Very cool. That cage first crash has scary potential. Hope they get some good info to better protect the drivers. I'm sure the dynamics of a sprint car crash create a lot of differtent variables not found in other forms of racing. I always wondered if there was any kind of chassis testing or if they just relied on tube thickness and the standard design.
Can't tell much from just the video, but does show why winged cars seem to have fewer serious driver injuries. (Course that could just be my perception.) Very seldom does an actual crash replicate the tests (multiple directional forces involved rather than just one in the tests), but these certainly suggest the need for stronger vertical support in the cage, and probably additional lateral support as well. I've seen some vicious crashes where the driver walked away, and some that didn't look as bad where the driver was killed. I think anything that adds to the protection of the driver needs to be considered seriously.
When I seen the cage first test I thought of Shane Hmeil and it sent chills down me. Its 1 of those things that "never happen" but sadly sometimes they do.
I would also wonder how much force was being used in the test. They don't say how fast the cars were going at the point of impact, but that would be interesting to find out.
Posted By: BigGMan on December 15 2011 at 01:16:45 PM
Can't tell much from just the video, but does show why winged cars seem to have fewer serious driver injuries. (Course that could just be my perception.) Very seldom does an actual crash replicate the tests (multiple directional forces involved rather than just one in the tests), but these certainly suggest the need for stronger vertical support in the cage, and probably additional lateral support as well. I've seen some vicious crashes where the driver walked away, and some that didn't look as bad where the driver was killed. I think anything that adds to the protection of the driver needs to be considered seriously.
I don't think it's just perception. Nonwing cars roll over on the RR easier (than winged cars), and therefore bicycle easier. When you're flying at the end of a straightaway (on the edge of control) on a big half like Terre Haute, sometimes the car bikes and you dump it. The line between 'in control' and 'out of control' seems to be much finer without a wing, for sure! When you bike a nonwing car on a big, fast track, a lot of bad things can happen... ie, Shane Hmiel, Dave Darland, Bud Kaeding... and that's just turns 3 & 4 at Terre Haute. Stronger vertical support in the cage would help, as would adequate catch fencing. If you're going to have a short fence (one that cars can fairly easily flip over), it should be a safer barrier, or at least something that will give a little (like a guard rail). Concrete?? Not good!
