted: Feb 25, 2013 1:16:25 PM Ignore AJeepLife Report Abuse Spectator enjoy the spectacular specacle that is NASCAR racing There is precious little in life -where you can spectate- and still get as much exhileration that is experienced as the sound and feel of 42 high performance muscles cars go racing by you at 198 miles per hour. I've been down low in the grandsatnds and up higher and close but not too close is just awesome. Yes there is risk of injury, and yes you need to watch but if we look at the level of risk PER LAP PER RACE (because the risk is present for every lap)- it is so much less than even a baseball or hockey game. I feel for those injured, and they are not to blame, nor is NASCAR, - it's God's fault.....and also give God some credit that more weren't hurt.
jimgraham Champion Author Akron Posts:10,372 Points:1,979,960 Joined:Oct 2007	Message Posted: Feb 25, 2013 1:10:10 PM Ignore jimgraham Report Abuse I hate to sound crass - but we all know why that retaining wall and the fence is there...... To TRY to keep the danger on the track and out of the stands. Yes, I would like to see things 100% safe for everyone, not just the spectators. It ain't gonna happen in our lifetimes.
smokinjoe54 Champion Author Ohio Posts:4,723 Points:913,510 Joined:Feb 2010	Message Posted: Feb 25, 2013 11:54:45 AM Ignore smokinjoe54 Report Abuse It's a fast sport and overall pretty safe.
sciotosix Champion Author Dayton Posts:2,754 Points:667,100 Joined:Apr 2011	Message Posted: Feb 25, 2013 11:52:27 AM Ignore sciotosix Report Abuse There are risks involved with an event like this. It will be difficult to make it 100% safe.
SycamoreISU Champion Author Indiana Posts:1,040 Points:260,435 Joined:Jan 2012	Message Posted: Feb 25, 2013 11:49:42 AM Ignore SycamoreISU Report Abuse An impregnable fence would significantly impede the view of the track. There has to be a balance between safety and ability to enjoy what you paid to attend.
obimerrill Champion Author Cincinnati Posts:1,445 Points:290,690 Joined:Jul 2012	Message Posted: Feb 25, 2013 11:48:26 AM Ignore obimerrill Report Abuse Good article...well written!
NanookAK Champion Author Anchorage Posts:7,259 Points:1,441,990 Joined:Nov 2007	Message Posted: Feb 25, 2013 11:48:20 AM Ignore NanookAK Report Abuse Certain sports for both participants and onlookers have risks. Evaluate that and choose how you participate.
pastorpaulcg Champion Author Virginia Posts:3,615 Points:775,785 Joined:Dec 2010	Message Posted: Feb 25, 2013 11:48:17 AM Ignore pastorpaulcg Report Abuse I think they should go faster.
shifty3rd Rookie Author Twin Cities Posts:51 Points:1,483,800 Joined:Sep 2005	Message Posted: Feb 25, 2013 11:46:59 AM Ignore shifty3rd Report Abuse It's a safe sport!! This could have been a horrible accident!! Yet .. people were injured .. not seriously. I know .. some went to surgery in critical condition, yet they were upgraded to stable less than a day later. At these tracks, most people don't even sit down on the track level seats since they can't see more of the race , there. With what the vehicle did and the few people that were harmed .. the 'Catch Fence' did it's job well!! The races are safe .. leave it alone!!!
meg1561 All-Star Author Columbus Posts:720 Points:129,220 Joined:Jul 2011	Message Posted: Feb 25, 2013 11:46:19 AM Ignore meg1561 Report Abuse It's all about racing. Thank God no one was killed.
livedream Champion Author Michigan Posts:3,690 Points:756,035 Joined:Mar 2011	Message Posted: Feb 25, 2013 11:46:07 AM Ignore livedream Report Abuse Not really sure why it should change anything. The fans, as well as the drivers, know the risks associated with racing at such high speeds.
Einstein47 Champion Author Utah Posts:11,304 Points:2,116,135 Joined:Sep 2006	Message Posted: Feb 25, 2013 11:45:25 AM Ignore Einstein47 Report Abuse Last year people died at an air race in Nevada. Do we need plexiglass barriers between all spectators and airplanes too? People get injured at Sea World when the whales jump. People get hurt when a basket ball and an NBA player running after it head for the stands. People start itching at a flea circus. There is NO SUCH THING as complete safety in EVERYTHING. This life isn't about being safe. Why don't you go home and sit in front of your TV and get heart disease from lack of exercise. At least then you can't blame the sports entertainers for causing your injury. I bet back in ancient Rome when a lion got loose in the stands was the first indication that all sports have inherent risk to spectators. And the first lawsuit against sports was born.
