Track Safety

[just a fan]

Elliot Sadler is a very lucky guy after yesterdays crash at Pocono. I think that was the hardest direct impact hit I have seen in a long time. It speaks for the safety of the cars and for all of the talk about the COT you can't argue with the fact that a driver got out of that crash unhurt.
That being said Pocono has to step up and fix some of these issues. Having a 90 degree angle in a wall is unacceptable at any race track much on the nations top circuit. I think a sand trap may be in order to at least slow the cars down before they hit the wall on that long back stetch. And with the technology available each track should be required to have safe barriers on every wall including the inside walls. 

[south jersey girl]

that was a hard hit...I don't think I've ever seen the engine ripped out of the car before...

Improvements to Pocono had previously been announced, and an inside wall SAFER barrier should be in place by next year's races.

from Jayski...
Pocono Raceway Replacing Inner Guard Rails with SAFER Barrier: Following recommendations from NASCAR and the Midwest Roadside Safety Facility at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Pocono Raceway will be replacing the inner guard rail of the facility with a SAFER (Steel and Foam Energy Reduction) barrier. The track's new inner wall will run the length of the "Long Pond Straight" between turns one and two, and will continue the rest of the distance between turns two and three. Construction of the SAFER barrier will be completed for the 2011 NASCAR season.(Pocono Raceway)(6-5-2010)

[Chris]

I agree..
I remember reading that after the first race at Pocono they had already made plans to make some major alterations in safety and design....
SO I think they have planned on doing everything most folks could come up with.
WHY they have that barrier stick out like they do there is questionable.  I know they DID make some improvements to that part of the track after a wreck involving Steve Park and Dale Jr.

I foresee improvements to the railing system, some alterations for the layout of the railing, changes to entrances where track safety vehichles come onto the track, and installation of the SAFER barrier.  I am sure other things are planned.

SJG.. beat me to posting gal..  lol

[scott b]

There were already discussions about a re-do of the inside walls (incuding the addition of SAFER barriers), but the decision wasn't greenlighted until after the June race at Pocano and it couldn't be done in time for this weekend's race.  Why it wasn't addressed sooner that that, I don't know.  

It sure was one of the most brutal looking wrecks in recent memory, I'll be curious to see what the black box says about the hit.

(SJG and Chris... you both type faster than me!)

[OregonSHRFan]

I dont think it would be too much to ask NASCAR to go through all the tracks the top 3 series race at and mandate saftey improvements that need to be done by a set date or loose your race date. They really should have done this years ago.

Elliot is lucky and I am sure very bruised today. His seat, straps and HANS saved his life. Sure the drivers "greenhouse" was untouched, as it should have been but the force of that impact traveled through Elliots body at the same rate of speed as the car was travelling back onto the track. Without that HANS, his neck would have hyperextended forward then backward, slapping is brain around his skull (coup contrecoup is what it is known as, aka, shaken baby syndrome if you are talking about kids).

I was a little taken back at how long the EMS/ambulance crew took in getting to Elliot. Everyone, including the TV coverage, seemed to be totally focused on Kurt. I hope Elliot went to see his own doctor today, maybe even had some imagining done to make sure everything is in its correct place.

[just a fan]

I know that safety updates have been talked about and planned for a while, but the reality is something could have been done before now at Pocono.The track has a history of spectacular crashes and because of the grace of God we are not talking about Sadlers funeral or tramatic brain injury.
I agree with OregonSHRFan that NASCAR should tell every track that cup, NNS or trucks race on to meet standards or plan not to have a race next year. In the case of the 90 degree angle they could have put a tire barrier if nothing else in that area to stop a direct hit.
And on a happier note: Only about a month away from college football. Roll Tide!

[DougS]

While I agree with a lot of what all of you are saying....the truth of the matter is NASCAR can't dictate to any of the track owners what to do. NASCAR could hold a discussion with ISC since it's owned "by the family" but that's where the buck stops.

I can see it now.

Brian: Burton here's a track standard that's going to require your company to spend XX millions of dollars to upgrade all your facilities before holding another sanctioned NASCAR event.

Bruton: Brian Pack Sand. We'll gladly start our own racing series. Which now puts your ISC home track at Darlington, which will require how many millions of dollars to update to your so called standard. Good Luck with your series at California and Michigan"

Which would still leave independent tracks Dover and Pocono and Indy to say okay don't come or choose between two racing rivalries.

Sorry but I don't see NASCAR cutting off their nose to spite their face and risk the empire that Bill Sr and Bill Jr built. Their to addicted to money.

And if the drivers try to "organize" and boycott, I'm sure that will go the way as it did in 1961 and again in 1969. Very poorly...and I don't think these drivers want to give up their planes, toys and multimillion dollar deals in this economy.

[just a fan]

I see your point Doug and don't totally disagree. But I think the drivers and owners would support NASCAR mandating changes that protected them. We are not talking about adding more bathrooms for the fans, it is about keeping the driver as safe as possible in an environment that is dangerous on its best day.
And Bruton needs NASCAR as much as NASCAR needs him. I think a few years ago him starting a rival series was a true threat but NASCAR has grown to the point that it is not as big of an issue. The expense of doing that would far outweigh the cost of safer barriers. And I am sure he saw what splitting a series did to IRL and he has no reason to think he could be more successful at it than Tony George.