Horrific Indy crash live on ABC

[searadiofreak]

One of the worst car race crashes ever was captured live on ABC today. This is difficult to watch, and superstar Dan Wheldon unfortunately was killed. I understand that these drivers understand the risks, and that is their choice. However, I wonder about the audience. Do you watch for the competition, or for the chance of crashes? Or is it a combination of both, (as I will admit personally). This one was bad, though and this new father was taken too soon.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d1qmMPnLL1U

The course was tight, and there will be questions about the future of these type of events.

Most importantly, RIP, Dan.

 

[landtuna]

Ever since the breakup of CART the "professionalism" of IRL drivers has been suspect. Too many drivers gain the cockpit because they bring sponsors to the race teams. As someone said before this race started "there are too many cars out there for the size of the track and too many drivers who haven't had enough starts".

As a regular viewer of NASCAR and IRL I've noticed what seems to be a pattern. NASCAR drivers wreck near the end of a race while IRL drivers do it at the start. Clearly they should have given each other more room today.

 

[mjlarochelle]

Not to diminish today's crash by any means, but I have seen one worse Indy crash on live TV. At the 1996 Molson Indy in Toronto, two people were killed in a two-car crash: Indy driver Jeff Krosnoff, and race marshal Gary Avrin, who was killed by flying debris. The crash happened right in front of the live camera. Yes, fewer cars were involved, but the way it appeared on TV was arguably more horrific.

I was just old enough (10 years old) that I wasn't traumatized.

On that note, I would argue that auto racing is the deadliest competitive sport in America. I used to be a casual F1 fan but I've never been able to see the appeal of Indy or NASCAR racing.

 

[PTBoardOp94]

To the question: I don't generally watch auto racing. I did turn over to ABC this afternoon after I heard about the wreck.

The ESPN/ABC broadcast crew did a great job of filling the time between the wreck and the announcement as the minutes turned into hours. I suspect they had some idea of the announcements about to be made, either intuitively from watching the tape or via advance warning from IndyCar. Eddie Cheever was clearly having trouble holding himself together not long before the announcement.

The fact that they shared a list of all the drivers to win the Indy 500 and then die in a race in the same year was a little disturbing. It was a list about 7 drivers long, including Mr. Wheldon.

 

[ixnay]

I learned about Wheldon's death through this thread. I didn't even know (or forgot) IRL was racing today.

As for the question: I watch motorsports (whenever I do) for the competition, not the wrecks.

As a regular viewer of NASCAR and IRL I've noticed what seems to be a pattern. NASCAR drivers wreck near the end of a race while IRL drivers do it at the start. Clearly they should have given each other more room today.

Anyone care to theorize as to why? Do aerodynamics have anything to do with (especially with Indycars at the start)? Seems like a first *turn* on lap 1 of the Indy 500 is annual event.

RIP Dan.

ixnay

 

[crainbebo]

This crash was one of the worst in auto racing history...but remember Dale Earnhardt's death in 2001 at Daytona? That was TERRIBLE for my mother, as she was a fan of Dale Sr. (and Jr.).

RIP Mr. Wheldon. You will be long-remembered as a two-time Indy 500 winner.

-crainbebo

 

[landtuna]

Anyone care to theorize as to why? Do aerodynamics have anything to do with (especially with Indycars at the start)? Seems like a first *turn* on lap 1 of the Indy 500 is annual event.

Aero might have an effect but it can be countered by the cars giving each other a bit more room. There is no way anyone will win a race on lap 12 of 200 but you sure can lose it there.

The main danger of open-wheel cars is tire rub. They use big sticky tires and they will grab each other if they touch and the grabee is then flung into the air. That is what killed Wheldon. His was one of several airborne cars but his went cockpit first into the catch fence and that tore the car apart.

Indy is now an IRL event and has been the scene of some massive crashes at the start of the race. Drivers forget their tires haven't heated up yet or they just want to lead at any cost and try to bump and run in open wheel cars. Doesn't usually work too well.

The NASCAR guys seem to have more trouble with their aero packages than open wheel because they have less ground effect and depend upon side drafting to maintain their line through a corner. When another car moves out of the side draft the car can suddenly break away and spin out.