LuckyD43 Champion Author Long Island Posts:32,017 Points:2,169,045 Joined:Apr 2005	Message Posted: Feb 25, 2013 11:43:51 AM Ignore LuckyD43 Report Abuse There have been car races for over 100 years, so it's nothing new. The spectator should be fully aware of the risks involved when you have cars flying around the track at 200+ mph. In view of this, I do feel, however, that the race tracks should provide much better protection for the spectators.
FrankTA2 Champion Author New York Posts:4,293 Points:1,096,060 Joined:Jun 2007	Message Posted: Feb 25, 2013 11:43:03 AM Ignore FrankTA2 Report Abuse Leave the race alone, just make better fences.
tco0102 Champion Author Charleston Posts:7,404 Points:1,757,060 Joined:May 2007	Message Posted: Feb 25, 2013 11:41:10 AM Ignore tco0102 Report Abuse I can enjoy the race from my safe couch.
Wildman14 Champion Author Virginia Posts:3,675 Points:834,905 Joined:Jul 2008	Message Posted: Feb 25, 2013 11:40:03 AM Ignore Wildman14 Report Abuse Sad sequence of events. Hope everybody recovers.
lightbulbman2008 Champion Author Worcester Posts:415,030 Points:1,588,610 Joined:Oct 2008	Message Posted: Feb 25, 2013 11:38:35 AM Ignore lightbulbman2008 Report Abuse carelessness, no respect for others...
btex49 Champion Author Austin Posts:2,720 Points:531,080 Joined:Aug 2011	Message Posted: Feb 25, 2013 11:38:02 AM Ignore btex49 Report Abuse Sorry, I don't go to the kind of sporting events that endanger my existence. I do watch for foul balls at baseball games. I have heard of people dying of being hit in the head by foul balls.
mrselfdestruct All-Star Author Arkansas Posts:998 Points:168,250 Joined:Aug 2011	Message Posted: Feb 25, 2013 11:37:58 AM Ignore mrselfdestruct Report Abuse Its car racing, you don't have to go. If they said it was safer, and then somebody got hurt the lawyers would salivate.
IMLURCH Champion Author Minnesota Posts:2,189 Points:1,104,155 Joined:Mar 2009	Message Posted: Feb 25, 2013 11:37:39 AM Ignore IMLURCH Report Abuse I have never been a fan of racing. The fans that go to watch go because they enjoy it but the fans also expect to be safe while they watch the race. How many people have to get hurt and die before these race courses put up some kind of protective barriers like in hockey where you can still watch and be safe.
coolbreeze1111 Sophomore Author Greensboro Posts:232 Points:193,465 Joined:Dec 2011	Message Posted: Feb 25, 2013 11:36:57 AM Ignore coolbreeze1111 Report Abuse @Gramps001...another waste of fuel.
bbthegun Champion Author San Diego Posts:5,983 Points:1,681,940 Joined:Sep 2006	Message Posted: Feb 25, 2013 11:36:52 AM Ignore bbthegun Report Abuse There are risks with everything. Are we going to start the national panic button over NASCAR now?!
8ballnd Champion Author North Dakota Posts:2,116 Points:285,750 Joined:Feb 2008	Message Posted: Feb 25, 2013 11:35:40 AM Ignore 8ballnd Report Abuse accidents that it what it was
Gramps001 Champion Author North Carolina Posts:5,858 Points:1,365,460 Joined:Feb 2007	Message Posted: Feb 25, 2013 11:33:27 AM Ignore Gramps001 Report Abuse NEXT? Protecting spectators at airshows??
buzzieNY Champion Author Buffalo Posts:2,898 Points:636,530 Joined:Jun 2011	Message Posted: Feb 25, 2013 11:32:19 AM Ignore buzzieNY Report Abuse Read the whole story. Indy cars are to fast and do not belong on High Bank Ovals. Nascar can talk about there new car all they want, but all of these race cars rely on Down force and special tires made for each track. They need to lower the speeds of these cars. They can have racing at slower speeds and the spectator wouldn't even know it. That pack style racing bumper to bumper and three abreast is what help cause the wreck on Saturday. I am not a fan of that at all. They need to get rid of all the wings, spoilers and front air dams. Make a one speedway tire, one intermediate track and short track tire for the entire season. If the driver can't drive it, then he shouldn't be in the car. So what if he slide a little. Back when they used production cars and modified them to race, that's how they drove them. And that was Racing....
coolbreeze1111 Sophomore Author Greensboro Posts:232 Points:193,465 Joined:Dec 2011	Message Posted: Feb 25, 2013 11:30:01 AM Ignore coolbreeze1111 Report Abuse Do away with racing and see the fuel that will be saved. Waste
greenfog Champion Author Illinois Posts:6,495 Points:1,639,995 Joined:Feb 2008	Message Posted: Feb 25, 2013 11:28:16 AM Ignore greenfog Report Abuse in any spectators sport there is a chance for injury or even death. the operators do the best they can but accidents still happen.
