There's a reason why only a few people are allowed into the Sprint Cup garage, or any garage area for that matter, during a practice session -- it's a dangerous place.
There's race cars not obeying speed limits, blind corners, and speedy golf carts. And oh yeah, lots and lots of metal. From the transporters to the fences to the light poles to that giant piece of metal everyone sits on for the race, metal is everywhere.
Why is metal so dangerous, you ask?
Well in the case here at Chicagoland Speedway Thursday afternoon, metal is a nice conductor of electricity. And when lightning is dancing across the sky thanks to a looming thunderstorm well, you start realizing that the metal is not your best friend.
The metal, though, wasn't the biggest cause of concern to a number of fans watching drivers pull back into the garage after mock-qualifying runs. Instead, it was the raw fuel that trickles into the exhaust pipes after a driver shuts down the engine.
This leftover fuel isn't so bad until drivers need an extra boost to make it back to the garage stall, just as Kyle Busch did in the picture above. When the driver fires up the engine, the fuel ignites in the exhaust and blows out a flame that can be minor to as tall as six feet.
And that's what those unlucky fans got to deal with as a driver (I couldn't catch the car after he turned the corner) pulled back in, fired up the car next to the fans, and shot a fireball into a group of about 6 people. Luckily, the flame was quick, but a fireman rushed over anyway to make sure everyone was OK.
What was the reaction of the fans with the newly-singed eyebrows and nose hair, and possible ?
It sounded, and looked, like a collective "Woooo!"
And no, there hardcore fans -- men and women alike -- didn't move from their precious viewing location.
It's going to be a great weekend.