NASCAR's other problem is that their drivers just seem to go nuts for the last 10 laps of any race and take chances that don't work out. A couple of cars spinning up front almost guarantees a massive pile-up behind.

 

[landtuna]

On that note, I would argue that auto racing is the deadliest competitive sport in America. I used to be a casual F1 fan but I've never been able to see the appeal of Indy or NASCAR racing.

On a percentage basis I think boat racing is the deadliest although their safety now is much better than it used to be.

F1 runs road courses only. IndyCar and NASCAR both have some road courses but most of their racing is on oval tracks. The advantage of an oval is that fans can see the whole race track from a given vantage point. On road courses you have a very limited view and sometimes only one corner. Donnington Park in England has Red Gate Corner where spectators can see about 70% of the road course because the stands are on a hill and the course is on a hillside below. That is the only course I've ever seen with that much view.

Of course, some people would tell you that people attend F1 races to be seen and others attend Indy and NASCAR to see. ;D

 

[TheRob]

That was such a mess with so many cars crashing at once and debris flying in all directions. I watched the aftermath after reading about the crash online. The ABC crew did a fine job from what I could see. Jim McKay and Jackie Stewart probably wouldn't have done it any differently.

I have never seen a five-lap run in memory of a driver, with Amazing Grace in the background. I don't follow racing, so I don't know if that is standard.

The worst crash I've aired in my professional life was from an IRL practice several years ago. One car hit the wall and skidded back across the track, disabled. A second car smoked the first car at 175 mph, killing the second car's driver and ripping both cars to pieces. The Earnhardt crash never looked that bad on replay, but I guess you never know what forces you'll experience upon wrecking.

The worst crash I've seen was someone's link to a 1982 Indianapolis 500 qualifying run, in which a guy lost control on a curve, hit the wall nearly straight-on, hit the catch fence, and got scalped in the process before his car disintegrated.

 

[PTBoardOp94]

I have never seen a five-lap run in memory of a driver, with Amazing Grace in the background. I don't follow racing, so I don't know if that is standard.

I don't believe anything like this has been done before. This is actually the first time an IndyCar driver has been killed during a race since the series split from CART in 1995.

On NASCAR's side, the example that immediately comes to mind is Dale Earnhardt, whose fatal wreck occurred on the final lap of the Daytona 500. News of his death did not come out until 4 or 5 hours later. I don't recall NASCAR doing anything in particular to recognize Earnhardt, but FOX dedicated the 3rd lap of every race to him. I also don't recall any on-track tributes to Kenny Irwin or Adam Petty, who were killed in practice sessions at New Hampshire International Raceway.

 

[only1moore]

I watched the whole thing live. I have to say that I agree with the racers and commentators that the Las Vegas Motor Speedway track wasn't suited to handle a race like this. What a tragic way to end the season.

 

[DToTheJ]

And to think Dan Wheldon started the same season by winning the Indy 500 after leading all of one lap. Surreal...

The ESPN/ABC broadcast crew did a great job of filling the time between the wreck and the announcement as the minutes turned into hours...

That aside, I give them a thumbs down for running spots after - including immediately after - they officially announced his death at 6 PM ET. Anyone else consider that a small sign of disrespect? They already ran a boatload of commercials up until that point, anyway.

 

[recto101]

I remember back in 2005 or 2006 Tony Renna Died during an Indy Car Training and in 2000 in Nascar one of the Petty Family members died during training.

 

[DToTheJ]

Most recent IndyCar death prior to Wheldon was Paul Dana during a practice. In fact, the lead announcer on ABC (whose name escapes me) had alluded to the Dana tragedy before finally announcing to viewers of Wheldon's death.

 

[ixnay]

n 2000 in Nascar one of the Petty Family members died during training.

That would've been Adam Petty, Kyle's son. And another NASCAR driver, Kenny Irwin, was killed on the same track as Adam Petty (New Hampshire), in 2001(?)

