John Force Racing's funny car driver Eric Medlen, 33, who had emerged as one of the most popular young drivers in the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series, succumbed Friday afternoon to injuries suffered when his race car crashed into a guardwall during a Monday test session at Gainesville Raceway.
Argentinian Indy Pro Series driver Pablo Perez, 24, who drives for Target Chip Ganassi Racing, underwent surgery on both legs yesterday following a horrific crash at Homestead-Miami Speedway. He is currently in serious, but stable condition.
These tragedies make me think I have it easier as a stock car racing fan. And I can't help but find myself grateful to NASCAR for stepping up their commitment to driver safety.Since 2001, several tracks have been upgraded with safer barriers and all drivers are now required to wear the HANS device.
The car of tomorrow brings yet another improvement: IMPAXX™ Energy Absorbing Foam provided by Dow Automotive, which is designed to absorb and attenuate energy in a crash:
The energy of the impact is managed through a series of controlled reactions within the foam. The result is a controlled release of energy, allowing forces to be better spread throughout the vehicle from the time of impact to the end of the crash sequence.Bristol Motor Speedway is certainly a fine choice of racetrack for IMPAXX to make its debut.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
4-01-2007 @ 7:37PM
red stater said...
Eric Medlen's tragic death was the first NHRA funnycar driver's death in over 38 years.
The Hans device along with 99% of the rest of all NASCAR safety equipment was mandatory in drag racing long before being adopted by NASCAR.
The SFI ratings on ALL the safety equipment currently used in ALL motorsports (including NASCAR) was developed in the 1970's in cooperation with SEMA by the National Hot Rod Association. Drag racers were using chromemoly and tig when NASCAR was still using water pipe and bedposts.
So, if NASCAR wants to continue to improve it's safety, it will continue to look to drag racing and open wheel racing to develop it.... except for foam walls and rubber bumpers that is.
Just setting the record straight since the tone of the post was that somehow racers were "lucky" to be in NASCAR as opposed to the NHRA or INdycar for safety reasons. THat is laughable.
-red
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