Scott Kalitta killed in crash @ Etown

[Ghoste]

Wouldn't the explosion and loss of half of the body do more to upset the aerodynamics of the car at 250-300 mph and allow it to go airborne than poor track conditions?  It would at the very least exaggerate a track condition that wasn't normally seen as a problem.

[Mike DC]

 

Just an idea:   


They could create a gradual "funnel" at the end of the track with SAFER barriers.  (A pair, one path for each lane.) 





Make the narrowing funnel VERY long and shallow angle of course.  They'd start narrowing the walls early, like where people in slower cars still turn off and exit the track.  (Maybe only close all the gates when the 300 mph cars are running.)


The runaway car would go into the "funnel" and begin scrubbing off speed just hitting between the sides of the gradually-narrowing walls.  It would be a very safe way to slow the car down a little, and it would begin that process long before the actual end of the track space.

It would also pinpoint where the arresting method needs to be set up at the end.  It would make it into a smaller area, and only a REALLY out-of-control car would ever reach it.  That would open up the possibilities for some more aggressive /destructive methods of stopping the car at the end.





If the driver is still conscious, and the car still has some amount of control & brakes, then he could just steer the car to coast down the center of the funnel for a while, without nerf-ing the walls at all.  That way, the option of preserving the car still exists during a less-serious runoff situation. 

[Steve P.]

Yes, I'm sure it would.  My point is that not much has been done to the older tracks since these cars broke the 200+ MPH peak. Engines blow all the time. We watch it every week. Sometimes it takes the blow shield and sometimes it takes the body. Most times when they show the very slow motion film, you can see the the body and chassis lift from the concussion.

You cannot see into the future, but you can look at the millions of feet of film and see what has happened in the past and improve on all...

[MOPARHOUND!]

Engines blow all the time. We watch it every week. Sometimes it takes the blow shield and sometimes it takes the body. Most times when they show the very slow motion film, you can see the the body and chassis lift from the concussion.

You cannot see into the future, but you can look at the millions of feet of film and see what has happened in the past and improve on all...

The irony of it all, this is Robert Hight's Funny Car fire at Topeka, Kansas last year.......the guy who made the 1st round solo run after Scott Kalitta's death........notice who the opposing driver is........it was well worth my time to watch it beginning to end.......John Force (Hight's car owner) has about a minute long ab-lib spirited thought provoking interview towards the end:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l3rP8_Z0Kbg

Another related good video of Robert Hight's Funny Car fire at Topeka, Kansas, with several different angles of his race/fire, with ESPN commentary:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l3rP8_Z0Kbg

[duo-stripe]

my condolances to the family and friends of Scott

[hemi-hampton]

I noticed when Hights car hit the sand trap it did indeeed encounter a bump. I also noticed that he hit this bump at a speed of what looked like 1 MPH maybe 2MPH haveing zero effect on the car being propelled &/or airborn. I rest my case LEON.

[Steve P.]

NHRA SHORTENS RACE DISTANCE FOR TOP FUEL AND FUNNY CAR CLASSES TO 1,000 FEET
AS INTERIM SAFETY STEP WHILE KALITTA ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION CONTINUES
GLENDORA, Calif. (July 2, 2008) -- As the investigation continues into the tragic accident that took the life of driver Scott Kalitta, NHRA announced today that beginning at the Mopar Mile High Nationals in Denver, Colorado, both the Top Fuel and Funny Car classes will race to 1,000 feet instead of the traditional 1,320 feet or one-quarter mile.  This is an interim step that is being taken while NHRA continues to analyze and determine whether changes should be made to build upon the sport's long standing safety record, given the inherent risks and ever-present dangers associated with the sport.
This interim change was made by NHRA in collaboration with professional race teams.  NHRA believes that racing the Top Fuel and Funny Car classes to 1,000 feet will allow NHRA and the racing community time to evaluate, analyze and implement potential changes based on the safety initiatives outlined last week. 
With the change, fans will still be able to enjoy the sights, sounds and thrill of NHRA nitro racing with speeds around 300 mph and quick elapsed times to 1,000 feet.
Over the years, NHRA has implemented many initiatives to enhance safety including measures to limit speeds from increasing, personal protective gear, vehicle improvements, and track enhancements such as sand traps, catch nets and concrete barriers the entire length of the drag strip.
In the wake of the tragic series of events that took Kalitta's life, the following technical issues are currently under investigation: 1) what might be done to reduce engine failures; 2) parachute mounting techniques and materials as well as identifying a parachute material that could be more fire resistant; 3) exploring whether there is a way to increase brake efficiency when cars lose downforce due to the loss of the body; 4) analyzing additional methods that might be developed at the top end of the race track to help arrest runaway vehicles; 5) considering whether current speeds should be further limited or reduced to potentially improve safety.
"The board members of the Professional Racers Owners Organization (PRO) wholeheartedly and unanimously support this decision," said its president Kenny Bernstein.  "We want to thank NHRA for listening to our input and suggestions to incorporate these changes.  It is not lost on any of us that this constitutes a change in our history of running a quarter-mile, but it's the most immediate adjustment we can make in the interest of safety which is foremost on everyone's mind.  This may be a temporary change and we recognize it is not the total answer.  We will continue to work hand in hand with NHRA to evaluate other methods of making Top Fuel and Funny Car competition safer so that we might return to our quarter-mile racing standard. We also want to thank Connie Kalitta for his invaluable input.  He has been a rock through these difficult times."
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