So.... IS there an IRL champ for 2011 or was the title declared vacant in Wheldon's memory? Other than the Indy 500, I don't follow IndyCar as closely as NASCAR.

ixnay

 

[ihEARDtHAT]

The Championship Banquet which was supposed to be held on Monday night at Mandalay Bay Resort was cancelled.

Indy Racing League has determined that the season is complete through the race in Kentucky and Dario Franchitti claimed his third consecutive title and fourth in five years.

 

[recto101]

Anyone care to theorize as to why? Do aerodynamics have anything to do with (especially with Indycars at the start)? Seems like a first *turn* on lap 1 of the Indy 500 is annual event.

Aero might have an effect but it can be countered by the cars giving each other a bit more room. There is no way anyone will win a race on lap 12 of 200 but you sure can lose it there.

The main danger of open-wheel cars is tire rub. They use big sticky tires and they will grab each other if they touch and the grabee is then flung into the air. That is what killed Wheldon. His was one of several airborne cars but his went cockpit first into the catch fence and that tore the car apart.

Indy is now an IRL event and has been the scene of some massive crashes at the start of the race. Drivers forget their tires haven't heated up yet or they just want to lead at any cost and try to bump and run in open wheel cars. Doesn't usually work too well.

The NASCAR guys seem to have more trouble with their aero packages than open wheel because they have less ground effect and depend upon side drafting to maintain their line through a corner. When another car moves out of the side draft the car can suddenly break away and spin out.

NASCAR's other problem is that their drivers just seem to go nuts for the last 10 laps of any race and take chances that don't work out. A couple of cars spinning up front almost guarantees a massive pile-up behind.

I remember the Hanford device on the Back wing of the Indy Car or Champ car. I thought the Hanford Device was supposed to keep INDY cars from flying off the track the way it killed Wheldon. Well Wheldon was the best car driver in Indy Car racing but he was never known to outsiders like Helio and Danica.

 

[landtuna]

I remember the Hanford device on the Back wing of the Indy Car or Champ car. I thought the Hanford Device was supposed to keep INDY cars from flying off the track the way it killed Wheldon. Well Wheldon was the best car driver in Indy Car racing but he was never known to outsiders like Helio and Danica.

The purpose of the Hanford Device was to induce drag thereby bunching the cars and creating more side by side racing. The same purpose that increasing the banking of the Vegas track was supposed to do. They were both successful at doing their designed function but bunching open-wheel cars is not a good idea as a small tire-to-tire touch at high speed is sure to send one of the cars flying into the air.

I beat Jimmie Johnson to the punch when he said Indy Cars, with very few exceptions, should be road racing and not racing on ovals. Because of its size Indy is still a good "oval" track and perhaps tracks like Michigan as well because they are wide enough for cars to avoid touching each other.

You are wrong on the racing fans not knowing who Dan Wheldon was though. He was a bright, articulate young man with enormous talent and a two-time winner of the Indy 500. He was instrumental in the testing of the next generation of Indy cars and had served time in the broadcast booth as well.

 

[crainbebo]

The Championship Banquet which was supposed to be held on Monday night at Mandalay Bay Resort was cancelled.

Indy Racing League has determined that the season is complete through the race in Kentucky and Dario Franchitti claimed his third consecutive title and fourth in five years.

But Dan Wheldon is more important than the trophy, for now. Hopefully the Indy Car league family will remember him year after year.

-crainbebo

 

[nathannah]

And to think Dan Wheldon started the same season by winning the Indy 500 after leading all of one lap. Surreal...

The ESPN/ABC broadcast crew did a great job of filling the time between the wreck and the announcement as the minutes turned into hours...

That aside, I give them a thumbs down for running spots after - including immediately after - they officially announced his death at 6 PM ET. Anyone else consider that a small sign of disrespect? They already ran a boatload of commercials up until that point, anyway.

I think the commercial load was meant for the pre-empted World News broadcast, as the race would have been well over by the time it came to the air, so they had to make those advertisers happy. There also had to be coordination between the organizers, TV crew, PA system and those paying customers that were still at the track to see how the event would end, thus a bit of time to fill, and I think the announcer crew was too overwhelmed to fill more time before the honor laps and needed even the smallest of breaks going into it.