rocknvox All-Star Author Bakersfield Posts:679 Points:137,775 Joined:Nov 2012	Message Posted: Feb 25, 2013 11:28:03 AM Ignore rocknvox Report Abuse sure, what will change is that more people will try and sit closer text deleted
67yenko Champion Author Mississippi Posts:1,165 Points:361,855 Joined:Jan 2011	Message Posted: Feb 25, 2013 11:27:09 AM Ignore 67yenko Report Abuse if racing wasnt dangerous then who would watch it.... Bristol motor speedway use to be packed all the time but in the name of safety and economy now you can get tickets cause they cant sell them
Grismer Champion Author Kitchener-Waterloo Posts:8,539 Points:1,725,020 Joined:Apr 2008	Message Posted: Feb 25, 2013 11:26:19 AM Ignore Grismer Report Abuse Risk factor in this sport can be minimized but not totally eliminated. Perhaps, that's a part of the attraction for both fan and driver.
ntass1 Champion Author Edmonton Posts:3,800 Points:729,000 Joined:May 2011	Message Posted: Feb 25, 2013 11:26:05 AM Ignore ntass1 Report Abuse people go to these races knowing these risks can happen yet there surprised when they do.people always stop to look at a accidents.i bet rating went up for Sundays race, because of the day before.
toxigas Champion Author Oakland Posts:1,212 Points:407,590 Joined:Oct 2011	Message Posted: Feb 25, 2013 11:25:53 AM Ignore toxigas Report Abuse Never like to see someone hurt in the sport.
Teamgabriel Veteran Author Boise Posts:277 Points:71,050 Joined:Jan 2013	Message Posted: Feb 25, 2013 11:25:31 AM Ignore Teamgabriel Report Abuse Is going to a car race and getting hit by a car the same risk as going to a baseball game and getting hit by a foul ball?
stevejk Sophomore Author Florida Posts:175 Points:630,350 Joined:Apr 2003	Message Posted: Feb 25, 2013 11:25:15 AM Ignore stevejk Report Abuse As a NASCAR fan, I will say that everyone who uses the line "all race fans want to see are the crashes like ancient Romans went to the Coliseum to see blood" is showing their ignorance of the sport. An analogy would be to say that basketball is just watching tall men run back and forth bouncing a ball or that baseball is just nine guys playing a combination of "catch" and "tag". Crashes are an accepted consequence of something going wrong, and many things can go wrong both with driver judgement and with mechanical causes. Only a most sadistic person would cheer for a wreck. Okay, maybe a one-car wreck involving KyBu would be cheered, but definitely not a multi-car wreck involving drivers minding their own business. The problem with putting up plexiglass wall thick enough to resist a 4000 lb 200 mph projectile is that it would obscure the view and the fans won't tolerate it. Maybe the answer is using carbon fiber instead of steel for the fence material? Carbon fiber is stronger than steel. Maybe it would be less likely to break during impact while still allowing fans to view the action. I'm sure it is prohibitively expensive, but standard chain link fencing is clearly not enough.
EGYPT12 Rookie Author San Bernardino Posts:10 Points:28,600 Joined:Oct 2012	Message Posted: Feb 25, 2013 11:24:45 AM Ignore EGYPT12 Report Abuse Safety First!!!
bigtravelerPA Veteran Author Harrisburg Posts:339 Points:205,130 Joined:Jan 2012	Message Posted: Feb 25, 2013 11:24:43 AM Ignore bigtravelerPA Report Abuse People CHOOSE to be race car drivers. People CHOOSE to attend these events. Risks are everywhere. Pick your poison.
netshaker Rookie Author Houston Posts:63 Points:1,470,435 Joined:Mar 2005	Message Posted: Feb 25, 2013 11:24:17 AM Ignore netshaker Report Abuse True! The fans should be shielded better - bringing the percentage of possible harm to near zero.
tomklo Champion Author Fort Worth Posts:2,447 Points:2,595,495 Joined:Jul 2002	Message Posted: Feb 25, 2013 11:24:07 AM Ignore tomklo Report Abuse ok
msf1527 All-Star Author San Bernardino Posts:551 Points:134,120 Joined:Nov 2012	Message Posted: Feb 25, 2013 11:23:18 AM Ignore msf1527 Report Abuse Ok
FusionCa All-Star Author Phoenix Posts:797 Points:549,910 Joined:Jun 2011	Message Posted: Feb 25, 2013 11:22:36 AM Ignore FusionCa Report Abuse Safety First!!!
Cheepo Champion Author Tampa Posts:9,889 Points:3,128,005 Joined:Apr 2003	Message Posted: Feb 25, 2013 11:21:52 AM Ignore Cheepo Report Abuse I could not have said it better, gonzohb!!!!!!!!!